Low-Temperature Crystal Structure of S-camphor Solved from Powder Synchrotron X-ray Diffraction Data by Simulated Annealing

The ordered, low-temperature crystal structure of the pure enantiomer of camphor (C₁₀H₁₆O) has been solved from high-resolution powder synchrotron X-ray diffraction data. The structure is orthorhombic, space group P2₁2₁2₁, Z=8, with a=8.9277(2) Å, b=27.0359(5) Å, and c=7.3814(1) Å at 100 K. The structure was solved by autoindexing of the pattern, space group determination, and then optimization of the positions and orientations of the two independent molecules in the unit cell by simulated annealing. The molecular structure obtained from the restrained Rietveld refinement shows reasonable agreement with that optimized from ab initio molecular orbital calculations. In the crystal structure, the molecules are aligned antiferroelectrically and weak C-H…O hydrogen bonds link together the independent molecules.     

Crystal Structure and Ionic Conductivity of Cesium Trifluoromethyl Sulfonate,CsSO3CF3

The crystal structures of the room and the high temperature modifications of cesium trifluoromethyl sulfonate were solved from high resolution X‐ray powder diffraction data. At room temperature, α‐CsSO₃CF₃ crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁ with lattice parameters a = 9.7406(2) Å, b = 6.1640(1) Å, c = 5.4798(1) Å, and β = 104.998(1)°; Z = 2. At temperatures above T = 380 K, a second order phase transformation towards a disordered C‐centered orthorhombic phase in space group Cmcm occurs with lattice parameters at T = 492 K of a = 5.5074(3) Å, b = 19.4346(14) Å, and c = 6.2978(4) Å; Z = 4. Within the crystal structures, the triflate anions are arranged in double layers with the apolar CF₃‐groups pointing towards each other. The cesium ions are located between the SO₃‐groups. CsSO₃CF₃ shows a specific ion conductivity ranging from σ = 1.06·10^?8 Scm^?1 at T = 393 K to σ = 5.18·10^?4 Scm^?1 at T = 519 K.     

The Crystal Structures of two Anhydrous Magnesium Hydroxychloride Phases from in situ Synchrotron Powder Diffraction Data

The crystal structures of two members of the solid solution series Mg(OH)_xCl_y x+y = 2, Mg(OH)_1.7Cl_0.3 (P$\tilde {3}$ m1, a = 3.169(2) Å, c = 5.530(12), V = 48.1(1) ų at T = 365 °C) and MgOHCl (R$\tilde {3}$ m, a = 3.3877(4) Å, c = 17.534(4) Å, V = 174.27(6) ų at T = 625 °C) were determined from in situ synchrotron powder diffraction data at high temperature upon dehydration of 3Mg(OH)₂·MgCl₂·8H₂O (F3) and 5Mg(OH)₂·MgCl₂·8H₂O (F5) phases. The crystal structures of Mg(OH)_1.7Cl_0.3 (example of ss‐type‐OH) and MgOHCl (example of ss‐type‐Cl) can be related to the C19 (CdCl₂) and C6 (CdI₂) structure type, respectively, with the disordered chloride and hydroxide anions occupying the same crystallographic site in layers.     

Improving the Accuracy of Small-Molecule Crystal Structures Solved from Powder X-Ray Diffraction Data by Using External Sources

Structural analysis using powder X-ray diffraction data has overcome many obstacles and nowadays is readily applicable for structural analysis of all types of compounds and materials. Being less straightforward than single crystal diffraction, it requires significant users’ input and consequently, implementation of standardized tools to assess the accuracy of crystal structures. This article discusses potential errors in crystal structure solution and refinement of small-molecule structures obtained from PXRD data. Moreover, it proposes how accuracy of these structures can be improved by using high-quality PXRD data, complementary external analytical techniques, knowledge stored in crystal structure databases, as well as an approach to search the parameter space to avoid local minima in testing different sets of geometry restraints.     

The Crystal Structure of Trimethyl Borate by Neutron and X‐ray Powder Diffraction

The crystal structure of one of the simplest organoboron compounds, trimethyl borate does not appear to have been determined hitherto. The compound is of interest for the study of π‐donor ligands and their interaction with the π‐acceptor behavior of trigonal boron and the consequences of such interactions on molecular structure. We used powder neutron (with isotopically labeled material) and X‐ray diffraction to determine the crystal structure of trimethyl borate at 15 K and 200 K (neutron) and 200 K (X‐ray). The material is hexagonal (Z = 2) with a = b = 6.950(8) Å and c = 6.501(3) Å at 15 K. The unit cell volume is 272.00(1) ų. The space group is P6₃/m (SG 176) at 15 K and 200 K. This is the first crystal structure solved on the Neutron Powder Diffractometer (NPDF) at the Lujan Center.     

粉末衍射技术解析青蒿素晶体结构方法学比对研究

以粉末X射线衍射技术(PXRD)表征有机物晶体结构为目的,选取我国第1个全新药物青蒿素(Artemisinin)验证粉晶解析有机物晶体结构方法的合理性。粉晶解析结果为正交晶系,P212121空间群,a=23.98223±0.01624,b=9.42480±0.00645,c=6.34589±0.00439,α=β=γ=90°,Z=4,V=1434.693;单晶解析结果为正交晶系,P212121空间群,a=23.9564(9),b=9.3224(5),c=6.3205(3),α=β=γ=90°,P212121,Z=4,V=1411.55(17)3;两者所确定分子非氢结构键长、键角、二面角的相关系数分别为0.9921、0.9833和0.9997,晶胞参数基本吻合,分子构型相似。结果表明,粉晶X射线衍射技术可以求得较为准确的青蒿素晶胞参数及晶胞内分子构型。     

K3NiO2 Revisited,Phase Transition and Crystal Structure Refinement

Single crystals as well as microcrystalline powders of K₃NiO₂ were obtained via the azide/nitrate route, starting from stoichiometric mixtures of KN₃, KNO₃ and NiO, at 923 K. According to temperature dependent X‐ray investigations, K₃NiO₂ exhibits a phase transition at approx. 423 K. Single crystal X‐ray analysis at 500 K has shown that the high temperature modification (β‐K₃NiO₂, tP12) crystallizes in P4₂/mnm (Z = 2, a = 6.0310(9), c = 7.156(1) Å, R₁ = 0.037, R₂ = 0.105). The ambient temperature modification (α‐K₃NiO₂, tP24) was refined as a racemic twin (P4₁2₁2/P4₃2₁2; a = 6.012(4), c = 13.843(8) Å, R₁ = 0.029, R₂ = 0.070 at 100 K; a = 6.0300(9), c = 14.065(3) Å, R₁ = 0.032, R₂ = 0.082 at 298 K) yielding nearly equal volumes for both enantiomorphs. The structural relationship within the A₃MX₂ family is analyzed and displayed as a Bärnighausen tree. The essential feature of the low and high temperature phases are isolated NiO₂^3–dumbbells, which are linked by potassium atoms to infinite chains.     

Synthesis, solid-state structure, and bonding analysis of the beryllocenes [Be(C5Me4H)2], [Be(C5Me5)2], and [Be(C5Me5)(C5Me4H)

The beryllocenes [Be(C(5)Me(4)H)(2)] (1), [Be(C(5)Me(5))(2)] (2), and [Be(C(5)Me(5))(C(5)Me(4)H)] (3) have been prepared from BeCl(2) and the appropriate KCp' reagent in toluene/diethyl ether solvent mixtures. The synthesis of 1 is facile (20 degrees C, overnight), but generation of decamethylberyllocene 2 demands high temperatures (ca. 115 degrees C) and extended reaction times (3-4 days). The mixed-ring beryllocene 3 is obtained when the known [(eta(5)-C(5)Me(5))BeCl] is allowed to react with K[C(5)Me(4)H], once more under somewhat forcing conditions (115 degrees C, 36 h). The structures of the three metallocenes have been determined by low-temperature X-ray studies. Both 1 and 3 present eta5/eta1 geometries of the slip-sandwich type, whereas 2 exhibits an almost regular, ferrocene-like, sandwich structure. In the mixed-ring compound 3, C(5)Me(5) is centrally bound to beryllium and the eta(1)-C(5)Me(4)H ring bonds to the metal through the unique CH carbon atom. This is also the binding mode of the eta(1)-ring of 1. To analyze the nature of the bonding in these molecules, theoretical calculations at different levels of theory have been performed on compounds 2 and 3, and a comparison with the bonding in [Be(C(5)H(5))(2)] has been made. As for the latter molecule, energy differences between the eta5/eta5 and the eta5/eta1 structures of 2 are very small, being of the order of a few kcal mol(-1). Constrained space orbital variations (CSOV) calculations show that the covalent character in the bonding is larger for [Be(C(5)Me(5))(2)] than for [Be(C(5)H(5))(2)] due to larger charge delocalization and to increased polarizability of the C(5)Me(5) fragment.     

Crystal Structure of LiRh-type IrZn Determined by Powder X-ray and Selected Area Electron Diffraction

The LiRh-type crystal structure of the equiatomic intermetallic compound IrZn turns out to be a competitor to the otherwise energetically favored CsCl-type structures of congeneric transition metal zinc phases, thus enlightening the structural impact of element-specific factors beyond the Hume-Rothery concept.     

Synthesis,Characterization, and Crystal Structure of Na3B20, determined and refined from X‐ray and Neutron Powder Data

At 1050 ?C boron combines with sodium forming a boride of formerly unknown composition and crystal structure. The investigation of the homogeneous, monophasic, and crystalline powder was performed using X‐ray (23 ?C) and neutron (–271.5 ?C) diffraction methods. The structure solution led to an unusual arrangement of boron atoms, characterized by two different types of polyhedra, a distorted pentagonal bipyramid and a distorted octahedron. The Rietveld refinement of the crystal structure was carried out in the orthorhombic space group Cmmm (X‐ray: a = 18.6945(6) Å, b = 5.7009(2) Å, c = 4.1506(1) Å, V = 442.35(1) ų, Z = 2; R_wp = 0.087, R_p = 0.067).     

Crystal and molecular structure of rubidium peroxodicarbonate Rb2[C2O6

We report the crystal structure of rubidium peroxodicarbonate, which was synthesized by electrocrystallization at T=257 K, from laboratory X-ray powder diffraction data. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c with four formula units per unit cell and cell parameters of a=7.9129(1), b=10.5117(1), c=7.5559(1) A, beta=102.001(1) degrees, and V=614.75(1) A(3). The packing can be considered as a strongly distorted CsCl type of structure. The conformation of the peroxodicarbonate anion was found to be planar (C(2h) symmetry), in contrast to the staggered conformation of the peroxodicarbonate anion in the respective potassium peroxodicarbonate. The different conformation is attributed to packing effects.     

Evolving Opportunities in Structure Solution from Powder Diffraction Data—Crystal Structure Determination of a Molecular System with Twelve Variable Torsion Angles

The genetic algorithm approach , in which a population of trial structures is allowed to evolve subject to well-defined procedures for mating, mutation, and natural selection, was employed to solve the complex molecular crystal structure of Ph₂P(O)(CH₂)₇P(O)Ph₂ directly from powder diffraction data. The structure solution reveals an interesting (perhaps unexpected) molecular conformation (see picture), which emphasizes the importance of allowing complete conformational flexibility of the molecule in the structure solution calculation.     

Crystal Structure of the Ordered Double Perovskite,Sr2NiTeO6

The crystal structure of the ordered double perovskite Sr₂MnTeO₆ has been refined at ambient temperature from high resolution neutron and X‐ray powder diffraction data in the monoclinic space group I 1 2/m 1 with a = 5.6166(1) Å, b = 5.5807(1) Å, c = 7.8797(1) Å and β = 90.048(2)°. The structure is the result of out‐of‐phase (–) rotations of virtually undistorted NiO₆ and TeO₆ octahedra in the (0 – –) sense about two of the axes of the ideal cubic perovskite. Electron diffraction measurements have been used to confirm the proposed space group and structure.     

Hypervalent Organoselenium(II) Compounds with Organophosphorus Ligands. Crystal and Molecular Structure of [2‐(iPr2NCH2)C6H4]Se[S2PR′2] (R′ = Ph,OiPr)

Redistribution reactions between diorganodiselenides of type [2‐(R₂NCH₂)C₆H₄]₂Se₂ [R = Et, iPr] and bis(diorganophosphinothioyl disulfanes of type [R′₂P(S)S]₂ (R = Ph, OiPr) resulted in the hypervalent [2‐(R₂NCH₂)C₆H₄]SeSP(S)R′₂ [R = Et, R′ = Ph ( 1 ), OiPr ( 2 ); R = iPr, R′ = Ph ( 3 ), OiPr ( 4 )] species. All new compounds were characterized by solution multinuclear NMR spectroscopy (¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P, ⁷⁷Se) and the solid compounds 1 , 3 , and 4 also by FT‐IR spectroscopy. The crystal and molecular structures of 3 and 4 were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. In both compounds the N(1) atom is intramolecularly coordinated to the selenium atom, resulting in T‐shaped coordination arrangements of type (C,N)SeS. The dithio organophosphorus ligands act monodentate in both complexes, which can be described as essentially monomeric species. Weak intermolecular S ··· H contacts could be considered in the crystal of 3 , thus resulting in polymeric zig‐zag chains of R and S isomers, respectively.     

Synthesis,Characterization, and Symmetry Relations of the Crystal Structures of Some Bis(dioxane) Adducts of Group 1 / Group 13 Heterometallic Trifluoroacetates

Four bis(dioxane) adducts of mixed‐metal trifluoroacetates, M[M′(O₂CCF₃)₄(C₄H₈O₂)₂] (M = Na, K, Cs, M′ = In and M = Cs, M′ = Ga) were synthesized by reaction of alkali metal trifluoroacetate and group 13 element trifluoroacetate in 1,4‐dioxane and completely characterized including X‐ray structure determination. Geometric parameters, empirical bond valences and frequencies of the symmetric C=O stretching vibrations show that the moisture sensitive solids are composed of dimeric structural moieties with site symmetry 1 , containing alkali metal ions and bis(dioxane)tetrakis(trifluoroacetato)indate or ‐gallate ions. The dimeric units are further connected by weaker “intermolecular” dioxane interactions to neighboring alkali metal ions. Closer inspection of space group symmetry, unit cell parameters and atom sites allows to rationalize the compounds as members of two isotypic pairs that are further closely related due to the group‐subgroup relation of their monoclinc space groups to a common orthorhombic supergroup.     

Synthesis,Characterization, and Properties of Pentanitrobenzene C6H(NO2)5

The synthesis of the polynitroaromatic compound pentanitrobenzene was re‐examined by modern spectroscopic, structural and physicochemical methods. Originally prepared in 1979, this material could exhibit interesting properties as an oxygen‐rich energetic building block. The energies of formation were calculated with the GAUSSIAN program package and the detonation parameters were predicted using the EXPLO5 computer code. The performance data were determined and compared to the common oxidizer ammonium perchlorate. The crystal structure of pentanitrobenzene was determined by X‐ray crystallography, and those of 2,3,4,6‐tetranitroaniline and styphnic acid (trinitroresorcinol) were re‐determined.     

Crystal Structure,Synthesis, and Properties of tri‐Calcium di‐Citrate tetra‐Hydrate [Ca3(C6H5O7)2(H2O)2]·2H2O

From hydrothermal synthesis needle‐shaped crystals of [Ca₃(C₆H₅O₇)₂(H₂O)₂] · 2H₂O were obtained. The crystal structure was determined by single‐crystal X‐ray experiments and confirmed by powder data (P$\bar{1}$ (no. 2) a = 5.9466(4), b = 10.2247(8), c = 16.6496(13) Å, α = 72.213(7)°, β = 79.718(7)°, γ = 89.791(6)°, V = 947.06(13) Å³, Z = 2, R1 = 0.0426, wR2 = 0.1037). The structure was obtained from pseudo merohedrically polysynthetic twinned crystals using a combined data collection approach and refinement processes. The observed three‐dimensional network is dominated by eightfold coordinated Ca²⁺ cations linked by citrate anions and hydrogen bonds between two non‐coordinating crystal water molecules and two coordinating water molecules.     

{nBuMg(OR)}2 und {Mg(OR)2}2 (R = 2, 4, 6‐tBu3C6H2) – sterisch überfrachtete Magnesiumalkoholate

Reaction of 2, 4, 6‐tri‐tert‐butylphenol ( 1 ) with di‐n‐butylmagnesium in the molar ratio 1:1 allows the synthesis of {(nBu)Mg(μ‐OR)₂Mg(nBu)} ( 2 ) (R = 2, 4, 6‐tBu₃C₆H₂), which reacts with excess 1 to give the homoleptic alcoholate complex {(RO)Mg(μ‐OR)₂Mg(OR)} ( 3 ) (R = 2, 4, 6‐tBu₃C₆H₂). The structures of 2 and 3 were determined by X‐ray crystallography.