Themed collection Dalton Transactions HOT Articles

1,2,4,5-Tetrazine based ligands and complexes are reviewed with a special focus on their crystal structures and physical properties.

Interfacial chemistry dramatically impacts the activity (performance) and reactivity (mechanism) of nanoparticle catalysts.

This review describes a personal journey over the past two decades highlighting experimental and computational mechanistic studies in inorganic chemistry performed with numerous PhD students, post-docs, visiting scientists and colleagues from abroad.

The design of multicomponent heterostructures for electrocatalysts is a promising strategy for enhancing electrocatalytic activities.

This Frontier article highlights the photoswitching behaviour of azobenzenes, spiropyrans and DASA molecules inside the nano cavity of self-assembled coordination molecular vessels in aqueous medium and in the solid state.

An artificial peroxidase was rationally designed in F43Y Mb with a Tyr-heme cross-link by further introduction of key residues (Arg/Trp) in native peroxidase, which exhibited an activity comparable to the most efficient native HRP.

An organic-ligand free selenide T3 cluster exhibits a much higher photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity after being stably dispersed in a solvent (6.5 times) than that in the solid state.

Ammonia borane with both hydridic and protic hydrogens in its structure acted as an efficient transfer hydrogenation agent for selective transformation of alkynes into alkenes in non-protic solvents.

Transition metal promoted conversion of o-substituted arylamines to o-phenylenediimine derivatives by a radical C–N coupling path is reported.

Multifunctional bi-porous nanocatalysts derived from dendritic templates were synthesized and applied for efficient, stable and recyclable heterogeneous catalysis.

A novel, micelle-based fluorescence system capable of selective and sensitive signal transduction for non-transferrin-bound iron (NTBI) in serum was devised.

Newly prepared phosphinoferrocene guanidines coordinate Pd(II) as donor-unsymmetric, P,N-chelating ligands or in κ³P,N,Fe-mode with Fe–Pd dative interactions.

A series of polyoxometalate-based host–guest materials emit strong red room-temperature phosphorescence attributed to intermolecular charge-transfer states which was caused by unorthodox anion–π interactions.

Coordinated regulation on physiochemical performances activated from mixed anionic ligands in a new series of IR NLO materials was systematically investigated.

Highly porous three-dimensional Al- and Ga-MOFs with radical catecholate linker molecules were synthesized and characterized by electron diffraction, molecular simulation, Rietveld refinement and N₂ sorption measurements.

A Lewis acidic aminoborane (1) was shown to catalytically dehydrocouple stannanes through an unexpected heterolytic frustrated Lewis pair mechanism rather than a homolytic process.

The use of the Et₃SiH/B(C₆F₅)₃ system for the activation of group 4 metal catalysts allows the efficient and selective catalytic hydrodefluorination of trifluorotoluenes.

Simple synthetic procedures for accessing novel metal-substituted tungstosulfates [SMW₁₁O₃₉]⁴⁻ (M = Mn²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, and Cu²⁺) with Keggin-type structures were developed.

A tubular catalyst showed fast catalytic kinetics for CO₂ conversion with a TON of 2300 and a TOF of up to 173 h⁻¹.

Combining unsaturated metal sites and narrow pores within one framework, a unique Co^II-MOF have been prepared, which reveals excellent selective CO₂ uptake over N₂ and CH₄, and good performances in catalytic CO₂ conversion to cyclic carbonates.

A non-linear relationship between the conformational change of an n-propyl moiety and photochromic reaction was observed by performing time-dependent X-ray diffraction experiments.

The stereochemically active lone pair effect of Pb²⁺ and induced narrower bandgaps were elaborated in Pb₃(HC₃N₃O₃)₂(OH)₂ for the first time.

Spin crossover on–off switching is realized by reversible single crystal-to-single crystal transformations, 1·3MeOH ⇌1 ⇌1·2HO.

Two sandwich-type germanomolybdates with unprecedented trivacant [α-GeMo₁₀O₃₆]⁸⁻ fragments and {M₃O₄} quasi-cubane units were obtained. They exhibited electrocatalytic behaviours for H₂O₂ reduction and photocatalytic properties for CO₂ conversion.

The synthesis, structure and transformation of a pyridine-stabilized silanonetungsten complex are described.

Two dinuclear Zn^II Schiff-base complexes form very stable intramolecular aggregates and act as molecular tweezers of ditopic guests having a strong Lewis basicity.

ZnO rods were prepared and covered with a porous Mo–C carbon layer as an electrode material for supercapacitors.

Through the gel and nitrogen-sulfur co-doping process, a three-dimensional nitrogen-sulfur co-doped layered porous carbon nanosheet with adjusted nitrogen content was constructed as a high-performance anode material for potassium ion batteries.

This investigation examines the reactivity of phosphinoboronate esters Ph₂PBpin (pin = 1,2-O₂C₂Me₄) and Ph₂PBcat (cat = 1,2-O₂C₆H₄), as well as other phosphinoboron species, with various aryl and aliphatic acyl chlorides.

A novel zero-dimensional/two-dimensional Cd_xZn_1−xS/Ni-MOF-74 (CZS/NMF) heterojunction was rationally constructed via a simple hydrothermal and physical mixing method.

Lead formate was found in oil paint systems, crystallizing in the early stage of polymerization of oil paints and playing the role of an intermediate in the degradation of lead pigments.

A novel MOF with a kaleidoscopic topology as an ideal host matrix that exhibits luminescence energy transfer and quenching behaviour in the presence of a photocatalytic sacrificial electron donor.

A major challenge in the field of photocatalytic carbon dioxide (CO₂) reduction is to design catalyst systems featuring high selectivity for CO production, long-term stability and a composition of Earth-abundant elements.

In this article we report the PVP-assisted synthesis procedure of binder-free Ni₃S₂ grown on Ni foam.

A series of Au–transition metal oxides supported on sepiolite was tested in the preferential oxidation of CO in an excess of H₂ under simulated solar light irradiation and in the absence of light, at 30 °C and atmospheric pressure.

The halide anions of enantiopure hydrophilic Werner complexes are replaced by BAr_f⁻, providing lipophilic catalysts for enantioselective reactions.

Janus bis(N-heterocyclic carbenes) composed of a porphyrin core with two N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) heads fused to opposite pyrroles were used as bridging ligands for the preparation of metal complexes.

The potency of two anticancer iridium-based molecular compounds was greatly enhanced under light irradiation.

A cage-based MOF displays excellent hydrolytic stability as well as promising potential for diverse gas separation applications.

A highly Lewis acidic Cu(I) complex bearing a PNP-pincer-type phosphaalkene ligand with bulky fused-ring Eind groups activates hydrogen and phenylacetylene in an FLP-type manner, and catalyzes the hydrogenation and hydrosilylation of CO₂.

Tin(II) oxide carbodiimide is a novel prospective semiconductor material with a band gap of 2.1 eV and lies chemically between metal oxides and metal carbodiimides.

We report the preparation of an MgH₂–Ni@NCS composite and the cycling hydrogen absorption and desorption of the MgH₂–Ni@NCS composite with 10 cycles.

A novel discrete Na{Cu₁₂Zn₄} unit is discovered with the ability to sense calcium ions (with ultra-low detection limit) as well as to adsorb cationic dyes in the aqueous phase with high performance.

Variable thermal quenching behaviors, including abnormal negative thermal quenching and normal thermal quenching, were demonstrated for Na₃Sc₂(PO₄)₃:Eu²⁺ phosphors tailored by the phase transformation details at elevated temperature.

This work highlights the reactivity of Ta–NHC adducts and the aptitude of the NHC motif to transfer from Ta to Rh which is used with profit as an efficient synthetic route to access early/late heterobimetallic complexes.

Two novel neutral rhenium(I) tricarbonyl complexes bearing a pyridoannelated N-heterocyclic carbene are synthetized and fully characterized, which display red photoluminescence arising from a triplet excited state with ligand centered character.

The synthesis and behavior in water of a set of various cis(Cl,Cl)-[R-tpyRuCl₂(NO)](PF₆) and trans(Cl,Cl)-[R-tpyRuCl₂(NO)](PF₆) (R = fluorenyl, phenyl, thiophenyl; tpy = 2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine) complexes are presented.

A series of Cu(I) halide complexes showing thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) combined with room temperature phosphorescence are reported.

A novel binuclear Pd(II) complex promotes His- and Met-orientated peptide hydrolysis in an internuclear synergic manner but not Cys-orientated hydrolysis.

The role of frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) as ligands in gold(I) catalyzed-reactions has been computationally investigated by using state-of-the-art density functional theory calculations.

Flower-like nanocrystals of a Ti₆Mn₂ oxo-cluster with excellent photocatalytic activity toward degradation of RhB were prepared in gram-scale quantities.

A new 2D ZIF with a farfalle-shape was easily built with zinc acetate and 2-methylimidazole in an aqueous system at room temperature.

Five new neutral heteroleptic iridium(III) complexes IrL₂(pic) (2–6) based on the archetypical blue emitter FIrpic have been synthesised.

An efficient trifunctional electrocatalyst was fabricated through pyrolyzing a rationally designed Co²⁺- functionalized anionic metal–organic framework, yielding excellent performances in Zn–air batteries and water-splitting applications.

A multifunctional theranostic agent was exploited, which can efficiently prevent healthy cells from oxidative damage during photothermal therapy, thus solving the problem of hyperthermia therapy by introducing selenium.

The as-synthesized 2D perovskite [C₅H₁₂N]₂PbCl₄ undergoes an above-room-temperature dielectric phase transition with a reversible pentahedral to octahedron transformation and a high dielectric constant being over twice of the low dielectric constant.

A new dimension in pincer chemistry: introducing phosphine-based macrocyclic pincer ligands PNP-14 and PONOP-14.

Linear relationships between the local magnetic moment of iron borides and the bond valence as well as the orbital energy were disclosed.

Presented here are the syntheses, crystal structures, and optical and photoelectric properties of four metal complexes-directed hybrid iodoplumbates.

The development and utilization of low-cost and efficient electrocatalysts for overall water splitting is of great significance for future energy supplies.

P-Doped TiO₂ nanotube arrays exhibit excellent electrochemical performance in an aqueous symmetric supercapacitor with a widened potential window of 2.6 V.

MnV₂O₆ is a promising anode material for lithium ion batteries with high theoretical specific capacity, abundant reserves and inexpensive constituent elements.

High-shear mixing can efficiently enhance the homogeneity and the electrochemical performances of the GO/Ni(OH)₂ composite.

A subtle positional shift of the distal haem pocket aspartate in two dye decolourising peroxidase homologs has a remarkable effect on their reactivity with H₂O₂.

An MoO₂@C/CNT composite with budding-branch like MoO₂@C wrapped by carbon nanotubes was synthesized, showing enhanced capacitive performance.

The electron donating power of the R′ substituents in arene ruthenium iminophosphonamide complexes, [(Arene)RuCl{R₂P(NR′)₂}] (1), controls the mechanism for the acetophenone transfer hydrogenation in isopropanol.

Triazolium salts obtained from phosphinoferrocene alkyne and azide were used to prepare Au–carbene complexes, and P,C-chelating Pd or P,C-bridged Au–Pd phosphinocarbene complexes.

Our interest in C–F bond activation prompted an investigation of the reactions of PhC(O)CF₃ with a superbasic proazaphosphatrane (Verkade's base) and a corresponding FLP.

Three pentacoordinated and one hexacoordinated Co(II) based single ion magnets were prepared and their structural, static and dynamic magnetic properties were analysed in detail.

A series of Anderson-type polyoxometalates (POMs)-based metal–organic complexes with different structures have been synthesized, they show excellent dye adsorption and chromatographic separation in a short time.