Tetraformatecore

Tetraformatecore is a proposed coordination motif in inorganic chemistry describing a central atom or small metal cluster surrounded by four formate ligands arranged in a tetrahedral geometry. In this concept, each formate ligand binds to the core through its two oxygen atoms, typically as a bidentate chelate or as a bridging donor, yielding a discrete core with approximate tetrahedral symmetry in idealized models. The central core is often envisioned as a single divalent metal ion such as Zn2+, Cu2+, or Mn2+, though other metals and oxidation states have been discussed in theoretical contexts. The four formate ligands define the vertices of a tetrahedron, and the resulting tetraformatecore can serve as a modular unit for building larger networks.

Synthesis of a true tetraformatecore has not been widely reported in standard chemical catalogs; proposed routes include metathesis between a tetra-coordinate metal precursor and formate sources, solvothermal or hydrothermal crystallization, and controlled in situ generation from metal carbonates with formic acid under dehydrating conditions. Stability and reactivity depend on the metal identity, ligand denticity, and the surrounding counterions, with potential ligand exchange dynamics that can affect the core’s integrity.

In materials science and catalysis, tetraformatecore serves as a conceptual building block for tetrahedrally connected coordination polymers and metal-organic frameworks, offering potential applications in gas storage, separation, and small-molecule catalysis. The term appears primarily in theoretical discussions and speculative designs rather than as a widely established functional entity.