Examining the relationship between urbanization and the eco-environment using a coupling analysis: Case study of Shanghai,China

As a key issue in China’s urban development, urbanization creates increasing pressure on the environment. Thus, a better understanding of the relationship between urbanization and the eco-environment is necessary for Chinese policy makers to realize sustainable urbanization development. Making reference to physical coupling models, we developed a coupling coordination degree model in order to examine the relationship between urbanization and the eco-environment in Shanghai, using data from 1980 to 2013. The comprehensive level of Shanghai’s urbanization process during the study period was estimated using an index composed of four primary indicators, namely: demographic urbanization, spatial urbanization, social urbanization, and economic urbanization. We also developed an index system for the eco-environment, which was based on four primary indicators: the environmental level, eco-environmental endowment, eco-environmental pressure and eco-environment response. The entropy method was subsequently employed in order to identify the contribution made by each indicator to the compound system during the study period. The results show that: (1) economic urbanization and eco-environmental response made the greatest contributions to the urbanization subsystem and the eco-environmental subsystem, respectively—these are thus the key factors to consider in policy decisions aiming to adjust the coupling coordination degree between the two subsystems; (2) the two parameters α-urbanization and β-eco-environment were found to have minimal effect on the coupling coordination system; (3) the coupling coordination between urbanization and the eco-environment produced an S-shaped curve, and both subsystems were found to have evolved from seriously unbalanced development at the start of the study period into superiorly balanced development at the close of the study period. The results of this study hold important implications for efforts to achieve the coordinated development of both urbanization and the eco-environment.     

Synthesis, crystal structure and properties of novel isostructural two-dimensional lanthanide-based coordination polymers with 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid

Five new isostructural two-dimensional lanthanide-based coordination polymers with the formula Ln₂(F₄BDC)₃(DEF)₂(EtOH)₂-2(DEF) (Ln = Tb, 1; Gd, 2; Eu, 3; La, 4; Nd, 5; F₄BDC²⁻ = 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-1,4-benzenedicarboxylate ligands; DEF = N,N′-diethylformamide), have been synthesized by reaction of Ln(NO₃)₃ and F₄BDC in a DEF/EtOH solvent mixture. The compounds were characterized by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction. In all cases, the metal ion is coordinated by nine oxygen atoms from two bidentate μ₂-F₄BDC²⁻ ligands, two bridging μ₂-F₄BDC²⁻ ligands, one μ₃-F₄BDC²⁻ ligand, one DEF molecule and one EtOH molecule forming a tri-capped trigonal prism. The Ln(1) metal ion is linked to an adjacent Ln(1) metal ion through the oxygen atoms of two bridging μ₂-F₄BDC²⁻ ligands and two μ₃-F₄BDC²⁻ bridging ligands to form a Ln₂O₁₈ dimer. The Ln₂O₁₈ polyhedra building units are linked to each other through four F₄BDC²⁻ ligands to form 2D sheets that are held together by hydrogen bonding to form a 3D framework. Compounds 1-5 were further characterized using thermogravimetric analysis and infrared spectroscopy. Studies of the photoluminescence properties of compounds 1 and 3, as well as the catalytic activity of compounds 3-5 in the Biginelli reaction, are presented.     

Synthesis, crystal structure and properties of the novel chiral 3D coordination polymer with S-carboxymethyl-l-cysteine

Reaction of fresh Mn(OH)₂ precipitate and S-carboxymethyl-l-cysteine (H₂SCMC) in aqueous solution afforded a novel chiral 3D coordination polymer Mn(H₂O)(SCMC) 1, which crystallizes in the acentric polar space group P2₁ with cell constants a = 5.079(1) Å, b = 9.617(2) Å, c = 8.649(2) Å, β = 94.40(3)°, V = 421.2(1) Å³, Z = 2, and exhibit a SHG effect and ferroelectricity (a remnant polarization P_r = 0.0159 uC cm⁻², coercive field E_c = 0.83 kV cm⁻², saturation of the spontaneous polarization P_s = 0.234 uC cm⁻²). To the best of our knowledge, the present compound represents the first example of S-carboxymethyl-l-cysteine coordination polymers that exhibit possible ferroelectric behavior. The structural analysis revealed that the Mn²⁺ ions in 1 are each coordinated by one N atom and five O atoms of four S-carboxymethyl-l-cysteine ligand bridges four symmetry-related Mn²⁺ ions to form 3D MOF of 6⁶ topology type with irregular chiral channels extending along [1 0 0]. The temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibilities shows that 1 obeys Curie-Weiss law χ_m = C/(T − Θ) with C = 4.23 cm³ mol⁻¹ K and Θ = −5.86 K and the best fit gave a weak antiferromagnetic coupling (J = −0.282(5) cm⁻¹) among Mn ions.     

Coordination network solids based on Cu(II) coordination compounds with 1,4-bis-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-butane as a flexible alkyl spacer ligand: Synthesis, characterization and X-ray structures

The coordination chemistry of three selected copper(II) salts with the flexible ligand 1,4-bis(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)butane (abbreviated as btb) is described. This ligand acts as a bidentate ligand, bridging copper(II) ions, thereby generating polymers in 2D and 3D network solids.     

Aqua bridge cleavage and metal ion extrusion by thiocyanate anions in a dicopper complex

Reaction of the imidazolidinyl phenolate-based ligand, H₃L [(2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)-1,3-bis[4-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-3-azabut-3-enyl]-1,3-imidazolidine)] with Cu(ClO₄)₂·6H₂O produces an aqua-bridged cationic reactant complex [Cu₂(μ-H₂O)(μ-L)][ClO₄]·1.5H₂O (1·1.5H₂O). Solution phase interaction of 1·1.5H₂O with SCN⁻ anions in 1:1 molar ratio leads to [Cu₂(μ-L)(NCS)]·2H₂O (2·2H₂O) that does not possess anymore the reactive aqua bridge but instead a terminal SCN⁻ anion coordinated only to one Cu^II ion. Whereas in 1:2 molar ratio, partial extrusion of the Cu^II ions takes place to generate in situ [Cu(NCS)₃(OH₂)]⁻ anions. These complex anions then quantitatively replace anions in 1·1.5H₂O via ‘anion metathesis’ and concurrently remove the aqua bridge by coordination of linear MeCN to one of the Cu^II ions to give [Cu₂(μ-L)(CH₃CN)][Cu(NCS)₃(OH₂)] (3). The literature unknown [Cu(NCS)₃(OH₂)]⁻ anion forms an intimate H-bonded assembly with the cationic part of 3 to yield a novel [Cu₃] isosceles triangle. The precursor complex is known as antiferromagnetic whereas in 2·2H₂O, the Cu^II (S = 1/2) ions in a dinuclear entity exhibit ferromagnetic interactions (J/k_B = +15.0 K and g = 2.22) to yield an S_T = 1 spin ground state in good agreement with the M versus H data below 8 K.     

New yttrium(III) and copper(II) coordination polymers with partially protonated cyclohexane-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexacarboxylato ligands: Synthesis, crystal structures and properties

Two coordination polymers, [Y(H₂O)₄(H₃chhc)]·6H₂O (1) and [Cu₅(H₂O)₁₀(Hchhc)₂]·4H₂O (2) with H₆chhc = cyclohexane-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexacarboxylic acid) represent rare examples of metal complexes with partially protonated cyclohexane-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexacarboxylato ligands. The [Y(H₂O)₄]³⁺ units in 1 are interlinked by the triprotonated (H₃chhc)³⁻ anions in a η⁵μ₄ bridging mode to form 2D (4³)₂(4⁶·6⁶·8³) topological networks, which are stacked along [0 1 0] direction in ···ABAB··· fashion with the lattice H₂O molecules sandwiched between layers. The pentameric [Cu₅(H₂O)₁₀]¹⁰⁺ units in 2 are bridged by monoprotonated (Hchhc)⁵⁻ anions in a η⁸μ₆ fashion to generate a 3D MOF of an unprecendented (4³)(4⁵·6⁷·8³) topology with the lattice H₂O molecules in channels. The temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility data of 2 could be modeled to a combination of a linear chain of equally-spaced Cu(II) ions (J₁ = 1.86 cm⁻¹) with an isosceles triangular Cu₃ unit (J₂ = 5.86 cm⁻¹).     

Coordination polymers and monomers based on new aminocarboxylate ligands: A cadmium(II) polymer containing dimeric aqua-bridged cadmium complex governed by polymeric chain

The synthesis and characterization of novel coordination polymers [Co(HCCB)(H₂O)₂]_n (1), [Zn(HCCB)(H₂O)₂]_n (2), {[Cd(HCCB)₂]·0.5[Cd(μ-H₂O)(H₂O)₄]₂}_n (3) and [Cu(HCCB)(H₂O)₂]_n (4) based on 3-(carboxymethylamino)-4-chlorobenzoic acid (H₃CCB) and mononuclear complexes [Cu(HBCCB)(H₂O)]·H₂O (5), [Co(HBCCB)(H₂O)]·H₂O (6), [Zn(HBCCB)(H₂O)] (7) and [Cd(HBCCB)(H₂O)] (8) containing 3-bis(carboxymethylamino)-4-chlorobenzoic acid (H₃BCCB) have been described. The compounds under investigation have been characterized by elemental analyses, spectral studies and structures of 1-3 and 5 determined crystallographically. Structural data of 1 and 2 revealed that the deprotonated HCCB²⁻ bridges metal centers leading to a double stranded 1D chain. On the other hand, the HCCB²⁻ coordinated thorough carboxylate oxygen and amino nitrogen in 3 to afford a 1D chain whose charge neutrality is maintained by inclusion of aqua-bridged dimer [{Cd(μ-H₂O)(H₂O)₄}₂]⁴⁺. Strong Cu?Cl interaction (2.754 Å) in 5 imposes a coordination geometry that is half-way between the square planar and square pyramidal. The H₃CCB, H₃BCCB and 1-3 and 5 are fluorescent at rt. Thermal studies (TG and DSC) on 1-3 suggested higher stability of 2 relative to 1 and 3 [ΔH_f (kcal/mol), ΔS_f = 152.17, 0.60, 1; 195.56: 0.86, 2; 69.33:0.36, 3].     

Hydrothermal syntheses, crystal structures and topological analyses of four new 3D coordination polymers with mixed ligands

Four new coordination polymers, namely [Ni_1.5(L)(fum)_0.5(mal)(H₂O)]·4H₂O (1), [Zn₂(L)(male)₂]·3H₂O (2), [Ni(L)(adi)_0.5(H₂O)]·0.5(adi)·2.5H₂O (3), and [Zn₂(L)(adi)₂]·5H₂O (4) (L, tetrakis(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)methane; fum, fumarate; mal, malate; male, maleate; adi, adipate) have been synthesized under hydrothermal condition and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In compound 1, the L, fum, and mal connect the Ni(II) atoms to form a three-dimensional framework. Topologically, the compound shows a trinodal (3,4)-connected (4·10²)(4²·8²·10²)(4²·8⁴) net. Interestingly, the fum and mal came from the configuration transformation and addition reaction of maleate during the synthesis, respectively. In compound 2, the L ligands link the Zn(II) centers to generate a 2D layer, which are further connected by the male ligands to furnish a 3D chrial 4-connected (3·7⁵) net. In compound 3, the adi ligands and the L ligands link the Ni(II) centers to form a 3D framework. Topologically, compound 3 displays a (4,5)-connected net with the Schläfli symbol of (4²·5²·6²)(4²·5³·6⁴·7). In compound 4, the L and adi ligands link the binuclear Zn(II) clusters to yield an intricate 3D (3,6)-connected net with the Schläfli symbol of (4·6²)(4³·6¹²). The fluorescence and thermal stability of complexes 1-4 have also been investigated.     

Three main group metal coordination polymers built by 2-propyl-1H-imidazole-4,5-dicarboxylate

Three coordination polymers, [Sr(H₂PIDC)₂(H₂O)₂]_n (1), [Ba(H₂PIDC)₂(H₂O)₃]_n (2) and [Pb₃(HPIDC)₃]_n (3) (H₃PIDC = 2-propyl-1H-imidazole-4,5-dicarboxylic acid) have been hydrothermally synthesized, and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. It is shown that the ligand H₃PIDC can be singly deprotonated or doubly deprotonated, and coordinate to main group metal Sr(II), Ba(II) or Pb(II) ions in various modes. Compound 1 exhibits a two-dimensional (2D) sheet built up by μ₂-H₂PIDC⁻ ligands and Sr(II) atoms. Compound 2 assumes an infinite chain composed by μ₂-H₂PIDC⁻ ligands and Ba(II) atoms. Compound 3 possesses a three-dimensional (3D) structure constructed from 2D layer motifs linked by μ₄-HPIDC²⁻ units. The thermal and solid state fluorescence properties of complexes 1-3 have also been investigated at room temperature.