The supramolecular structure of the title molecule, [Ca(C7H4ClO4S)(H2O)6](C7H4ClO4S)·H2O, contains alternating organic and inorganic layers along the b direction. The sulfonate group on one of the aryl units is coordinated to Ca, while the other does not form any interaction with a Ca atom.

The title tetradentate Schiff base complex (systematic name: {2,2'-[propane-1,3-diylbis(nitrilomethylidyne)]benzenethiolato- κ⁴S,N,N',S'}nickel(II) 1,4-dioxane solvate), [Ni(C₁₇H₁₆-N₂S₂)]·C₄H₈O₂, contains an Ni atom coordinated within a tetrahedrally distorted planar N₂S₂ environment, with average Ni-N and N-S bond lengths of 1.922 (1) and 2.167 (1) Å, respectively.

We have isolated and crystallographically characterized the three homologous compounds N,N'-bis(2-methoxybenzylidene) ethane-1,2-diamine (MeSalen), C₁₈H₂₀N₂O₂, N,N'-bis-(2-methoxybenzylidene)propane-1,3-diamine (MeSalpr), C₁₉-H₂₂N₂O₂, and N,N'-bis(2-methoxybenzylidene)butane-1,4-diamine (MeSalbu), C₂₀H₂₄N₂O₂. In contrast with MeSalpr, the molecules of MeSalen and MeSalbu, which have an even number of methylene units, have crystallographic '1' symmetry. Comparing these methoxy-substituted species with their hydroxy equivalents shows that the aryl rings rotate upon removal of the O-H···N hydrogen bonds. The packing of MeSalen and MeSalpr is controlled by C-H···π interactions, whereas that of MeSalbu has only van der Waals contacts.

Reaction of 1,3-dimesitylimidazol-2-ylidene and trichloro-oxo-vanadium(V) yields an air stable 1:1 adduct, which demonstrates the utility of N-heterocyclic carbenes to stabilize metal complexes in high oxidation states. The molecular structure of this compound reveals that the chloride ligands cis to the carbene are oriented toward the C'carbene' atom. Density functional theory calculations show that a bonding interaction occurs between lone pairs of these chlorides and the formally unoccupied p-orbital of the carbene. Previous studies indicated that this orbital was not involved in the bonding of N-heterocyclic carbenes to transition metals. The observed interaction therefore represents a new bonding mode for these widely used ligands.