Themed collection Crystal engineering for molecular materials

Transformation of metal–organic frameworks as a way to improve properties and design better materials is reported.

MOFs of complicated topologies can be analyzed as networks having simple underlying topologies when the MOPs are considered as TBUs.

This review summarizes the construction of nanostructured solid-state metal alkoxides and their conversion into functional inorganic nanomaterials.

The designs of NCS compounds based on the normal development of NCS chromophores are presented and NLO properties are investigated.

A complete review of all known octacyanide-based clusters with an extensive discussion of their structures, magnetic properties and multifunctionality.

Two new compounds with distinct tricopper(II) cores were synthesised and applied as bio-inspired pre-catalysts for mild oxidation of alkanes.

A series of luminescent dinuclear mixed-valence gold alkynyl complexes was synthesized. Their photophysical properties can be tuned by varying the nature of the alkynyl bridges, as supported by computational studies.

Control of pore distribution of porous carbons from porous coordination polymers.

An intimate interrelationship between the structural characteristics and their CO₂ adsorption behavior has been demonstrated in this study.

A Cu-based metal–organic framework (HKUST-1) was synthesized from insoluble precursors and positioned using sol–gel based coatings.

Size and regioselective catalysis in a Pt@ZIF-8 composite.

We describe a 3D flexible Gd(III)-coordination polymer, constructed from a linear carboxylate ligand, which shows reversible single-crystal to single-crystal “guest-responsive fitting” of the channels and carboxylate shift process, upon inclusion of aldehyde guests.

A 2D framework with –P(O)Ph₂ phenyl groups on the layer surface has been obtained, which shows remarkable dynamic sorption behaviours.

The IO₃ groups in Na₂Sn(IO₃)₆ are aligned in a parallel manner attributed to the six-coordinate Na⁺ cation, whereas the IO₃ polyhedra in Cs₂Sn(IO₃)₆ rotate with respect to Sn⁴⁺ due to the nine-coordinate Cs⁺ cation.

A porous MOF adapting a rare SBU with open metal sites dangled on cobalt trigonal prismatic clusters has been constructed based upon a custom-designed octacarboxylate ligand.

We report the use of an HF-mediated synthesis to control porosity and order in robust Zr phosphonate frameworks.

The solvothermal synthesis and crystal structures of 2D coordination polymers involving an SDB linker with Cd(II)/Zn(II) nodes, and the luminescence properties of these activated compounds for the detection of nitroaromatics, have been investigated.

Five new coordination polymers, from 1D chains to a 2D sheet and finally 3D porous frameworks, have been synthesized with different transition metals. The 3D interdigitated framework of Ni(II) is explored further for stepwise CO₂ and C₂H₂ storage.

Highly luminescent MOF coatings were grown on nanostructured alumina membranes via melt, electride and CVD approaches.

Supramolecular assembly of uranyl species via halogen–oxo and halogen–halogen interactions is explored in the solid state.

Two genuine supramolecular isomers with a unique type of structural difference and completely different porous properties have been synthesized and characterized.

A new highly efficient and reusable Cu-MOF has been developed for the regioselective synthesis of 1,2,3-triazoles via the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of organic azides to terminal alkynes under solvent-free conditions.

New mercury(I) selenites and tellurites Hg₂MoSeO₆, α-Hg₂MoTeO₆, β-Hg₂MoTeO₆, and Hg₂Mo₂TeO₉ with novel structures have been obtained by hydrothermal reactions.

A series of new Co–Ln heterometallic molecule-based magnetic materials were synthesized and characterized. The magnetic investigation indicates that the Co–Gd complex exhibits a large MCE of 24.87 J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹ while the Co–Dy complex shows a magnetic relaxation.

By utilizing the hydrothermal acylation of N₂H₄ with aromatic polycarboxylic acids, a series of acylhydrazidate-extended two-dimensional or three-dimensional coordination polymers were isolated. Photoluminescence analysis revealed that these compounds emitted light at different wavelengths depending on their structures.

Solvent-free synthesis under conventional oven and microwave assisted heating to provide multicomponent MOFs.

Three classes of heterolanthanide assemblies, multi-dimensional frameworks (A), discrete polynuclear molecules (B) and preformed coordinated units connected by a linker (C), are discussed. Potential functionalities arising from the distance-dependent coexistence or interplay of the physical properties are pointed out.

This Chemistry Frontier highlights how supramolecular non-covalent interactions can be employed as effective tools in tailoring the magnetic properties of crystalline functional molecular materials.