Themed collection Rare Earth Chemistry – In memory of Professor Xu Guangxian at his centenary
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Rare earth chemistry – in memory of Professor Xu Guangxian on the centenary of his birth
Song Gao introduces the Inorganic Chemistry Frontiers themed collection in memory of Professor Xu Guangxian on his 100th birthday.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2021,8, 10-11
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI90084B
Rare earth elements based oxide ion conductors
Rare-earth-elements-based oxide ion conductors with various structures and their structure-property relationships were systematically presented and summarized, which can provide new insight and guidance for the development of new oxide ion conductors.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2021,8, 1374-1398
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI00848F
Engineering well-defined rare earth oxide-based nanostructures for catalyzing C1 chemical reactions
In this review, we summarize the nanostructural engineering and applications of rare earth oxide-based nanomaterials with well-defined compositions, crystal phases and shapes for efficiently catalyzing C1 chemical reactions.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 4256-4280
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI00750A
External stimuli modulate the magnetic relaxation of lanthanide single-molecule magnets
The magnetic relaxation of lanthanide single-molecule magnets (Ln-SMMs) can be modulated reversibly by external stimuli including light irradiation, thermal treatment, protonation/deprotonation and oxidation/reduction etc.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 3315-3326
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI00785D
Joining the journey to near infrared (NIR) imaging: the emerging role of lanthanides in the designing of molecular probes
The recent developments and prospects of near-infrared molecular probes based on luminescent lanthanide coordination complexes in bioimaging are described, which is important to emphasise the importance of lanthanide chemical biology.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 289-299
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9QI01132C
Green synthesis of N-doped porous carbon/carbon dot composites as metal-free catalytic electrode materials for iodide-mediated quasi-solid flexible supercapacitors
The synthesis procedure of the N-doped PC-CDs composite and the electrochemical reaction of iodide at the PC-CDs surface.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2022,9, 2530-2543
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2QI00017B
Taming salophen in rare earth metallocene chemistry
An unprecedented series of salophen-bridged rare earth metallocenes, (Cp*2RE)2(μ-tBusalophen) (RE = Gd, Dy, and Y), has been crystallized. The solid and solution states have been unambiguously characterized by magnetic, spectroscopic and DFT methods.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2022,9, 1325-1336
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1QI01331A
Homoleptic tris(6,6′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine) rare earth metal complexes
Homoleptic tris(bipy) rare earth metal complexes were synthesized and structurally characterized. While two parallel bipy radical anions were strongly antiferromagnetically coupled, the remaining bipy radical anion hosted most spin densities.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2021,8, 2591-2602
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1QI00240F
A switchable dimeric yttrium complex and its three catalytic states in ring opening polymerization
A dimeric yttrium phenoxide complex can be oxidized in a stepwise fashion to access three oxidation states. The three states show different activity in the ring opening polymerization of cyclic esters and epoxides.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2021,8, 2088-2096
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI01479F
Yttrium and lanthanum bis(phosphine-oxide)methanides: structurally diverse, dynamic, and reactive
Homoleptic yttrium and lanthanum complexes of bis(phosphineoxide) methanides, RE(HPhL)3 and RE2(HMeL)6, promote the first rare-earth mediated Horner-Wittig and acid-base chemistry consistent with multifunctional reactivity (Lewis-acid/Brønstedbase).
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2021,8, 1539-1552
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI01438A
A hydrolytically stable Ce(IV) complex of glutarimide-dioxime
Glutarimide-dioxime, a proligand known for its strongly electron-donating properties that has been studied for applications in uranium-sequestration from seawater, is considered here for stabilization of the cerium(IV) cation.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2021,8, 934-939
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI00969E
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Redox activity of a dissymmetric ligand bridging divalent ytter-bium and reactive nickel fragments
The reaction of a nickel complex bearing a redox-active dissymmetric ligand (Kbimpm) with a divalent lanthanide complex, Cp*2Yb(OEt2) affords an unprecedented, trimeric complex with C(sp3)–C(sp3) bond formation between two ligands in an exo position.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2021,8, 647-657
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI00952K
Rare earth permanent magnetic nanostructures: chemical design and microstructure control to optimize magnetic properties
The routes for the optimization of the magnetic properties of rare earth permanent magnetic nanostructures are discussed, i.e. the control of microstructure, such as size and shape as well as the exchange-coupling interactions.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2021,8, 383-395
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI00777C
A systematic study of halide-template effects in the assembly of lanthanide hydroxide cluster complexes with histidine
Controlled hydrolysis of lanthanide ions in the presence of histidine and halide templates of different sizes produced dodeca- and pentadecanuclear lanthanide hydroxide clusters.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2021,8, 26-34
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI01004A
α-C–C agostic interactions and C–H bond activation in scandium cyclopropyl complexes
Electron deficient scandium cyclopropyl complexes have been synthesized and fully characterized for the first time, and a combination of solid XRD, solution NMR and theoretical studies well demonstrated the α-C–C agostic interactions in the complexes.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 4822-4831
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI01163K
A computational study of the reactivity of rare-earth/phosphorus Lewis pairs toward polymerization of conjugated polar alkenes
The polymerization mechanism of methyl methacrylate (MMA) catalyzed by rare-earth/phosphorus (RE/P) Lewis pairs has been systematically studied through density functional theory (DFT) calculations.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 4600-4610
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI01067G
Air stable and efficient rare earth Eu(II) hydro-tris(pyrazolyl)borate complexes with tunable emission colors
Eu(II) complexes with high air stability and tunable emission colors were synthesized and characterized.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 4593-4599
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI00762E
Luminescent Ir(III)–Ln(III) coordination polymers showing slow magnetization relaxation
Two structural types of iridium(III)–lanthanide(III) coordination polymers, single-chain Ir2Ln and double-chain Ir4Ln2 (Ln = Gd, Dy, Er, and Yb), have been prepared. SMM behaviour and NIR luminescence were observed for the Ir–Er and Ir–Yb systems.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 4580-4592
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9QI01504C
2.2.2-Cryptand as a bidentate ligand in rare-earth metal chemistry
Crystal structures demonstrate that 2.2.2-cryptand can function as a κ2-O,O′ bidentate ligand to rare-earth metal ions.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 4445-4451
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI00746C
Breaking the axiality of pentagonal–bipyramidal dysprosium(III) single-molecule magnets with pyrazolate ligands
Ten air-stable dysprosium(III) SMMs with destroyed pentagonal-bipyramidal geometry imposed by axial bidentate-chelating pyrazolate ligands are studied, showing substitutional effect on axial ligands and no effect on equatorial ligands.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 4367-4376
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI00906G
Constructing [CoII6] hexagon-centered heterometallic {Ln6Co6} (Ln = Y, Eu and Dy) clusters with a calix[8]arene ligand
Three isostructural 3d–4f polynuclear clusters {(LnIII6CoII6)(C8A)3} (Ln = Y, Eu, Dy; C8A = p-tert-butylcalix[8]arene) feature some tripod-like entities in which three Ln2-C8A SBUs bolster a [Co6] hexagon.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 4070-4076
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI00792G
A bioorthogonal time-resolved luminogenic probe for metabolic labelling and imaging of glycans
A terbium complex Tb-1 was demonstrated to undergo bioorthogonal ligation with engineered cell-surface glycans, which results in a much less efficient LRET and a 5-fold increase in long-lived terbium emission with low toxicity.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 4062-4069
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI00728E
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Magnetic exchange interactions in symmetric lanthanide dimetallics
Multi-frequency EPR spectra and CASSCF-SO calculations on two symmetric homo-dimetallic lanthanide complexes are used to determine the magnetic exchange coupling in the low-lying states.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 3909-3918
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI00854K
Syndio-and cis-1,4 dually selective copolymerization of polar fluorostyrene and butadiene using rare-earth metal catalysts
Synthesizing functional butadiene–styrene rubber through coordination polymerization is a theoretical challenge for polymer science, since functional monomers usually deactivate to the applied catalysts.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 3961-3968
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI00719F
Orientation mapping of Rabi frequencies in a rare-earth molecular qudit
Utilizing the S = 7/2 4f spin and the D4 symmetry of a Gd(III) complex, we propose and demonstrate an eight-leveled rare-earth molecular qudit, which can be coherently manipulated between adjacent energy levels with precompiled pulse durations.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 3875-3881
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI00784F
Carbon dioxide reduction by lanthanide(III) complexes supported by redox-active Schiff base ligands
The reduction of Ln(III)-trensal complexes allows to store electrons, that become available for CO2 reduction, trough the formation of new C–C bonds.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 3598-3608
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI00801J
A water-stable terbium metal–organic framework as a highly sensitive fluorescent sensor for nitrite
A terbium metal–organic framework was synthesized for highly sensitive nitrite detection. The mechanism of the quenching process was also studied in detail.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 3379-3385
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI00780C
A perfect triangular dysprosium single-molecule magnet with virtually antiparallel Ising-like anisotropy
A perfect triangular Dy3 single-molecule magnet was reported. Each Dy(III) magnetic axis is oriented almost normal to the plane of Dy3, and the intramolecular magnetic dipole interaction gives rise to a virtually antiparallel Ising-like ground state.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 2941-2948
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI00655F
Thermal quenching properties of narrow-band blue-emitting MBe2(PO4)2:Eu2+ (M = Ca, Sr) phosphors towards backlight display applications
Narrow-band blue-emitting MBe2(PO4)2:Eu2+ (M = Ca, Sr) phosphors were developed via selection of an ordered host with confined doping sites.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 2685-2691
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI00467G
Unprecedented intramolecular pancake bonding in a {Dy2} single-molecule magnet
The first example of unique coordination induced intramolecular pancake bonding was achieved through the reduction of two bis(pyrazolyl)-tetrazine ligands.
Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 2592-2601
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI00365D
About this collection
In memory of Professor Xu Guanxian 徐光宪 on the centenary of his birth, Inorganic Chemistry Frontiers is publishing a themed collection on rare earth chemistry.
This collection is a celebration of Professor Xu's achievements, of his own research with over 500 papers and numerous awards, but also for his passion and great efforts to advance rare earths and chemical research in China.
With this collection, we bring together people who wish to pay respect to Professor Xu through research in rare earth chemistry. Topics covered in the collection include but not limited to:
- RE theoretical and computational chemistry
- RE coordination chemistry and organometallics
- RE solid state chemistry
- RE based functional materials
- RE catalysis
- RE bioinorganic chemistry
This collection is chaired by Song Gao, Editor-in-Chief of the journal. More articles will be added as soon as they are published.