On the crystal chemistry of inorganic nitrides: crystal-chemical parameters,bonding behavior,and opportunities in the exploration of their compositional space

The scarcity of nitrogen in Earth''s crust, combined with challenging synthesis, have made inorganic nitrides a relatively unexplored class of compounds compared to their naturally abundant oxide counterparts. To facilitate exploration of their compositional space via a priori modeling, and to help a posteriori structure verification not limited to inferring the oxidation state of redox-active cations, we derive a suite of bond-valence parameters and Lewis acid strength values for 76 cations observed bonding to N³⁻, and further outline a baseline statistical knowledge of bond lengths for these compounds. Examination of structural and electronic effects responsible for the functional properties and anomalous bonding behavior of inorganic nitrides shows that many mechanisms of bond-length variation ubiquitous to oxide and oxysalt compounds (e.g., lone-pair stereoactivity, the Jahn–Teller and pseudo Jahn–Teller effects) are similarly pervasive in inorganic nitrides, and are occasionally observed to result in greater distortion magnitude than their oxide counterparts. We identify promising functional units for exploring uncharted chemical spaces of inorganic nitrides, e.g. multiple-bond metal centers with promise regarding the development of a post-Haber–Bosch process proceeding at milder reaction conditions, and promote an atomistic understanding of chemical bonding in nitrides relevant to such pursuits as the development of a model of ion substitution in solids, a problem of great relevance to semiconductor doping whose solution would fast-track the development of compound solar cells, battery materials, electronics, and more.

Navigating high-return chemical spaces in inorganic nitrides via identification of coordination units bearing functional properties.     

Developments in inorganic crystal engineering

The design and synthesis of crystalline materials through the self-assembly of molecular building blocks and the pursuit of functional materials based upon this approach are usually classified under the banner Crystal Engineering. The field is interdisciplinary in nature involving synthetic, materials, structural and theoretical chemists. There are strong ties to modern crystallography which can offer rapid and accurate structure determination and, in particular, insight into molecular and intermolecular geometries. Illustrative examples that chart the development field and provide an assessment of the current state of the art will be reviewed with an emphasis on inorganic chemistry. Broadly speaking, two classes of compounds will be discussed: those based upon molecules or ions linked into networks via noncovalent interactions and those (coordination polymers) in which metal centres are linked using coordination bonds through bridging ligands into extended networks.     

Gmelin handbook of inorganic chemistry

IR studies show that in solution aluminium trihalides form Lewis acid adducts at the iron atom in polyolefin tricarbonyliron complexes. A ketonic organometallic compound also forms a 2:1 adduct.     

Analytical chemistry and inorganic chemistry — an unhappy marriage?

Summary Analytical chemistry is a discipline which has a large impact in other fields of chemistry and natural sciences as well as in technology and society. Traditionally, analytical chemistry has been grouped together with inorganic chemistry to such an extent that they are often viewed as a single discipline. While this has been beneficial for the development of both inorganic and analytical chemistry, it is increasingly important that the need of analytical education by the organic and biochemists as well as by chemical engineers is clearly recognized. The tightening environmental protection requires the analyst to be conversant with more sensitive, more accurate, and more reliable techniques in novel chemical surroundings, but at the same time he has to have as thorough knowledge in every field of chemistry as possible.     

Supramolecular chemistry and crystal engineering

Supramolecular chemistry is the chemistry of molecular ensembles and intermolecular interactions. Currently it is a major, interdisciplinary branch of science dealing with chemical, physical, biological and technological aspects of the creation and study of complex chemical systems based upon non-valent interactions. Crystal engineering is a direction of supramolecular chemistry aimed at the design of periodic structures with a desired supramolecular organization. This paper shortly reviews the goals and research objects of supramolecular chemistry and crystal engineering and lists the most important historical facts and the literature.     

Liquid crystal chemistry and poetry

This paper comments on a recent article “Revolutionary poetry and liquid crystal chemistry: Herman Gorter, Ada Prins and the interface between literature and science” by Hub Zwart (Foundations of Chemistry, published online: 10 July 2020), in which the author explores the influence of the liquid crystal research of Ada Prins on the epic poem Pan written by her long-time lover Herman Gorter. The present paper reviews the basic science of liquid crystals and explains the connections between the work of Prins and its influence on the poem. Other examples of the use of “liquid crystal” as a literary device are identified from renaissance poetry, and the uses of the metaphor in these poems are analysed from a scientific perspective. From these examples it is suggested that creative concepts from poetry may contain elements of substance that appear in hitherto unrecognised scientific realities.

     

Design of targeting ligands in medicinal inorganic chemistry

This tutorial review will highlight recent advances in medicinal inorganic chemistry pertaining to the use of multifunctional ligands for enhanced effect. Ligands that adequately bind metal ions and also include specific targeting features are gaining in popularity due to their ability to enhance the efficacy of less complicated metal-based agents. Moving beyond the traditional view of ligands modifying reactivity, stabilizing specific oxidation states, and contributing to substitution inertness, we will discuss recent work involving metal complexes with multifunctional ligands that target specific tissues, membrane receptors, or endogenous molecules, including enzymes.