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Updated: Apr 23, 2026

Synthesis of Single-Crystalline Core-Shell Metal-Organic Frameworks
Published on: February 10, 2023
Lanthanoid "bottlebrush" clusters: remarkably elongated metal-oxo core structures with controllable lengths
Daniel D'Alessio1, Alexandre N Sobolev, Brian W Skelton
1Department of Chemistry, Curtin University , Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia.
Researchers created novel rod-like metal-oxo clusters, overcoming the typical spherical shapes. This breakthrough in lanthanoid chemistry allows for tunable cluster lengths by modifying co-ligands, opening new material possibilities.
Area of Science:
- Coordination Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Lanthanoid Chemistry
Background:
- Large metal-oxo clusters typically form spherical or polyhedral structures.
- Achieving high-aspect-ratio or elongated metal-oxo clusters remains a synthetic challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize novel elongated metal-oxo clusters.
- To explore the influence of co-ligands on cluster morphology and length.
Main Methods:
- Reaction of lanthanoid salts with a tetrazole-functionalized calixarene.
- Inclusion of a carboxylate co-ligand to direct cluster formation.
- Structural characterization of the resultant Ln19 and Ln12 clusters.
Main Results:
- Successfully synthesized elongated metal-oxo clusters (Ln19 and Ln12).
- Clusters are constructed from apex-fused Ln5O6 trigonal bipyramids.
- Cluster length is reliably controlled by altering the carboxylate co-ligand structure.
Conclusions:
- Demonstrated a new method for accessing rod-like metal-oxo clusters.
- Established a strategy for tuning cluster dimensions through co-ligand design.
- Opened avenues for developing new functional materials based on elongated metal-oxo clusters.
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