Synthesis and structural aspects of urea/dialkylamine inclusion compounds

The synthesis and structural aspects of urea host-guest inclusion compounds containing linear secondary alkylamines (dibutyl-,dipentyl-, dihexyl-, dioctyl-) at 25°C are reported. Elemental analysis,¹³C CP-MAS NMR and¹H-NMR Spectroscopy, and Powder X-ray Diffraction Analysis confirm the inclusion process. The basic host structure of the products is similar to that of urea-hydrocarbon systems.¹³C MAS-NMR experiments show chemical shift differences for the confined guest molecule with respect to the liquid phase. Stoichiometry and |c _g| values for the inclusion compounds with dipentyl-and dihexylamine suggest a commensurate structure.     

Physicochemical Properties of Ionic Clathrate Hydrates

Ionic clathrate hydrates are known to be formed by the enclathration of hydrophobic cations or anions into confined cages and the incorporation of counterions into the water framework. As the ionic clathrate hydrates are considered for their potential applicability in various fields, including those that involve solid electrolytes, gas separation, and gas storage, numerous studies of the ionic clathrate hydrates have been reported. This review concentrates on the physicochemical properties of the ionic clathrate hydrates and the notable characteristics of these materials regarding their potential application are addressed.     

Phase Transition of a Structure II Cubic Clathrate Hydrate to a Tetragonal Form

The crystal structure and phase transition of cubic structure II (sII) binary clathrate hydrates of methane (CH₄) and propanol are reported from powder X‐ray diffraction measurements. The deformation of host water cages at the cubic–tetragonal phase transition of 2‐propanol+CH₄ hydrate, but not 1‐propanol+CH₄ hydrate, was observed below about 110 K. It is shown that the deformation of the host water cages of 2‐propanol+CH₄ hydrate can be explained by the restriction of the motion of 2‐propanol within the 5¹²6⁴ host water cages. This result provides a low‐temperature structure due to a temperature‐induced symmetry‐lowering transition of clathrate hydrate. This is the first example of a cubic structure of the common clathrate hydrate families at a fixed composition.     

Formation of isolated guest dimers vs. host-guest coordination. X-Ray crystal structures of four carboxylic acid inclusion compounds formed by roof-shaped and scissor-like host molecules

The crystal structures of the inclusion compounds oftrans-9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethano-anthracene-11,12-dicarboxylic acid host (1) with formic acid (1a), acetic acid (1b), and propionic acid (1c) as guests, and of the coordinatoclathrate of the 1,1-binaphthyl-2,2-dicarboxylic acid host (2) with acetic acid as guest (2b) have been studied by single crystal X-ray diffraction. These studies show that inclusion of small carboxylic acids by carboxylic acid hosts like1 and2 results in formation of isolated, hydrogen-bonded guest dimers. Additional H-bond contacts between host and guest carboxylic groups are only formed in cases1a and2b. The dimeric acidic guest units are sitting in the cavities of the host or host-guest framework and have no other interactions than those of a weak Van der Waals' type with the neighbouring molecules. Crystal data:1·formic acid (1:2): triclinic (P),a = 11.6769(6),b = 9.4067(4),c = 9.0020(4) Å,a = 81.522(4), = 100.310(6), = 104.208(6)°,Z = 2,R = 0.048 for 2392 reflections;1·acetic acid (1:1): monoclinic (P2₁/n),a = 9.717(2),b = 14.462(2),c = 13.038(3)Å, = 104.27(1)°,Z=4,R=0.046 for 3042 observations;1·propionic acid (1:1): monoclinic (P2₁/n),a = 9.897(4),b = 14.671(7),c = 13.284(7) Å, = 105.92(6)°,Z = 4,R = 0.056 for 2302 reflections;2·acetic acid (2:3): triclinic (P),a = 12.746(1),b = 17.781(2),c = 11.010(1) Å, = 105.606(4), = 112.992(8), = 81.175(6)°,Z = 2,R = 0.067 for 4375 observations.     

Clathrate and Inclusion Compounds. Part 13 [1]. Vibrational and NMR Spectroscopic Studies of Carboxylic Acid Guests in Urea

Infrared, Raman and solid state¹³C NMR spectra have been recorded for arange of inclusion compounds of urea containingstraight chain aliphatic carboxylic acids(butyric – decanoic) as guests. Inclusioncompounds are not formed with formic, acetic andpropionic acids. Thiourea does not forminclusion compounds with any of the C1 to C10acids. The vibrational and NMR data support theconclusion that the acids are present ashydrogen bonded dimers in the channels of thehost. The alkyl chain ¹³C chemical shiftvalues are very different from those of acidguests in the cavities formed in Dianin'scompound. These suggest that the alkyl chainsare present in the all-trans conformation,although weak bands observed in the spectrum ofthe decanoic acid inclusion compound lend somesupport to suggestions based on MM calculationsthat other conformations might be present.     

Solid-state binding of dimethyl sulphoxide involving carboxylic host molecules. X-ray crystal structures of four inclusion species

The crystal structures of four dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) inclusion compounds with different carboxylic acid hosts,1–4, have been studied by single crystal X-ray analysis. Crystals of thetrans-9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethanoanthracene-11,12-dicarboxylic acid inclusion compound (1a), [1 · DMSO (1: 1)] show monoclinic (P2₁/n) symmetry with the unit cell dimensionsa = 11.522(4),b = 18.658(2),c = 8.709(1) Å and = 98.92(2)°. The clathrate of the 9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethanoanthracene-11,12-dicarboxylic acid (2a), [2 · DMSO (1: 2)] is triclinic (P) with the cell dimensionsa = 15.043(7),b =9.657(4),c = 8.118(7) Å, = 101.81(5), = 96.05(4) and = 100.04(4)°. Triclinic (P) symmetry is shown also by the inclusion compound of 9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethanoanthracene-11-monocarboxylic acid (3a) [3 · DMSO (1:1)] with the cell dimensionsa=6.3132(1),b=7.9846(2),c=17.5314(4) Å, = 96.46(2), = 87.08(2) and = 106.02(2)°. The 9,9-bianthryl-2-monocarboxylic acid clathrate (4a) [4 · DMSO (1:1)] is monoclinic (P2₁/n) and the cell dimensions area = 19.625(18),b = 8.817(1),c = 14.076(8) Å and = 97.92(6)°. In all these structures, the hosts show the same basic recognition pattern for the DMSO guest, involving a strong O-H ... O bond from the COON to the S=O group, and a possible C-H ... O type interaction between the carbonyl O atom of the host and a CH₃ group of the guest. The crystals consist of discrete host-guest aggregates which are mainly held together by weak intermolecular interactions of the Van der Waals' type. The stoichiometries of the aggregates are, however, different.     

Hydrogen in Porous Tetrahydrofuran Clathrate Hydrate

The lack of practical methods for hydrogen storage is still a major bottleneck in the realization of an energy economy based on hydrogen as energy carrier. ¹ Storage within solid‐state clathrate hydrates, ² – ⁴ and in the clathrate hydrate of tetrahydrofuran (THF), has been recently reported. ⁵ , ⁶ In the latter case, stabilization by THF is claimed to reduce the operation pressure by several orders of magnitude close to room temperature. Here, we apply in situ neutron diffraction to show that—in contrast to previous reports^{[5, 6]}—hydrogen (deuterium) occupies the small cages of the clathrate hydrate only to 30 % (at 274 K and 90.5 bar). Such a D₂ load is equivalent to 0.27 wt. % of stored H₂. In addition, we show that a surplus of D₂O results in the formation of additional D₂O ice Ih instead of in the production of sub‐stoichiometric clathrate that is stabilized by loaded hydrogen (as was reported in ref. ⁶ ). Structure‐refinement studies show that [D₈]THF is dynamically disordered, while it fills each of the large cages of [D₈]THF?17D₂O stoichiometrically. Our results show that the clathrate hydrate takes up hydrogen rapidly at pressures between 60 and 90 bar (at about 270 K). At temperatures above ≈220 K, the H‐storage characteristics of the clathrate hydrate have similarities with those of surface‐adsorption materials, such as nanoporous zeolites and metal–organic frameworks, ⁷ , ⁸ but at lower temperatures, the adsorption rates slow down because of reduced D₂ diffusion between the small cages.     

Distribution of Butane in the Host Water Cage of Structure II Clathrate Hydrates

To understand host–guest interactions of hydrocarbon clathrate hydrates, we investigated the crystal structure of simple and binary clathrate hydrates including butane (n‐C₄H₁₀ or iso‐C₄H₁₀) as the guest. Powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis using the information on the conformation of C₄H₁₀ molecules obtained by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations was performed. It was shown that the guest n‐C₄H₁₀ molecule tends to change to the gauche conformation within host water cages. Any distortion of the large 5¹²6⁴ cage and empty 5¹² cage for the simple iso‐C₄H₁₀ hydrate was not detected, and it was revealed that dynamic disorder of iso‐C₄H₁₀ and gauche‐nC₄H₁₀ were spherically extended within the large 5¹²6⁴ cages. It was indicated that structural isomers of hydrocarbon molecules with different van der Waals diameters are enclathrated within water cages in the same way owing to conformational change and dynamic disorder of the molecules. Furthermore, these results show that the method reported herein is applicable to structure analysis of other host–guest materials including guest molecules that could change molecular conformations.     

Abnormal Thermal Expansion of Clathrate Hydrates Induced by Asymmetric Guest Molecules

We investigated for the first time the abnormal thermal expansion induced by an asymmetric guest structure using high‐resolution neutron powder diffraction. Three dihydrogen molecules (H₂, D₂, and HD) were tested to explore the guest dynamics and thermal behavior of hydrogen‐doped clathrate hydrates. We confirmed the restricted spatial distribution and doughnut‐like motion of the HD guest in the center of anisotropic sII‐S (sII‐S=small cages of structure II hydrates). However, we failed to observe a mass‐dependent relationship when comparing D₂ with HD. The use of asymmetric guest molecules can significantly contribute to tuning the cage dimension and thus can improve the stable inclusion of small gaseous molecules in confined cages.     

Clathrate formation from octaazaphthalocyanines possessing bulky phenoxyl substituents: a new cubic crystal containing solvent-filled, nanoscale voids

The synthesis of octaazaphthalocyanine (AzaPc) derivatives, with bulky phenoxyl substituents placed at eight peripheral positions and containing either H(+), Ni(2+) or Zn(2+) ions in their central cavity, is described. The required precursors, derivatives of pyrazine-2,3-dicarbonitrile, were prepared using a nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction between 2,6-diisopropylphenol or 2,6-diphenylphenol and 5,6-dichloropyrazine-2,3-dicarbonitrile. Analysis of the resulting AzaPcs by UV/Visible and (1)H NMR spectroscopy confirms that steric isolation of the AzaPc cores was enforced both in solution and in the solid state. X-ray diffraction studies of single crystals of the AzaPcs reveal that solvent inclusion takes place in each case. Of particular significance is the finding that the zinc derivative of 2,3,9,10,16,17,23,24-octa-(2,6-diisopropylphenoxy)octaazaphthalocyanine provides nanoporous cubic crystals, containing massive (8 nm(3)) solvent-filled voids, similar to those of the analogous phthalocyanine derivative. Exchange of the included solvent within the voids can be readily achieved by using a number of alternative solvents including water. Based on the observed loading of included water, the internal volume of this nanoporous cubic crystal appears to be more hydrophilic than its phthalocyanine counterpart.     

Clathrate and inclusion compounds. Part 8 [1]. An investigation of the usefulness of the spectral substraction technique in analysing the infrared spectra of clathrates

An investigation has been carried out into the usefulness of the spectral subtraction technique in analyzing the infrared spectra of the clathrates of quinol and of Dianin's compound. Due to the flexibility of the quinol host lattice, it is not advisable to use guest-free -quinol as the reference if the host lattice in the clathrate is considerably distorted, as it is in the CH₃CN clathrate. In this case it is advisable to use another clathrate as the reference provided that the spectrum of the new reference does not contain guest bands in the region of interest. The Dianin's compound host lattice is less flexible than that of quinol, and guest-free Dianin's compound can be used as the reference irrespective of the size of the guest molecule. With both clathrates the spectral subtraction technique has revealed guest molecule bands which were previously obscured by host lattice bands.Dedicated to Professor H. M. Powell.     

Cs8−xSi46: A Type‐I Clathrate with Expanded Silicon Framework

The synthesis of the new binary Cs_8?xSi₄₆ (shown here) completes the series of binary alkali metal silicides with a clathrate‐I structure M_8?xSi₄₆ (M=Na, K, Rb, Cs). In contrast with the lighter homologues, Cs_8?xSi₄₆ can be prepared only at elevated pressures. The compound was obtained at 1200 °C between 2–10 GPa and the Cs content rises with applied pressure.

     

Pseudopolymorphic Clathrate Structures Formed by an Alicyclic Dialcohol Inclusion Host

Dialcohol host 2,7-dimethyltricyclo[4.3.1.0^3,8]undecane-syn-2,syn-7-diol 1 can form either ellipsoidal clathrate or helical tubulate inclusion compounds where only dispersion forces operate between the hosts and guests. The former (tetragonal space group I4₁/acd), built from two interpenetrating sublattices containing both diol enantiomers, encloses the guests in rugby ball-shaped cavities. The latter (trigonal space group P3₁21 or P3₂21), containing only one diol enantiomer, traps the guests within parallel tubes. Which inclusion type is produced is determined by the guest size and shape and, hence, control is possible over these structures. At room temperature, cyclohexane gives the tetragonal structure, but fluorocyclohexane yields the trigonal structure. Chloroform produces both pseudopolymorphs: the tetragonal form at higher and the trigonal form at lower temperatures. Powder and single-crystal structural X-ray data are reported for these clathrate compounds.     

Benzene Solubility in Ionic Liquids: Working Toward an Understanding of Liquid Clathrate Formation

The solubility of benzene in 15 imidazolium, pyrrolidinium, pyridinium, and piperidinium ionic liquids has been determined; the resulting, benzene‐saturated ionic liquid solutions, also known as liquid clathrates, were examined with ¹H and ¹⁹F nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to try and understand the molecular interactions that control liquid clathrate formation. The results suggest that benzene interacts primarily with the cation of the ionic liquid, and that liquid clathrate formation (and benzene solubility) is controlled by the strength of the cation–anion interactions, that is, the stronger the cation–anion interaction, the lower the benzene solubility. Other factors that were determined to be important in the final amount of benzene in any given liquid clathrate phase included attractive interactions between the anion and benzene (when significant), and larger steric or free volume demands of the ions, both of which lead to greater benzene solubility.     

Tuning the Composition of Guest Molecules in Clathrate Hydrates: NMR Identification and Its Significance to Gas Storage

Gas hydrates represent an attractive way of storing large quantities of gas such as methane and carbon dioxide, although to date there has been little effort to optimize the storage capacity and to understand the trade‐offs between storage conditions and storage capacity. In this work, we present estimates for gas storage based on the ideal structures, and show how these must be modified given the little data available on hydrate composition. We then examine the hypothesis based on solid‐solution theory for clathrate hydrates as to how storage capacity may be improved for structure II hydrates, and test the hypothesis for a structure II hydrate of THF and methane, paying special attention to the synthetic approach used. Phase equilibrium data are used to map the region of stability of the double hydrate in P–T space as a function of the concentration of THF. In situ high‐pressure NMR experiments were used to measure the kinetics of reaction between frozen THF solutions and methane gas, and ¹³C MAS NMR experiments were used to measure the distribution of the guests over the cage sites. As known from previous work, at high concentrations of THF, methane only occupies the small cages in structure II hydrate, and in accordance with the hypothesis posed, we confirm that methane can be introduced into the large cage of structure II hydrate by lowering the concentration of THF to below 1.0 mol %. We note that in some preparations the cage occupancies appear to fluctuate with time and are not necessarily homogeneous over the sample. Although the tuning mechanism is generally valid, the composition and homogeneity of the product vary with the details of the synthetic procedure. The best results, those obtained from the gas–liquid reaction, are in good agreement with thermodynamic predictions; those obtained for the gas–solid reaction do not agree nearly as well.