Synthesis,Performance, and Thermal Behavior of a Novel Insensitive EDNA/DAT Co‐crystal

Due to the acidity and the limited applications of 1,4‐dinitro‐1,4‐diazabutane (EDNA), a novel nitrogen rich energetic co‐crystal based on EDNA and 1,5‐diaminotetrazole (DAT) in a 1:2 molar ratio was synthesized. The formation of the co‐crystal was tested by scanning electron microscope (SEM), powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD) and Raman spectroscopy. Based on the elemental analysis and the enthalpy of combustion obtained by the calorimetric bomb, the enthalpy of formation was calculated to be 196.9 kJ · mol^–1. Sensitivity to impact was measured and 50 % probability of initiation was 9.7 J for the co‐crystal. In addition, the detonation characteristics were predicted by EXPLO5 Code. The detonation velocity (D) and the detonation pressure (P) of the co‐crystal are 8254.5 m · s^–1 and 26.7 GPa, respectively. The thermal behavior and decomposition kinetics of the co‐crystal and the coformer were described using nonisothermal differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry/differential thermogravimetry (TG/DTG) techniques. There is an obvious difference between the thermal behavior of the co‐crystal and the coformer. The activation energy of the co‐crystal (125.3 kJ · mol^–1) is lower than the coformer. The obtained co‐crystal has high nitrogen content and acceptable sensitivity to external stimuli, which makes it promising for expanding the reuse of EDNA in ammunition after overcomeing its acidity problem.     

A Coformer Approach for Supramolecular Polymerization at High Concentrations

Insolubility of functional molecules caused by polymorphism sometimes poses limitations for their solution-based processing. Such a situation can also occur in the preparation processes of supramolecular polymers formed in a solution. An effective strategy to address this issue is to prepare amorphous solid states by introducing a “coformer” molecule capable of inhibiting the formation of an insoluble polymorph through co-aggregation. Herein, inspired by the coformer approach, we demonstrated a solubility enhancement of a barbiturate π-conjugated compound that can supramolecularly polymerize through six-membered hydrogen-bonded rosettes. Our newly synthesized supramolecular coformer molecule features a sterically demanding methyl group in the π-conjugated unit of the parent molecule. Although the parent molecule exhibits low solubility in nonpolar solvents due to the formation of a crystalline polymorph comprising a tape-like hydrogen-bonded array prior to the supramolecular polymerization, mixing with the coformer compound enhanced the solubility by inhibiting mesoscopic organization of the tapes. The two monomers were then co-polymerized into desired helicoidal supramolecular polymers through the formation of heteromeric rosettes.     

Co‐crystals with Acetylene: Small Is not Simple!

Acetylene is an amazingly versatile component for the formation of co‐crystals. It requires careful handling and special techniques for crystallisation, but the efforts seem to be rewarding when attaining co‐crystals with small molecules as partners. Many basic questions such as the dominance of specific heterogeneous intermolecular interactions, their driving force for the formation of multicomponent crystals instead of neat ones are expected to be easily analysed. The underlying packing patterns and resulting stoichiometries based on the known supramolecular synthons seem to be straightforward for such small molecules and crystal engineering, considered as the prototype of supramolecular synthesis, should be a simple task. Nineteen co‐crystals with acetylene are presented in this paper, some of which have been previously reported individually. An attempt has been made to find features shared by the groups of co‐crystals, including those that could not be co‐crystallised. But in spite of clear ideas and experiences from previous experiments, surprisingly almost none of systems reached our expectations. Our intuitive approach was not fulfilled, which demonstrates that multicomponent crystals even of small molecules will remain a great challenge for theoretical methods and the crystal structures shown herein represent good candidates for future testing. On the other hand, we wish to encourage other groups to present their views on the crystal structures with an unbiased approach that may offer a better explanation than we are able to outline in this article.     

Identification of Molecular Crystals Capable of Undergoing an Acyl‐Transfer Reaction Based on Intermolecular Interactions in the Crystal Lattice

Investigation of the intermolecular acyl‐transfer reactivity in molecular crystals of myo‐inositol orthoester derivatives and its correlation with crystal structures enabled us to identify the essential parameters to support efficient acyl‐transfer reactions in crystals: 1) the favorable geometry of the nucleophile (? OH) and the electrophile (C?O) and 2) the molecular assembly, reinforced by C? H???π interactions, which supports a domino‐type reaction in crystals. These parameters were used to identify another reactive crystal through a data‐mining study of the Cambridge Structural Database. A 2:1 co‐crystal of 2,3‐naphthalene diol and its di‐p‐methylbenzoate was selected as a potentially reactive crystal and its reactivity was tested by heating the co‐crystals in the presence of solid sodium carbonate. A facile intermolecular p‐toluoyl group transfer was observed as predicted. The successful identification of reactive crystals opens up a new method for the detection of molecular crystals capable of exhibiting acyl‐transfer reactivity.     

Effect of Alkyl Groups in Pyrene Chromophore on the Mechanical Response of Pyrene‐Octafluoronaphthalene Co‐Crystals

Changes in the photophysical properties of pyrene ( Py )‐octafluoronaphthalene ( OFN ) co‐crystals ( Py ? OFN ) upon mechanical stimuli are described herein. The Py ? OFN co‐crystal showed a mechano‐induced bathochromic shift in emission, and a similar tendency was observed for the 1,3,6,8‐tetramethylpyrene‐ OFN co‐crystal. These shifts are due to disruption of the microscopic molecular orientation in the co‐crystal, which allows for excimer formation. In sharp contrast to the parent Py ? OFN and methyl‐substituted Py ‐ OFN co‐crystals, no mechano‐induced bathochromic shift was observed when longer alkyl chains were introduced to the 1‐, 3‐, 6‐, and 8‐positions of the Py chromophore. This photophysical opposability against mechanical stimuli could be explained by the orthogonally oriented alkyl groups on the Py ring, which existed between two Py cores like pillars. This fixed OFN to maintain the face‐to‐face alternatively stacked structure of the co‐crystal and thus prevented the formation of the Py excimer. The pillar effect demonstrated herein provides a rational design for co‐crystalline systems that are photophysically stable against mechanical stresses.     

Square Tiling by Square Macrocycles at the Liquid/Solid Interface: Co‐crystallisation with One‐ or Two‐Dimensional Order

We have systematically investigated the self‐assembled monolayers of seven bimolecular mixtures of square‐shaped pyridinophanes and cyclophanes bearing alkoxy or alkoxycarbonyl substituents in the presence of the tropylium ion as a marker of pyridinophanes at liquid/graphite interfaces by means of scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM). The purpose of this work was to elucidate the mixing behaviour of these macrocycles highlighting the formation of one‐ or two‐dimensionally ordered square tilings consisting of alternating alignments of different macrocycles as a result of attractive dipole–dipole or hydrogen‐bonding interactions; four co‐crystals differing in the dimensionality of the ordering of pyridinophane and cyclophane were observed. The different modes of interaction between the functional groups (ether or carbonyl group) in the side‐chains of the pyridinophanes and cyclophanes lead to the formation of co‐crystals with dimensionally different orderings of the two macrocycles. These observations revealed that a slight modification of the molecular structure may dramatically change the mixing behaviour and structures of the co‐crystals.     

Mechanical Alloying of Metal–Organic Frameworks

The solvent‐free mechanical milling process for two distinct metal–organic framework (MOF) crystals induced the formation of a solid solution, which is not feasible by conventional solution‐based syntheses. X‐ray and STEM‐EDX studies revealed that performing mechanical milling under an Ar atmosphere promotes the high diffusivity of each metal ion in an amorphous solid matrix; the amorphous state turns into the porous crystalline structure by vapor exposure treatment to form a new phase of a MOF solid solution.     

Fabrication of SAPO‐34 with Tuned Mesopore Structure

Crystalline SAPO‐34 molecular sieves with hierarchical network were synthesized employing polyethylene glycol (PEG) as the meso‐generating agent via a self‐assembly strategy. XRD, FESEM, N₂ adsorption‐desorption and FT‐IR spectroscopic analyses showed that PEG co‐template has a decisive role in tailoring the pore structure and producing a tuned structure from microporous towards the mesoporous structure. Also, addition of PEG favored the formation of more uniform and smaller crystals than the conventional SAPO‐34. In fact, PEG did not only control the size of crystals due to its crystal growth inhibiting (CGI) effect but also modified the morphology of the crystals and improved CSD (crystal size distribution) along with induction of mesopores into the porous structure. The modified SAPO‐34 would be recommended for selective formation of light olefins through the acid‐catalyzed reactions, such as the conversion of methanol to olefins/propylene (MTO/MTP) and propane dehydrogenation (PDH) to produce olefins with higher selectivity and catalyst stability than the conventional SAPO‐34.     

Reactions between or within molecular crystals

Reactions that occur within or between molecular crystals, in particular those reactions that are activated by mechanical methods, are reviewed. The focus is on processes (whether intrasolid or intersolid) that are controlled primarily by supramolecular bonding, such as template cycloadditions, formation of inclusion compounds, reactions between molecular crystals by the reassembling of noncovalent bonds, and the formation of complexes and coordination compounds. It is proposed that solvent-free mechanochemical methods, for example, cogrinding, milling, and kneading, represent viable "green" routes for the preparation of novel molecular and supramolecular solids.     

Acidic Co‐Catalysts in Cationic Gold Catalysis

A systematic study on the effects of Lewis or Brønsted acid co‐catalysts in gold‐catalyzed reactions was undertaken using representative reactions (O‐, N‐, and C‐nucleophilic additions to alkynes). Through these reactions, it was demonstrated that an acidic co‐catalyst can increase the catalyst turnover significantly, enabling practical reaction rates at competitive catalyst loadings (<1 mol %). Further investigation is currently underway to improve the understanding of the subtle principles underlying these experimental observations.     

In Situ Investigations of Mechanochemical One‐Pot Syntheses

We present an in situ triple coupling of synchrotron X‐ray diffraction with Raman spectroscopy, and thermography to study milling reactions in real time. This combination of methods allows a correlation of the structural evolution with temperature information. The temperature information is crucial for understanding both the thermodynamics and reaction kinetics. The reaction mechanisms of three prototypical mechanochemical syntheses, a cocrystal formation, a C?C bond formation (Knoevenagel condensation), and the formation of a manganese‐phosphonate, were elucidated. Trends in the temperature development during milling are identified. The heat of reaction and latent heat of crystallization of the product contribute to the overall temperature increase. A decrease in temperature occurs via release of, for example, water as a by‐product. Solid and liquid intermediates are detected. The influence of the mechanical impact could be separated from temperature effects caused by the reaction.     

Mechanochemistry for Synthesis

Mechanochemical solvent‐free reactions by milling, grinding or other types of mechanical action have emerged as a viable alternative to solution chemistry. Mechanochemistry offers not only a possibility to eliminate the need for bulk solvent use, and reduce the generation of waste, but it also unlocks the door to a different reaction environment in which synthetic strategies, reactions and molecules previously not accessible in solution, can be achieved. This Minireview examines the potential of mechanochemistry in chemical and materials synthesis, by providing a cross‐section of the recent developments in using ball milling for the formation of molecules and materials based on covalent and coordination bonds.     

Versatile Syntheses of Hemi‐Cryptophanes and a Metallo‐Cryptophane from a Hexa‐Functionalized C3v‐Symmetrical Tribenzotriquinacene (TBTQ) Derivative

A number of three‐fold C_3v‐symmetrical tribenzotriquinacene (TBTQ) cavitands were synthesized by a “metamorphosis‐to‐half” strategy, employing six‐fold etherification reactions between the hexakis(chloromethyl)‐TBTQ intermediate 2 a and various 5‐functionalized resorcinols. X‐ray structure analyses of single crystals of the cavitands revealed limited rotational flexibility of the resorcinol bridging units, which enables an apical, nearly co‐axial orientation of the three functional groups and, as a consequence, the construction of nanoscale cage‐like molecules via covalent or coordination bonding. On this basis, two TBTQ‐based hemicryptophanes were prepared from the TBTQ cavitands via covalent bond formation in good yields. A dumbbell‐shaped TBTQ‐based metallo‐cryptophane was also synthesized in 34 % yield by a solvothermal reaction between cadmium nitrate and two equivalents of the TBTQ‐cavitand triacid, as confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and MALDI‐ToF mass spectrometry.     

Encapsulating Palladium Nanoparticles Inside Mesoporous MFI Zeolite Nanocrystals for Shape‐Selective Catalysis

Pd nanoparticles were successfully encapsulated inside mesoporous silicalite‐1 nanocrystals (Pd@mnc‐S1) by a one‐pot method. The as‐synthesized Pd@mnc‐S1 with excellent stability functioned as an active and reusable heterogeneous catalyst. The unique porosity and nanostructure of silicalite‐1 crystals endowed the Pd@mnc‐S1 material general shape‐selectivity for various catalytic reactions, including selective hydrogenation, oxidation, and carbon–carbon coupling reactions.     

Mechanochemical preparation of molecular and supramolecular organometallic materials and coordination networks

This Dalton Perspective deals with solvent-free reactions taking place within solids or between solids or involving a solid and a vapour. The focus is on reactions involving organometallic and coordination compounds and occurring via reassembling of non-covalent bonding, e.g. hydrogen bonds, and/or formation of ligand-metal coordination bonds. It is argued that reactions activated by mechanical mixing of solid reactants as well as those obtained by exposing a crystalline solid to a vapour can be exploited to "make crystals", which is the quintessence of crystal engineering. It is demonstrated through a number of examples that solvent-free methods, such as co-grinding, kneading, milling of molecular solids, or reactions of solid with vapours represent viable alternative, when not unique, routes for the preparation of novel molecular and supramolecular solids as well as for the preparation of polymorphic or solvate modifications of a same species. The structural characterization of the products requires the preparation of single crystals suitable for X-ray diffraction, a goal often achieved by seeding.     

Modification of polymers in the melt

The kinetics of polymer‐analogue reactions in the melt are discussed with the example of conversions of styrene copolymers including anhydride or nitrile groups in the side chain and additives with amino and hydroxyl groups. Poly(styrene‐co‐maleic anhydride) has been modified with primary alcohols and amines, secondary amines, diamines, amino acids and amino alcohols. Poly(styrene‐co‐acrylonitrile) has been modified with various amino alcohols.     

Selective preparation of poly(p‐oxybenzoyl) by using fractional polycondensation

Selective preparation of poly(p‐oxybenzoyl) (POB) in the copolymerization system of p‐acetoxybenzoic acid (p‐ABA) and m‐acetoxybenzoic acid (m‐ABA) was examined by using reaction‐induced crystallization of oligomers. Polymer crystals mainly composed of p‐oxybenzoyl moiety were precipitated when the content of m‐ABA in the feed was 30 mol %. The formation of the polymer crystals was attributed to both the reactivity of monomer and the phase‐separation behavior of oligomer. Reactivity of p‐ABA was twice higher than that of m‐ABA, and thereby, the homo‐oligomers of p‐oxybenzoyl moiety were more rapidly formed in solution than do co‐oligomers at the early stage in polymerization. They were selectively precipitated by crystallization to form crystals because of low miscibility. Co‐oligomers containing m‐oxybenzoyl moiety were also formed in solution, but they were unable to be phase‐separated because of higher miscibility. Further polycondensation occurred between oligomers in the precipitated crystals, leading to the formation of POB. This polymerization proceeded with selecting certain monomers by crystallization and afforded a new methodology for fractional polycondensation. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 2732–2743, 2006     

Rapid Identification of Halogen Bonds in Co‐Crystalline Powders via 127I Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance Spectroscopy

¹²⁷I nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) spectroscopy is established as a rapid and robust method to indicate the formation of iodine–nitrogen halogen bonds in co‐crystalline powders. Once the relevant spectral frequency range has been established, diagnostic ¹²⁷I NQR spectra can be acquired in seconds. The method is demonstrated for a series of co‐crystals of 1,4‐diiodobenzene. Changes in the ¹²⁷I quadrupolar coupling constant (C_Q) by up to 74.4 MHz correlate with the length of the C?I donor covalent bond and inversely with the I???N halogen‐bond length. The predictive power of this technique is validated on two previously unknown co‐crystalline powders prepared mechanochemically. Single‐crystal growth via co‐sublimation and structure determination by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction cross‐validates the findings. Natural localized molecular‐orbital analyses provide insight into the origins of the quadrupolar coupling constants.     

Natural Abundance 15N and 13C Solid‐State NMR Chemical Shifts: High Sensitivity Probes of the Halogen Bond Geometry

Solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance (SSNMR) spectroscopy is a versatile characterization technique that can provide a plethora of information complementary to single crystal X‐ray diffraction (SCXRD) analysis. Herein, we present an experimental and computational investigation of the relationship between the geometry of a halogen bond (XB) and the SSNMR chemical shifts of the non‐quadrupolar nuclei either directly involved in the interaction (¹⁵N) or covalently bonded to the halogen atom (¹³C). We have prepared two series of X‐bonded co‐crystals based upon two different dipyridyl modules, and several halobenzenes and diiodoalkanes, as XB‐donors. SCXRD structures of three novel co‐crystals between 1,2‐bis(4‐pyridyl)ethane, and 1,4‐diiodobenzene, 1,6‐diiodododecafluorohexane, and 1,8‐diiodohexadecafluorooctane were obtained. For the first time, the change in the ¹⁵N SSNMR chemical shifts upon XB formation is shown to experimentally correlate with the normalized distance parameter of the XB. The same overall trend is confirmed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations of the chemical shifts. ¹³C NQS experiments show a positive, linear correlation between the chemical shifts and the C?I elongation, which is an indirect probe of the strength of the XB. These correlations can be of general utility to estimate the strength of the XB occurring in diverse adducts by using affordable SSNMR analysis.     

Reactivity of molecular oxygen on the surface of ionic crystals

A possibility of multiplicity change for ground‐state molecular oxygen adsorbed on the surface of regular and doped broad‐gap ionic crystals was considered in the framework of cluster approximation by using SCF MO LCAO quantum chemical methods [semiempirical INDO approximation and ab initio calculation with the 6‐311G** basis set taking into account the correlation effects on the level of second‐order Meller–Plesset perturbation theory (MP2)]. The formation energetics of cyclic products of addition reactions of dioxygen in different multiplet states to furan and cis‐butadiene in the gas phase and on the surface of ionic crystals was considered. (These reactions are typical for the O₂ singlet state in the gas phase.) It is shown that the presence of sites with high effective charge on the crystal surface can result in a situation not requiring, as in the gas phase, multiplicity change in the transition of a system from an initial to the final state, which can significantly affect the kinetic parameters of the reactions. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2002