Shane G. Telfer

A general thermolabile protecting group strategy for organocatalytic metal-organic frameworks.

We present a general strategy for incorporating organocatalytic moieties into metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). The organocatalytic units are protected by a thermolabile protecting group during MOF synthesis and then unveiled by a simple postsynthetic heating step. The strategy is exemplified using a thermolabile tert-butoxycarbonyl (Boc) protecting group for a proline moiety, the removal of which endows the resulting cubic zinc(II) IRMOF with catalytic activity for asymmetric aldol reactions. The bulky Boc groups also prevent framework interpenetration, producing open MOFs that can admit relatively large substrates.

1,1′-Binaphthyl-2,2′-diol and 2,2′-diamino-1,1′-binaphthyl: versatile frameworks for chiral ligands in coordination and metallosupramolecular chemistry

Abstract This review covers the use of chiral 1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diol and 2,2′-diamino-1,1′-binaphthyl frameworks for the construction of ligands for coordination and metallosupramolecular chemistry. The 1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diol unit is readily functionalised with ligating groups at both the diol oxygen atoms and at a variety of positions on the binaphthyl rings. This has allowed the synthesis of a wide range of ligands which, in combination with metal ions, has given rise to an array of chiral coordination compounds and supramolecular complexes. This review details polynuclear complexes prepared in this manner. 2,2′-Diamino-1,1′-binaphthyl has been used as a ligand in a number of complexes. Also, ligating groups have been attached to the 2,2′-diamino-1,1′-binaphthyl framework via its amine nitrogen atoms, usually by formation of a Schiff base. The coordination chemistry of both the parent 2,2′-diamino-1,1′-binaphthyl compound and of its derivatives are covered by this review.

Exciton coupling in coordination compounds

This Perspective reviews the impact of exciton coupling on the spectroscopic properties of coordination compounds. Exciton coupling features arise in electronic absorption and circular dichroism spectra when chromophores are brought into close spatial proximity, for example by coordination to a metal centre. The analysis of these features can reveal much information such as the geometry of a complex and its absolute configuration. The extension of the exciton coupling model to polynuclear metallosupramolecular arrays is discussed.

Catalytically Active Bimetallic Nanoparticles Supported on Porous Carbon Capsules Derived From Metal–Organic Framework Composites

We report a new methodology for producing monometallic or bimetallic nanoparticles confined within hollow nitrogen-doped porous carbon capsules. The capsules are derived from metal-organic framework (MOF) crystals that are coated with a shell of a secondary material comprising either a metal-tannic acid coordination polymer or a resorcinol-formaldehyde polymer. Platinum nanoparticles are optionally sandwiched between the MOF core and the shell. Pyrolysis of the MOF-shell composites produces hollow capsules of porous nitrogen-doped carbon that bear either monometallic (Pt, Co, and Ni) or alloyed (PtCo and PtNi) metal nanoparticles. The Co and Ni components of the bimetallic nanoparticles are derived from the shell surrounding the MOF crystals. The hollow capsules prevent sintering and detachment of the nanoparticles, and their porous walls allow for efficient mass transport. Alloyed PtCo nanoparticles embedded in the capsule walls are highly active, selective, and recyclable catalysts for the hydrogenation of nitroarenes to anilines.

Toward the self-assembly of metal-organic nanotubes using metal-metal and π-stacking interactions: bis(pyridylethynyl) silver(I) metallo-macrocycles and coordination polymers.

Shape-persistent macrocycles and planar organometallic complexes are beginning to show considerable promise as building blocks for the self-assembly of a variety of supramolecular materials including nanofibers, nanowires, and liquid crystals. Here we report the synthesis and characterization of a family of planar di- and tri-silver(I) containing metallo-macrocycles designed to self-assemble into novel metal-organic nanotubes through a combination of π-stacking and metal-metal interactions. The silver(I) complexes have been fully characterized by elemental analysis, high resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS), IR, (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy, and the solution data are consistent with the formation of the metallo-macrocycles. Four of the complexes have been structurally characterized using X-ray crystallography. However, only the di-silver(I) complex formed with 1,3-bis(pyridin-3-ylethynyl)benzene is found to maintain its macrocyclic structure in the solid state. The di-silver(I) shape-persistent macrocycle assembles into a nanoporous chicken-wire like structure, and ClO(4)(-) anions and disordered H(2)O molecules fill the pores. The silver(I) complexes of 2,6-bis(pyridin-3-ylethynyl)pyridine and 1,4-di(3-pyridyl)buta-1,3-diyne ring-open and crystallize as non-porous coordination polymers.

Controlled partial interpenetration in metal–organic frameworks

Interpenetration, the entwining of multiple lattices, is a common phenomenon in metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). Typically, in interpenetrated MOFs the sub-lattices are fully occupied. Here we report a family of MOFs in which one sub-lattice is fully occupied and the occupancy level of the other can be controlled during synthesis to produce frameworks with variable levels of partial interpenetration. We also report an ‘autocatenation’ process, a transformation of non-interpenetrated lattices into doubly interpenetrated frameworks via progressively higher degrees of interpenetration that involves no external reagents. Autocatenation maintains crystallinity and can be triggered either thermally or by shear forces. The ligand used to construct these MOFs is chiral, and both racemic and enantiopure partially interpenetrated frameworks can be accessed. X-ray diffraction, nonlinear optical microscopy and theoretical calculations offer insights into the structures and dynamic behaviour of these materials and the growth mechanisms of interpenetrated MOFs. Interpenetration of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) is a common phenomenon, in which a structure consists of two or more identical, entangled sub-lattices. Now, MOFs with variable, fractional degrees of occupancy of one of two sub-lattices have been prepared. The extent of interpenetration can be controlled either during synthesis or by autocatenation, a framework rearrangement process.

Abrupt spin crossover in an iron(III) quinolylsalicylaldimine complex: structural insights and solvent effects

The first Fe(III) qsal-X complex exhibiting abrupt complete spin crossover at 228 K with a hysteresis of 8 K, [Fe(qsal-I)2]OTf is reported. Structural studies of the MeOH solvate in the LS and HS state and at the spin transition are described.

Metal-organic framework nanocrystals as sacrificial templates for hollow and exceptionally porous titania and composite materials.

We report a strategy that employs metal-organic framework (MOF) crystals in two roles for the fabrication of hollow nanomaterials. In the first role the MOF crystals provide a template on which a shell of material can be deposited. Etching of the MOF produces a hollow structure with a predetermined size and morphology. In combination with this strategy, the MOF crystals, including guest molecules in their pores, can provide the components of a secondary material that is deposited inside the initially formed shell. We used this approach to develop a straightforward and reproducible method for constructing well-defined, nonspherical hollow and exceptionally porous titania and titania-based composite nanomaterials. Uniform hollow nanostructures of amorphous titania, which assume the cubic or polyhedral shape of the original template, are delivered using nano- and microsized ZIF-8 and ZIF-67 crystal templates. These materials exhibit outstanding textural properties including hierarchical pore structures and BET surface areas of up to 800 m(2)/g. As a proof of principle, we further demonstrate that metal nanoparticles such as Pt nanoparticles, can be encapsulated into the TiO2 shell during the digestion process and used for subsequent heterogeneous catalysis. In addition, we show that the core components of the ZIF nanocrystals, along with their adsorbed guests, can be used as precursors for the formation of secondary materials, following their thermal decomposition, to produce hollow and porous metal sulfide/titania or metal oxide/titania composite nanostructures.

Porosity in metal–organic frameworks following thermolytic postsynthetic deprotection: gas sorption, dye uptake and covalent derivatisation

The porosity of MOFs before and after the removal of thermocleavable protecting groups has been probed by a range of experiments.

Transition metal complexes of 2-amino-3-chloro-5-trifluoromethylpyridine: syntheses, structures, and magnetic properties of [(TMCAPH)2CuBr4] and [(TMCAPH)2CuCl4]

The reaction of CuX2 (X = Br or Cl) with 2-amino-3-chloro-5-trifluoromethylpyridine in aqueous acids (HX; X = Br or Cl) yields bis(2-amino-3-chloro-5-trifluoromethylpyridinium)tetrabromocuprate(II) (1) and bis(2-amino-3-chloro-5-trifluoromethylpyridinium)tetrachlorocuprate(II) (2). These compounds have been characterized by IR, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), single crystal XRD, combustion analysis, and temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility. Compound 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/c with three ions in the asymmetric unit, whereas 2 crystallizes in the triclinic space group P 1, and the asymmetric unit contains 18 ionic moieties. Both compounds exhibit antiferromagnetic exchange via the double halide exchange pathway and singlet ground states, with stronger exchange observed for 1. Both compounds exhibit multiple potential magnetic exchange pathways, but fitting of the data to available analytical models suggests that the magnetic exchange constants 2J/k B are ∼50 K in 1 and ∼6 K in 2, respectively.