Themed collection Dalton Transactions HOT Articles

In the present perspective, the recent advances of α-diimine nickel based catalysts of ethylene polymerization, focusing on the relationships between catalyst structures and their catalytic properties are discussed.

Fundamental aspects of PCET continue to attract attention. Understanding this reaction type is desirable for small-molecule activation and solar energy conversion.

Periodic trends in the electronic structure of the transition metal centers can be used to explain the observed CO₂ reduction activities in molecular electrocatalysts for CO₂ reductions. Research activities concerning both horizontal and vertical trends have been summarized with mononuclear complexes from Group 6 to Group 10.

The ubiquitous physiology of nitric oxide enables the bioinorganic engineering of [Fe(NO)₂]-containing and NO-delivery scaffolds for tissue engineering.

Challenges and opportunities in the synthesis of pentalenide complexes are reviewed from a practical point of view.

Where we have been and where we are going in precisely describing structures of inorganic compounds.

The d-block elements have played a critical role in the development of the modern periodic table.

Block copolymers containing polyolefin (red) and polar (blue) segments may be synthesised via end-functionalised polyolefins from metal-catalysed routes.

In this perspective, the development of single-source precursors and their relative advantages over multiple source approaches for the synthesis of metal pnictide solid state materials is explored.

Homoleptic arenemetalates, including the depicted [K(18-crown-6)]₂[Hf(C₁₄H₁₀)₃], are often useful sources of “naked” metal anions and have been obtained for several transition metals via the Chatt reaction, named in honor of Joseph Chatt, a giant of chemistry.

This article reviews the most up-to-date progress in heterometallic grid-like complexes and highlights the recent work in 3d–4f heterometallic grids, aiming at a better understanding of the self-assembly and magnetic properties of heterometallic grids.

Nucleophilic substitution of cage BH serves as a brand new strategy for straightforward and regioselective cage B–H functionalization of carboranes.

We describe the recent progress in near-infrared-emissive metal–organic frameworks, and especially highlight their appealing applications in bio-imaging, sensing and barcoding.

The activity of gold nanoparticle-based plasmonic photocatalysts can be enhanced through the ingenious control of the size, shape and interface.

The effects of size, charge and symmetry of carbon π-bowls on their supramolecular assembly and metal ion intercalation trends are discussed.

Multi-functional AIEE-active supramolecular assemblies act as nanoreactors for the preparation of different types of metal NPs. The in situ generated metal NPs stabilized by supramolecular assemblies act as nanocatalysts for various organic transformations under thermal/visible light irradiation.

We highlight recent advances in organopnictogen chemistry contrasting the properties of lighter and heavier pnictogens.

Dark-field and Raman microscopy to probe the single NP electrochemistry in real time.

Copper hydride clusters of variable nuclearity are derived from hydrogen and HCOOH as emerging energy storage materials and models.

Encapsulation of dysprosium ions in fullerenes results in efficient air stable single molecule magnets, which can be used in preparation of various 1D, 2D, and 3D assemblies.

Post-synthetic methods are considered facile and effective for adjusting a material's properties. This frontiers article highlights recent advances in the post-synthetic modifications of MOF-74 type frameworks, whose high-density exposed metal sites are grafted by various diamines, leading to the tuning of CO₂ adsorption capabilities.

Direct electrochemical synthesis of ammonia is proposed as a means of reducing the carbon footprint of the fertiliser industry, as well as providing new opportunities for carbon-free liquid energy storage.

A fluorescence turn-on sensor (Cu-1b) is designed for the selective detection of phosphate ions released from the GlgE-catalyzed maltose-transfer reaction.

A heavier analogue of dibora-peroxide 4 involving a B–Se–Se–B unit has been synthesized and fully characterized.

Absorption of tetranitromethane in the zeolitic imidazolate frameworks ZIF-8 and ZIF-70 is a facile route to borderline primary/secondary explosives that contain no toxic heavy metals.

Simple and easily scalable preparation of the useful carborane anion CB₁₁H₁₂⁻ is reported using a boron cluster B₁₁H₁₄⁻ and CF₃SiMe₃.

The Jahn–Teller distortion, π-conjugation mode, and magnetic properties were coupled in the ferromagnetic Cu^II-radical chain, resulting in unique properties.

A mesoporous cationic metal–organic framework (FJI-C11) was firstly employed to capture efficiently dichromate ions from water.

Dithieno[3,2-b:2′,3′-d]arsole containing donor polymers are reported and investigated in organic solar cell devices for the first time.

Spin crossover and structural phase transition were discovered in three pairs of homochiral and heterochiral [Fe(pybox)₂]²⁺ diastereomers.

Stacking interactions of metal–chelate rings are strong due to very strong electrostatic energy component.

The reactions of 9-phenyl-9-borafluorene with trimethylsilyldiazomethane in a 1 : 1 and 1 : 2 stoichiometry furnished the corresponding BC₅ and BC₆ heterocycles via the formal insertion of one and two carbene units.

Hydride-insertion reactivity of DNIC [(NO)₂Fe(η²-BH₄)]⁻ promotes the reductive transformation of CS₂ into DNIC [(NO)₂Fe(η³-HCS₂)]⁻ featuring Fe 3d_z²-to-HCS₂ π* backbonding interaction.

Coordinating rare earth ions to bis(dithiooxalato)nickel produces the first structurally characterised complexes possessing the elusive dithiooxalato radical ligand.

A biocompatible ruthenium polypyridyl complex has been rationally designed, which could self-assemble into nanoparticles in aqueous solution to enhance the solubility and biocompatibility, and could synergistically realize simultaneous cancer chemo-radiotherapy.

Persulfurated asterisks functionalized with six carboxylic groups form a strongly green phosphorescent coordination polymer upon addition of Pb²⁺ ions in aqueous solution. The self-assembly process is selective and reversible, enabling Pb²⁺ sensing with a detection limit of 6.0 × 10⁻⁷ M.

The redox reactivity of a stable anionic dithiolene radical has been explored, giving the corresponding dithiolate and neutral dithiolene dimers.

Heating Pd(OAc)₂ with ortho-biphenylphosphine ligands in alcoholic solvents gives facile P–C bond-cleavage, yielding Pd(I)-dimers bridged by phosphide ligands.

Transition metal-induced dehydrogenative homocoupling of zinc(II) hydrides to a zinc–zinc bonded complex has been achieved.

Herein the synthesis and properties of the first β-octaferrocenyltetraphenylporphyrin, {TPPFc₈(H₂O)₂}, in its extraordinary stable and non-aromatic 16π form are reported, showing seven separate reversible redox events.

Herein we synthesize a cell penetrating peptide- and cancer-targeted molecule-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotube for precise orthotopic glioma therapy.

Herein we demonstrate that an earth-abundant semiconductor photocathode (p-Si/TiO₂/NiO_x) out-competes rare and expensive Pt as counter electrode to Fe-oxide for overall photoelectrochemical water splitting.

Two luminescent coordination polymers with considerable stability in aqueous media were synthesized. Sensing experiments indicate that they can serve as highly selective and sensitive fluorescent probes toward Cr^VI-anions.

The compound (NBu₄)₄[Zn^II{Re^IVCl₄(μ-ox)}₃] (1) [NBu₄⁺ = tetra-n-butylammonium cation and ox²⁻ = oxalate dianion] is the first example of an oxalato-bridged Zn^II system coordinated to a 5d metal ion that exhibits slow relaxation of magnetisation.

A family of metallo-antibiotics of general formula [Cu(N,N)(CipA)Cl] where N,N is a phenanthrene ligand and CipA is a derivative of the clinically used fluoroquinolone antibiotic ciprofloxacin – targeting immunocompromised cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Heterostructured Cl-CuO/g-C₃N₄ composite for OER and photocatalytic 4-nitrophenol degradation.

Cooperative catalytic hydroamination of diphenylacetylene and styrene is accomplished by magnesiates with efficiency dependent on the alkali metal and monoanionic or dianionic nature of the ate with dianionic [(PMDETA)₂K₂Mg(CH₂SiMe₃)₄] performing best.

A new porous Mn(II)-based MOF was obtained. The studies indicated it exhibits an effective storage capacity for CO₂, highly efficient catalyst behavior for epoxides with different substituents and rapid adsorption behavior of different dyes.

The hydrolytic transformation of doubly charged methylpyrazinium bromobismutates proceeds with the formation of singly charged cations bromobismutates.

The reactions of [W(CBr)(CO)₂(Tp*)] (Tp* = hydrotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)borate) with lithium alkynylselenolates LiSeCCR (R = SiMe₃, SiⁱPr₃, ⁿBu, ^tBu, Ph, p-tolyl) afford the alkynylselenolatoalkylidyne complexes [W(CSeCCR)(CO)₂(Tp*)].

Carrier relaxation processes in CdSe core QDs and core–multi-shell QDs under excitation at 450 nm.

Two pure red iridium(III) complexes with sulfur-containing ligands were synthesized at room temperature within 5 min, and their devices achieved an EQE_max of 21.50%.

A new reactivity mode for acyclic diaminocarbene ligands, viz. competitive cleavage of either C–NH₂ or C–NHR bonds in the aminocarbene fragment, is recognized.

Thirteen Cd(II) complexes with diverse chain, (4,4), (6,3), (6³), (6⁵·8), 2-periodic (6,3) layers, and diverse 3D vma, irl, cds, eca nets have been synthesized.

Through examining a range of heteroatom substituted dinuclear species a variety of spin crossover properties emerge, including a rare two-step spin-state transition.

Novel bis(2,9-diaryl-1,10-phenanthroline)copper(I) complexes were prepared to study a photoredox-catalysed reaction.

The state-of-art RuO₂ catalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is measured by using in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) to elucidate the structural transformation during catalyzing the reaction in acidic and alkaline conditions.

The intrinsic capability of the paddlewheel-type dirhodium tetraacetate complex, [Rh₂(O₂CCH₃)₄(H₂O)₂] ([1(H₂O)₂]), as a hydrogen evolution catalyst (HEC) for photochemical hydrogen evolution from aqueous solution was illustrated.

The effects of the morphologies of MOF precursors on the properties of their derived carbonaceous materials are systematically studied.

The sidearm effect is employed to inhibit transesterification for the synthesis of well-defined block copolyesters in ROP of lactones.

Alkaline earth metal chemistry with the anion [N(C₆F₅)₂]⁻ has been explored. Complexes are stabilized by metal⋯F interactions. Mg[N(C₆F₅)₂]₂ is a stronger Lewis acid than B(C₆F₅)₃.

A series of 1^st row transition metal trifluoride complexes with neutral N₃-donor ligands is described; radiolabelling of [FeF₃(BnMe₂-tacn); in aqueous MeCN is achieved by ¹⁸F/¹⁹F isotopic exchange and its stability in PBS and serum established.

A series of ferrocenyl-phosphine ligands has been used to stabilize small rhodium nanoparticles that are active in the catalytic hydrogenation of styrene.

The synthesis, crystal structures and properties of two new potential IR NLO materials, β-RbCdI₃·H₂O and CsCdI₃·H₂O, are presented.

The encapsulation of fluorescein dye into porous zinc–adenine metal–organic framework (bio-MOF-1) crystals has been studied for metal cation sensing.

Under visible light irradiation [Cr(ttpy)₂]³⁺ can be reduced twice by a tertiary amine; the photoreduction processes are accelerated in the presence of [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺ acting as an antenna thanks to an efficient electron transfer reaction from [Ru(bpy)₃]^2+* to [Cr(ttpy)₂]³⁺.

Immobilization of phosphotungstate is achieved through doping in polypyrrole. Owing to the proton sponge provided by polypyrrole, electrochemical stability in neutral solution is realized for phosphotungstate.

Mo/Mn-Ni_xS_y/NF catalyst was successfully synthesized and exhibited excellent catalytic activities and long-term durability.

A tetrasilabicyclo[1.1.0]but-1(3)-ene was synthesized as orange crystals and its reactions were investigated.

A novel Pt^IV azido triazolato complex exists as an equilibrium between two species in d₃-MeCN and evolves azide radicals (but not hydroxide radicals) when irradiated with visible light.