[VO2F(L-L)] (L-L = 2,2'-bipyridyl, 1,10-phenanthroline, Me2N(CH2)2NMe2) and [VO2F(py)2] (py = pyridine) have been prepared from the corresponding [VOF3(L-L)] or [VOF3(py)2] and O(SiMe3)2 in MeCN solution. VO2F (itself made from VOF3 and O(SiMe3)2 in MeCN) forms [Me4N][VO2F2] with [Me4N]F, but does not react with neutral N- or O-donor ligands. VO2Cl, prepared from VOCl3 and ozone, reacts with 2,2'-bipyridyl or 1,10-phenanthroline to form [VO2Cl(L-L)], with pyridine or pyridine-N-oxide (L) to produce [VO2Cl(L)2], and with OPPh3 or OAsPh3 (L') gives [VO2Cl(L')]. A second product from the OPPh3 system is the ionic [VO2(OPPh3)3][VO2Cl2] containing a trigonal bipyramidal cation. Neither VO2F nor VO2Cl form isolable complexes with MeCN, thf or MeO(CH2)2OMe, and both are reduced by P-, As-, S- or Se-donor ligands. [Ph4As][VO2X2] (X = F or Cl) react with 2,2'-bipyridyl to form [VO2X(2,2'-bipyridyl)], but similar reactions with weaker O-donor ligands fail. The complexes have been characterised by IR, multinuclear NMR (1H, 19F, 51V or 31P) and UV-visible spectroscopy. X-ray crystal structures are reported for [VO2F(py)2], [VO2Cl(L)2] (L = py or pyNO) and [VO2(OPPh3)3][VO2Cl2].

nanoporous materials have important industrial applications as molecular sieves, catalysts and in gas separation and storage. They are normally produced as moderately dense silicates (sio 2 ) and aluminosilicates making their specific capacities for the uptake and storage of gases, such as hydrogen, relatively low. Here we report the synthesis and characterization of lightweight, nanoporous structures formed from the metal hydroxide Be(oH) 2 in combination with relatively low levels of framework phosphate or arsenate. Three new zeotype structures are described, constructed mainly of Be(oH) 4 tetrahedra bridged through hydroxide into threemembered rings; these units link together to produce several previously unknown zeotype cage types and some of the most structurally complex, nanoporous materials ever discovered. These materials have very low densities between 1.12 and 1.37 g cm − 3 and theoretical porosities of 63-68% of their total volume thereby yielding very high total specific pore volumes of up to 0.60 cm 3 g − 1 .

An operationally simple, reliable, and cheap Sonogashira reaction suitable for an undergraduate laboratory class that can be completed within a day-long (8 h) laboratory session has been developed. Cross-coupling is carried out between 2-methyl-3-butyn-2ol and various aryl iodides using catalytic amounts of bis-(triphenylphosphine)palladium(II) dichloride, with copper(I) iodide as a cocatalyst, in triethylamine at room temperature, so a range of products can be prepared within a single group and results compared. The coupling itself is usually complete within 1.5 h and is easily monitored by TLC, leaving up to 6 h for purification and characterization. Purification is by "mini flash column chromatography" through a plug of silica encased in the barrel of a plastic syringe, so the procedure is amenable to large class sizes.

Sr[Be(OH)(4)] has been synthesised and its structure determination contains the first definitive characterisation of the discrete Be(OH)(4)(2-) anion.

Several new berylloarsenate frameworks, layer structures and a new zeolite topology, employing the OH unit as a bridging anion, have been synthesised.