There is a drive to understand how nature performs various catalytic reactions using minimal energy, in particular the activation of nitrogen. The work described here focuses on two types of models to study metal-substrate interactions: paddlewheel complexes (PCs) and metal organic frameworks (MOFs).
PCs consist of a dimetal center and four bidentate ligands, and their unsaturated metal centers make them ideal candidates for catalysis. Hetero-bimetallic PCs are rare, but using a Ni-based intermediate allows the synthesis of a PC with an Fe—Ni center. Dirhodium homo-bimetallic PCs were synthesized as well, with a chiral asymmetric ligand that binds through two differently sized atoms (N and S), forcing PCs into the catalytically active D 2geometry.
MOFs are also discussed, explaining how tuning the structure through metal choice, ligand design, and solvent manipulation allows for the synthesis of stable compounds with interesting properties,such as fluorescence and functionalized channels with potential for catalysis.