A new microporous Zr ⁴⁺ MOF combines both extraordinary sorption capability and exceptional luminescence sensing properties for Cr( vi ) in aqueous media.

A Zr⁴⁺ MOF shows an exceptional capability to capture TcO₄⁻ and selective luminescence sensing for ReO₄⁻, demonstrated for the first time for MOF materials.

The combination of a new pseudopeptidic ligand, transition metal ions, and bridging water molecules results in the formation of [M(μ-TBG)(μ-H₂O)(H₂O)₂]·2H₂O (M: Cu, Co and H₂TBG: terephthaloylbisglycine); both compounds show rare two-fold interpenetrated three-dimensional cds-nets and reversible loss of coordinated and lattice water molecules.

The coordination properties of Ni(II) ions towards the terminally blocked (CH₃CONH- and -CONH₂) hexapeptides -TESHHK-, -TASHHK-, -TEAHHK-, -TESAHK- and -TESHAK- were studied by using potentiometric and spectroscopic techniques (UV/Vis, CD, NMR). The peptides were chosen in such a way as to compare the effect of Glu, Ser and His residues on the stability, the coordination and hydrolytic abilities of the complexes formed. All peptides bind to Ni(II) ions initially through one or two imidazole nitrogens in weakly acidic and neutral solutions forming slightly distorted octahedral complexes. At higher pH values, a series of square-planar complexes are formed, where Ni(II) ions bind simultaneously through an imidazole and three amide nitrogens in an equatorial plane. This proposed conformation includes the participation of only one imidazole nitrogen, in the case of all peptides, in the coordination sphere of Ni(II) ions. In basic solutions, the peptides -TASHHK- and -TESAHK- were hydrolyzed in a Ni(II)-assisted fashion. No hydrolytic processes were noticed in peptides -TEAHHK- and -TESHAK- where the Ser or His-5 residues are replaced with the Ala residue. The Ni(II)-assisted hydrolysis of the analogues of -TESHHK- may provide an insight into the novel mechanism of genotoxicity, combining the damage to the nucleosome with the generation of further toxic Ni(II) species.

The combination of terepthaloylbisglycinate (TBG^{2 −}) and metal ions at room temperature results in the formation of five coordination polymers formulated as [M(μ-TBG)(μ-H₂O)(H₂O)₂]·2H₂O, where M = Co (1) and Cu (2), [Mn(μ-TBG)(H₂O)₄]·2H₂O (3), [Cd(μ-TBG)(H₂O)₃]·2H₂O (4) and [Pb(μ-TBG)(H₂O)₂]·3H₂O (5). The dimensionality of the final product is affected by the coordination number of the metal ion. Thermal, reversible solvent uptake, magnetic and catalytic properties of these compounds have been investigated.

Three isostructural two-dimensional coordination polymers of the general formula [Ln₂(CuL)₃(H₂O)₉]·5.5H₂O, where Ln = La (1), Nd (2), and Gd (3), have been synthesized and isolated from aqueous solutions and their single-crystal structures determined by X-ray diffraction. The supramolecular interaction between the non-aromatic metallorings plays an important role in stabilizing the structure of these compounds. The thermal stability, reversible solvent uptake, electronic properties and magnetic studies of these compounds are also reported.