Investigation of solution‐grown,chain‐folded lamellar crystals of the even‐even nylons: 6 6, 8 6, 8 8, 10 6, 10 8, 10 10, 12 6, 12 8, 12 10, and 12 12

Chain‐folded lamellar crystals of the ten even‐even nylons: 6 6, 8 6, 8 8, 10 6, 10 8, 10 10, 12 6, 12 8, 12 10, and 12 12 have been grown from solution and their morphologies and structures studied using transmission electron microscopy, both imaging and diffraction. Sedimented mats were examined using X‐ray diffraction. The solution‐grown crystals are lath‐shaped lamellae and diffraction from these crystals, at room temperature, reveals that three crystalline forms are present in differing ratios. The crystals are composed of chain‐folded, hydrogen‐bonded sheets, the linear hydrogen bonds within which generate a progressive shear of the chains (p‐sheets). The sheets are found to stack in two different ways. Some p‐sheets stack with a progressive shear, to form the “α_p structure”; others sheets stack with an alternate stagger, to form the “β_p structure”. Both the α_p and β_p structures give two strong diffraction signals at spacings of 0.44 nm and 0.37 nm; these signals represent a projected intrasheet interchain distance (actual value 0.48 nm) and the intersheet spacing, respectively. Preparations of nylons 6 6, 8 6, 8 8, 12 6, and 12 8 consisted almost entirely of α_p‐structure material, with only a trace of β_p‐structure material being present. In contrast, nylons 10 6, 10 8, 10 10, 12 10, and 12 12 contained substantial quantities of both α_p‐ and β_p‐structure material, with α_p‐structure material always being in the majority. Preparations of nylons 10 8, 12 10, and 12 12 also showed an additional diffraction signal at 0.42 nm; this signal is characteristic of the pseudohexagonal (high temperature) structure. The melting temperature of solution‐grown lamellae of these even‐even nylons decreases with decreasing linear amide density. On heating, the strong diffraction signals (0.44 nm and 0.37 nm) gradually moved together and merge at the Brill temperature to form a single diffraction signal (0.42 nm), characteristic of the pseudohexagonal structure. This single diffraction signal remained until melting. For nylons 6 6, 8 6, 8 8, 10 6, and 12 6, the Brill temperatures were substantially below the respective melting temperatures and the single 0.42 nm diffraction signal was stable over temperature ranges of 14 °C to 56 °C, depending on the nylon. Conversely, nylons 10 8, 10 10, 12 8, 12 10, and 12 12 had coincident melting and extrapolated Brill temperatures. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 1209–1221, 2000     

ChemInform Abstract: Electronic Structures of Octahedral Cluster Halides of Transition Metals (M6X8)n+, (M6X12)n+, and their Interstitial Compounds (M6X12Z)

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.     

La8Br7Ni4: ribbons of Ni hexagons in condensed La6 trigonal prisms

A ternary lanthanum bromide La 8Br 7Ni 4 was synthesized from La, LaBr 3, and Ni under an Ar atmosphere at 830 degrees C. It crystallizes in space group C2/ m (No. 12) with lattice constants a = 29.528(4) A, b = 4.0249(6), c = 8.708(1) A, and beta = 94.515(2) degrees . The structure features condensed Ni-centered La 6 trigonal prisms. The Ni atoms are bonded to each other to form ribbons of Ni hexagons. Band structure, bonding, and physical properties of the compound have been investigated.     

Systematic synthesis of heterometallic Ni/Fe/S and Cu/Fe/S clusters with a pentlandite-like M8S6 core

The systematic synthesis of heterometallic Ni/Fe/S and Cu/Fe/S clusters with a M8S6 core structure that resembles that of pentlandite minerals is described. The chemical properties and electronic structures of the new clusters have been investigated and are reported in this communication.     

Die Umwandlung [W6X8]X4 [W6X12]X6 (X = Cl,Br)

Transformation of [W₆X₈]X₄ + 3 X₂ = [W₆X₁₂]X₆ (X = Cl, Br) The transformation of [W₆X₈]X₄ + 3 X₂ = [W₆X₁₂]X₆ (X = Cl, Br) has been investigated by changing the relation Cl₂/Br₂ and the temperature. In this way the compounds [W₆Br_12?nCl_n]Cl_6?mBr_m are isolated. All of the products are isotypic with W₆Cl₁₈ and W₆Br₁₈. Most often n equals 6, however compounds with other relations of Cl/Br are also observed (e. g. n = 4.8) The 6 ligands standing outside of the brackets are replaced by Cl or Br. The substitution of [W₆Br₆Cl₆]Cl₆ by means of bromine leads to the cluster [W₆Br₁₂]X₆. The backward transformation of the cluster compound [W₆Br₁₂]Br₆ happens by decomposition on the thermobalance, e. g. according to Gl. (1) (See Inhaltsübersicht). By analogy [W₆Br₁₂]Cl₆ is decomposed to [W₆Br₈]Cl₂Br₂, which by treatment with conc. HCl is transformed into [W₆Br₈]Cl₄ · 2 H₂O.     

A cluster with a mixed M6X12/M6X8 environment: The La6Cl11Co structure

The title compound was synthesized from La, LaCl₃ and Co under Ar atmosphere at 800 °C. It crystallizes in space group P4₂/n (no. 86) with lattice constants a=11.308(2) Å and c=14.441(3) Å. The structure features an isolated Co-centered La₆ octahedron with all corners and edges, and 2 of its 8 triangular faces coordinated by Cl atoms. The La₆Co octahedron is significantly distorted, and the La coordination by Cl atoms deviates from the common close-packing arrangements found in other reduced rare earth metal halides. Structure, bonding and physical properties of the compound have been investigated.     

ChemInform Abstract: Ab initio Study of Alkali Halide Clusters with an Alkali Excess: M13X12, (M13X12)+, (M14X12)+, (M14X12)2+, and (M23X22)+

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.     

Schwingungsspektren der Clusterverbindungen (M6X)X · 8 H2O,M = Nb,Ta; Xi = CI,Br; Xa = CI,Br, I

Vibrational Spectra of the Cluster Compounds (M₆X₁₂ⁱ) · 8H₂O, M = Nb, Ta; Xⁱ = Cl, Br; X^a = Cl, Br, I IR and, for the first time, Raman spectra at 80 K of the cluster compounds (M₆X)X · 8H₂O; M = Nb, Ta; Xⁱ = Cl, Br; X^a = Cl, Br, I, have been recorded, characterized by typical frequencies of the (M₆X) unit, which are only slightly influenced by the terminal X^a ligands. The most intense line with the depolarisation ≈? 0.2 in all Raman spectra is caused by inphase movement of all atoms and assigned to the symmetric metal-metal vibration v₁, observed for the clusters (Nb₆Cl) at 233–234, for (Nb₆Br) at 186–187, for (Ta₆Cl) at 199–203, and for (Ta₆Br) at 176–179 cm^?1. The IR spectra exhibit in the same series intense bands at 233, 204, 207, and 179 cm^?1, assigned to the antisymmetric metal-metal vibration. The metal-metal frequencies are significantly higher than discussed before. The tantalum clusters show on excitation with the krypton line 647.1 nm in the region of a d–d transition at 645 nm a resonance Raman effect with series of overtones and combination bands. In case of (Ta₆Br) another polarisized band is observed at 229 cm^?1 and assigned to the Ta? Brⁱ vibration v₂. From the progressions of v₁ and v₂ anharmonicity constants of about ?3 cm^?1 are calculated indicating a strong distortion of the potential curves.     

Initial members of the family of molecular mid-valent high-nuclearity iron nitrides: [Fe4N2X10]4- and [Fe10N8X12]5- (X = Cl-, Br-)

Current theoretical and experimental evidence points toward X = N as the identity of the interstitial atom in the [MoFe7S9X] core of the iron-molybdenum cofactor cluster of nitrogenase. This atom functions with mu6 bridging multiplicity to six iron atoms and, if it is nitrogen as nitride, raises a question as to the existence of a family of molecular iron nitrides of higher nuclearity than known dinuclear Fe(III,IV) species with linear [Fe-N-Fe]5+,4+ bridges. This matter has been initially examined by variation of reactant stoichiometry in the self-assembly systems [FeX4]1-/(Me3Sn)3N (X = Cl-, Br-) in acetonitrile. A 2:1 mol ratio affords [Fe4N2Cl10]4- (1), isolated as the Et4N+ salt (72%). This cluster has idealized C2h symmetry with a planar antiferromagnetically coupled [Fe(III)4(mu3-N)2]6+ core containing an Fe2N2 rhombus to which are attached two FeCl3 units. DFT calculations have been performed to determine the dominant magnetic exchange pathway. An 11:8 mol ratio leads to [Fe10N8Cl12]5- (3) as the Et4N+ salt (37%). The cluster possesses idealized D2h symmetry and is built of 15 edge- and vertex-shared rhomboids involving two mu3-N and six mu4-N bridging atoms, and incorporates two of the core units of 1. Four FeN2Cl2 and four FeN3Cl sites are tetrahedral and two FeN5 sites are trigonal pyramidal. The cluster is mixed-valence (9Fe(III) + Fe(IV)); a discrete Fe(IV) site was not detected by crystallography or M?ssbauer spectroscopy. The corresponding clusters [Fe4N2Br10]4- and [Fe10N8Br12]5- are isostructural with 1 and 3, respectively. Future research is directed toward defining the scope of the family of molecular iron nitrides.     

Methanolysis and phenolysis routes to Fe6, Fe8, and Fe1) complexes and their magnetic properties: a new type of Fe8 ferric wheel

Alcoholysis of preformed tetranuclear and hexanuclear iron(III) clusters has been employed for the synthesis of four higher-nuclearity clusters. Treatment of [Fe(4)O(2)(O(2)CMe)(7)(bpy)(2)](ClO(4)) with phenol affords the hexanuclear cluster [Fe(6)O(3)(O(2)CMe)(9)(OPh)(2)(bpy)(2)](ClO(4)) (1). Reaction of [Fe(6)O(2)(OH)(2)(O(2)CR)(10)(hep)(2)] (R = Bu(t) or Ph) with PhOH affords the new "ferric wheel" complexes [Fe(8)(OH)(4)(OPh)(8)(O(2)CR)(12)] [R = Bu(t) (2) or Ph (3)]. Complexes 2 and 3 exhibit the same structure, which is an unprecedented type for Fe(III). In contrast, treatment of [Fe(6)O(2)(OH)(2)(O(2)CBu(t))(10)(hep)(2)] with MeOH leads to the formation of [Fe(10)(OMe)(20)(O(2)CBu(t))(10)] (4), which exhibits the more common type of ferric wheel seen in analogous complexes with other carboxylate groups. Solid-state variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate spin-singlet ground states for complexes 2 and 4. The recently developed semiempirical method ZILSH was used to estimate the pairwise exchange parameters (J(AB)) and the average spin couplings S(A)[empty set].S(B)[empty set] between the Fe(III) centers, providing a clear depiction of the overall magnetic behavior of the molecules. All exchange interactions between adjacent Fe(III) atoms are antiferromagnetic.     

The Cocrystallization of the Cubic [Ta6Br12(H2O)6][CuBr2X2]·10H2O and Triclinic [Ta6Br12(H2O)6]X2·trans‐[Ta6Br12(OH)4(H2O)2]·18H2O (X = Cl,Br, NO3) Phases with the Coexistence of [Ta6Br12]2+ and [Ta6Br12]4+ in the Latter

Cubic [Ta₆Br₁₂(H₂O)₆][CuBr₂X₂]·10H₂O and triclinic [Ta₆Br₁₂(H₂O)₆]X₂·trans‐[Ta₆Br₁₂(OH)₄(H₂O)₂]·18H₂O (X = Cl, Br, NO₃) cocrystallize in aqueous solutions of [Ta₆Br₁₂]²⁺ in the presence of Cu²⁺ ions. The crystal structures of [Ta₆Br₁₂(H₂O)₆]Cl₂·trans‐[Ta₆Br₁₂(OH)₄(H₂O)₂]·18H₂O ( 1 ) and [Ta₆Br₁₂(H₂O)₆]Br₂·trans‐[Ta₆Br₁₂(OH)₄(H₂O)₂]·18H₂O ( 3 )have been solved in the triclinic space group P&1macr; (No. 2). Crystal data: 1 , a = 9.3264(2) Å, b = 9.8272(2) Å, c = 19.0158(4) Å, α = 80.931(1)?, β = 81.772(2)?, γ = 80.691(1)?; 3 , a = 9.3399(2) Å, b = 9.8796(2) Å, c = 19.0494(4) Å; α = 81.037(1)?, β = 81.808(1)?, γ = 80.736(1)?. 1 and 3 consist of two octahedral differently charged cluster entities, [Ta₆Br₁₂]²⁺ in the [Ta₆Br₁₂(H₂O)₆]²⁺ cation and [Ta₆Br₁₂]⁴⁺ in trans‐[Ta₆Br₁₂(OH)₄(H₂O)₂]. Average bond distances in the [Ta₆Br₁₂(H₂O)₆]²⁺ cations: 1 , Ta‐Ta, 2.9243 Å; Ta‐Brⁱ , 2.607 Å; Ta‐O, 2.23 Å; 3 , Ta‐Ta, 2.9162 Å; Ta‐Brⁱ , 2.603 Å; Ta‐O, 2.24 Å. Average bond distances in trans‐[Ta₆‐Br₁₂(OH)₄(H₂O)₂]: 1 , Ta‐Ta, 3.0133 Å; Ta‐Brⁱ, 2.586 Å; Ta‐O(OH), 2.14 Å; Ta‐O(H₂O), 2.258(9) Å; 3 , Ta‐Ta, 3.0113 Å; Ta‐Brⁱ, 2.580 Å; Ta‐O(OH), 2.11 Å; Ta‐O(H₂O), 2.23(1) Å. The crystal packing results in short O···O contacts along the c axes. Under the same experimental conditions, [Ta₆Cl₁₂]²⁺ oxidized to [Ta₆Cl₁₂]⁴⁺ , whereas [Nb₆X₁₂]²⁺ clusters were not affected by the Cu²⁺ ion.     

Reduction of the host cationic framework charge by isoelectronic substitution: synthesis and structure of Hg7Ag2P8X6 (X = Br, I) and Hg6Ag4P8Br6

The first compounds, Hg(7)Ag(2)P(8)X(6) (X = Br, I) and Hg(6)Ag(4)P(8)Br(6), featuring the partial isoelectronic substitution of Hg(2+) for Ag(1+) in mercury-pnicogen frameworks have been obtained and structurally characterized. The new compounds are the supramolecular assemblies built of the covalently bonded metal-pnicogen frameworks trapping guests of different complexity. The frameworks feature the perfect ordering of Hg(2+) and Ag(1+) cations and contain P(2)(4)(-) and P(6)(6)(-) phosphorus clusters. The substitution of Hg(2+) with Ag(1+) leads to the reduction in charge of the host cluster-containing cationic matrix and concomitant replacement of the monatomic X(-) guest by a lesser amount of the AgBr(3)(2)(-) anions.     

Ce53Fe12S90X3 (X = Cl, Br, I): the first rare-earth transition-metal sulfide halides

The compounds Ce53Fe12S90X3 (X = Cl, Br, I), which represent the first examples of rare-earth transition-metal sulfide halides, were prepared using the reactive-flux method, through reaction of Ce2S3, FeS, or Fe and S in a CeX3 flux at 1320 K. Their structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The compounds are isostructural, crystallizing in the trigonal space group Rm with Z = 1 [Ce53Fe12S90Cl3, a = 13.9094(9) A, c = 21.604(2) A, V = 3619.7(4) A3; Ce(53)Fe(12)S(90)Br(3), a = 13.916(1) A, c = 21.824(2) A, V = 3660.0(5) A3; Ce53Fe12S90I3, a = 13.863(3) A, c = 21.944(6) A, V = 3652(2) A3]. The structure adopted is a stuffed variant of the La52Fe12S90 structure type. Fe2S9 dimers of face-sharing octahedra are linked by face- and vertex-sharing capped CeS6 trigonal prisms, forming a three-dimensional framework containing cuboctahedral cavities of two sizes. The smaller cavities accommodate alternative sites for disordered cerium atoms. The larger cavities, which remain empty in the parent structure, are filled by halogen atoms in Ce53Fe12S90X3. Alternatively, the structure can be described as a 9-fold superstructure of the Mn5Si3 structure type (P6(3)/mcm), with a = a' and c = 3c'. Temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements suggest that Ce53Fe12S90I3 may order antiferromagnetically at low temperatures.     

Self-asssembly of a molecular M8L12 cube having S6 symmetry

Reaction of the bis-bidentate ligand L1, having two bidentate pyrazolyl-pyridine termini, with Co(II) or Zn(II) results in formation of the complexes [M8(L1)12]X16 (X = perchlorate or tetrafluoroborate); [Zn8(L1)2](ClO4)16 has been structurally characterised and is a cube with a metal ion at each corner, a bridging ligand along each edge, and an anion in the central cavity.     

La2XB3 (X = Cl,Br): A Novel Layered Structure with Planar Boron Nets of B3, B6 and B8 Rings

Two new layered rare earth boride halides, La₂XB₃ (X = Cl, Br) have been synthesized. They crystallize in the space group (No. 174) with a = 7.872(1) Å, c = 8.219(2) Å, V = 441.1(1) ų for the chloride, and with a = 7.834(1) Å, c = 8.440(1) Å, V = 448.6(1) ų for the bromide compound, respectively. The crystals of La₂ClB₃ are twinned resulting in an apparent symmetry P6/mmm (No. 191). In the crystal structure of La₂XB₃, trigonal La₆ prisms are condensed into sheets in the a‐b plane, and the halogen atoms X sandwich the La double layers. The connection of B atoms which center the prisms and rectangular prism faces leads to B nets of B₃, B₆ and B₈ rings embedded between the La atom double layers. The chemical bonding is analyzed for the well ordered bromide, and the characteristic disorder in the chloride is discussed.     

Nitrile Cluster Compounds [(M6X12)X2(RCN)4] (M=Nb, Ta; X=Cl, Br; R=Et, n-Pr, n-Bu)

Three new series of mixed-ligand clusters of the [(M₆X₁₂)X₂(RCN)₄] (M=Nb, Ta; X=Cl, Br; R=Et, n-Pr, n-Bu) composition have been prepared. It is supposed that four nitrile molecules and two halogen atoms are coordinated to the terminal octahedral coordination sites of the [M₆X₁₂]²⁺ unit.     

4-Connected metal-organic assemblies mediated via heterochelation and bridging of single metal ions: Kagome lattice and the M6L12 octahedron

Single-metal-ion-based rigid molecular building blocks (MBBs) have been utilized to design and synthesize novel metal-organic assemblies. Reaction between In(NO3)3.2H2O and 2,5-pyridinedicarboxylic acid (2,5-H2PDC) has permitted the assembly of two supramolecular isomers, a Kagomé lattice and an unprecedented M6L12 discrete octahedron.