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Abstract: Since the advent of the first metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), we have witnessed an explosion of captivating architectures with exciting physicochemical properties and applications in a wide range of fields. This, in part, can be understood under the light of their rich host–guest chemistry and the possibility to use single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SC-XRD) as a basic characterization tool. Moreover, chemistry on preformed MOFs, applying recent developments in template-directed synthesis and postsynthetic methodologies (PSMs), has shown to be a powerful synthetic tool to (i) tailor MOFs channels of known topology via single-crystal to single-crystal (SC-SC) processes, (ii) impart higher degrees of complexity and heterogeneity within them, and most importantly, (iii) improve their capabilities toward applications with respect to the parent MOFs. However, the unique properties of MOFs have been, somehow, limited and underestimated. This is clearly reflected on the use of MOFs as chemical nanoreactors, which has been barely uncovered. In this Account, we bring together our recent advances on the construction of MOFs with appealing properties to act as chemical nanoreactors and be used to synthesize and stabilize, within their channels, catalytically active species that otherwise could be hardly accessible. First, through two relevant examples, we present the potential of the metalloligand approach to build highly robust and crystalline oxamato- and oxamidato-MOFs with tailored channels, in terms of size, charge and functionality. These are initial requisites to have a playground where we can develop and fully take advantage of singular properties of MOFs as well as visualize/understand the processes that take place within MOFs pores and somehow make structure–functionalities correlations and develop more performant MOFs nanoreactors. Then, we describe how to exploit the unique and singular features that offer each of these MOFs confined space for (i) the incorporation and stabilization of metals salts and complexes, (ii) the in situ stepwise synthesis of subnanometric metal clusters (SNMCs), and (iii) the confined-space self-assembly of supramolecular coordination complexes (SCCs), by means of PSMs and underpinned by SC-XRD. The strategy outlined here has led to unique rewards such as the highly challenging gram-scale preparation of stable and well-defined ligand-free SNMCs, exhibiting outstanding catalytic activities, and the preparation of unique SCCs, different to those assembled in solution, with enhanced stabilities, catalytic activities, recyclabilities, and selectivities. The results presented in this Accounts are just a few recent examples, but highly encouraging, of the large potential way of MOFs acting as chemical nanoreactors. More work is needed to found the boundaries and fully understand the chemistry in the confined space. In this sense, mastering the synthetic chemistry of discrete organic molecules and inorganic complexes has basically changed our way of live. Thus, achieving the same degree of control on extended hybrid networks will open new frontiers of knowledge with unforeseen possibilities. We aim to stimulate the interest of researchers working in broadly different fields to fully unleash the host–guest chemistry in MOFs as chemical nanoreactors with exclusive functional species.

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Abstract: Molecules that are the size of small proteins are difficult to make. The most frequently examined route is via self-assembly, and one particular approach involves molecular nanocapsules, where ligands are designed that will enforce the formation of specific polyhedra of metals within the core of the structure. Here we show that this approach can be combined with mechanically interlocking molecules to produce nanocapsules that are decorated on their exterior. This could be a general route to very large molecules, and is exemplified here by the synthesis and structural characterization of a [13]rotaxane, containing 150 metal centres. Small angle X-ray scattering combined with atomistic molecular dynamics simulations demonstrate the compound is intact in solution.

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Abstract: Supramolecular Coordination Compounds (SCCs) represent the power of Coordination Chemistry methodologies to self-assemble discrete architectures with targeted properties. SCCs are generally synthesised in solution, with isolat-ed fully-coordinated metal atoms as structural nodes, thus severely limited as metal-based catalysts. Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) show unique features to act as chemical nanoreactors for the in-situ synthesis and stabilization of otherwise not accessible functional species. Here, we present the self-assembly of PdII SCCs within the confined space of a preformed MOF (SCCs@MOF) and its post-assembly metalation to give a PdII-AuIII supramolecular assembly, crys-tallography underpinned. These SCCs@MOF catalyse the coupling of boronic acids and/or alkynes, representative multisite metallic-catalysed reactions in which traditional SCCs tend to decompose, and retain its structural integrity as consequence of the synergetic hybridization between SCCs and MOF. These results open new avenues in both the synthesis of novel SCCs and their use on heterogeneous metal-based Supramolecular Catalysis.

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Abstract: The synthesis and reactivity of single metal atoms in low–valence state bound to just water, rather than to organic ligands or surfaces, is conceptually relevant and a major experimental challenge. Here, we show a gram–scale wet synthesis of a Pt11+ complex stabilized in a confined space by a water cluster, formed by a well–defined crystallographic first water sphere and a second coordination sphere linked to a Metal–Organic Framework (MOF) through electrostatic and H–bonding interactions. The role of the water cluster is not only isolating and stabilizing the Pt atoms, but also regulating the charge of the metal and the adsorption of reactants. This is shown for the low–temperature water–gas shift reaction (WGSR: CO + H2O → CO2 + H2), where both metal coordinated and H–bonded water molecules trigger a double water attack mechanism to CO and give CO2 with both oxygen atoms coming from water. The stabilized Pt1+ single sites in confined water clusters allow performing the WGSR at temperatures as low as 50 ºC.

Open Access

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Abstract: Quantum information processing (QIP) could revolutionize how we simulate and understand quantum systems. Any QIP scheme requires both individual units (qubits) that have long phase memories and switchable units that can be placed between the qubits. Here, we describe supramolecular systems where {Cr7Ni} rings are used as qubits, linked by redox-switchable {Ru2M} oxo-centered triangles (M = Zn, Ni, or Co). The supramolecular assemblies have been structurally characterized and involve two {Cr7Ni} rings bound to {Ru2M} triangles through iso-nicotinate ligands. Detailed physical studies, including electrochemistry and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, show that when M = Co, the supramolecular assembly has the physical characteristics needed to implement the √iSWAP gate, which is an important entangling two-qubit gate. Detailed simulations show that the fidelity of this gate is potentially very high and depends on the phase memory time of the {Cr7Ni} qubits but not the {Ru2Co} switch.