Researchers from the Shepherd group have published a paper investigating the use of accelerated ageing reactions for the synthesis of functional coordination polymers.
Using the PhD work of Rhona Lonergan and the MSc work of Georgie Conway, the paper shows how these Fe(II) and Cu(II) complexes can be synthesised simply by placing the solid, crystalline reagents in contact. The importance of humidity and hygroscopy of the starting materials in these types of accelerated ageing reactions was demonstrated and the mechanism of the reaction was investigated in small-scale reactions using optical microscopy. You can read the open access paper here.
