Inverse coordination of an ionic lattice by a metal host

Mechanosynthesis of Higher-Order Cocrystals: Tuning Order, Functionality and Size in Cocrystal Design*

The ability to rationally design and predictably construct crystalline solids has been the hallmark of crystal engineering research. To date, numerous examples of multicomponent crystals comprising organic molecules have been reported. However, the crystal engineering of cocrystals comprising both organic and inorganic chemical units is still poorly understood and mostly unexplored. Here, we report a new diverse set of higher-order cocrystals (HOCs) based on the structurally versatile-yet largely unexplored-phosph(V/V)azane heterosynthon building block. The novel ternary and quaternary cocrystals reported are held together by synergistic and orthogonal intermolecular interactions. Notably, the HOCs can be readily obtained either via sequential or one-pot mechanochemical methods. Computational modelling methods reveal that the HOCs are thermodynamically driven to form and that their mechanical properties strongly depend on the composition and intermolecular forces in the crystal, offering untapped potential for optimizing material properties.

Coordination Behavior of [Cp″2Zr(µ1:1-As4)] towards Lewis Acids

The functionalization of the arsenic transfer reagent [Cp″2Zr(η1:1-As4)] (1) focuses on modifying its properties and enabling a broader scope of reactivity. The coordination behavior of 1 towards different Lewis-acidic transition metal complexes and main group compounds is investigated by experimental and computational studies. Depending on the steric requirements of the Lewis acids and the reaction temperature, a variety of new complexes with different coordination modes and coordination numbers could be synthesized. Depending on the Lewis acid (LA) used, a mono-substitution in [Cp″2Zr(µ,η1:1:1:1-As4)(LA)] (LA = Fe(CO)4 (4); B(C6F5)3 (7)) and [Cp″2Zr(µ,η3:1:1-As4)(Fe(CO)3)] (5) or a di-substitution [Cp″2Zr(µ3,η1:1:1:1-As4)(LA)2] (LA = W(CO)5 (2); CpMn(CO)2 (3); AlR3 (6, R = Me, Et, iBu)) are monitored. In contrast to other coordination products, 5 shows an η3 coordination in which the butterfly As4 ligand is rearranged to a cyclo-As4 ligand. The reported complexes are rationalized in terms of inverse coordination.

Confinement of halide ions within homologous inverse coordination hosts; modification of halide-ion selectivity

The structures of a series of spherical host-guest complexes [{MeE(PPh)(3)Li(4)·3thf}(4)(μ(4)-X)](-) (E = Al, [1X](-); E = Ga, [2X](-); E = In, [3X](-)) reveal that changing the halide ions (X = Cl, Br, or I) within their central tetrahedral Li(4) sites has negligible effect on the structural parameters.

Structural, Solid-State NMR and Theoretical Studies of the Inverse-Coordination of Lithium Chloride Using Group 13 Phosphide Hosts

The reaction of MeAlCl2 with 'PhPLi2' in THF gives [{MeAl(PPh)3Li(4).3 THF}4(mu4-Cl)]-Li+ (1). The GaIII and InIII analogues, [{MeE(PPh)3Li(4).3 THF}4(mu4-Cl)]-Li+(THF)3 (E=Ga (2), In (3)), are obtained by the in situ reactions of MeECl2 with PhPLi2 in THF. For all of the complexes, the cage anions have an unusual cubic arrangement that is similar to a zeolite, and contain large voids (ca. 17 A). The location of the Li+ counterions in 1-3 and their coordination environment appears to subtly reflect variations in packing and lattice energy. Whereas in 1 highly mobile, loosely coordinated Li+ counterions are present, 2 and 3 contain less mobile THF-solvated counterions within the cavities. X-ray crystallographic and solid-state NMR studies are reported on 1-3, together with model DFT calculations on the selectivity of halide coordination.

Self-assembly of square-planar halide complexes of phosphine-stabilised stibenium salts

Chloride and bromide ions direct the self-assembly of supramolecular square-planar halide complexes in which four trimethylphosphine-stabilised diphenylstibenium ions surround the central halide ion in discrete centrosymmetrical structures of C(4h) symmetry.