Themed collection Open Access in Dalton Transactions

Stabilization of pnictogens by carbenes, especially heterocyclic carbenes, is a constantly evolving and expanding field of research. In this perspective we summarize recent efforts towards the heavy triad of pnictogens As, Sb and Bi.

An [Fe^III₈] hexagonal bipyramid displays antiferromagnetic exchange between the two capping tetrahedral ions and the six ring octahedral ions resulting in a spin ground state, S = 10.

In its monoradical state, the tritopic bridging ligand of 2,3,6,7,10,11-hexaiminotriphenylene (HITP) supports strong metal–ligand magnetic exchange coupling persistent at room temperature in the trinuclear nickel complex built from such moiety.

The effects of concentration, acidity, salinity and temperature on the composition and structure of Keggin POM peptide complexes have been investigated.

The solubility of Ca(OH)₂(cr), β-Ni(OH)₂(cr), Nd(OH)₃(s) and PuO₂(ncr, hyd) was investigated in cement porewater solutions containing glutarate, α-hydroxyisobutarate and 3-hydroxybutarate as proxy ligands for the degradation of polyacrilonitrile.

We investigate the effect of sulfur on the interaction of iron catalyst nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes (CNTs), typically present in a floating catalyst chemical vapor deposition (FCCVD) process.

The polar chalcogenide phase Ba₅Fe₂ZnIn₄S₁₅ possesses weakly interacting magnetic zig-zag chains made of corner-sharing Fe³⁺S₄ thus forming an AFM S = 5/2 spin chain system. The intrinsic polarization is mostly due to the anionic framework.

The synthesis and characterisation of a series of Kryptofix 222-based chelators that can be radiolabelled with ²⁰¹Tl(I) in high radiochemical yields at ambient temperature are described.

The equilibrium tuning between Ph₂P–O–PPh₂, POP and Ph₂P–P(O)Ph₂, PPO in the presence of transition metals was investigated. Coordination-stabilised POP tautomers show highly luminescent und thermochromic behavior.

Three isomorphous coordination frameworks demonstrate paramagnetic, antiferromagnetic or ferromagnetically-coupled behaviour, which is controlled by light and temperature.

Sequential reduction of a uranium-azide through all the nitride steps is revealed. Experimentally determined U–U coupling in the diuranium(IV)–dinitride is shown by ab initio calculations to stem from the nitride bridges, not U–U bonding.

The reactions of R₂P–PR₂ with R′E–ER′ (where E = Se, S, O, Te) to give R₂P–ER′ have been explored experimentally and computationally. ³¹P NMR evidence suggests that Mo(0) complexes of Ph₂P–SePh feature P- and Se- linkage isomers.

Replacing Ru by Fe in Ru(bda)(py)₂ leads to drastically altered properties and loss of catalytic activity.

Ultra-small isoreticular UiO-type metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) with different functionalized and extended linkers are evaluated for catalytic direct amide bond formation.

We report on the syntheses and single crystal X-ray structures of rare room-temperature stable silylene carbonyl complexes [L(X)Ga]₂Si-CO, the influence of the substituent X on their electronic nature and their promising potential in NH₃ activation.

Encapsulation of a [ReBr₆]²⁻ guest in a [Cu₂L₄]⁴⁺ cage induces a magnetic interaction between the Cu^II and Re^IV ions.

Synthesis and structural characterisation of solid titanium phosphates prepared at mild conditions, short reaction times and different post-synthetic treatments.

Hg(II) ortho-cyano-aminothiophenolate (ocap) complexes [Hg{SC₆H₃XN(CN)}]_n (X = H, Me, Cl, Br, NO₂) have been prepared from dehydrogenation and C–S bond cleavage of 2-aminobenzothiazoles.

Dimethylaluminum isopropoxide (DMAI) and ethylene glycol (EG) yield alucone films with properties similar to those of films prepared using trimethylaluminum (TMA) and EG but with much higher deposition rates (nm s⁻¹).

Electron-rich [Fe(CN)₄]⁶⁻ features a π-backbonding scheme with non-innocent CN-ligands exhibiting weak C–N bonds and a d¹⁰ configuration on iron.