Xiao-Ping Zhou

A High-Symmetry Coordination Cage from 38- or 62-Component Self-Assembly

Artificial molecular architecture from a large number of subcomponents (>50) via self-assembly remains a formidable challenge for chemists. Reaction of 38 components [14 Ni(2+) and 24 N-methyl-1-(4-imidazolyl)methanimine] under solvothermal conditions reproducibly leads to the formation of a high-symmetry coordination cage. This polyhedral cage can also be obtained in high yield by self-assembly of 62 commercially available subcomponents (24 methylamine, 24 4-formylimidazole, and 14 Ni(2+)) under mild conditions involving synchronized formation of both dynamic covalent bonds and coordination bonds. Guest molecules (e.g., water, methylamine, and methanol) are randomly imprisoned in the cage.

Polyhedral Metal-Imidazolate Cages: Control of Self-Assembly and Cage to Cage Transformation

A series of neutral cubic nickel(II)-imidazolate Ni8L12X4 cages were prepared by rational choices of substituents and anions with solvothermal subcomponent self-assembly technology. Both substituents and halide anions play a critical role in the formation and stabilization of cubic cages. Changing one of the factors in the reaction will switch the final structure to a Ni14L24 rhombic dodecahedral cage. The cubic cage can transform to a large rhombic dodecahedral cage in the presence of methylamine at room temperature accompanied by a color change from purple to light yellow.

When Cu4I4 cubane meets Cu3(pyrazolate)3 triangle: dynamic interplay between two classical luminophores functioning in a reversibly thermochromic coordination polymer

A supramolecular dual emissive system incorporating two classical copper(I)-cluster-based luminophores, namely, Cu(4)I(4) and Cu(3)Pz(3) (Pz = pyrazolate), is reported. The targeted luminescent coordination polymer exhibits reversible thermochromism spanning from green to orange-red.

Gyroidal metal-organic frameworks.

The gyroid is ubiquitous for underlying the construction of natural substance and artificial zeolites, but it has been, surprisingly, overlooked by chemists who work in the field of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). In this work, a series of gyroidal MOFs with gie topology, constructed from 1,2-bis((5H-imidazol-4-yl)methylene)hydrazine and octahedral metal ions, such as Zn(II), Mn(II), Cu(II), and Ni(II), have been synthesized. The Zn(II) analogue, named as STU-1, shows exceptional thermal and chemical stabilities, and exhibits permanent porosity and CO(2) capture ability.

From Simple to Complex: Topological Evolution and Luminescence Variation in a Copper(I) Pyridylpyrazolate System Tuned via Second Ligating Spacers

By systematically varying the geometric length and electronic properties of the second ligating ligands of halogen (Cl(-), Br(-), and I(-)) and pseudohalogen (CN(-), SCN(-), and N(3)(-)) anions, we synthesized 11 isomeric/isostructural copper(I) complexes: [Cu(2)(L3-3)I](n) (1), [Cu(2)(L4-4)Br](n) (2-Br), [Cu(2)(L4-4)Cl](n) (2-Cl), [Cu(2)(L3-4)(CN)](n) (3), [Cu(2)(L3-3)(CN)](n) (4), [Cu(3)(L4-4)(CN)(2)](n) (5), {[Cu(2)(L4-4)Br](2)·CuBr}(n) (6-Br), {[Cu(2)(L4-4)Cl](2)·CuCl}(n) (6-Cl), [Cu(2)(L4-4)(SCN)](n) (7α-SCN), [Cu(2)(L4-4)(SCN)](n) (7β-SCN), and [Cu(2)(L4-4)(N(3))](n) (7α-N(3)). These structures are based on a series of isomeric pyridylpyrazole ligands, namely, 3,5-bis(3-pyridyl)-1H-pyrazole (HL3-3), 3-(3-pyridyl)-5-(4-pyridyl)-1H-pyrazole (HL3-4), and 3,5-bis(4-pyridyl)-1H-pyrazole (HL4-4), and their structural features range from 1-D (1), 2-D (2), and 3-D noninterpenetration (3), to 3-D 2-fold interpenetration (4 and 5), to 3-D self-catenation (6 and 7), exhibiting a trend from simple to complex with dimension expansion and an interpenetrating degree increase. The five most complex structures (6 and 7) with self-catenated networks are based on 2-fold interpenetrated networks linked via appropriate second ligating spacers (Cl(-), Br(-), SCN(-), and N(3)(-)), representing a strategy to construct self-catenated coordination polymers through cross-linking interpenetrated frameworks. Moreover, these complexes exhibit strong photoluminescence, which is mainly ascribed to Cu(I)-related charge transfers (MLCT, MC, and MMLCT) regulated by the electronic properties of halogen or pseudohalogen. The topological evolution and luminescence variation presented in this work open an avenue to understanding the luminescence origin and the structure-property relationship of luminescent coordination polymers.

Luminescent Mechanochromic Porous Coordination Polymers

Three 2D luminescent isomeric porous coordination polymers are synthesized and characterized. Their luminescence properties can be modified by grinding and they can act as mechanochromic materials and their properties are probably related to the weak interactions of cuprophilicity and π-π interactions.

Beyond Molecules: Mesoporous Supramolecular Frameworks Self-Assembled from Coordination Cages and Inorganic Anions†

Biological function arises by the assembly of individual biomolecular modules into large aggregations or highly complex architectures. A similar strategy is adopted in supramolecular chemistry to assemble complex and highly ordered structures with advanced functions from simple components. Here we report a series of diamond-like supramolecular frameworks featuring mesoporous cavities, which are assembled from metal-imidazolate coordination cages and various anions. Small components (metal ions, amines, aldehydes, and anions) are assembled into the hierarchical complex structures through multiple interactions including covalent bonds, dative bonds, and weak C-H⋅⋅⋅X (X=O, F, and π) hydrogen bonds. The mesoporous cavities are large enough to trap organic dye molecules, coordination cages, and vitamin B12. The study is expected to inspire new types of crystalline supramolecular framework materials based on coordination motifs and inorganic ions.

Gyroidal metal-organic frameworks by solvothermal subcomponent self-assembly

Solvothermal subcomponent self-assembly has been employed as a convenient and advanced route to prepare metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). A new gyroidal MOF with gie topology was successfully synthesized and characterized; gas adsorption properties were also investigated.

Coordination networks from a bifunctional molecule containing carboxyl and thioether groups.

The bifunctional molecule tetrakis(methylthio)-1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid (TMBD) interacts with the increasingly harder metal ions of Cu (I), Cd (II), and Zn (II) to form the coordination networks of Cu 2TMBD, CdTMBD, and Zn 4O(H 2O) 3(TMBD) 3, where the carboxyl group consistently bonds to metal ions, while the softer methylthio group binds with preference to the softer metal ions (i.e., chelation to Cu (+), single-fold coordination to Cd (2+), and nonbonding to Zn (2+)). Diffuse-reflectance spectra show that the metal-thioether interaction is associated with smaller electronic band gaps of the solid-state networks.

From large 3D assembly to highly dispersed spherical assembly: weak and strong coordination mediated self-aggregation of Au colloids

Distinctly different 3D assemblies of ∼1.6 nm Au nanoparticles are constructed based on weak and strong coordination strategies. Reduction of KAuCl4 with NaBH4 in the presence of newly-synthesized 4-(4-phenylmethanethiol)-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine (1) yields functionalized Au nanoparticles which assemble in situ into large 3D aggregates via weak coordination between alkali metal ions and terpyridine attached to separated particles. These assemblies are disassembled into individual nanoparticles via addition of DMF solvent and further reassembled into highly dispersed 3D spherical nanostructures via addition of Co2+ (strong coordination with 1). Wide and small angle XRD measurements show that the assemblies are formed from small Au nanoparticles, consistent with TEM results. It is significant that the large aggregates formed in situ can be directly transformed into nearly monodispersed 3D spherical assemblies via strong coordination (with Co2+), presenting the first example of a direct transformation of one 3D nanonetwork into another distinctly different 3D nanonetwork. The controlled assembly and disassembly processes are accompanied by distinct shifts in the surface plasmon resonance.