A sensor compound and sensor composition comprising the sensor compound are disclosed. The sensor compound includes a metal atom and a mercaptoimidazolyl multidentate ligand. The sensor composition comprises the sensor compound and a metal dichalcogenide.

Provided are composite materials that include a polymeric material and one or more metal organic frameworks intermixed with the polymeric material. A polymeric material may be a block copolymer that is optionally polymerized prior to combination with the metal organic framework. The composite materials are useful for many applications including as sorbents for removal of a chemical, optionally a toxic chemical, from a surface where the surface is contracted with the composite material which reacts with or adsorbs the chemical and is then removed to remove the chemical from the surface.

An apparatus for producing metal organic frameworks, comprising: a tubular flow reactor comprising a tubular body into which, in use, precursor compounds which form the metal organic framework are fed and flow, said tubular body including at least one annular loop.

A trichlorogermanide of formula (I): [R.sub.4N]/[R.sub.4P]Cl[GeCl.sub.3] (I), where R is Me, Et, iPr, nBu, or Ph, tris(trichlorosilyl)germanide of formula (II): [R.sub.4N]/[R.sub.rP][Ge(SiCl.sub.3).sub.3] (II), where R is Me, Et, iPr, nBu, or Ph, a tris(trichlorosilyl)germanide adduct of GaCl.sub.3 of formula (III): [Ph.sub.4P][Ge(SiCl.sub.3).sub.3*GaCl.sub.3], and a tris(trichlorosilyl)germanide adduct of BBr.sub.3 of formula (IV): [Ph.sub.4P][Ge(SiCl.sub.3).sub.3*BBr.sub.3]. Also, methods for preparing the trichlorogermanides of formula (I), the tris(trichlorosilyl)germanide of formula (II), the tris(trichlorosilyl)germanide adduct of BBr.sub.3 of formula (IV).

A process for preparing transition metal carbonates with a mean particle diameter in the range from 6 to 19 m (D50), which comprises combining, in a stirred vessel, at least one solution of at least one transition metal salt with at least one solution of at least one alkali metal carbonate or alkali metal hydrogencarbonate to prepare an aqueous suspension of transition metal carbonate, and, in at least one further compartment, continuously introducing a mechanical power in the range from 50 to 10 000 W/l in a proportion of the suspension in each case, based on the proportion of the suspension, and then recycling the proportion into the stirred vessel.

A permanently porous vanadium(II)-containing metal-organic framework (MOF) withvanadium(II) centers and methods for synthesis of such MOF frameworks are provided. Methods for using such compounds to selectively react with N.sup.2 over CH.sub.4 are provided. In the synthetic methods, a vanadium source, such as VY.sub.2(tmeda).sub.2, where Y is a halogen and tmeda is N,N,N,N-tetramethylethane-1,2-diamine and a H.sub.2(ligand) are reacted in the presence of acid in a solvent at between 110 C. and 130 C. to form an intermediate product. The intermediate product is collected and washed with a washing agent, such as DMF and acetonitrile, and the vanadium(II) based MOF is activated by heating the washed intermediate product to at least 160 C. under dynamic vacuum.

Embodiments of the present disclosure describe metal-organic framework compositions comprising a pillar characterized by the formula (M.sub.bF.sub.5(O/H.sub.2O)), where M.sub.b is selected from periodic groups IIIA, IIIB, IVB, VB, VIB, and VIII; and a square grid characterized by the formula (M.sub.a(ligand).sub.x), where M.sub.a is selected from periodic groups IB, IIA, IIB, IIIA, IVA, IVB, VIB, VIIB, and VIII, ligand is a polyfunctional organic ligand, and x is 1 or more; wherein the pillaring of the square grid with the pillars forms the metal-organic framework.

The present invention provides biologically active compounds and methods to obtain biologically active compounds that can be used as photosensitizers for diagnostic and therapeutic applications, particularly for PDT of cancer, infections and other hyperproliferative diseases, fluorescence diagnosis and PDT treatment of non-tumorous indications such as arthritis, inflammatory diseases, viral or bacterial infections, dermatological, ophthalmological or urological disorders. As the compounds exhibit also toxicity against targets (tumor cells, bacteria, inflammation-related cells) without light these biologically active compounds may also be used for the light-independent treatment of such indications. Preferred embodiments of the present invention consist of methods to synthesize metal or half-metal complex structures incorporating one or more substituted 2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyl-dipyrromethene (2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyldipyrrin) units. These dipyrromethenes (dipyrrins) can carry a variety of different substituents in the 4-position enabling a fine tuning of their biological or amphiphilic/hydrophilic properties. Another object of the present invention is to provide amphiphilic compounds with a higher membrane affinity and increased efficacy.

The present invention provides a method for preparing a transition metal complex, including a step of preparing a dispersion including a transition metal salt or alkoxide, and a coordinating solvent; and a step of reacting an organic borate-based compound containing a carbon-based, silyl-based or amine-based cation and a borate-based bulky anion, with the dispersion, wherein the transition metal is one or more selected from the metals in group 7 to group 12.

A sensor compound and sensor composition comprising the sensor compound are disclosed. The sensor compound includes a metal atom and a mercaptoimidazolyl multidentate ligand. The sensor composition comprises the sensor compound and a metal dichalcogenide.