A higher yield synthesis of N,N'-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,3-diaminopropane-N,N'-diacetic acid (H2bppd) and its complexation of trivalent metal ions (Al(III), Ga(III), In(III)) and selected lanthanides (Ln(III)) are reported. H2bppd and the metal-bppd(2-) complexes, isolated as hexafluorophosphate salts, were characterized by elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, IR, and (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy. [Ga(bppd)]PF6, [Ga(C19H22N4O4)]PF6, was crystallized as colorless needles by slow evaporation from anhydrous methanol; its molecular structure was solved by direct X-ray crystallography methods. The compound crystallized in the monoclinic space group P21/c, with a = 9.6134(2) Å, b = 20.2505(4) Å, c = 11.6483(3) Å, β = 97.520(1)(o), and Z = 4. Ga is coordinated in a distorted octahedral geometry provided by a N4O2 donor atom set with cis-monodentate acetate groups and cis-2-pyridylmethyl N atoms. Quantum mechanical calculations were performed for the three possible geometric isomers of a pseudo-octahedral metal-bppd(2-) complex with five different metal ions. The results indicate, that in aqueous solution, the stability of the trans-O,O isomer is similar to that of the cis-O,O; cis-Npy,Npy isomer but is greater than that of the trans-Npy,Npy isomer. Calculations for a six-coordinate La(III)-bppd(2-) complex converge to a structure with a very large Npy-La-Npy bond angle (146.4°), a high metal charge (2.28 au), and a high solvation free energy (-79.4 kcal/mol). The most stable geometric arrangement for bppd(2-) around the larger La(III) is best described as an open nestlike structure with space available for additional ligands. IR spectroscopy was used to investigate the nature of the H2bppd-metal complexes isolated in the solid state and the binding modes of the carboxylate functionalities. The spectra indicate that fully deprotonated [M(bppd)](+) complexes as well as partially protonated complexes [M(Hbppd)Cl](+) were isolated. The (1)H and (13)C assignments for H2bppd and metal-bppd(2-) complexes were made on the basis of 2D COSY, NOESY, and (1)H-(13)C HSQC experiments, which were used to differentiate among the cis (C1 symmetry) and the two trans (C2 symmetry) isomers.

This investigation explores optimum synthetic conditions for novel polymer-metal organic framework hybrid composites composed of Zr-terephthalate-based MOF UiO-66 and conductive polyaniline (PANI) nanofibers in an effort to optimize conductivity while minimizing MOF structural deformation. Successful syntheses of self-assembled PANI nanofibers in PANI@UiO-66 and PANI@UiO-66-NH2 composites were confirmed using scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and powder X-ray diffraction. The polymer-MOF composites show different bonding synergies to the PANI nanofibers depending on the organic linker used. Electronic properties of the post-synthetically modified PANI@UiO-66 and PANI@UiO-66-NH2 were investigated using UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. Sheet resistivity of the self-assembled polymer-MOF composites was determined under an inert atmosphere at room temperature using four-point probe measurements to confirm tunable semiconductivity ranging from 40 to 2 mS/sq. Furthermore, the effects of aniline oxidation on the crystallinity and coordination of UiO-66 and UiO-66-NH2 were determined through analysis of these results.

The synthesis of N,N'-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane-N,N'-diacetic acid (H2bpcd) and its complexation of Ga(III) and Co(III) are reported. H2bpcd and the metal-bpcd(2-) complexes, isolated as hexafluorophosphate salts, were characterized by elemental analysis, X-ray crystallography, IR spectroscopy, and (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy. [Ga(bpcd)]PF6, [Ga(C22H26N4O4)]PF6, crystallized in the orthorhombic space group Ibca, with a = 13.8975(7) Å, b = 15.0872(7) Å, c = 22.2418(10) Å, and Z = 8. Ga is coordinated in a distorted octahedral geometry provided by a N4O2 donor atom set with trans-monodentate acetate groups and cis-2-pyridylmethyl N atoms, i.e., the trans-O,O isomer. The diamagnetic [Co(bpcd)]PF6, [Co(C22H26N4O4)]PF6, also crystallized from solution in the Ibca space group as the trans-O,O isomer. The (1)H and (13)C assignments for H2bpcd and metal-bpcd(2-) complexes were made on the basis of 2D COSY and HSQC experiments, which were used to differentiate among three possible isomers, i.e., one cis (C1 symmetry) and two trans (C2 symmetry). NMR results indicate that the [Ga(bpcd)](+), [Co(bpcd)](+), and cis-O,O, cis-Npy,Npy-[Ga(bppd)](+) cations, where bppd(2-) stands for bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,3-diaminopropane diacetate, are present in solution as isomers with the same symmetry as observed in the solid state. The crystallographic data and the dramatic shift that occurs in the position of the cis/trans isomerization equilibria for the [Ga(bpad)](+) cations simply by increasing the number of bridging CH2 groups in the ligand's diamine backbone represent a unique opportunity to assess the accuracy of modern computational methods. The performance of several local density functionals using a pseudopotential-based SDD basis set was compared with the more rigorous HF and MP2 ab initio calculations. The SVWN5 and SV5LYP functionals provide significantly better Ga-O and Ga-N distances than the HF method or the nonlocal BLYP functional. However, to provide proper isomerization energies the pseudopotential-DFT calculations must be augmented by MP2 single-point energies and calculations of solvation free energies.

In many respects, enzymes offer advantages over traditional chemical processes due to their decreased energy requirements for function and inherent greener processing. However, significant barriers exist for the utilization of enzymes in industrial processes due to their limited stabilities and inability to operate over larger temperature and pH ranges. Immobilization of enzymes onto solid supports has gained attention as an alternative to traditional chemical processes due to enhanced enzymatic performance and stability. This study demonstrates the co-immobilization of glucose oxidase (GOx) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) as an enzyme system on Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs), UiO-66 and UiO-66-NH2, that produces a more effective biocatalyst as shown by the oxidation of pyrogallol. The two MOFs utilized as solid supports for immobilization were chosen to investigate how modifications of the MOF linker affect stability at the enzyme/MOF interface and subsequent activity of the enzyme system. The enzymes work in concert with activation of HRP through the addition of glucose as a substrate for GOx. Enzyme immobilization and leaching studies showed HRP/GOx@UiO-66-NH2 immobilized 6% more than HRP/GOx@UiO-66, and leached only 36% of the immobilized enzymes over three days in the solution. The enzyme/MOF composites also showed increased enzyme activity in comparison with the free enzyme system: the composite HRP/GOx@UiO-66-NH2 displayed 189 U/mg activity and HRP/GOx@UiO-66 showed 143 U/mg while the free enzyme showed 100 U/mg enzyme activity. This increase in stability and activity is due to the amine group of the MOF linker in HRP/GOx@UiO-66-NH2 enhancing electrostatic interactions at the enzyme/MOF interface, thereby producing the most stable biocatalyst material in solution. The HRP/GOx@UiO-66-NH2 also showed long-term stability in the solid state for over a month at room temperature.

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