Intact Cluster Research Articles

Mechanisms of secondary ion emission from self‐assembled monolayers and multilayers

AbstractAlkanethiol self‐assembled monolayers/multilayers (SAMs) have been applied as model organic systems with which to investigate secondary ion formation and emission processes during kiloelectronvolt ion bombardment. Self‐assembled monolayer and multilayer films of 11‐mercaptoundecanoic acid capped with 1‐dodecanethiol were prepared on gold‐coated substrates. Samples with varying number of thiolate layers were studied using static secondary ion mass spectrometry to investigate the origin of molecular secondary ions and the influence of surface chemistry and structure. The nature of the thiolate bonding affects the type and abundance of the observed ions. The intensity of atomic and cluster ions derived from the substrate decreases exponentially with increasing number of thiolate overlayers because of losses in transmission through the organic overlayers. Intact molecular and cluster ions can escape from >100 Å below the surface of these structures. The variation of molecular‐ion yields with multilayer thickness suggests that a significant proportion of molecular ions originate from subsurface thiolate layers. The detection of ions comprised species from the substrate or bottom of the multilayer associated with species from the top layer supports the view that chemical association at or near the surface is a viable mechanism of formation for molecular secondary ions. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Intact and Fragmented Triosmium Clusters on MgO: Characterization by X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy and High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy

Oxidative fragmentation of the clusters Os(3)(CO)(12) adsorbed on MgO powder was investigated by X-ray absorption spectroscopy and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). Exposure of the clusters to air leads to their fragmentation, oxidation of the osmium, and formation of ensembles consisting of three Os atoms. X-ray absorption near-edge spectra demonstrate the oxidative nature of the fragmentation process. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectra indicate an average Os-Os distance of 3.33 Angstrom and an Os-Os coordination number of 2, consistent with the formation of ensembles of three Os atoms on the support. STEM images confirm the presence of such trinuclear ensembles, and the diameters of the observed scattering centers (6.0 Angstrom) match that indicated by the EXAFS results.

NovG, a DNA-binding protein acting as a positive regulator of novobiocin biosynthesis

The biosynthetic gene cluster of the aminocoumarin antibiotic novobiocin contains two putative regulatory genes, i.e. novE and novG. The predicted gene product of novG shows a putative helix-turn-helix DNA-binding motif and shares sequence similarity with StrR, a well-studied pathway-specific transcriptional activator of streptomycin biosynthesis. Here functional proof is provided, by genetic and biochemical approaches, for the role of NovG as a positive regulator of novobiocin biosynthesis. The entire novobiocin cluster of the producer organism Streptomyces spheroides was expressed in the heterologous host Streptomyces coelicolor M512, and additional strains were produced which lacked the novG gene within the heterologously expressed cluster. These Delta novG strains produced only 2% of the novobiocin formed by the S. coelicolor M512 strains carrying the intact novobiocin cluster. The production could be restored by introducing an intact copy of novG into the mutant. The presence of novG on a multicopy plasmid in the strain containing the intact cluster led to almost threefold overproduction of the antibiotic, suggesting that novobiocin biosynthesis is limited by the availability of NovG protein. Furthermore, purified N-terminal His(6)-tagged NovG showed specific DNA-binding activity for the novG-novH and the cloG-cloY intergenic regions of the novobiocin and clorobiocin biosynthetic gene clusters, respectively. By comparing the DNA sequences of the fragments binding NovG, conserved inverted repeats were identified in both fragments, similar to those identified as the binding sites for StrR. The consensus sequence for the StrR and the putative NovG binding sites was GTTCRACTG(N)(11)CRGTYGAAC. Therefore, NovG and StrR apparently belong to the same family of DNA-binding regulatory proteins.

Arginase: Structure, Mechanism, and Physiological Role in Male and Female Sexual Arousal

AbstractFor Abstract see ChemInform Abstract in Full Text.

Mass spectrometric study on the neutral nanocluster [Cd 32Se 14(SePh) 36L 4] (L = THF, OPPh 3) upon charged ligand exchange

Electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (ESI FT-ICR MS) has been applied to the neutral 1.4 nm sized cluster [Cd 32Se 14(SePh) 36(L) 4] upon targeted exchange of the neutral ligands L by various anionic ligands in solution. Use of SePh − as a ‘charging ligand’ leads to virtually monodisperse ion beams constituted of the intact cluster as tetra- and tri-anions. An electrostatic model is employed which is consistent with the proposed charge distribution of four excess charges being localized at the corner sites of the tetrahedron. The experimental results suggest a general applicability of charged ligand exchange to obtain monodisperse cluster ion beams.

Arginase: Structure, Mechanism, and Physiological Role in Male and Female Sexual Arousal

Mammalian arginases I and II require an intact binuclear manganese cluster for the hydrolysis of L-arginine to generate L-ornithine and urea. Although arginase isozymes differ in terms of their tissue distribution, cellular localization, and metabolic function, each employs a metal-activated hydroxide mechanism for catalysis. To date, the best arginase inhibitors are those bearing N-hydroxyguanidinium or boronic acid "warheads" that can bridge the binuclear manganese cluster. Strikingly, the trigonal planar boronic acids undergo nucleophilic attack by hydroxide ion to form tetrahedral boronate anions that mimic the tetrahedral intermediate and its flanking transition states in the arginase mechanism. Given their affinity and specificity for arginase, boronic acid inhibitors are especially useful for probing the role of arginase in living systems. Arginase can regulate L-arginine bioavailability to nitric oxide synthase by depleting the substrate pool for NO biosynthesis, so arginase inhibition can enhance the substrate pool for NO biosynthesis. Accordingly, arginase inhibition can enhance NO-dependent physiological processes, such as the smooth muscle relaxation required for sexual arousal: administration of arginase inhibitors in vitro and in vivo enhances erectile function and engorgement in the male and female genitalia. Therefore, arginase is a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of sexual arousal disorders in men and women.

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry of organic–inorganic materials: identification and gas‐phase reactivity of functionalized octahedral rhenium(III) clusters

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry was used for the analysis of functionalized rhenium clusters such as [Re6Se8(o-Me2TTFPPh2)6]2+ (1), {Re6Se8[(o-Me2TTF)2PPh]6}2+ (2) and [Re6Se8(MePPh2)6]2+ (3). The high-resolution mass spectra of the intact clusters, performed in dichloromethane, confirm the identification of the compounds by comparison with the theoretical isotopic distributions. Low-resolution full-scan mass spectra recorded at increasing desolvation cone voltage values allow the study of the intrinsic reactivity of ionic species. The survival yield curves illustrating the bimolecular reactivity of 1 and 2 suggest that a bisdimethyltetrathiafulvalene(phenyl)phosphine ligand increases the stability of the functionalized ML6(2+) cluster 2. In the case of the 3, instead of loss of a neutral ligand, ligand exchange is observed either with traces of water present in dichloromethane or with acetonitrile used as solvent.

Formation and characterization of an all-ferrous Rieske cluster and stabilization of the [2Fe-2S]0 core by protonation.

The all-ferrous Rieske cluster, [2Fe-2S](0), has been produced in solution and characterized by protein-film voltammetry and UV-visible, EPR, and Mössbauer spectroscopies. The [2Fe-2S](0) cluster, in the overexpressed soluble domain of the Rieske protein from the bovine cytochrome bc(1) complex, is formed at -0.73 V at pH 7. Therefore, at pH 7, the [2Fe-2S](1+/0) couple is 1.0 V below the [2Fe-2S](2+/1+) couple. The two cluster-bound ferrous irons are both high spin (S = 2), and they are coupled antiferromagnetically (-J > or = 30 cm(-1), H =-2JS1.S2) to give a diamagnetic (S = 0) ground state. The ability of the Rieske cluster to exist in three oxidation states (2+, 1+, and 0) without an accompanying coupled reaction, such as a conformational change or protonation, is highly unusual. However, uncoupled reduction to the [2Fe-2S](0) state occurs at pH > 9.8 only, and at high pH the intact cluster persists in solution for <1 min. At pH < 9.8, the all-ferrous cluster is stabilized significantly by protonation. A combination of experimental data and calculations based on density functional theory suggests strongly that the proton binds to one of the cluster mu(2)-sulfides, consistent with observations that reduced [3Fe-4S] clusters are protonated also. The implications for our understanding of coupled reactions at iron-sulfur clusters and of the factors that determine the relative stabilities of their different oxidation states are discussed.

Nitrosomonas europaea expresses a nitric oxide reductase during nitrification.

In this paper, we report the identification of a norCBQD gene cluster that encodes a functional nitric oxide reductase (Nor) in Nitrosomonas europaea. Disruption of the norB gene resulted in a strongly diminished nitric oxide (NO) consumption by cells and membrane protein fractions, which was restored by the introduction of an intact norCBQD gene cluster in trans. NorB-deficient cells produced amounts of nitrous oxide (N2O) equal to that of wild-type cells. NorCB-dependent activity was present during aerobic growth and was not affected by the inactivation of the putative fnr gene. The findings demonstrate the presence of an alternative site of N2O production in N. europaea.

Buffering of stable RNA promoter activity against DNA relaxation requires a far upstream sequence.

The stable RNA promoters of Escherichia coli are exquisitely sensitive to variations in the superhelical density of DNA. Previously, we have shown that binding of the DNA architectural protein FIS at the upstream activating sequences (UASs) of stable RNA promoters prevents the transcription complexes from inactivation induced by changes in the supercoiling level of DNA. Here, we identify a strong FIS binding site 89 bp upstream of the previously described cluster of FIS binding sites located between positions -64 and -150 in the rrnA P1 UAS. Binding of FIS to this 'far upstream sequence' allows the recruitment of additional FIS molecules to the region. We demonstrate that, upon DNA relaxation, the maintenance of promoter activity requires, in addition to UAS, the presence of the far upstream sequence. The far upstream sequence shows no effect in the absence of an intact cluster. This requirement for the integrity of the region encompassing the far upstream sequence and the UAS cluster is correlated with the in vitro modulation of binding of FIS to UAS and interaction of RNA polymerase with the UP element and the region around the transcriptional start point. Our results suggest that, at the rrnA P1 promoter, the entire region comprising the UAS and the far upstream sequence is involved in the assembly of the transcription initiation complex. We propose that the extensive engagement of upstream DNA in this nucleoprotein complex locally compensates for the lack of torsional strain in relaxed DNA, thus increasing the resistance of the promoter to global DNA relaxation.

Formation of linear three-iron clusters in Aquifex aeolicus two-iron ferredoxins: effect of protein-unfolding speed

The presence of a linear [3Fe–4S] cluster in a protein was first observed in beef-heart aconitase. Here, we report the formation of linear [3Fe–4S] clusters upon guanidine hydrochloride (GuHCl)-induced unfolding of Aquifex aeolicus [2Fe–2S] ferredoxins (Fd) ( AaeFd1, AaeFd4, and AaeFd5) at alkaline conditions (pH 10, 20 °C). We find the mechanism of linear [3Fe–4S] cluster formation to depend critically on the speed of polypeptide unfolding. In similarity to seven-iron Fds, polypeptide unfolding determines the rate by which linear [3Fe–4S] clusters form in AaeFd4 and AaeFd5. In contrast, in a disulfide-lacking variant of AaeFd1, which unfolds faster than AaeFd4 and AaeFd5, the polypeptides unfold first and the majority of clusters decompose. Next, unfolded polypeptides retaining intact clusters scavenge iron and sulfur to form linear [3Fe–4S] clusters in a bimolecular reaction. Wild-type AaeFd1 unfolds slower than the speed of linear-cluster decomposition, and the linear species is never populated. Linear [3Fe–4S] clusters may be intermediates during folding of iron–sulfur proteins.

Formation of linear three-iron clusters in Aquifex aeolicus two-iron ferredoxins: effect of protein-unfolding speed

The presence of a linear [3Fe–4S] cluster in a protein was first observed in beef-heart aconitase . Here, we report the formation of linear [3Fe–4S] clusters upon guanidine hydrochloride (GuHCl)-induced unfolding of Aquifex aeolicus [2Fe–2S] ferredoxins (Fd) ( Aae Fd1, Aae Fd4, and Aae Fd5) at alkaline conditions (pH 10, 20 °C). We find the mechanism of linear [3Fe–4S] cluster formation to depend critically on the speed of polypeptide unfolding. In similarity to seven-iron Fds, polypeptide unfolding determines the rate by which linear [3Fe–4S] clusters form in Aae Fd4 and Aae Fd5. In contrast, in a disulfide-lacking variant of Aae Fd1, which unfolds faster than Aae Fd4 and Aae Fd5, the polypeptides unfold first and the majority of clusters decompose. Next, unfolded polypeptides retaining intact clusters scavenge iron and sulfur to form linear [3Fe–4S] clusters in a bimolecular reaction. Wild-type Aae Fd1 unfolds slower than the speed of linear-cluster decomposition, and the linear species is never populated. Linear [3Fe–4S] clusters may be intermediates during folding of iron–sulfur proteins.

Energetic cluster induced desorption from a graphite surface

Using molecular dynamics computer simulation it has been shown how a large cluster such as fullerene can create an acoustic wave with sufficient energy to gently eject molecules which have been adsorbed to a surface. In a preliminary study we demonstrated how this acoustic wave can be engineered to increase in power by using a larger cluster. It is shown that ejection/desorption of adsorbate molecules via this technique can result in extremely high (∼100%) fractions of intact particles and result in little or no breakage of remaining molecules or the host material provided the impact energy is kept sufficiently low. Analysis of our simulation results shows that the molecular yield increases logarithmically with energy and highlights the effectiveness of this desorption process. We also demonstrate the desorption of a large intact cluster C 300 adsorbed on the surface via a collision of a smaller cluster C 60.

Putting out the fire: what terminates calcium-induced calcium release in cardiac muscle?

The majority of contractile calcium in cardiac muscle is released from stores in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), by a process of calcium-induced calcium release (CICR) through ryanodine receptors. Because CICR is intrinsically self-reinforcing, the stability of and graded regulation of cardiac EC coupling appear paradoxical. It is now well established that this gradation results from the stochastic recruitment of varying numbers of elementary local release events, which may themselves be regenerative, and which can be directly observed as calcium sparks. Ryanodine receptors (RyRs) are clustered in dense lattices, and most calcium sparks are now believed to involve activation of multiple RyRs. This implies that local CICR is regenerative, requiring a mechanism to terminate it. It was initially assumed that this mechanism was inactivation of the RyR, but during the decade since the discovery of sparks, no sufficiently strong inactivation mechanism has been demonstrated in vitro and all empirically determined gating schemes for the RyR give unstable EC coupling in Monte Carlo simulations. We consider here possible release termination mechanisms. Stochastic attrition is the spontaneous decay of active clusters due to random channel closure; calculations show that it is much too slow unless assisted by another process. Calcium-dependent RyR inactivation involving third-party proteins remains a viable but speculative mechanism; current candidates include calmodulin and sorcin. Local depletion of SR release terminal calcium could terminate release, however calculations and measurements leave it uncertain whether a sufficient diffusion resistance exists within the SR to sustain such depletion. Depletion could be assisted by dependence of RyR activity on SR lumenal [Ca 2+]. There is substantial evidence for such lumenal activation, but it is not clear if it is a strong enough effect to account for the robust termination of sparks. The existence of direct interactions among clustered RyRs might account for the discrepancy between the inactivation properties of isolated RyRs and intact clusters. Such coupled gating remains controversial. Determining the mechanism of release termination is the outstanding unsolved problem of cardiac EC coupling, and will probably require extensive genetic manipulation of the EC coupling apparatus in its native environment to unravel the solution.

Host cell contact-induced transcription of the type IV fimbria gene cluster of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae.

Type IV pili (Tfp) of gram-negative species share many characteristics, including a common architecture and conserved biogenesis pathway. Much less is known about the regulation of Tfp expression in response to changing environmental conditions. We investigated the diversity of Tfp regulatory systems by searching for the molecular basis of the reported variable expression of the Tfp gene cluster of the pathogen Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae. Despite the presence of an intact Tfp gene cluster consisting of four genes, apfABCD, no Tfp were formed under standard growth conditions. Sequence analysis of the predicted major subunit protein ApfA showed an atypical alanine residue at position -1 from the prepilin peptidase cleavage site in 42 strains. This alanine deviates from the consensus glycine at this position in Tfp from other species. Yet, cloning of the apfABCD genes under a constitutive promoter in A. pleuropneumoniae resulted in pilin and Tfp assembly. Tfp promoter-luxAB reporter gene fusions demonstrated that the Tfp promoter was intact but tightly regulated. Promoter activity varied with bacterial growth phase and was detected only when bacteria were grown in chemically defined medium. Infection experiments with cultured epithelial cells demonstrated that Tfp promoter activity was upregulated upon adherence of the pathogen to primary cultures of lung epithelial cells. Nonadherent bacteria in the culture supernatant exhibited virtually no promoter activity. A similar upregulation of Tfp promoter activity was observed in vivo during experimental infection of pigs. The host cell contact-induced and in vivo-upregulated Tfp promoter activity in A. pleuropneumoniae adds a new dimension to the diversity of Tfp regulation.

Synthesis and characterization of magnetic organic-inorganic nanocomposites based on the [Mn2O12{CH2C(CH3)COO}16(H2O)4] building block

The new methacrylate-substituted manganese carboxylate cluster [Mn12O12{CH2C(CH3)COO}16(H2O)4] having single molecule magnetic (SMM) properties was synthesized and fully characterized by X-ray crystallography, LDI-TOF, fast atom bombardment (FAB) analyses and magnetic measurements. This cluster, containing sixteen polymerizable functionalities, was used as a cross-linker in the radical copolymerization with methyl methacrylate monomer in order to obtain hybrid cross-linked copolymers. The obtained nanocomposites were studied by infrared spectroscopy, magnetic measurements, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry and transmission electronic microscopy. All these methods, along with the study of the swelling properties, reveal that the intact manganese cluster is enwrapped and covalently bonded to the polymer matrix, allowing to improve its chemical and thermal stability. The resulting nanocomposite materials have SMM properties.

New insights into catalytic hydrogenation by phosphido-substituted triruthenium clusters: confirmation of intact cluster catalysis by parahydrogen NMR.

The phosphido-substituted triruthenium cluster Ru(3)(CO)(9)(mu-H)(micro-PPh(2)) is shown to react with H(2) to form the trihydride cluster Ru(3)(CO)(9)(H)(mu-H)(2)(mu-PPh(2)), which undergoes a number of re-arrangement reactions on heating to yield other phosphido-substituted triruthenium clusters. In the presence of alkyne substrates, heating the system leads to catalytic hydrogenation via CO loss and the formation of a Ru(3)(eta(2)-PhC[double bond, length as m-dash]CHPh)(CO)(8)(micro-H)(PHPh(2)) resting state, in a reaction affected by the polarity of the solvent. No mononuclear fragments are observed in the catalytic transformation, confirming directly that the phosphido ligand is able to exert a stabilising influence on the cluster core.

Structural Diversity of Pentafluorophenylcopper Complexes. First Evidence of π-Coordination of Unsupported Arenes to Organocopper Aggregates

The binding behavior of arenes toward pentafluorophenylcopper was investigated. Crystallization of pentafluorophenylcopper from a mixture of 1,2-dichloroethane and cyclohexane affords the homoleptic tetrameric complex [Cu(C6F5)]4, whereas a π-complex, [Cu(C6F5)]4(η2-toluene)2, is obtained from toluene solution. The unique coordination of two toluene molecules in [Cu(C6F5)]4(η2-toluene)2 leads to major structural changes as the regular square planar tetramer is distorted toward a butterfly structure with one short and one long diagonal Cu···Cu distance of 2.5935(3) and 3.955(1) A, respectively. The toluene molecules are bound in an unsymmetrical η2-coordination mode with the shortest contacts observed between copper and the meta carbon atoms (d(Cu−C) = 2.271(2), 2.298(2) A) and slightly longer distances to the para positions (d(Cu−C) = 2.339(2), 2.455(4) A). Multinuclear NMR studies show that complexation to the intact tetrameric cluster species also occurs in neat solution of the aromatic species. Strongl...

Towards the synthesis of a metal hamburger complex: the interaction of the PPh 2(CH 2) 3Ph ligand with ruthenium clusters

Ruthenium clusters were reacted with the chelating arene ligand PPh 2(CH 2) 3Ph. First, the phosphorous atom was coordinated to Ru 6, Ru 5 and Ru 3 clusters, and the products of simple addition were fully characterised. A second (and third in the case of Ru 3) equivalent of the ligand was then successfully added to the obtained species. Attempts to coordinate the ‘dangling’ benzene ring led to a Ru 6 derivative, where a phenyl ring directly bound to the P atom reacted with the cluster, instead of the terminal one. The crystal structures of the compounds [Ru 6C(CO) 16PPh 2(CH 2) 3Ph] ( 3), [Ru 3(CO) 9{PPh 2(CH 2) 3Ph} 3] ( 9), and [Ru 6C(CO) 13PPh 2(CH 2) 3Ph] ( 10) were determined by X-ray diffraction. The former two consist of the intact cluster core with either one or three ligands bonded via the P atom, while the latter has additionally one of the phenyl rings on the phosphorous connected to the cluster in a η 6 bonding mode.

High-nuclearity metal-cyanide clusters: synthesis, magnetic properties, and inclusion behavior of open-cage species incorporating [(tach)M(CN)3] (M = Cr, Fe, Co) complexes.

The use of 1,3,5-triaminocyclohexane (tach) as a capping ligand in generating metal-cyanide cage clusters with accessible cavities is demonstrated. The precursor complexes [(tach)M(CN)(3)] (M = Cr, Fe, Co) are synthesized by methods similar to those employed in preparing the analogous 1,4,7-triazacyclononane (tacn) complexes. Along with [(tach)Fe(CN)(3)](1)(-), the latter two species are found to adopt low-spin electron configurations. Assembly reactions between [(tach)M(CN)(3)] (M = Fe, Co) and [M'(H(2)O)(6)](2+) (M' = Ni, Co) in aqueous solution afford the clusters [(tach)(4)(H(2)O)(12)Ni(4)Co(4)(CN)(12)](8+), [(tach)(4)(H(2)O)(12)Co(8)(CN)(12)](8+), and [(tach)(4)(H(2)O)(12)Ni(4)Fe(4)(CN)(12)](8+), each possessing a cubic arrangement of eight metal ions linked through edge-spanning cyanide bridges. This geometry is stabilized by hydrogen-bonding interactions between tach and water ligands through an intervening solvate water molecule or bromide counteranion. The magnetic behavior of the Ni(4)Fe(4) cluster indicates weak ferromagnetic coupling (J = 5.5 cm(-)(1)) between the Ni(II) and Fe(III) centers, leading to an S = 6 ground state. Solutions containing [(tach)Fe(CN)(3)] and a large excess of [Ni(H(2)O)(6)](2+) instead yield a trigonal pyramidal [(tach)(H(2)O)(15)Ni(3)Fe(CN)(3)](6+) cluster, in which even weaker ferromagnetic coupling (J = 1.2 cm(-)(1)) gives rise to an S = (7)/(2) ground state. Paralleling reactions previously performed with [(Me(3)tacn)Cr(CN)(3)], [(tach)Cr(CN)(3)] reacts with [Ni(H(2)O)(6)](2+) in aqueous solution to produce [(tach)(8)Cr(8)Ni(6)(CN)(24)](12+), featuring a structure based on a cube of Cr(III) ions with each face centered by a square planar [Ni(CN)(4)](2)(-) unit. The metal-cyanide cage differs somewhat from that of the analogous Me(3)tacn-ligated cluster, however, in that it is distorted via compression along a body diagonal of the cube. Additionally, the compact tach capping ligands do not hinder access to the sizable interior cavity of the molecule, permitting host-guest chemistry. Mass spectrometry experiments indicate a 1:1 association of the intact cluster with tetrahydrofuran (THF) in aqueous solution, and a crystal structure shows the THF molecule to be suspended in the middle of the cluster cavity. Addition of THF to an aqueous solution containing [(tach)Co(CN)(3)] and [Cu(H(2)O)(6)](2+) templates the formation of a closely related cluster, [(tach)(8)(H(2)O)(6)Cu(6)Co(8)(CN)(24) superset THF](12+), in which paramagnetic Cu(II) ions with square pyramidal coordination are situated on the face-centering sites. Reactions intended to produce the cubic [(tach)(4)(H(2)O)(12)Co(8)(CN)(12)](8+) cluster frequently led to an isomeric two-dimensional framework, [(tach)(H(2)O)(3)Co(2)(CN)(3)](2+), exhibiting mer rather than fac stereochemistry at the [Co(H(2)O)(3)](2+) subunits. Attempts to assemble larger edge-bridged cubic clusters by reacting [(tach)Cr(CN)(3)] with [Ni(cyclam)](2+) (cyclam = 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane) complexes instead generated extended one- or two-dimensional solids. The magnetic properties of one of these solids, two-dimensional [(tach)(2)(cyclam)(3)Ni(3)Cr(2)(CN)(6)]I(2), suggest metamagnetic behavior, with ferromagnetic intralayer coupling and weak antiferromagnetic interactions between layers.