Dalton Transactions Blog

Perspectives and Frontiers by RSC award winners

16 Feb 2016

We are delighted to present a selection of recently-published Dalton Transactions Perspective and Frontier articles by recent winners of Royal Society of Chemistry awards.

Dr Adrian Chaplin: 2015 Harrison-Meldola Memorial Prize winner

NHC-based pincer ligands: carbenes with a bite
Rhiann E. Andrew, Lucero González-Sebastián and Adrian B. Chaplin
Dalton Trans., 2016, 45, 1299
DOI:10.1039/C5DT04429D

In this frontier article we overview the emergence and scope of NHC-based CCC and CNC pincer systems, i.e. complexes containing mer-tridentate ligands bearing two NHC donor groups, comment on their effectiveness in applications, and highlight areas for future development and exploitation.

graphical abstract

Professor Paul Dyson: 2015 Bioinorganic Chemistry Award winner

Metal-based drugs that break the rules
Claire S. Allardyce and Paul J. Dyson*
Dalton Trans., 2016, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT03919C

Cisplatin and other platinum compounds have had a huge impact in the treatment of cancers and are applied in the majority of anticancer chemotherapeutic regimens. The success of these compounds has biased the approaches used to discover new metal-based anticancer drugs. In this perspective we highlight compounds that are apparently incompatible with the more classical (platinum-derived) concepts employed in the development of metal-based anticancer drugs, with respect to both compound design and the approaches used to validate their utility. Possible design approaches for the future are also suggested.

Dr Kogularamanan Suntharalingam: Dalton Young Researchers Award 2014 Winner

Advances in cobalt complexes as anticancer agents
Catherine R. Munteanu and Kogularamanan Suntharalingam*
Dalton Trans., 2015, 44, 13796-13808
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT02101D

The evolution of resistance to traditional platinum-based anticancer drugs has compelled researchers to investigate the cytostatic properties of alternative transition metal-based compounds. The anticancer potential of cobalt complexes has been extensively studied over the last three decades, and much time has been devoted to understanding their mechanisms of action. This perspective catalogues the development of antiproliferative cobalt complexes, and provides an in depth analysis of their mode of action.

graphical abstract

We will continue you update this blog post as more articles are published.

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2016 Dalton HOT articles

03 Feb 2016

By Aliya Anwar.

Take a look at our HOT articles for 2016 which are free to access for 4 weeks and will be updated regularly so keep checking! These have also been compiled into a collection for viewing on our website.

Monoanionic bis(carbene) pincer complexes featuring cobalt(I–III) oxidation states
Abdulrahman D. Ibrahim, Kenan Tokmic, Marshall R. Brennan, Dongyoung Kim, Ellen M. Matson, Mark J. Nilges, Jeffery A. Bertke and Alison R. Fout*
Dalton Trans., 2016, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT04723D

graphical abstract

Free to access until 4^thJuly 2016

Developing nitrosocarborane chemistry
Samuel L. Powley, Louise Schaefer, Wing. Y. Man, David Ellis, Georgina M. Rosair and Alan J. Welch*
Dalton Trans., 2016, 45, 3635-3647
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT04831A

graphical abstract

Free to access until 4^thJuly 2016

Room temperature carbon(CO)–carbon(α) bond activation of ketones by rhodium(II) porphyrins with water
Siu Yin Lee, Shiyu Feng and Kin Shing Chan*
Dalton Trans., 2016, 45, 3522-3527
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT04149J

graphical abstract

Free to access until 4^thJuly 2016

Dinuclear ruthenium(II) complexes containing one inert metal centre and one coordinatively-labile metal centre: syntheses and biological activities
Xin Li, Kirsten Heimann, Fangfei Li, Jeffrey M. Warner, F. Richard Keene* and J. Grant Collins*
Dalton Trans., 2016, 45, 4017-4029
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT04885K

graphical abstract

Free to access until 4^thJuly 2016

Defects and disorder in metal organic frameworks
Anthony K. Cheetham,* Thomas D. Bennett, François-Xavier Coudert and Andrew L. Goodwin*
Dalton Trans., 2016, 45, 4113-4126
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT04392A

graphical abstract

Free to access until 4^thJuly 2016

Thermal degradation mechanism of triangular Ag@SiO₂ nanoparticles
Mahesh K. Gangishetty, Robert W. J. Scott* and Timothy L. Kelly*
Dalton Trans., 2016, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C6DT00169F

graphical abstract

Free to access until 4^thJuly 2016

A very peculiar family of N-heterocyclic phosphines: unusual structures and the unique reactivity of 1,3,2-diazaphospholenes
D. Gudat
Dalton Trans., 2016, 45, 5896-5907
DOI: 10.1039/C6DT00085A

graphical abstract

Free to access until 4^thJuly 2016

Triphos derivatives and diphosphines as ligands in the ruthenium-catalysed alcohol amination with NH₃
N. Nakagawa, E. J. Derrah, M. Schelwies, F. Rominger, O. Trapp and T. Schaub*
Dalton Trans., 2016, 45, 6856-6865
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT04870B

graphical abstract

Free to access until 4^thJuly 2016

Anionic and zwitterionic carboranyl N-heterocyclic carbene Au(I) complexes
Steven P. Fisher, Ahmad El-Hellani, Fook S. Tham and Vincent Lavallo*
Dalton Trans., 2016, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C6DT00551A

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Free to access until 4^thJuly 2016

Increasing anti-cancer activity with longer tether lengths of group 9 Cp* complexes
Stephanie. J. Lucas, Rianne M. Lord, Aida M. Basri, Simon J. Allison, Roger M. Phillips, A. John Blacker and Patrick C. McGowan*
Dalton Trans., 2016, 45, 6812-6815
DOI: 10.1039/C6DT00186F

graphical abstract

Free to access until 4^thJuly 2016

Structurally versatile phosphine and amine donors constructed from N-heterocyclic olefin units
Nathan R. Paisley, Melanie W. Lui, Robert McDonald, Michael J. Ferguson and Eric Rivard*
Dalton Trans., 2016, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C6DT00299D

graphical abstract

Free to access until 4^thJuly 2016

Homoleptic and heteroleptic bis-NHC Cu(I) complexes as carbene transfer reagents
Orlando Santoro, Faïma Lazreg, David B. Cordes, Alexandra M. Z. Slawin and Catherine S. J. Cazin*
Dalton Trans., 2016, 45, 4970-4973
DOI: 10.1039/C6DT00595K

graphical abstract

Free to access until 4^thJuly 2016

Assessing the reactivity of sodium alkyl-magnesiates towards quinoxaline: single electron transfer (SET) vs. nucleophilic alkylation processes
Zoe Livingstone, Alberto Hernán-Gómez, Sharon E. Baillie, David R. Armstrong, Luca M. Carrella, William Clegg, Ross W. Harrington, Alan R. Kennedy, Eva Rentschler and Eva Hevia
Dalton Trans., 2016, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT04044B

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Free to access until 18^thMarch 2016

Water based scale-up of CPO-27 synthesis for nitric oxide delivery
Damiano Cattaneo, Stewart J. Warrender, Morven J. Duncan, Richard Castledine, Nigel Parkinson, Ian Haley and Russell E. Morris
Dalton Trans., 2016, 45, 618-629
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT03955J

graphical abstract

Free to access until 18^thMarch 2016

Binding small molecules and ions to [Fe₄S₄Cl₄]²⁻ modulates rate of protonation of the cluster
Thaer M. M. Al-Rammahia and Richard A. Henderson
Dalton Trans., 2016, 45, 1373-1381
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT04523A

graphical abstract

Free to access until 18^thMarch 2016

A vacuum-annealing strategy for improving near-infrared super long persistent luminescence in Cr³⁺ doped zinc gallogermanate nanoparticles for bio-imaging
Jian Yang, Yuxue Liu, Duanting Yan, Hancheng Zhu, Chunguang Liu, Changshan Xu, Li Mab and Xiaojun Wang
Dalton Trans., 2016, 45, 1364-1372
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT03875H

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Free to access until 18^thMarch 2016

Hydrophobic and antioxidant effects in In, Sn, and Sb based two dimensional materials
Keisuke Takahashi and Lauren Takahashi
Dalton Trans., 2016, 45, 3244-3246
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT04542H

graphical abstract

Free to access until 18^thMarch 2016

A pH-responsive folate conjugated magnetic nanoparticle for targeted chemo-thermal therapy and MRI diagnosis
Jagriti Gupta, Jeotikanta Mohapatra, Parag Bhargava and D. Bahadur
Dalton Trans., 2016, 45, 2454-2461
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT04135J

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Free to access until 18^thMarch 2016

Cobalt complexes of tetradentate, bipyridine-based macrocycles: their structures, properties and photocatalytic proton reduction
E. Joliat, S. Schnidrig, B. Probst, C. Bachmann, B. Spingler, K. K. Baldridge, F. von Rohr, A. Schilling and R. Alberto
Dalton Trans., 2016, 45, 1737-1745
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT04426J

graphical abstract

Free to access until 18^thMarch 2016

Synthetic, structural, and computational investigations of N-alkyl benzo-2,1,3-selenadiazolium iodides and their supramolecular aggregates
Lucia M. Lee, Victoria B. Corless, Michael Tran, Hilary Jenkins, James F. Britten and Ignacio Vargas-Baca
Dalton Trans., 2016, 45, 3285-3293
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT04314J

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Free to access until 18^thMarch 2016

Local structure of the metal–organic perovskite dimethylammonium manganese(II) formate
Helen D. Duncan, Martin T. Dove, David A. Keen and Anthony E. Phillips
Dalton Trans., 2016, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT03687A

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Free to access until 18^thMarch 2016

Cyclometalated Ir(III) complexes of deprotonated N-methylbipyridinium ligands: effects of quaternised N centre position on luminescence
Benjamin J. Coe, Madeleine Helliwell, James Raftery, Sergio Sánchez, Martyn K. Peers and Nigel S. Scrutton
Dalton Trans., 2015, 44, 20392-20405
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT03753K

graphical abstract

Free to access until 19th February 2016

Formation constants of copper(I) complexes with cysteine, penicillamine and glutathione: implications for copper speciation in the human eye
Lan-Chi Königsberger, Erich Königsberger, Glenn Hefter and Peter M. May
Dalton Trans., 2015, 44, 20413-20425
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT02129D

graphical abstract

Free to access until 19^thFebruary 2016

Assembly and stabilization of {E(cyclo-P₃)₂} (E = Sn, Pb) as a bridging ligand spanning two triaryloxyniobium units
Alexandra Velian, Brandi M. Cossairt and Christopher C. Cummins
Dalton Trans., 2016, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT03383G

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Free to access until 19^thFebruary 2016

Neutral N-donor ligand based flexible metal–organic frameworks
Biplab Manna, Aamod V. Desai and Sujit K. Ghosh
Dalton Trans., 2016, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT03443D

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Free to access until 19th February 2016

Encapsulation of dyes in metal–organic frameworks and their tunable nonlinear optical properties
Tao Song, Jiancan Yu, Yuanjing Cui, Yu Yang and Guodong Qian
Dalton Trans., 2016, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT03466C

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Free to access until 19^thFebruary 2016

Mixed-linker solid solutions of functionalized pillared-layer MOFs – adjusting structural flexibility, gas sorption, and thermal responsiveness
Inke Schwedler, Sebastian Henke, Michael T. Wharmby, Sneha R. Bajpe, Anthony K. Cheetham and Roland A. Fischer
Dalton Trans., 2016, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT03825A

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Free to access until 19^thFebruary 2016

NBu₄SH provides a convenient source of HS− soluble in organic solution for H₂S and anion-binding research
Matthew D. Hartle, Daniel J. Meininger, Lev N. Zakharov, Zachary J. Tonzetich and Michael D. Pluth
Dalton Trans., 2015, 44, 19782-19785
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT03355A

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Free to access until 19^thFebruary 2016

An effect of the substituent position and metal type on the electropolymerization properties of chalcone substituted metallophthalocyanines
Dilek Çakır, Tayfun Arslan and Zekeriya Biyiklioglu
Dalton Trans., 2015, 44, 20859-20866
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT03789A

graphical abstract

Free to access until 19^thFebruary 2016

User-friendly aerobic reductive alkylation of iridium(III) porphyrin chloride with potassium hydroxide: scope and mechanism
Huiping Zuo, Zhipeng Liu, Wu Yang, Zhikuan Zhou and Kin Shing Chan
Dalton Trans., 2015, 44, 20618-20625
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT03845F

graphical abstract

Free to access until 19^thFebruary 2016

Centrosymmetric and chiral porous thorium organic frameworks exhibiting uncommon thorium coordination environments
Yuxiang Li, Zhehui Weng, Yanlong Wang, Lanhua Chen, Daopeng Sheng, Yunhai Liu, Juan Diwu, Zhifang Chai, Thomas E. Albrecht-Schmitt and Shuao Wang
Dalton Trans., 2015, 44, 20867-20873
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT03363B

graphical abstract

ee to access until 19^thFebruary 2016

Unsolvated Al(C6F5)3: structural features and electronic interaction with ferrocene
Jiawei Chen and Eugene Y.-X. Chen
Dalton Trans., 2016, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT03895B

graphical abstract

Free to access until 19^thFebruary 2016

An element through the looking glass: exploring the Au–C, Au–H and Au–O energy landscape
Dragoş-Adrian Roşca, Joseph A. Wright and Manfred Bochmann
Dalton Trans., 2015, 44, 20785-20807
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT03930D

graphical abstract

Free to access until 19^thFebruary 2016

Novel triazolium based 11th group NHCs: synthesis, characterization and cellular response mechanisms
M. Pellei, V. Gandin, M. Marinelli, A. Orsetti, F. Del Bello, C. Santini and C. Marzano
Dalton Trans., 2015, 44, 21041-21052
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT02934A

graphical abstract

Free to access until 19^thFebruary 2016

Regioselectivity in C–H activation: reagent control in cyclometallation of 2-(1-naphthyl)-pyridine
Mikhail Kondrashov, David Provost and Ola F. Wendt
Dalton Trans., 2016, 45, 525-531
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT04068J

graphical abstract

Free to access until 19^thFebruary 2016

A single molecule magnet to single molecule magnet transformation via a solvothermal process: Fe₄Dy₂ → Fe₆Dy₃
Sihuai Chen, Valeriu Mereacre, Christopher E. Anson and Annie K. Powell
Dalton Trans., 2016, 45, 98-106
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT03909F

graphical abstract

Free to access until 19^thFebruary 2016

Smallest molecular chalcogenidometalate anions of the heaviest metals: syntheses, structures, and their interconversion
G. Thiele, C. Donsbach, R. Riedel, M. Marsch, K. Harms and S. Dehnen
Dalton Trans., 2016, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT03996G

graphical abstract

Free to access until 19^thFebruary 2016

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End of year HOT articles!

07 Dec 2015

By Aliya Anwar.

December 2015’s HOT articles are here and free to access. These have also been compiled into a collection on our website.

Switching the orientation of Jahn–Teller axes in oxime-based MnIII dimers and its effect upon magnetic exchange: a combined experimental and theoretical study
Priyanka Comar, Thayalan Rajeshkumar, Gary S. Nichol, Mateusz B. Pitak, Simon J. Coles, Gopalan Rajaraman and Euan K. Brechin
Dalton Trans., 2015, 44, 19805-19811
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT03615A

graphical abstract

Free to access until 23^rd December 2015

Coordination chemistry of 2,2′-biphenylenedithiophosphinate and diphenyldithiophosphinate with U, Np, and Pu
Joseph A. Macor, Jessie L. Brown, Justin N. Cross, Scott R. Daly, Andrew J. Gaunt, Gregory S. Girolami, Michael T. Janicke, Stosh A. Kozimor, Mary P. Neu, Angela C. Olson, Sean D. Reilly and Brian L. Scott
Dalton Trans., 2015, 44, 18923-18936
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT02976G

graphical abstract

Free to access until 23^rd December 2015

Mechanistic features of the copper-free Sonogashira reaction from ESI-MS
Zohrab Ahmadi, Lars P. E. Yunker, Allen G. Oliver and J. Scott McIndoe
Dalton Trans., 2015, 44, 20367-20375
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT02889B

graphical abstract

Free to access until 23^rd December 2015

First structural characterization of Pa(IV) in aqueous solution and quantum chemical investigations of the tetravalent actinides up to Bk(IV): the evidence of a curium break
Nidhu lal Banik, Valérie Vallet, Florent Réal, Réda Mohamed Belmecheri, Bernd Schimmelpfennig, Jörg Rothe, Rémi Marsac, Patric Lindqvist-Reis, Clemens Walther, Melissa A. Denecke and Christian M. Marquardt
Dalton Trans., 2016, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT03560K

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Free to access until 23^rd December 2015

Compositional dependence of anomalous thermal expansion in perovskite-like ABX3 formates
Ines E. Collings, Joshua A. Hill, Andrew B. Cairns, Richard I. Cooper, Amber L. Thompson, Julia E. Parker, Chiu C. Tang and Andrew L. Goodwin
Dalton Trans., 2016, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT03263F

graphical abstract

Free to access until 23^rd December 2015

Modular solid-phase synthesis, catalytic application and efficient recycling of supported phosphine–phosphite ligand libraries
Frank J. L. Heutz and Paul C. J. Kamer
Dalton Trans., 2016, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT03226A

graphical abstract

Free to access until 23^rd December 2015

Synthesis and controlled growth of osmium nanoparticles by electron irradiation
Anaïs Pitto-Barry, Luis M. A. Perdigao, Marc Walker, James Lawrence, Giovanni Costantini, Peter J. Sadler and Nicolas P. E. Barry
Dalton Trans., 2015, 44, 20308-20311
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT03205A

graphical abstract

Free to access until 23^rd December 2015

Palladium(II) complexes featuring a mixed phosphine–pyridine–iminophosphorane pincer ligand: synthesis and reactivity
Thibault Cheisson and Audrey Auffrant
Dalton Trans., 2016, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT02789F

graphical abstract

Free to access until 23^rd December 2015

Explaining the mechanical mechanisms of zeolitic metal–organic frameworks: revealing auxeticity and anomalous elasticity
Matthew. R. Ryder and Jin-Chong Tan
Dalton Trans., 2016, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT03514G

graphical abstract

Free to access until 23^rd December 2015

The structures of CyMe4-BTBP complexes of americium(III) and europium(III) in solvents used in solvent extraction, explaining their separation properties
Christian Ekberg, Elin Löfström-Engdahl, Emma Aneheim, Mark R. StJ. Foreman, Andreas Geist, Daniel Lundberg, Melissa Denecke and Ingmar Persson
Dalton Trans., 2015, 44, 18395-18402
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT02859K

graphical abstract

Free to access until 23^rd December 2015

Stepwise assembly of mixed-metal coordination cages containing both kinetically inert and kinetically labile metal ions: introduction of metal-centred redox and photophysical activity at specific sites
Ashley B. Wragg, Alexander J. Metherell, William Cullen and Michael D. Ward
Dalton Trans., 2015, 44, 17939-17949
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT02957K

graphical abstract

Free to access until 23^rd December 2015

Tin sulfide and selenide clusters soluble in organic solvents with the core structures of Sn4S6 and Sn4Se6
Mingdong Zhong, Zhi Yang, Yafei Yi, Dongxiang Zhang, Kening Sun, Herbert W. Roesky and Ying Yang
Dalton Trans., 2015, 44, 19800-19804
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT03244J

graphical abstract

Free to access until 23^rd December 2015

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Professor Philip Mountford completes his final term as Chairman for Dalton Transactions

04 Dec 2015

By Simon R. T. Neil, Deputy Editor.

Professor Philip Mountford (University of Oxford) will complete his final term as Chairman of Dalton Transactions’ Editorial Board at the end of December this year.

Philip, Chairman of the Editorial Board since January 2012, has been a fantastic ambassador for the Journal, representing Dalton Transactions at many conferences around the world. He has overseen 4 Editorial Board meetings (including at the 2013 Royal Society of Chemistry Editors’ Symposium in Brussels), guest edited two themed issues (Advances in metal-catalysed polymerisation and related transformations, and Earth Abundant Element Compounds in Homogeneous Catalysis) and chaired the Editorial and Advisory Boards of Dalton Transactions during a period of significant expansion of the Journal’s published volume.

He leaves Dalton Transactions in a very strong position, with the Journal reporting its highest ever impact factor for 2014 (4.19) and publishing over 2000 articles a year – the only weekly international journal for inorganic, organometallic and bioinorganic chemistry.

Philip (left) receives a framed portrait of John Dalton from Dalton Transactions' Deputy Editor Guy Jones

Philip’s work on the Journal was recognised at a presentation, held during one of his last engagements for Dalton Transactions – chairing the final session of the 2015 RSC Coordination and Organometallic Chemistry Discussion Group Meeting (Oxford, 3-4 September 2015), during which Professor Jason Love (University of Edinburgh) was the Dalton Transactions-sponsored Plenary lecturer.

This was an especially relevant meeting, as Philip is Head of Inorganic Chemistry and Professor of Organometallic Chemistry and Catalysis at Oxford.

Philip was presented with a framed portrait of John Dalton, the Journal’s namesake, as both a token of our appreciation and to commemorate the 250^th anniversary of John Dalton’s birth. Philip was also presented with a Dalton Transactions mug featuring the cover image of the 2013 themed issue that he guest edited.

Philip (Left) and Dalton Transactions' Publisher Jamie Humphrey visit a clean room during the 4th Dalton Transactions International Symposium

Among his numerous other important contributions and achievements during the past four years, Philip helped to celebrate the work of Dorothy Hodgkin, represented Dalton Transactions at its 4th International Symposium, and received the Schlenk Lectureship award in 2015.

Professor John Arnold (University of Berkeley, California) will succeed Philip as Chairman of the Editorial Board, from 1^st January 2016.

“I am delighted that John Arnold will be taking over as Chair of the Editorial Board,” said Philip. “I know that under his leadership the board and editors will take the journal on from strength to strength. I have been very privileged to work with an outstanding group of professionals in the Dalton Transactions Editorial team and an equally talented and dedicated board.”

Thank you, Philip! We’ve been very privileged to work with you.

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Adjusting the Pincer Pinch

02 Dec 2015

By Ian Mallov.

Professor Darrin Richeson’s group has carved out an interesting organometallic niche. Their papers feature low-valent metal complexes of pincer ligands combined with detailed computational analysis of the electronic structures. In their recent Dalton Transactions article they report unique coinage metal complexes of the “PN³P” ligand below.

This "PN3P" ligand

The judicious selection of this particular pincer framework resulted in complexes with geometric properties distinct from those of the same metals with other “PNP”-type ligands. Choosing the ligand with a NR instead of a NH spacer between the pyridine and phosphine moieties enhances the donor strength of the phosphines while rendering the N atoms inert towards deprotonation.

Subtle effects of this adjustment manifest themselves in dramatic changes in the solid-state coordination and geometric properties of their Cu and Ag complexes. Their reported CuBr complex is coordinated by one PN³P ligand and has a distorted trigonal pyramidal geometry. They contrast these to Cu(I) complexes of an analogous PN³P ligand with NH spacers, which coordinate two ligands and in one case displace the halide atom. Using CH₂ spacers, a previously reported Cu(I) structure exhibits T-shaped geometry and a non-coordinating triflate anion. The Cu(I) reported here shows a geometry much closer to trigonal pyramidal, with a coordinating triflate anion.

The second part of the paper discusses details of the electronic structure gleaned from DFT calculations. Particularly illuminating is a paragraph on page 19157, summarizing the particulars of the bonding as “a balance of bonding and antibonding interactions…diffuse polarized-π orbitals…(and) back donation.” Perhaps this seems summary seems unsurprising, but there are subtleties in the analysis.

Professor Richeson was my M.Sc. supervisor (I finished in his group six years ago). I write this in gratitude for his mentorship, and in appreciation of his group’s continuing work.

For more details read the full paper:

Coinage metal complexes supported by a “PN³P” scaffold
Gyandshwar Kumar Rao, Serge I. Gorelsky, Ilia Korobkov and Darrin Richeson
Dalton Trans., 2015,44, 19153-19162
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT03515E

Ian Mallov is currently a Ph.D. student in Professor Doug Stephan’s group at the University of Toronto. His research is focused on synthesizing new Lewis-acidic compounds active in Frustrated Lewis Pair chemistry. He grew up in Truro, Nova Scotia and graduated from Dalhousie University and the University of Ottawa, and worked in chemical analysis in industry for three years before returning to grad school.

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John Arnold announced as Dalton Transactions new Editorial Board Chair

27 Nov 2015

By Aliya Anwar.

Dalton Transactions is delighted to announce that Professor John Arnold (University of Berkeley, California) will become Chairman of the Editorial Board from 1^st January 2016.

John’s research focusses on the study of new and unusual molecular inorganic and organometallic compounds of the d-, p- and f-block elements, which is at the core of the journal’s scope. He also looks into the novel reactivity and/or catalytic behaviour of small molecules using a variety of characterisation

He has been an Associate Editor for Dalton Transactions since 2002. In that time he has actively promoted the journal worldwide and contributed to the strategy of the journal, during a period in which the size of the journal has changed significantly.

“I am happy and honoured to be appointed as the new Chair of the Editorial Board of Dalton Transactions. I look forward to working alongside Andrew Shore and the entire RSC editorial team, the Editorial Board and the Advisory Board, to bolster Dalton Transactions’ current standing. Together, we will continue to build the journal’s reputation for high quality papers, fair, strong, and timely refereeing, and rapid publication times.”

Professor Philip Mountford (University of Oxford), current Chairman of the Editorial Board will finish at the end of December this year.

“I am delighted that John Arnold will be taking over as Chair of the Editorial Board. I know that under his leadership the board and editors will take the journal on from strength to strength. I have been very privileged to work with an outstanding group of professionals in the Dalton Transactions Editorial team and an equally talented and dedicated board.”

As the Chair of the Editorial Board, John will lead an international team of researchers from all areas of inorganic chemistry. Associate Editors Christine Thomas (Brandeis University) and Warren Piers (University of Calgary) handle manuscripts on organometallics, main group chemistry and homogenous catalysis; Pingyun Feng (University of California, Riverside) and Russell Morris (University of St Andrews), handle papers on solid state and inorganic materials chemistry; Guo-Xin Jin (Fudan University) handles manuscripts on supramolecular and coordination chemistry and Masahiro Yamashita (Tohoku University) continues to serve the field of magnetism. Submissions received in bioinorganic chemistry are handled Nils Metzler-Nolte (Ruhr-Universität Bochum). In addition to our Associate Editors, Polly Arnold (The University of Edinburgh) and Lars Kloo (Royal Institute of Technology) sit on the Dalton Transactions Editorial Board as Members.

John invites members of the community who have a question about Dalton Transactions – whether it be submissions, refereeing, service to the journal, or editorial concerns – to contact him directly. Alternatively please contact the Editorial Office at dalton-rsc@rsc.org and we will be happy to help.

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Report from the Northern Postdoctoral Researchers Meeting

25 Nov 2015

By Aliya Anwar.

Posted on behalf of Dr Fabrizio Ortu, Organiser

The Northern Postdoctoral researchers meeting took place on May 28^that the School of Chemistry and Zochonis Building, The University of Manchester. This was the fourth of a series of events organised by the Chemistry Postdoctoral Society for the academic year 2014/15, included in the proposal funded by the Dalton Division Committee through the Small Grants for Scientific Activities scheme.

The purpose of the meeting was to gather young scientists from the Northern and North-West region, giving the chance to showcase their research and offering also a great networking opportunity. The event was free to attend and saw the participation of around 70 attendants between Postdocs and PhDs coming from the University of Manchester, University of Liverpool, University of Huddersfield, University of Sheffield, University of Hull, University of York, and University of Leeds.

Postdoctoral researchers selected from Northern institutions (Manchester, Huddersfield, Hull, Leeds and Liverpool) offered research talks which spread across a wide range of topics in chemistry. The quality of the talks and of the research presented was outstanding, leading also to a great interaction between the audience and the speakers.

After the coffee break, the meeting was moved to the foyer of the School of Chemistry were the poster session took place, featuring over 30 contribution from Postdocs and PhD from various Northern institutions. At the end of the poster session, two prizes were awarded, sponsored by Dalton Transactions. The winner of the prize for the best postgraduate poster went to Luke Wilkinson (University of Sheffield), whilst the prize for the best poster from a postdoctoral researcher was awarded to Kevin Vincent (University of Huddersfield).

Dr Fabrizio Ortu (right) with poster prize winners Kevin Vincent (University of Huddersfield) and Luke Wilkinson (University of Sheffield)

In general, we received very enthusiastic feedback about the meeting. In particular, visiting postdoctoral researchers had high praises for the work of the Postdoctoral Society and offered to organise another event analogous to this in one year’s time.

The meeting was kindly supported by the RSC Dalton Division and the School of Chemistry (UoM). Furthermore the Postdoctoral Society obtained additional support from Fluorochem, Sigma-Aldrich and TCI. Dalton Transactions was acknowledged during the opening and closing remarks of the conference; additionally the Dalton Transactions logo was included in the conference material.

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Professor Kenneth Wade, F.R.S. 13th October 1932–16th March 2014

10 Nov 2015

By Aliya Anwar.

Written by Philip W. Dyer, Durham University, UK

This themed collection of articles in Dalton Transactions is dedicated to Ken Wade, who very unexpectedly passed away on 16^th March 2014. While this sad loss is the reason for this commemoration, it is an honour for me to write this preface.

I had the pleasure and privilege of getting to know Ken personally during my student days at Durham, a relationship that continued when, much more recently, I became a colleague in the same Department.

I first met Ken when, as a second year undergraduate, he introduced us to aspects of structure and bonding. Only after looking up the subject in the textbooks, did I realise that the relationships he was describing were in fact ‘Wade’s rules’.

It is a vivid reflection of Ken’s humble and self-effacing character that he himself only ever referred to these rules as polyhedral skeletal electron pair theory (PSEPT) or even occasionally during his lectures or in discussions as “Blogg’s Rules”!

Ken’s pioneering work exploring and explaining the structures of deceivingly unrelated clusters and ring systems, which developed primarily as a result of his insightfulness, logical thinking and intuition, now means that his name is familiar to every inorganic chemist, from undergraduate student to senior research professor.

This work lead to the formalised relationship between structure and electron counting in polyhedral cluster systems: relationships that are known universally as Wade’s Rules (J. Chem. Soc. D, 1971, 792).

This set of deceptively simple rules has been developed and expanded into what are known today as the Wade-Mingos Rules, which continue to be taught to chemistry students worldwide as a fundamental tool of Inorganic Chemistry.

Ken’s research career started in 1954 when he began his Ph.D. at the University of Nottingham with Norman Greenwood, probing the addition compounds of gallium and boron trichlorides. This was followed by two postdoctoral positions: first at Cambridge with Harry Emeléus, working on “assorted reactions of diborane”, and second, at Cornell University with Albert Laubengayer, where he investigated various aspects of organonitrogen-aluminium chemistry.

In 1960, Ken returned to the UK to take up his first independent academic position as a lecturer at Derby College of Technology, before moving north to take up a lectureship at the University of Durham a year later, where his interests in synthetic main group chemistry continued to expand.

Although universally known for his electron counting rules, Ken’s innovative and creative character also led him to be major contributor to the areas of azomethine, lithium amide, organophosphorus, transition metal and organolithium chemistry, to name but a few. Ken officially retired in 1997 and, for the sixteen years leading up to his untimely passing, he remained in the Department holding an Emeritus chair of Inorganic Chemistry.

Throughout his sixty-year research career Ken maintained a tireless enthusiasm and curiosity for chemistry, teaching, writing books and original papers, reviewing articles, attending chemistry meetings, and giving invited lectures around the world. Ken’s numerous contributions to the broad field of chemistry were recognised by his election to Fellow of the Royal Society in 1989, and by his election to President of the Dalton Division of The Royal Society of Chemistry in 1996.

On top of all these achievements, Ken’s enormous abilities as a teacher and leader must not be forgotten. His lectures were always inspiring, and were characterised by being both simple and clear, while delivering a broad spectrum of inorganic chemistry topics.

Every lecture was punctuated by anecdotes and amusing stories – who can forget the colour-blind English spy in Russia – and always demonstrated Ken’s ability for clear, logical thinking, something he continually encouraged and inspired in others, be it through undergraduate tutorials, questions after seminars, or chats in the corridor or around the whiteboard.

This themed collection of papers of 60 papers in Dalton Transactions covers a wide and diverse spectrum of topics spanning inorganic chemistry, something that very clearly demonstrates Ken’s significant and wide-ranging contributions to inorganic chemistry in its broadest context.

The rapidity with which all of the invited authors agreed to contribute their work to this special collection of articles unmistakeably reflects the great esteem and friendship with which Ken was held, and provides a fitting tribute to the man himself, his huge role as a teacher and mentor, and his important and extensive contributions to chemistry… Without a doubt, Ken is very sorely missed.

Philip W. Dyer
Department of Chemistry
Durham University, UK

(Left – cover art for the themed collection kindly provided by Professor Jeremy Rawson, University of Windsor. It features the an image of seminal ChemComm paper from 1971 – click to zoom)

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Lectureship awards & Poster prizes at the 5th Asian Conference on Coordination Chemistry

03 Nov 2015

By Aliya Anwar.

Poster prize winners with Dalton Transactions Editor, Andrew Shore

Many congratulations to the Dalton Transactions Lectureship and Poster prize winners who were awarded at the 5^thAsian Conference on Coordination Chemistry (ACCC5) which took from the 12^th– 16^thJuly 2015 in Hong Kong.

Recipients of the Lectureship were: John Nitzchke, David Parker and Philip Mountford who is currently the Editorial Board Chair for Dalton Transactions.

The conference is one of the largest regional conferences in Asia; focussing on the area of coordination chemistry and providing a forum for inorganic and coordination chemists to meet and discuss ideas on the most frontier research topics as well as an opportunity to present their most recent research findings.

Further information regarding the conference can be found here.

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October’s HOT articles

09 Oct 2015

By Aliya Anwar.

HOT articles for October are below and free to acess for 4 weeks. These have also been compiled into a collection on our website.

Phosphole formation by 1,1-carboboration – reactions of bis-alkynyl phosphanes with a frustrated P/B Lewis pair
Annika Klose, Gerald Kehr, Constantin G. Daniliuc and Gerhard Erker
Dalton Trans., 2016, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT03055B

graphical abstract

Free to access until 5^thNovember 2015

The carboboration of Me₃Si-substituted alkynes and allenes with boranes and borocations
James R. Lawson, Valerio Fasano, Jessica Cid, Inigo Vitorica-Yrezabal and Michael J. Ingleson
Dalton Trans., 2016, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT03003J

graphical abstract

Free to access until 5^thNovember 2015

Transition metal-mediated donor–acceptor coordination of low-oxidation state Group 14 element halides
Anindya K. Swarnakar, Michael J. Ferguson, Robert McDonald and Eric Rivard
Dalton Trans., 2016, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C5DT03018H

graphical abstract

Free to access until 5^thNovember 2015

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Dalton Transactions Blog

Perspectives and Frontiers by RSC award winners

2016 Dalton HOT articles

End of year HOT articles!

Professor Philip Mountford completes his final term as Chairman for Dalton Transactions

Adjusting the Pincer Pinch

John Arnold announced as Dalton Transactions new Editorial Board Chair

Report from the Northern Postdoctoral Researchers Meeting

Professor Kenneth Wade, F.R.S. 13th October 1932–16th March 2014

Lectureship awards & Poster prizes at the 5th Asian Conference on Coordination Chemistry

October’s HOT articles

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