Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 6, 2026

Surface Functionalization of Metal-Organic Frameworks for Improved Moisture Resistance
Published on: September 5, 2018
Externally and Internally Functionalized Copper(II) β-Diketonate Molecular Squares
Jackson K Cherutoi1, Jace D Sandifer1, Uttam R Pokharel1
1Department of Chemistry, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States.
Abstract:
Five functionalized bis(β-diketones) and their Cu(II) molecular squares are described. The new bis(β-diketones), m-pbhxH2 (3), 5-MeO-m-pbaH2 (4), 5-BuO-m-pbaH2 (5), 2-MeO-m-pbaH2 (6), and 2-MeO-m-pbprH2 (7), were prepared by reaction of the corresponding aldehydes with phospholenes, as we previously reported for m-pbaH2 (1) and m-pbprH2 (2). Ligand 3 has long alkyl chains in its β-diketone moieties, while ligands 4-7 have alkoxy substituents on their aromatic rings. When treated with Cu(2+), the new bis(β-diketones) 3, 4, 5, and 7 afford molecular squares, Cu4(m-pbhx)4 (10), Cu4(5-MeO-m-pba)4 (11), Cu4(5-BuO-m-pba)4 (12), and Cu4(2-MeO-m-pbpr)4 (13), respectively. Two of the new molecular squares, 10 and 12, contain longer-chain substituents and are soluble in a wider range of organic solvents. The other squares, 11 and 13, contain external and internal methoxy groups, respectively, and they show smaller changes in solubility. Single-crystal X-ray analyses are reported for three of the molecular squares without guest molecules, and for five adducts of the squares with σ- (polypyridine) and π-bonded (fullerene) guests. The Cu···Cu distances in the "empty" squares range from 14.047 to 14.904 Å; those in the adducts vary over a wider range depending on the guest molecule involved.
More Related Videos
14:44Structure and Coordination Determination of Peptide-metal Complexes Using 1D and 2D 1H NMR
Published on: December 16, 2013
11:04Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry Techniques for Determining the Structure and Mechanisms of Metal Ion Recognition and Redox Activity of Metal Binding Oligopeptides
Published on: September 7, 2019
Related Concept Videos
Crystal Field Theory - Tetrahedral and Square Planar Complexes
Crystal field theory (CFT) is applicable to molecules in geometries other than octahedral. In octahedral complexes, the lobes of the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals point directly at the ligands. For tetrahedral complexes, the d orbitals remain in place, but with only four ligands located between the axes. None of the orbitals points directly at the tetrahedral ligands. However, the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals (along the Cartesian axes) overlap with the ligands less than the dxy,...
Valence Bond Theory
Coordination Number and Geometry
Colors and Magnetism
When atoms or molecules absorb light at the proper frequency, their electrons are excited to higher-energy orbitals. For many main group atoms and molecules, the absorbed photons are in the ultraviolet range of the electromagnetic spectrum, which cannot be detected by the human eye. For coordination compounds, the energy difference between the d orbitals often allows photons in the visible range to be absorbed and emitted, which is seen as colors by the human...
Metal-Ligand Bonds
In these complexes, transition metals form coordinate covalent bonds, a kind of Lewis acid-base interaction in which both of the electrons in the bond are contributed by a donor (Lewis base) to an electron acceptor (Lewis acid). The Lewis acid in...
Crystal Field Theory - Octahedral Complexes
To explain the observed behavior of transition metal complexes (such as colors), a model involving electrostatic interactions between the electrons from the ligands and the electrons in the unhybridized d orbitals of the central metal atom has been developed. This electrostatic model is crystal field theory (CFT). It helps to understand, interpret, and predict the colors, magnetic behavior, and some structures of coordination compounds of transition metals.
CFT focuses on...