oxalatreiche

Oxalatreiche is a term used in chemistry to describe materials that are unusually rich in oxalate groups (C2O4^2−). The name combines oxalate with reich, the German word for rich, and it is used to refer to substances in which oxalate ligands play a central structural role.

These materials are typically coordination polymers or metal-organic frameworks in which oxalate ligands bridge metal centers such as calcium, iron, copper, or aluminum. The oxalate can function as a bidentate ligand, a bridging linker, or a polydentate connector, producing layered, networked, or three-dimensional structures.

Synthesis generally involves reacting metal salts with oxalate sources under controlled pH and solvent conditions, often using hydrothermal or solvothermal methods. The choice of metal, oxalate source, and experimental conditions influences crystallinity, porosity, and stability.

Natural occurrence of oxalatreiche phases is not well established; oxalate is common in biological systems and in certain minerals such as whewellite (calcium oxalate monohydrate) and weddellite (calcium oxalate dihydrate). In practice, oxalatreiche materials are mainly produced in laboratory settings as designed frameworks or composites.

Properties typically include high thermal stability, tunable porosity, and selective adsorption properties that depend on metal nodes and framework topology. Applications proposed for oxalatreiche materials include catalysis, gas storage and separation, ion exchange, and sensing, though practical deployment depends on stability and scalability.

Safety considerations center on the handling of oxalate and metal salts, as some oxalates can be toxic if ingested or inhaled, and decomposition may release carbon monoxide or other gases. Standard laboratory safety practices apply.

Related topics include oxalate minerals, metal-organic frameworks, and coordination polymers.