Structural studies on layered alkylpyridinium iodopalladate networks

Cetylpyridinium Trichlorostannate: Synthesis, Antimicrobial Properties, and Controlled-Release Properties via Electrical Resistance Tomography

Cetylpyridinium trichlorostannate (CPC-Sn), comprising cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) and stannous chloride, was synthesized and characterized via single-crystal X-ray diffraction measurements indicating stoichiometry of C₂₁H₃₈NSnCl₃ where the molecules are arranged in a 1:1 ratio with a cetylpyridinium cation and a [SnCl₃]^- anion. CPC-Sn has shown potential for application as a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent, to reduce bacteria-generated volatile sulfur compounds and to produce advanced functional materials. In order to investigate its controlled-release properties, electrical resistance tomography was implemented. The results demonstrate that CPC-Sn exhibits extended-release properties in an aqueous environment as opposed to the CPC counterpart.

Diketonylpyridinium Cations as a Support of New Ionic Liquid Crystals and Ion-Conductive Materials: Analysis of Counter-Ion Effects

Ionic liquid crystals (ILCs) allow the combination of the high ionic conductivity of ionic liquids (ILs) with the supramolecular organization of liquid crystals (LCs). ILCs salts were obtained by the assembly of long-chained diketonylpyridinium cations of the type [HOO^R(n)pyH]⁺ and BF₄⁻, ReO₄⁻, NO₃⁻, CF₃SO₃⁻, CuCl₄²⁻ counter-ions. We have studied the thermal behavior of five series of compounds by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and hot stage polarized light optical microscopy (POM). All materials show thermotropic mesomorphism as well as crystalline polymorphism. X-ray diffraction of the [HOO^R(12)pyH][ReO₄] crystal reveals a layered structure with alternating polar and apolar sublayers. The mesophases also exhibit a lamellar arrangement detected by variable temperature powder X-ray diffraction. The CuCl₄²⁻ salts exhibit the best LC properties followed by the ReO₄⁻ ones due to low melting temperature and wide range of existence. The conductivity was probed for the mesophases in one species each from the ReO₄⁻, and CuCl₄²⁻ families, and for the solid phase in one of the non-mesomorphic Cl⁻ salts. The highest ionic conductivity was found for the smectic mesophase of the ReO₄⁻ containing salt, whereas the solid phases of all salts were dominated by electronic contributions. The ionic conductivity may be favored by the mesophase lamellar structure.

Tetrabromidocuprates(II)-Synthesis, Structure and EPR

Metal-containing ionic liquids (ILs) are of interest for a variety of technical applications, e.g., particle synthesis and materials with magnetic or thermochromic properties. In this paper we report the synthesis of, and two structures for, some new tetrabromidocuprates(II) with several "onium" cations in comparison to the results of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopic analyses. The sterically demanding cations were used to separate the paramagnetic Cu(II) ions for EPR measurements. The EPR hyperfine structure in the spectra of these new compounds is not resolved, due to the line broadening resulting from magnetic exchange between the still-incomplete separated paramagnetic Cu(II) centres. For the majority of compounds, the principal g values (g‖ and g⊥) of the tensors could be determined and information on the structural changes in the [CuBr₄](2-) anions can be obtained. The complexes have high potential, e.g., as ionic liquids, as precursors for the synthesis of copper bromide particles, as catalytically active or paramagnetic ionic liquids.

Tetrachloridocuprates(II)-synthesis and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy

Ionic liquids (ILs) on the basis of metal containing anions and/or cations are of interest for a variety of technical applications e.g., synthesis of particles, magnetic or thermochromic materials. We present the synthesis and the results of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopic analyses of a series of some new potential ionic liquids based on tetrachloridocuprates(II), [CuCl₄]²⁻, with different sterically demanding cations: hexadecyltrimethylammonium 1, tetradecyltrimethylammonium 2, tetrabutylammonium 3 and benzyltriethylammonium 4. The cations in the new compounds were used to achieve a reasonable separation of the paramagnetic Cu(II) ions for EPR spectroscopy. The EPR hyperfine structure was not resolved. This is due to the exchange broadening, resulting from still incomplete separation of the paramagnetic Cu(II) centers. Nevertheless, the principal values of the electron Zeemann tensor (g_║ and g_┴) of the complexes could be determined. Even though the solid substances show slightly different colors, the UV/Vis spectra are nearly identical, indicating structural changes of the tetrachloridocuprate moieties between solid state and solution. The complexes have a promising potential e.g., as high temperature ionic liquids, as precursors for the formation of copper chloride particles or as catalytic paramagnetic ionic liquids.

Palladate salts from chiral pyridinium ionic liquids: synthesis and crystal structures

This paper reports the preparation, characterization and the crystal X-ray structures of metal-containing ionic liquid complexes based on chiral pyridinium cations and tetrachloropalladate (II) [PdCl4]2-.

Metallotropic liquid crystals formed by surfactant templating of molten metal halides

Liquid crystals consist of anisotropic molecular units, and most are organic molecules. Materials incorporating metals into anisotropic molecules, described as metallomesogens, have been prepared. Anisotropic structures such as one-dimensional chains and two-dimensional layers are frequently observed in solid-state inorganic materials, however, little is understood about structural organization in melts of such materials. Achieving liquid-crystalline behaviour in inorganic fluids should be possible if the anisotropic structure can be retained or designed into the molten phase. We demonstrated the ability to engineer zeolite-type structures into metal halide glasses and liquids. In this work we have engineered lamellar, cubic and hexagonal liquid-crystalline structure in metal-halide melts by controlling the volume fraction and nature of the inorganic block (up to 80 mol%) with respect to alkylammonium surfactants. The high metal content of these liquid-crystalline systems significantly advances the field of metallomesogens, which seeks to combine magnetic, electronic, optical, redox and catalytic properties common to inorganic materials with the fluid properties of liquid crystals.