Two new bis-bidentate bridging ligands have been prepared, L (naph) and L (anth), which contain two chelating pyrazolyl-pyridine units connected to an aromatic spacer (naphthalene-1,5-diyl and anthracene-9,10-diyl respectively) via methylene connectors. Each of these reacts with transition metal dications having a preference for octahedral coordination geometry to afford {M 8L 12} (16+) cages (for L (anth), M = Cu, Zn; for L (naph), M = Co, Ni, Cd) which have an approximately cubic arrangement of metal ions with a bridging ligand spanning each of the twelve edges, and a large central cavity containing a mixture of anions and/or solvent molecules. The cages based on L (anth) have two cyclic helical {M 4L 4} faces, of opposite chirality, connected by four additional L (anth) ligands as "pillars"; all metal centers have a meridional tris-chelate configuration. In contrast the cages based on L (naph) have (noncrystallographic) S 6 symmetry, with a diagonally opposite pair of corners having a facial tris-chelate configuration with the other six being meridional. An additional significant difference between the two types of structure is that the cubes containing L (anth) do not show significant interligand aromatic stacking interactions. However, in the cages based on L (naph), there are six five-membered stacks of aromatic ligand fragments around the periphery, each based on an alternating array of electron-rich (naphthyl) and electron-deficient (pyrazolyl-pyridine, coordinated to M (2+)) aromatic units. A consequence of this is that the cages {M 8(L (naph)) 12} (16+) retain their structural integrity in polar solvents, in contrast to the cages {M 8(L (anth)) 12} (16+) which dissociate in polar solvents. Consequently, the cages {M 8(L (naph)) 12} (16+) give NMR spectra in agreement with the symmetry observed in the solid state, and their fluorescence spectra (for M = Cd) display (in addition to the normal naphthalene-based pi-pi* fluorescence) a lower-energy exciplex-like emission feature associated with a naphthyl --> pyrazolyl-pyridine charge-transfer excited state arising from the pi-stacking between ligands around the cage periphery.

The bis-bidentate bridging ligand L {α,α'-bis[3-(2-pyridyl)pyrazol-1-yl]-1,4-dimethylbenzene}, which contains two chelating pyrazolyl-pyridine units connected to a 1,4-phenylene spacer via flexible methylene units, reacts with transition metal dications to form a range of polyhedral coordination cages based on a 2M:3 L ratio in which a metal ion occupies each vertex of a polyhedron, a bridging ligand lies along every edge, and all metal ions are octahedrally coordinated. Whereas the Ni(II) complex [Ni(8)L(12)](BF(4))(12)(SiF(6))(2) is an octanuclear cubic cage of a type we have seen before, the Cu(II), Zn(II), and Cd(II) complexes form new structural types. [Cu(6)L(9)](BF(4))(12) is an unusual example of a trigonal prismatic cage, and both Zn(II) and Cd(II) form unprecedented hexadecanuclear cages [M(16)L(24)]X(32)(X = ClO(4) or BF(4)) whose core is a skewed tetracapped truncated tetrahedron. Both Cu(6)L(9) and M(16)L(24) cages are based on a cyclic helical M(3)L(3) subunit that can be considered as a triangular "panel", with the cages being constructed by interconnection of these (homochiral) panels with additional bridging ligands in different ways. Whereas [Cu(6)L(9)](BF(4))(12) is stable in solution (by electrospray mass spectrometry, ES-MS) and is rapidly formed by combination of Cu(BF(4))(2) and L in the correct proportions in solution, the hexadecanuclear cage [Cd(16)L(24)](BF(4))(32) formed on crystallization slowly rearranges in solution over a period of several weeks to the trigonal prism [Cd(6)L(9)](BF(4))(12), which was unequivocally identified on the basis of its (1)H NMR spectrum. Similarly, combination of Cd(BF(4))(2) and L in a 2:3 ratio generates a mixture whose main component is the trigonal prism [Cd(6)L(9)](BF(4))(12). Thus the hexanuclear trigonal prism is the thermodynamic product arising from combination of Cd(II) and L in a 2:3 ratio in solution, and arises from both assembly of metal and ligand (minutes) and rearrangement of the Cd(16) cage (weeks); the large cage [Cd(16)L(24)](BF(4))(32) is present as a minor component of a mixture of species in solution but crystallizes preferentially.

The ligand L(bip), containing two bidentate pyrazolyl-pyridine termini separated by a 3,3'-biphenyl spacer, has been used to prepare tetrahedral cage complexes of the form [M(4)(L(bip))(6)]X(8), in which a bridging ligand spans each of the six edges of the M(4) tetrahedron. Several new examples have been structurally characterized with a variety of metal cation and different anions in order to examine interactions between the cationic cage and various anions. Small anions such as BF(4)(-) and NO(3)(-) can occupy the central cavity where they are anchored by an array of CH···F or CH···O hydrogen-bonding interactions with the interior surface of the cage, but larger anions such as naphthyl-1-sulfonate or tetraphenylborate lie outside the cavity and interact with the external surface of the cage via CH···π interactions or CH···O hydrogen bonds. The cages with M = Co and M = Cd have been examined in detail by NMR spectroscopy. For [Co(4)(L(bip))(6)](BF(4))(8) the (1)H NMR spectrum is paramagnetically shifted over the range -85 to +110 ppm, but the spectrum has been completely assigned by correlation of measured T(1) relaxation times of each peak with Co···H distances. (19)F DOSY measurements on the anions show that at low temperature a [BF(4)](-) anion diffuses at a similar rate to the cage superstructure surrounding it, indicating that it is trapped inside the central cage cavity. Furthermore, the equilibrium step-by-step self-assembly of the cage superstructure has been elucidated by detailed modeling of spectroscopic titrations at multiple temperatures of an acetonitrile solution of L(bip) into an acetonitrile solution of Co(BF(4))(2). Six species have been identified: [Co(2)L(bip)](4+), [Co(2)(L(bip))(2)](4+), [Co(4)(L(bip))(6)](8+), [Co(4)(L(bip))(8)](8+), [Co(2)(L(bip))(5)](4+), and [Co(L(bip))(3)](2+). Overall the assembly of the cage is entropy, and not enthalpy, driven. Once assembled, the cages show remarkable kinetic inertness due to their mechanically entangled nature: scrambling of metal cations between the sites of pure Co(4) and Cd(4) cages to give a statistical mixture of Co(4), Co(3)Cd, Co(2)Cd(2), CoCd(3) and Cd(4) cages takes months in solution at room temperature.

A series of ligands L Ph , L naph and L anth , which contain two bidentate pyrazolyl-pyridine termini separated by an aromatic (1,2-phenyl, 2,3-naphthyl or 2,3-anthracenyl, respectively) spacer have been used to prepare tetrahedral cage complexes of the form [M 4 L 6 ]X n , in which a bis-bidentate bridging ligand spans each of the six edges of the M 4 tetrahedron and one anion is bound in the central cavity. Several new examples have been structurally characterised, including an example with a new ligand (L anth ), the first example with a second-row transition metal ion [Cd(II)], and the first example of a cage containing a dianionic guest (hexafluorosilicate). The series of structurally similar Co(II) complexes [Co 4 L 6 (BF 4 )](BF 4 ) 7 (L = L Ph , L naph and L anth ) have been examined in detail by NMR spectroscopy. The 1 H NMR spectra are highly shifted between À110 and +90 ppm, but the spectra can be completely assigned by correlation of measured T 1 relaxation times with distances of the protons in the complexes from the paramagnetic Co(II) centres. 1 H DOSY measurements have been used to estimate diffusion constants which confirm the structural integrity of the cages in solution, and 19 F DOSY measurements on the anions show that (i) the trapped [BF 4 ] À anion diffuses at the same rate as the cage superstructure surrounding it, indicating that it is trapped inside the cage cavity; and (ii) the 'free' [BF 4 ] À anions have diffusion rates consistent with substantial retardation due to ion-pairing with the 7+ complex cation.

We report the syntheses, structures and magnetic properties of two decametallic Ni(II) clusters with unprecedented supertetrahedral cores, stabilised by the (hitherto unobserved) micro(6)-coordination modes of the tris-alkoxides [MeC(CH(2)O)(3)](3-) and [C(6)H(9)O(3)](3-).

An extensive series of blue-luminescent iridium(III) complexes has been prepared containing two phenylpyridine-type ligands and one ligand containing two pyrazolylpyridine units, of which one is bound to Ir(III) and the second is pendant. Attachment of {Ln(hfac)(3)} (Ln = Eu, Gd; hfac = anion of 1,1,1,5,5,5,-hexafluoropentanedione) to the second coordination site affords Ir(III)/Ln(III) dyads. Crystallographic analysis of several mononuclear iridium(III) complexes and one Ir(III)/Eu(III) dyad reveals that in most cases the complexes can adopt a folded conformation involving aromatic π stacking between a phenylpyridine ligand and the bis(pyrazolylpyridine) ligand, but in one series, based on CF(3)-substituted phenylpyridine ligands coordinated to Ir(III), the steric bulk of the CF(3) group prevents this and a quite different and more open conformation arises. Quantum mechanical calculations well reproduce these two types of "folded" and "open" conformations. In the Ir(III)/Eu(III) dyads, Ir → Eu energy transfer occurs with varying degrees of efficiency, resulting in partial quenching of the Ir(III)-based blue emission and the appearance of a sensitized red emission from Eu(III). Calculations based on consideration of spectroscopic overlap integrals rule out any significant contribution from Förster (dipole-dipole) energy transfer over the distances involved but indicate that Dexter-type (exchange) energy transfer is possible if there is a small electronic coupling that would arise, in part, through π stacking between components. In some cases, an initial photoinduced electron-transfer step could also contribute to Ir → Eu energy transfer, as shown by studies on isostructural iridium/gadolinium model complexes. A balance between the blue (Ir-based) and red (Eu-based) emission components can generate white light.

We investigate a family of molecular crystals containing noninteracting Ni10 magnetic molecules. We find slow relaxation of the magnetization below a temperature as high as 17 K and we show that this behavior is not associated with an anisotropy energy barrier. Ni10 has a characteristic magnetic energy spectrum structured in dense bands, the lowest of which makes the crystal opaque to phonons of energy below about 1 meV. We ascribe the nonequilibrium behavior to the resulting resonant trapping of these low-energy phonons. Trapping breaks up spin relaxation paths leading to a novel kind of slow magnetic dynamics which occurs in the lack of anisotropy, magnetic interactions and quenched disorder.

Reaction of a tris-bidentate ligand L(1) (which can cap one triangular face of a metal polyhedron), a bis-bidentate ligand L(2) (which can span one edge of a metal polyhedron), and a range of M(2+) ions (M = Co, Cu, Cd), which all have a preference for six coordination geometry, results in assembly of the mixed-ligand polyhedral cages [M12(mu(3)-L(1))4(mu-L(2))12](24+). When the components are combined in the correct proportions [M(2+):L(1):L(2) = 3:1:3] in MeNO2, this is the sole product. The array of 12 M(2+) cations has a cuboctahedral geometry, containing six square and eight triangular faces around a substantial central cavity; four of the eight M3 triangular faces (every alternate one) are capped by a ligand L(1), with the remaining four M3 faces having a bridging ligand L(2) along each edge in a cyclic helical array. Thus, four homochiral triangular {M3(L(2))3}(6+) helical units are connected by four additional L(1) ligands to give the mixed-ligand cuboctahedral array, a topology which could not be formed in any homoleptic complex of this type but requires the cooperation of two different types of ligand. The complex [Cd3(L(2))3(ClO4)4(MeCN)2(H2O)2](ClO4)2, a trinuclear triple helicate in which two sites at each Cd(II) are occupied by monodentate ligands (solvent or counterions), was also characterized and constitutes an incomplete fragment of the dodecanuclear cage comprising one triangular {M3(L(2))3}(6+) face which has not yet reacted with the ligands L(1). (1)H NMR and electrospray mass spectrometric studies show that the dodecanuclear cages remain intact in solution; the NMR studies show that the Cd 12 cage has four-fold (D2) symmetry, such that there are three independent Cd(II) environments, as confirmed by a (113)Cd NMR spectrum. These mixed-ligand cuboctahedral complexes reveal the potential of using combinations of face-capping and edge-bridging ligands to extend the range of accessible topologies of polyhedral coordination cages.