Liquid reagents are not enough for liquid assisted grinding in the synthesis of [(AgBr)(n-pica)]n

This study investigates the mechanochemical reactions between AgBr 3-picolylamine and 4-picolylamine. The use of different stoichiometry ratios of the reagents allows [(AgBr)(n-pica)]n and [(AgBr)2(n-pica)]n to be obtained, and we report the new structures of [(AgBr)2(3-pica)]n and [(AgBr)2(4-pica)]n which are characterized by the presence of the following: (a) infinite inorganic chains, (b) silver atom coordinated only by bromide atoms and (c) argentophilic interactions. Furthermore, we studied the interconversion of [(AgBr)(n-pica)]n/[(AgBr)2(n-pica)]n by mechanochemical and thermal properties. The in situ experiments suggest that [(AgBr)(3-pica)]n is kinetically favoured while [(AgBr)2(3-pica)]n is converted into [(AgBr)(3-pica)]n only with a high excess of the ligand. Finally, the liquid nature of the ligands is not sufficient to assist the grinding process, and the complete reaction is observed with the addition of a small quantity of acetonitrile.

Assembling photoactive materials from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs): room temperature phosphorescence and excimer-emission in co-crystals with 1,4-diiodotetrafluorobenzene

Co-crystallization of PAHs with a polyhalogenated co-former afforded three novel co-crystals, which display remarkable features such as mechanochemical interconversion, photoreactivity, excimer fluorescence, and RTP phosphorescence in the solid state.

Unusual motion of the n-methoxypropyl moiety observed in the photochromic crystals of an organorhodium dithionite complex with n-methoxypropyltetramethylcyclopentadienyl ligands

The crystalline-state photochromism of a new organorhodium dinuclear complex having n-methoxypropyltetramethylcyclopentadienyl (η⁵-C₅Me₄n-C₃H₆OCH₃) and photoresponsive dithionite (μ-O₂SSO₂) ligands was investigated directly by performing single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiments; a reversible conformational change of the n-methoxypropyl moiety was intriguingly observed during the course of a thermal back-reaction.

Interplay of halogen and hydrogen bonding in a series of heteroleptic iron(iii) complexes

The impact of the halogen substituent on supramolecular preferences that influence packing is explored in a series of heteroleptic iron(iii) complexes.

Molecular motion in organometallic crystals: photoinduced 2π/5 rotation of n-hexyltetramethylcyclopentadienyl ligand

Unusual rotation of the ligand (blue dotted circle) in organometallic crystals is disclosed by X-ray diffraction experiments.

The impact of solid solution composition on kinetics and mechanism of [2 + 2] photodimerization of cinnamic acid derivatives

The effect of the solid solution composition on the kinetics of solid-state [2 + 2] photocycloadditions was evaluated via a combination of single crystal XRD, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, and principal component analysis (PCA).

Hydrogen-Bonded Crystalline Molecular Machines with Ultrafast Rotation and Displacive Phase Transitions

Two new crystalline rotors 1 and 2 assembled through N-H⋅⋅⋅N hydrogen bonds by using halogenated carbazole as stators and 1,4-diaza[2.2.2]bicyclooctane (DABCO) as the rotator, are described. The dynamic characterization through ¹ H T₁ relaxometry experiments indicate very low rotational activation barriers (E_a ) of 0.67 kcal mol^-1 for 1 and 0.26 kcal mol^-1 for 2, indicating that DABCO can reach a THz frequency at room temperature in the latter. These E_a values are supported by solid-state density functional theory computations. Interestingly, both supramolecular rotors show a phase transition between 298 and 250 K, revealed by differential scanning calorimetry and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The subtle changes in the crystalline environment of these rotors that can alter the motion of an almost barrierless DABCO are discussed here.

Solid-State Dynamics and High-Pressure Studies of a Supramolecular Spiral Gear

The structures and solid-state dynamics of the supramolecular salts of the general formula [(12-crown-4)₂ ⋅DABCOH₂ ](X)₂ (where DABCO=1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane, X=BF₄ , ClO₄ ) have been investigated as a function of temperature (from 100 to 360 K) and pressure (up to 3.4 GPa), through the combination of variable-temperature and variable-pressure XRD techniques and variable-temperature solid-state NMR spectroscopy. The two salts are isomorphous and crystallize in the enantiomeric space groups P3₂ 2₁ and P3₁ 2₁ . All building blocks composing the supramolecular complex display dynamic processes at ambient temperature and pressure. It has been demonstrated that the motion of the crown ethers is maintained on lowering the temperature (down to 100 K) or on increasing the pressure (up to 1.5 GPa) thanks to the correlation between neighboring molecules, which mesh and rotate in a concerted manner similar to spiral gears. Above 1.55 GPa, a collapse-type transition to a lower-symmetry ordered structure, not attainable at a temperature of 100 K, takes place, proving, thus, that the pressure acts as the means to couple and decouple the gears. The relationship between temperature and pressure effects on molecular motion in the solid state has also been discussed.

Copper(II) Halide Salts with 1-(4′-Pyridyl)-Pyridinediium

The compounds [1,4′-bipyridine]-1,1′-diium [CuCl4] (1) and [1,4′-bipyridine]-1,1′-diium [CuBr4] (2) were prepared and their crystal structures and magnetic properties are reported. The compounds are isomorphous and crystallize in the monoclinic space group C2/c. The cation crystallizes in a two-fold disordered fashion with the terminal nitrogen and carbon atoms exhibiting 50% occupancies. This results in a crystal packing arrangement with significant hydrogen bonding that is very similar to that observed in the corresponding 4,4′-bipyridinediium complexes. Temperature dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements and room temperature EPR spectroscopy indicate the presence of very weak antiferromagnetic exchange. The data were fit to the Curie–Weiss law and yielded Weiss constants of −0.26(5) K (1) and −1.0(1) K (2).

Dynamic characterization of crystalline fluorophores with conformationally flexible tetrahydrocarbazole frameworks

Fluorescent compounds 2 and 3 have been prepared by using Ullmann-type coupling reactions. Solid-state NMR (¹³C CPMAS and ²H) and periodic DFT computations were used to determine that intramolecular motion coexists with emission in these crystals.

Plasticity in zwitterionic drugs: the bending properties of Pregabalin and Gabapentin and their hydrates

The investigation of mechanical properties in molecular crystals is emerging as a novel area of interest in crystal engineering. Indeed, good mechanical properties are required to manufacture pharmaceutical and technologically relevant substances into usable products. In such endeavour, bendable single crystals help to correlate microscopic structure to macroscopic properties for potential design. The hydrate forms of two anticonvulsant zwitterionic drugs, Pregabalin and Gabapentin, are two examples of crystalline materials that show macroscopic plasticity. The direct comparison of these structures with those of their anhydrous counterparts, which are brittle, suggests that the presence of water is critical for plasticity. In contrast, structural features such as molecular packing and anisotropic distribution of strong and weak interactions seem less important.

Solid-state supramolecular architectures of a series of Hg(ii) halide coordination compounds based on hydroxyl-substituted Schiff base ligands

Herein, six Hg(ii) coordination compounds containing Schiff base ligands were synthesized, characterized and studied using geometrical and Hirshfeld analyses as well as theoretical calculations.

Supramolecular zwitterions based on a novel boronic acid–squarate dianion synthon

We report a novel heterodimeric charge-assisted hydrogen bonding synthon and prove its robustness by preparation of a three-component co-crystal.

Co-crystallization of anti-inflammatory pharmaceutical contaminants and rare carboxylic acid–pyridine supramolecular synthon breakdown

Co-crystallization of the pharmaceutical contaminants mefenamic acid and naproxen is reported; one co-crystal exhibits a rare carboxylic acid–pyridine synthon breakdown.

Anion-controlled supramolecular crystal structures and ionic liquids from fatty acid-substituted ethyl-nicotinate ionic compounds

A series of bio-inspired fatty acid-substituted ethyl-nicotinate ionic compounds with a flexible ester group were prepared, and two crystals and four ionic liquids were obtained.