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1. 2.2.2-Cryptand complexes of neptunium( iii ) and plutonium( iii )

   https://doi.org/10.1039/D1CC05904A  

   Goodwin, Conrad A.; Ciccone, Sierra R.; Bekoe, Samuel; Majumdar, Sourav; Scott, Brian L.; Ziller, Joseph W.; Gaunt, Andrew J.; Furche, Filipp; Evans, William J. (January 2022, Chemical Communications)

   New coordination environments are reported for Np( iii ) and Pu( iii ) based on pilot studies of U( iii ) in 2.2.2-cryptand (crypt). The U( iii )-in-crypt complex, [U(crypt)I 2 ][I], obtained from the reaction between UI 3 and crypt, is treated with Me 3 SiOTf (OTf = O 3 SCF 3 ) in benzene to form the [U(crypt)(OTf) 2 ][OTf] complex. Similarly, the isomorphous Np( iii ) and Pu( iii ) complexes were obtained similarly starting from [AnI 3 (THF) 4 ]. All three complexes (1-An; An = U, Np, Pu) contain an encapsulated actinide in a THF-soluble complex. Absorption spectroscopy and DFT calculations are consistent with 5f 3 U( iii ), 5f 4 Np( iii ), and 5f 5 Pu( iii ) electron configurations. 

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2. Synthesis and characterization of thermoplastic poly(piperazine succinate) metallopolymers coordinated to ruthenium( III ) or iron( III )

   https://doi.org/10.1002/pol.20220583  

   Schneider, Jessica K.; Ove, Clarissa A.; Pirlo, Russell K.; Biffinger, Justin C. (November 2022, Journal of Polymer Science)

   Abstract Metal‐containing polymers represent an ever‐expanding frontier of material science. Of the numerous biocompatible ligands used to create a metallopolymer, piperazine‐containing polymers are still in their early development, even though piperazine is a common functional group in drug design and bioengineering scaffolding elements. We report the first synthesis and characterization (with NMR, IR, GPC, UV–vis spectroscopy, and thermal analysis) of two thermoplastic poly(alkyl piperazine succinate) diols with either propyl or hexyl alkane chains bridging the piperazines. These polyester diols were then chain extended with hexamethylene diisocyanate to create highly amorphous polyester urethane thermoplastic polymers. Ru(III) or Fe(III) was then successfully coordinated with these polymers, with approximately 30% of the bulk metallopolymer product becoming 250x the molecular weight of the non‐metal containing polymers. However, coordination of Fe(III), and to a lesser extent Ru(III), to these polypiperazines accelerated the hydrolysis of the polyester linkage in water over 15 days. Thus, these novel polymers are highly biodegradable with Fe(III) metallopolymers hydrolyzing faster than Ru(III) metallopolymers and poly(propyl piperazine succinate) polymers hydrolyzing faster than poly(hexyl piperazine succinate) polymers. 

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3. Tuning the photophysical properties of lanthanide( iii )/zinc( ii ) ‘encapsulated sandwich’ metallacrowns emitting in the near-infrared range

   https://doi.org/10.1039/D1SC06769A  

   Eliseeva, Svetlana V.; Nguyen, Tu N.; Kampf, Jeff W.; Trivedi, Evan R.; Pecoraro, Vincent L.; Petoud, Stéphane (March 2022, Chemical Science)

   A family of Zn 16 Ln(HA) 16 metallacrowns (MCs; Ln = Yb III , Er III , and Nd III ; HA = picoline- (picHA 2− ), pyrazine- (pyzHA 2− ), and quinaldine- (quinHA 2− ) hydroximates) with an ‘encapsulated sandwich’ structure possesses outstanding luminescence properties in the near-infrared (NIR) and suitability for cell imaging. Here, to decipher which parameters affect their functional and photophysical properties and how the nature of the hydroximate ligands can allow their fine tuning, we have completed this Zn 16 Ln(HA) 16 family by synthesizing MCs with two new ligands, naphthyridine- (napHA 2− ) and quinoxaline- (quinoHA 2− ) hydroximates. Zn 16 Ln(napHA) 16 and Zn 16 Ln(quinoHA) 16 exhibit absorption bands extended into the visible range and efficiently sensitize the NIR emissions of Yb III , Er III , and Nd III upon excitation up to 630 nm. The energies of the lowest singlet (S 1 ), triplet (T 1 ) and intra-ligand charge transfer (ILCT) states have been determined. Ln III -centered total ( Q LLn) and intrinsic ( Q LnLn) quantum yields, sensitization efficiencies ( η sens ), observed ( τ obs ) and radiative ( τ rad ) luminescence lifetimes have been recorded and analyzed in the solid state and in CH 3 OH and CD 3 OD solutions for all Zn 16 Ln(HA) 16 . We found that, within the Zn 16 Ln(HA) 16 family, τ rad values are not constant for a particular Ln III . The close in energy positions of T 1 and ILCT states in Zn 16 Ln(picHA) 16 and Zn 16 Ln(quinHA) 16 are preferred for the sensitization of Ln III NIR emission and η sens values reach 100% for Nd III . Finally, the highest values of Q LLn are observed for Zn 16 Ln(quinHA) 16 in the solid state or in CD 3 OD solutions. With these data at hand, we are now capable of creating MCs with desired properties suitable for NIR optical imaging. 

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4. Unusually short Au( iii )⋯Au( iii ) aurophilic contacts between anions. Necessity of counterions

   https://doi.org/10.1039/D5DT00879D  

   Scheiner, Steve; Michalczyk, Mariusz; Zierkiewicz, Wiktor (June 2025, Dalton Transactions)

   The occurrence of these anion⋯anion dimers in the crystal structure are dependent on the presence of counterions as the attraction between two Au(iii) centers is insufficient to override the coulombic repulsion. 

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5. D -Mannosamine hydrochloride (2-amino-2-deoxy- D -mannose hydrochloride): ionic hydrogen bonding in saccharides involving chloride and aminium ions

   https://doi.org/10.1107/S2053229622002121  

   Lin, Jieye; Oliver, Allen G.; Serianni, Anthony S. (April 2022, Acta Crystallographica Section C Structural Chemistry)

   D-Mannosamine hydrochloride (2-amino-2-deoxy-D-mannose hydrochloride), C 6 H 14 NO 5 + ·Cl − , (I), crystallized from a methanol/ethyl acetate/ n -hexane solvent mixture at room temperature in a 4 C 1 chair conformation that is slightly distorted towards the C3,O5 B form. A comparison of the structural parameters of (I) with the corresponding parameters in α-D-glucosamine hydrochloride, (II), and β-D-galactosamine hydrochloride, (III)/(III′), was undertaken to evaluate the effects of ionic hydrogen bonding on structural properties. Three types of ionic hydrogen bonds are present in the crystals of (I)–(III)/(III′), i.e. N + —H...O, N + —H...Cl − , and O—H...Cl − . The exocyclic structural parameters in (I), (II), and (III)/(III′) appear to be most influenced by this bonding, especially the exocyclic hydroxy groups, which adopt eclipsed conformations enabled by ionic hydrogen bonding to the chloride anion. Anomeric disorder was observed in crystals of (I), with an α:β ratio of 37:63. However, anomeric configuration appears to exert minimal structural effects; that is, bond lengths, bond angles, and torsion angles are essentially identical in both anomers. The observed disorder at the anomeric C atom of (I) appears to be caused by the presence of the chloride anion and atom O3 or O4 in proximal voids, which provide opportunities for hydrogen bonding to atom O1 in both axial and equatorial orientations. 

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