Lanthanide-based hexa-nuclear complexes and their use as molecular precursors

The use of lanthanide-based poly-nuclear complexes as molecular precursor for the design of extended molecular frameworks is still an innovative synthesis strategy. Oxo-hydroxo poly-nuclear complexes are generally obtained by controlling pH conditions during reaction process. After a short description of the lanthanide hydrolysis phenomenon and a non-exhaustive inventory of existing complexes with increasing nuclearity, the present review focuses on lanthanide-based hexa-nuclear oxo-hydroxo complexes. Their syntheses and crystal structures are described and their interest as building blocks for the design of new coordination compounds with unprecedented physical properties is highlighted. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.