An overcrowded ethylene composed of electron-donating anion and electron-accepting cation shows multiple NIR chromisms accompanying the conformational change between folded and twisted conformers. Th...

In multimetallic compounds, N2 typically bridges late transition metals in an end-on (η1:η1) fashion while early transition metals often bind N2 side-on (η2), with the latter resulting in more significant N–N bond elongation. Herein, N2 fixation is accomplished by using a well-defined scaffold featuring a heterobimetallic combination of Zr and Co. We report a heterotetrametallic Zr2Co2 cluster in which N2 is bound side-on to the two Co centers and end-on to Zr in a μ3-η1:η2:η2 binding mode that defies established paradigms for N2 binding. The heterometallic approach is shown to facilitate catalytic reductive silylation of N2 with turnover numbers far exceeding those of reported cobalt catalysts.

Reductive N2 cleavage at an acridane PNP pincer-supported Mo center leads to the first crystallographically characterized example of an unusual Mo(IV) nitride species featuring a bridging N2 coordina...

Although various skeletons of organic ligands have been applied to achieve the structural diversity of metallasupramolecular assemblies, limited approaches are available for organometallic cluster-bas...

Pumping ions against a concentration gradient through protein-based transporters is a cornerstone of numerous biological processes. Mimicking this function by using artificial receptors remains a daun...

Humanity’s replacement of fossil-fuel energy with renewable electricity will require extensive deployment of lithium batteries, which necessitates an increase in the rate of production of this vital metal. Current extraction methods from brines and ores are very energy-intensive, as are recycling methods. Here we report a novel Li5L2 sandwich structure in which five lithium ions are bound between the azobipyridine groups of two pentagonal ligands. The geometry of these ligands leads to the selectivity for binding Li+ in the presence of Na+ and K+. Upon illumination, the trans-azobipyridine moieties of the ligands isomerize to their cis form, promoting the release of free Li+ as the sandwich comes apart. The selective complexation of Li+, and its photostimulated release, were used as the basis of a cycle for selectively extracting and releasing Li+ ions from a mixture with Na+ and K+. Solar energy may thus be used directly to purify this metal, which is essential for storing increasingly cheap electricity produced through renewable means.

Wacker oxidation is widely used to convert alkenes to carbonyls, but selective oxidation of unbiased internal alkenes can be difficult. Here a nickel-catalyzed alkene isomerisation-oxidation strategy ...

Tubular structures with nanosized pores have shown remarkable applications in areas such as ion transport and water filtration, but their development is often hindered by challenges including low yiel...

The ability to precisely modify the structure of molecules is a captivating process that has fascinated the synthetic organic and medicinal chemistry communities. To this end, functional group transpo...

Despite their significant potential in organometallic chemistry, the utility of arsines as ligands in transition-metal catalysis remains underexplored relative to their phosphine counterparts. Althoug...

Host–guest complexation enhances or even alters photoreaction selectivity by preorganizing substrates within the host’s confined cavities. Since most previous hosts exhibited no visible-light absorpti...

Threefold symmetric hexa-cationic hydrazone cages coordinate a range of transition metal ions upon deprotonation. When the cage contains ethyl solubilising groups the expected threefold symmetric cag...

Polyoxometalate (POM) templates unlock the selective self-assembly of robust coordination cages from inert metal centers and conformationally mismatched ligands. This strategy modulates both thermody...

Cocrystallization of the palladium acetate cluster Pd3(OAc)6 (abbreviated as [Pd3]) with electron-deficient iodine(i)-based perfluoroarenes (ArFI: iodopentafluorobenzene, 4-iodoheptafluorotoluene, 1,4...

The first heterometallic Pt(II)–Pd(II) quadruply interlocked cage catenane (Pt2Pd2L8) has been assembled via a combination of metal-mediated self-assembly and dynamic covalent chemistry. The integrat....

The depletion of fossil resources and the urgent demand for biodegradable alternatives drive innovations in transforming renewable vegetable oils into high-value chemicals. Despite substantial progres...

Molecular nanobelts are fascinating analogs of carbon nanotubes. Their rigid geometries and strongly coupled π-electrons have the potential to generate a wave function resembling that of a quantum rin...

Quaternary carbon centers are widespread structural motifs, thus representing extensive interest in organic synthesis. We describe here an efficient nickel-catalyzed intermolecular, Markovnikov-select...

Here we demonstrate the general, room-temperature, and scalable synthesis of degradable polyimines by deborylative polycondensation under anhydrous and neutral conditions, which can improve the degre....

Using a non-labile Co (III) metal template and click reaction followed by de-metalation, synthesis of [2], linear [3], and radial [4] catenane has been achieved. Synthesized templated linear [2] cate...

Although various skeletons of organic ligands have been applied to achieve the structural diversity of metallasupramolecular assemblies, limited approaches are available for organometallic cluster-bas...

A tetracationic macrocycle and a hexacationic cage bearing four and six pyridinium units, respectively, were synthesized via an SN2 reaction in a one-pot manner. Both of these hosts have relatively ri...