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The 3D lanthanum-dicarboxylate MOF [La2(hex)3(H2O)4]3H2O, (1), (hex = trans,trans-muconic acid) has been obtained at 50 °C, in a silica gel column, either via in situ transformation of the 2D MOF [La2(hex)3(H2O)6]9H2O, (2), published previously, or directly. The structure is made up of metal–ligand layers pillared by a ligand dianion. The comparison of the crystal structures of the two MOFs allowed us to propose a possible mechanism of the 2D to 3D transformation. The presence of many short olefinic contacts allowed the formation of three photoproducts at different yields, the major one being the rtct isomer for the 3D MOF and the rttc one for the 2D MOF. In both cases, the three photoreactions proceed with the parallel reaction scheme. The comparison of the crystal structures of 1 and 2 allowed the photoreactivity differences observed to be explained.

A 2D lanthanum-dicarboxylate MOF of the formula [La2(hex)3(H2O)6]·9H2O (H2hex = trans,trans-hexadiendioic acid or trans,trans-muconic acid) has been synthesized by the silica gel technique. The structure consists of metal–organic layers separated by a 2D network of water molecules. The metal–organic layers are made up of La3+ arrays linked by the muconate ligands. Within a layer there is an infinite chain of short contacts between olefinic bonds allowing formation, upon UV irradiation, of three photoproducts. One of them was completely unexpected and its formation is explained by complex molecular movements in the solid state. The thermal instability of the MOF allowed isolation of five photochemically active lower hydrates. The rate constants of all hydrates were determined and show significant variations between them, attributable to structural rearrangements within the metal–organic layer brought about upon dehydration.

The reactions of tetrachloroauric(III) acid (HAuCl4) with the thioamides; 2-mercapto-benzothiazole (mbztH) and 5-ethoxy-2-mercapto-benzimidazole (EtmbzimH) lead to the desulfuration of the ligands and the formation of the ionic complexes {[AuCl4]- [bztH2]+} (1), and {[AuCl4]- [EtbzimH2]+ (H2O)} (2) (where bztH2+ and EtbzimH2+ are the desulfurated cations of the starting ligands). The reaction of HAuCl4 with 2-mercapto-nicotinic acid (mnaH2), however results in the formation of 2-sulfonate-nicotininc acid (C6H5NO5S) (3) with the simultaneous oxidation of the sulfur atom. On the other hand, the reactions of the gold(I) complex [Au(tpp)Cl] (4) (tpp = triphenylphosphine (Ph3P)) with the thioamides; 2-mercapto-thiazolidine (mtzdH), 2-mercapto-benzothiazole (mbztH) and 5-chloro-2-mercapto-benzothiazole (ClmbztH) in the presence of potassium hydroxide resulted in the formation of the gold(I) complexes of formulae [Au(tpp)(mtzd)] (5), [Au(tpp)(mbzt)] (6) and [Au(tpp)(Clmbzt)] (7) without ligand desulfuration. All complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, far-FT-IR,1H-NMR, spectroscopic techniques and X-Ray crystallography. The electrochemical behavior of 1, 2 and 4-7 complexes and the ligands EtmbzimH, mbztH and mnaH2 was also studied in acetonitrile and DMF using cyclic voltammetry. The results are in support of a mechanism of desulfuration of the ligands by Au(III), involving a first oxidation of S to -SO3-, followed by a C-S bond cleavage. This is also supported by PM6 calculations of bond dissociation energies of the various compounds involved. Complexes 1, 2 and 4-7 were tested for in vitro cytotoxicity against leiomyosarcoma cells and the results are discussed in relation with the geometry of the complexes and compared with those of cisplatin and other metals. Complexes 1 and 5 showed higher activity than that of cisplatin, while HAuCl4 was inactive against sarcoma cells.

A 2D layered structure composed of Cd dimers, linked by fumarate anions to form a rectangular grid network, was pillared, via metal coordination, to afford a 3D photoreactive metal–organic framework.

We describe the synthesis, crystal structure and solid state reactivity of cadmium fumarate dihydrate, which is made up of planar H-bonded metal - organic layers and undergoes, upon irradiation, a topochemical [2+2] cycloaddition reaction. Chemical Communications

Silver(I) glutarate is a 2D polynuclear polymer whose repeat unit consists of a tetranuclear silver cluster coordinated by two bridging glutarate anions; these units are organised, through additional metal–oxygen linkages, in layers parallel to the ac plane, in which uncommon metal–metal contacts (3.14–3.43 A) are observed.