Effect of Bulkiness on Reversible Substitution Reaction at MnII Center with Concomitant Movement of the Lattice DMF: Observation through Single‐Crystal to Single‐Crystal Fashion

The porous coordination polymer ({[Mn(L)H₂O](H₂O)_1.5(dmf)}_n, 1 ) (DMF=N,N‐dimethylformamide) exhibits variety of substitution reactions along with movement of lattice DMF molecule depending upon bulkiness of the external guest molecules. If pyridine or 4‐picoline is used as a guest, both lattice and coordinated solvent molecules are simultaneously substituted (complexes 6 and 7 , respectively). If a bulky guest like aniline is used, a partial substitution at the metal centers and full substitution at the channels takes place (complex 8 ). If the guest is 2‐picoline (by varying the position of bulky methyl group with respect to donor N atom), one Mn^II center is substituted by 2‐picoline, whereas the remaining center is substituted by a DMF molecule that migrates from the channel to the metal center (complex 9 ). Here, the lattice solvent molecules are substituted by 2‐picoline molecules. For the case of other bulky guests like benzonitrile or 2,6‐lutidine, both the metal centers are substituted by two DMF molecules, again migrating from the channel, and the lattice solvent molecules are substituted by these guest molecules (complex 10 and 11 , respectively). A preferential substitution of pyridine over benzonitrile (complex 12 ) at the metal centers is observed only when the molar ratio of PhCN:Py is 95:5 or less. For the case of an aliphatic dimethylaminoacetonitrile guest, the metal centers remain unsubstituted (complex 13 ); rather substitutions of the lattice solvents by the guest molecules take place. All these phenomena are observed through single crystal to single crystal (SC–SC) phenomena.     

Synthesis and Structure Characterization of Metal‐organic Frameworks with a Triple Iron Helical Complex

Metal‐organic frameworks were achieved from triple metal helical iron complex [(Fe₂L₃)·(H₂O)₄] (L = bis[2‐hydroxybenzaldehyde]hydrazonate). The phenyl rings of the helical units contact the neighbors via π‐π and C‐H···π interactions to form two‐dimensional channeled frameworks in which four solvent water molecules are included in the channels of the structure. Thermogravimetric analyses reveal that the solvent water molecules can be evacuated from the pores without loss of the framework periodicity. The crystal lattice is thermally stable up to 339.9 °C, and water can be re‐included by putting the heated material in water.     

Invariom‐model refinement and Hirshfeld surface analysis of well‐ordered solvent‐free dibenzo‐21‐crown‐7

Crown ethers and their supramolecular derivatives are well‐known chelators and scavengers for a variety of cations, most notably heavier alkali and alkaline‐earth ions. Although they are widely used in synthetic chemistry, available crystal structures of uncoordinated and solvent‐free crown ethers regularly suffer from disorder. In this study, we present the X‐ray crystal structure analysis of well‐ordered solvent‐free crystals of dibenzo‐21‐crown‐7 (systematic name: dibenzo[b ,k ]‐1,4,7,10,13,16,19‐heptaoxacycloheneicosa‐2,11‐diene, C₂₂H₂₈O₇). Because of the quality of the crystal and diffraction data, we have chosen invarioms, in addition to standard independent spherical atoms, for modelling and briefly discuss the different refinement results. The electrostatic potential, which is directly deducible from the invariom model, and the Hirshfeld surface are analysed and complemented with interaction‐energy computations to characterize intermolecular contacts. The boat‐like molecules stack along the a axis and are arranged as dimers of chains, which assemble as rows to form a three‐dimensional structure. Dispersive C—H…H—C and C—H…π interactions dominate, but nonclassical hydrogen bonds are present and reflect the overall rather weak electrostatic influence. A fingerprint plot of the Hirshfeld surface summarizes and visualizes the intermolecular interactions. The insight gained into the crystal structure of dibenzo‐21‐crown‐7 not only demonstrates the power of invariom refinement, Hirshfeld surface analysis and interaction‐energy computation, but also hints at favourable conditions for crystallizing solvent‐free crown ethers.     

25‐Allyloxy‐5,11,17,23‐tetra‐tert‐butyl‐26,27,28‐trihydroxycalix[4]arene chloroform disolvate

In the title solvated calixarene, C₄₇H₆₀O₄·2CHCl₃, the host chalice displays an almost undistorted cone conformation, stabilized by three strong O—H...O hydrogen bonds at the calixarene's lower rim. One chloroform solvent molecule is fixed in the calixarene cavity by C—H...π interactions, while the second is accommodated in a clathrate‐like mode in elliptical packing voids. These voids are spanned by six host molecules connected via C—H...π contacts and van der Waals interactions. Within the crystal structure, one tert‐butyl group of the calixarene host is disordered over two orientations, with occupancies of 0.884 (4) and 0.116 (4). Furthermore, both solvent molecules show disorder, with occupancies of 0.857 (2) and 0.143 (2) for the cavitate‐type, and 0.9359 (17) and 0.0641 (17) for the clathrate‐type chloroform solvent molecules.     

Solvent influence on the crystal packing of 6‐aminothiocytosine

The crystal structures of 6‐aminothiocytosine (systematic name: 4,6‐diamino‐1,2‐dihydropyrimidine‐2‐thione, DAPMT, C₄H₆N₄S), its hemihydrate (0.5H₂O) and its dimethylformamide (DMF, C₃H₇NO) monosolvate were compared, and the influence of the type of solvent on the supramolecular motifs was analysed. In all three crystal structures, there are two symmetry‐independent molecules (A and B), and these molecules are connected by three relatively short and directional hydrogen bonds to form chains of alternating A and B molecules. A further organization of these chains is dependent on the nature of the solvent molecule. In the unsolvated form, two orientations of the neighbouring chains are observed, and similar motifs – but only one per structure – can be observed in the solvated structures. These two different motifs can be connected by two different kinds of contacts, i.e. either π–π (hemihydrate) or staple‐supported S…S (DMF). In the crystal structures, the O atoms of the solvent molecules are double acceptors of the same type of hydrogen bonds and bind the chains of DAPMT molecules into different motifs (dimeric or infinite chains). A Hirshfeld fingerprint analysis was used for visualization and additional interpretation of these results.     

Homodiselenacalix[4]arenes: Molecules with Unique Channelled Crystal Structures

A synthetic route towards homodiselenacalix[4]arene macrocycles is presented, based on the dynamic covalent chemistry of diselenides. The calixarene inner rim is decorated with either alkoxy or tert‐butyl ester groups. Single‐crystal X‐ray analysis of two THF solvates with methoxy and ethoxy substituents reveals the high similarity of their molecular structures and alterations on the supramolecular level. In both crystal structures, solvent channels are present and differ in both shape and capacity. Furthermore, the methoxy‐substituted macrocycle undergoes a single‐crystal‐to‐single‐crystal transformation during which the molecular structure changes its conformation from 1,3‐alternate (loaded with THF/water) to 1,2‐alternate (apohost form). Molecular modelling techniques were applied to explore the conformational and energetic behaviour of the macrocycles.     

Formation of a Hydrogen‐Bonded Heptazine Framework by Self‐Assembly of Melem into a Hexagonal Channel Structure

Self‐assembly of melem C₆N₇(NH₂)₃ in hot aqueous solution leads to the formation of hydrogen‐bonded, hexagonal rosettes of melem units surrounding infinite channels with a diameter of 8.9 Å. The channels are filled with strongly disordered water molecules, which are bound to the melem network through hydrogen bonds. Single‐crystals of melem hydrate C₆N₇(NH₂)₃ ? xH₂O (x≈2.3) were obtained by hydrothermal treatment of melem at 200 °C and the crystal structure (R $\bar 3$ c, a=2879.0(4), c=664.01(13) pm, V=4766.4(13)×10⁶ pm³, Z=18) was elucidated by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. With respect to the structural similarity to the well‐known adduct between melamine and cyanuric acid, the composition of the obtained product was further analyzed by solid‐state NMR spectroscopy. Hydrolysis of melem to cyameluric acid during syntheses at elevated temperatures could thus be ruled out. DTA/TG studies revealed that, during heating of melem hydrate, water molecules can be removed from the channels of the structure to a large extent. The solvent‐free framework is stable up to 430 °C without transforming into the denser structure of anhydrous melem. Dehydrated melem hydrate was further characterized by solid‐state NMR spectroscopy, powder X‐ray diffraction, and sorption measurements to investigate structural changes induced by the removal of water from the channels. During dehydration, the hexagonal, layered arrangement of melem units is maintained whereas the formation of additional hydrogen bonds between melem entities requires the stacking mode of hexagonal layers to be altered. It is assumed that layers are shifted perpendicular to the direction of the channels, thereby making them inaccessible for guest molecules.     

A Novel Organosulfonate Cadmium(II) Complex with Graphite‐like 2D Layer Linked by Hydrogen Bonds

A novel mixed‐ligand complex, [Cd(im)₆][Cd(im)₃(H₂O)₃]₂(ans)₆ · 8H₂O ( 1 ), was obtained from the reaction ofCd(OAc)₂ · 2H₂O, imidazole (im) and sodium 4‐aminonaphthalene‐1‐sulfonate tetrahydrate (Na‐ans) in a mixed solvent at 25 °C. The complex was characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, and X‐ray single crystal diffraction. There are two kinds of cations constructed by Cd^II atoms with a octahedral coordination arrangement in 1 . The Cd^II atom is bonded by six nitrogen atoms from six im ligands in the first cation, and the second central Cd^II atom is bonded by three nitrogen atoms of im molecules and three oxygen atoms belonging to water molecules. The ans anion acts as a counterion to balance the charge, and the adjacent anions are reversed but non‐parallel interlinked by N–H ··· O(S) hydrogen bonds into graphite‐like 2D sheet viewed from the c axis. The anionic channels along the [110] direction are filled with the cations, and the two kinds of cations are alternatingly arranged in the channels. The hydrogen‐bonding interactions together with the ionic bonds stabilize the crystal structure. The thermostability of the complex was investigated by TG and DSC.     

Dilemmas in Crystallization. The ‘Unusual' Behavior of trans‐1,5‐Dichloro‐9,10‐diethynyl‐9,10‐dihydroanthracene‐9,10‐diol and the More ‘Normal' Behavior of Its Pseudopolymorphs with Dipolar Aprotic Solvents

The compound trans‐1,5‐dichloro‐9,10‐diethynyl‐9,10‐dihydroanthracene‐9,10‐diol (DDDA) has an inversion center as the only molecular symmetry element and yet does not occupy an inversion center in the centrosymmetric space group that it adopts in the crystal structure. The reason for this very unusual occurrence is the crowded environment of the H‐bond donors and acceptors that leads to less than optimal H‐bonding. A centrosymmetric supramolecular synthon constituted with four Cl‐atoms in a planar array occupies an i site in the crystal, and this appears to provide a satisfactory alternative packing. Based on the hypothesis that H‐bonding is less than optimal in the crystal structure of DDDA, pseudopolymorphs were prepared with strongly H‐bond‐accepting solvents. The crystal structures of five of these solvates are described, wherein the DDDA molecule is able to occupy an i site and form strong and linear O? H ???O H‐bonds with the solvent molecules. Competition experiments show that a smaller solvent molecule with a greater H‐bond‐accepting ability is included more readily and that the H‐bonds formed are correspondingly better.     

Supramolecular Self‐Assembly of Cucurbit[6]uil and Ionic Liquid in Non‐aqueous System

A novel [2]pseudorotaxane of cucurbit[6]uril(CB[6]) and 1‐butyl‐3‐methyl‐imidazolium bromide ([C₄mim]Br) was synthesized by directly mixing the host and the guest molecules in non‐aqueous system. Structural characterizations of the [2]pseudorotaxane were carried out by 1D, 2D NMR and X‐ray crystallography techniques both in solution and in crystal structure. The crystal structure demonstrated that CB[6] and [C₄mim]Br formed a complex with the ratio 1:1, in which one guest [C₄mim]Br was included inside the CB[6], while two other [C₄mim]Br molecules were free and surrounded the [2]pseudorotaxane as solvent molecules, which could stabilize the crystal structure through hydrogen bonds. Moreover, parallel solvent channels consisting by free [C₄mim]Br molecules occupied the pores among the frame of the pseudorotaxanes and formed zigzag lines in the crystal structure. [C₄mim]Br can serve as not only the guest reactant but also the solvent in the formation of [2]pseudorotaxane formation.     

Crystal structure of a continuous three-dimensional DNA lattice

DNA has proved to be a versatile material for the rational design and assembly of nanometer scale objects. Here we report the crystal structure of a continuous three-dimensional DNA lattice formed by the self-assembly of a DNA 13-mer. The structure consists of stacked layers of parallel helices with adjacent layers linked through parallel-stranded base pairing. The hexagonal lattice geometry contains solvent channels that appear large enough to allow 3'-linked guest molecules into the crystal. We have successfully used these parallel base pairs to design and produce crystals with greatly enlarged solvent channels. This lattice may have applications as a molecular scaffold for structure determination of guest molecules, as a molecular sieve, or in the assembly of molecular electronics. Predictable non-Watson-Crick base pairs, like those described here, may present a new tool in structural DNA nanotechnology.     

Two terphenyl‐based diol hosts and corresponding solvent inclusions with dimethylformamide and acetonitrile

Having reference to an elongated structural modification of 2,2′‐bis(hydroxydiphenylmethyl)biphenyl, (I), the two 1,1′:4′,1′′‐terphenyl‐based diol hosts 2,2′′‐bis(hydroxydiphenylmethyl)‐1,1′:4′,1′′‐terphenyl, C₄₄H₃₄O₂, (II), and 2,2′′‐bis[hydroxybis(4‐methylphenyl)methyl]‐1,1′:4′,1′′‐terphenyl, C₄₈H₄₂O₂, (III), have been synthesized and studied with regard to their crystal structures involving different inclusions, i.e. (II) with dimethylformamide (DMF), C₄₄H₃₄O₂·C₂H₆NO, denoted (IIa), (III) with DMF, C₄₈H₄₂O₂·C₂H₆NO, denoted (IIIa), and (III) with acetonitrile, C₄₈H₄₂O₂·CH₃CN, denoted (IIIb). In the solvent‐free crystals of (II) and (III), the hydroxy H atoms are involved in intramolecular O—H...π hydrogen bonding, with the central arene ring of the terphenyl unit acting as an acceptor. The corresponding crystal structures are stabilized by intermolecular C—H...π contacts. Due to the distinctive acceptor character of the included DMF solvent species in the crystal structures of (IIa) and (IIIa), the guest molecule is coordinated to the host via O—H...O=C hydrogen bonding. In both crystal structures, infinite strands composed of alternating host and guest molecules represent the basic supramolecular aggregates. Within a given strand, the O atom of the solvent molecule acts as a bifurcated acceptor. Similar to the solvent‐free cases, the hydroxy H atoms in inclusion structure (IIIb) are involved in intramolecular hydrogen bonding, and there is thus a lack of host–guest interaction. As a result, the solvent molecules are accommodated as C—H...N hydrogen‐bonded inversion‐symmetric dimers in the channel‐like voids of the host lattice.     

Morphology study of Nafion membranes prepared by solutions casting

The structures of Nafion membranes prepared by solutions casting from low aliphatic alcohols/water mixture solvents and N,N′‐dimethyl formamide (DMF) solvent were investigated using differential scanning calorimeter and small angle X‐ray scattering. The aggregation behavior of Nafion molecules in the casting solutions was also investigated using dynamic light scattering. We show that the morphology of membranes was strongly influenced by the conformations of Nafion molecules in the solutions. In aliphatic alcohol/water mixture solvents, which have a worse compatibility with Nafion backbones, the Nafion molecules aggregate and form fringed rod‐like structures. These primary rod‐like structures then aggregate again through fringed side chains to form secondary ionic aggregations. In DMF solvent, owing to its better compatibility with Nafion backbones, less Nafion molecules aggregate. The high degree of Nafion molecular aggregations in aliphatic alcohol/water mixture solvents leads to a high degree of hydrophobic and hydrophilic phase separation for membranes prepared by casting from Nafion/aliphatic alcohol/water solutions. However, the lower degree of molecular aggregations in DMF solvent results in a lower degree of hydrophobic and hydrophilic phase separation for membranes prepared by casting from Nafion/DMF solution. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 3044–3057, 2005     

Pyridine and 3‐methylpyridine solvates of the triple sulfa drug constitutent sulfamethazine

Sulfonamides display a wide variety of pharmacological activities. Sulfamethazine [abbreviated as SMZ; systematic name 4‐amino‐N‐(4,6‐dimethylpyrimidin‐2‐yl)benzenesulfonamide], one of the constitutents of the triple sulfa drugs, has wide clinical use. Pharmaceutical solvates are crystalline solids of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) incorporating one or more solvent molecules in the crystal lattice, and these have received special attention, as the solvent molecule can impart characteristic physicochemical properties to APIs and solvates, therefore playing a significant role in drug development. The ability of SMZ to form solvates has been investigated. Both pyridine and 3‐methylpyridine form solvates with SMZ in 1:1 molar ratios. The pyridine monosolvate, C₁₂H₁₄N₄O₂S·C₅H₅N, crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pna 2₁, with Z = 8 and two molecules per assymetric unit, whereas the 3‐methylpyridine monosolvate, C₁₂H₁₄N₄O₂S·C₆H₇N, crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group P 2₁2₁2₁, with Z = 4. Crystal structure analysis reveals intramolecular N—H…N hydrogen bonds between the molecules of SMZ and the pyridine solvent molecules. The solvent molecules in both structures play an active part in strong intermolecular interactions, thereby contributing significantly to the stability of both structures. Three‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonding networks exist in both structures involving at least one sulfonyl O atom and the amine N atom. In the pyridine solvate, there is a short π–π interaction [centroid–centroid distance = 3.926 (3) Å] involving the centroids of the pyridine rings of two solvent molecules and a weak intermolecular C—H…π interaction also contributes to the stability of the crystal packing.     

Stable Heterometallic CuII‐BaII‐2,5‐Thiophenedicarboxylate Framework with High Capacity for Light Hydrocarbons

The heterometallic Cu^II‐Ba^II coordination polymer, namely [CuBa(tdc)₂(H₂O)(DMF)]_n ( 1 ) (H₂tdc = 2,5‐thiophenedicarboxylic acid, DMF = N,N′‐dimethylformamide), was solvothermally synthesized by the reaction of H₂tdc, CuCl₂ · 2H₂O, and Ba(NO₃)₂. Single crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis reveals that compound 1 features a 3D intricate framework with the 1D channels occupied by the coordinated solvent molecules. After removing the coordinated solvent molecules, the desolvated samples of 1a exhibit high capacity for light hydrocarbons.     

A two‐dimensional network formed by self‐associating silver(I) perchlorate with 3‐[4‐(2‐thienyl)‐2H‐cyclopenta[d]pyridazin‐1‐yl]benzonitrile

In the organometallic silver(I) supramolecular complex poly[[silver(I)‐μ₃‐3‐[4‐(2‐thienyl)‐2H‐cyclopenta[d]pyridazin‐1‐yl]benzonitrile] perchlorate methanol solvate], {[Ag(C₁₈H₁₁N₃S)](ClO₄)·CH₃OH}_n, there is only one type of Ag^I center, which lies in an {AgN₂Sπ} coordination environment. Two unsymmetric multidentate 3‐[4‐(2‐thienyl)‐2H‐cyclopenta[d]pyridazin‐1‐yl]benzonitrile (L) ligands link two Ag^I atoms through π–Ag^I interactions into an organometallic box‐like unit, from which two 3‐cyanobenzoyl arms stretch out in opposite directions and bind two Ag^I atoms from neighboring box‐like building blocks. This results in a novel two‐dimensional network extending in the crystallographic bc plane. These two‐dimensional sheets stack together along the crystallographic a axis to generate parallelogram‐like channels. The methanol solvent molecules and the perchlorate counter‐ions are located in the channels, where they are fixed by intermolecular hydrogen‐bonding interactions. This architecture may provide opportunities for host–guest chemistry, such as guest molecule loss and absorption or ion exchange. The new fulvene‐type multidentate ligand L is a good candidate for the preparation of Cp–Ag^I‐containing (Cp is cyclopentadienyl) organometallic coordination polymers or supramolecular complexes.     

Self‐Assembly of a Tripod Aromatic Rod into Stacked Planar Networks

Threefold symmetric rigid‐core molecules with an internally grafted poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) chain were synthesized, and their self‐assembled structures were characterized using differential scanning calorimetry, TEM, and 1D and 2D X‐ray scatterings in the solid state. The tripod compounds based on short PEO chains (n=8, 13, 17, 21), self‐assemble into 2D channel‐like network structures, whereas the compound with the longest PEO chain (n=34) forms a lamellar liquid crystalline phase. The interiors of the channel structures are filled with flexible PEO chains along the double‐walled aromatic circumference. In these channel‐like networks, three aromatic rods connected in the meta‐position to each other are superimposed in parallel to other adjacent molecules to form the double‐walled aromatic frameworks stacked perpendicular to the resulting channels. These are novel examples of supramolecular channel‐like structures developed using amphiphilic diblock molecules based on a threefold symmetric rigid scaffold.     

Intercalation of Varied Sulfonates into a Layered MOC: Confinement‐Caused Tunable Luminescence and Novel Properties

The pores/channels of porous 3D metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been widely applied to incorporate gas, solvent, or organic molecules. On the contrary, the utilization of the interlamellar void of layered metal–organic complexes (MOCs) remains underappreciated, although it is more flexible and available to accommodate molecules with different sizes. In this work, diverse sulfonates have been intercalated purposely into an identical layered MOC, which constructed various novel intercalation compounds possessing fluorescent, white‐light emitting, photochromic, homochiral, or nonlinear optical (NLO) properties. With the help of single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, their structures and the mutual interactions between the MOC host and the sulfonate guests were characterized. The properties of the guest molecules were tuned and meanwhile some new performances were generated after confining them into the interlayer region. Such a hybrid approach provides an efficient strategy to design and prepare multifunctional materials.     

Graphene‐like nets of hydrogen‐bonded water molecules in the dihydrate of 2‐[(2‐ammonioethyl)amino]acetate and the structure of its anhydrous hydroiodide salt

2‐[(2‐Ammonioethyl)amino]acetate dihydrate, better known as N‐(2‐aminoethyl)glycine dihydrate, C₄H₁₀N₂O₂·2H₂O, (I), crystallizes as a three‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded network. Amino acid molecules form layers in the ac plane separated by layers of water molecules, which form a hydrogen‐bonded two‐dimensional net composed of fused six‐membered rings having boat conformations. The crystal structure of the corresponding hydroiodide salt, namely 2‐[(2‐ammonioethyl)ammonio]acetate iodide, C₄H₁₁N₂O₂⁺·I⁻, (II), has also been determined. The structure of (II) does not accommodate any solvent water molecules, and displays stacks of amino acid molecules parallel to the a axis, with iodide ions located in channels, resulting in an overall three‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded network structure. N‐(2‐Aminoethyl)glycine is a molecule of considerable biological interest, since its polyamide derivative forms the backbone in the DNA mimic peptide nucleic acid (PNA).     

具有U构型的二{1-甲硫基-1-[1-苯基-1-(1-苯基-3-甲基-5-氧代-4,5二氢吡唑-4-烯)-甲氨基]亚氨甲基}二硫醚的晶体结构

The reaction of 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-benzoyl-2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-5-one (PMBP) and methyldithiocarbazate (mdtc) in methanol results in formation of a yellow crystalline solid, adduct of 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4benzoyl-2,5-dihydro-lH-pyrazol-5-one and methyldithiocarbazate. When the yellow solids were dissolved in a mixture of methanol and ether (1:4), a red crystal, which is an oxidation product of the former, was obtained by allowing solvent to evaporate for a few days at room temperature. The X-ray analysis of the red crystal indicates that it is a novel disulfide with a special structure like a “U” conformation in the solid state.