Direct in situ observation of increasing structural dimensionality during the hydrothermal formation of open-framework zinc phosphates

The first time-resolved in situ X-ray diffraction studies of the hydrothermal crystallisation of open-framework zinc phosphates reveal a pathway of sequential crystallisation involving formation of a metastable low dimensional chain phase before the growth of three-dimensional zeolitic architectures.     

Hydro/solvothermal synthesis and structures of new zinc phosphates of varying dimensionality

Hydro/solvothermal reactions of ZnO, HCl, H(3)PO(4), 1,4-diazacycleheptane (homopiperazine), and H(2)O under a variety of conditions yielded three new organic-inorganic hybrid materials, [C(5)N(2)H(14)][Zn(HPO(4))(2)].xH(2)O (x = approximately 0.46), I, [C(5)N(2)H(14)][Zn(3)(H(2)O)(PO(4))(2)(HPO(4))], II, and [C(5)N(2)H(14)][Zn(2)(HPO(4))(3)].H(2)O, III. While I has a one-dimensional structure, II possesses a two-dimensional layered structure, and III has a three-dimensional structure closely related to the ABW zeolitic architecture. All the compounds consist of vertex linking of ZnO(4), PO(4), and HPO(4) tetrahedral units. The fundamental building unit, single four-membered ring (S4R), is present in all the cases, and the observed differences in their structures result from variations in the connectivity between the S4R units. Thus I has a corner-shared S4R forming an infinite one-dimensional chain, II has two corner-shared chains fused through a 3-coordinated oxygen atom forming a strip and a layer with eight-membered apertures, and III has S4R units connected via oxygen atoms to give rise to channels bound by eight T atoms (T = Zn, P) in all crystallographic directions. Crystal data: I, monoclinic, space group = P2(1)/n (No. 14), a = 8.6053(3) A, b = 13.7129(5) A, c = 10.8184(4) A, beta = 97.946(1) degrees, V = 1264.35(8) A(3), Z = 4; II, monoclinic, space group = P2(1)/c (No. 14), a = 11.1029(1) A, b = 17.5531(4) A, c = 8.2651(2) A, beta = 97.922(2) degrees, V = 1595.42(5) A(3), Z = 4; III, monoclinic, space group = P2(1) (No. 4), a = 8.0310(2) A, b = 10.2475(3) A, c = 10.570(3) A, beta = 109.651(1) degrees, V = 819.24(3) A(3), Z = 2.     

New zinc phosphates decorated by imidazole-containing ligands

Four new zinc phosphates [Zn(HPO4)(C6H9N3O2)] (1), [Zn(HPO4)(C4H6N2)].H2O (2), [Zn2(HPO4)2(C14H14N4)].2H2O (3), and [Zn(HPO4)(C14H14N4)] (4) were synthesized in the presence of d-histidine, 1-methylimidazole, 1,4-bis(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene (L1), and 1,2-bis(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene (L2), respectively, and their structures were determined by X-ray crystallography. The inorganic framework of compounds 1, 2, and 3 is composed of vertex-shared ZnO3N and HPO4 tetrahedra that form four rings, which, in turn, are linked to generate a one-dimensional ladder structure. In 1 and 2 the organic groups (monoimidazole ligand) are located at each side of the ladders, while in 3 the bisimidazole ligand, 1,4-bis(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene, links the ladders together to form a novel 2D structure. Compound 1 is the first zinc phosphate framework to be templated by an N-bonded chiral amino acid. In 4 the zero-dimensional four rings are joined together by the linear bridging ligand, 1,2-bis(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene, to generate a one-dimensional framework with a new face-to-face structural motif. The 3D structure of compound 4 is stabilized by hydrogen-bonding, pi-pi interactions, and C-H...pi interactions. The approach of incorporating multifunctional ligands into zinc phosphate frameworks and linking the inorganic zinc phosphates subunits by an organic ligand provides opportunities for the design of new inorganic-organic open frameworks.     

The use of aurophilic and other metal-metal interactions as crystal engineering design elements to increase structural dimensionality

Research in the field of supramolecular chemistry has rapidly grown in recent years due to the generation of fascinating structural topologies and their associated physical properties. In order to rationally synthesize such high-dimensionality systems, several different classes of non-covalent intermolecular interactions in the crystal engineering toolbox can be utilized. Among these, attractive metallophilic interactions, such as those observed for d(10) gold(i), have been increasingly harnessed as a design element to synthesize functional high-dimensional systems. This tutorial review will explore the methods by which gold(i) and other d(10) and d(8) metal centres have been employed to increase structural dimensionality via the formation of metal-metal interactions. Physical and optical properties associated with metallophilicity-based supramolecular structures will also be highlighted.     

Visualization of temperature-induced structural rearrangements in oriented amorphous polymers

Thermally stimulated shrinkage of amorphous poly(ethylene terephthalate) and poly(vinyl chloride) oriented above their glass transition temperatures over a broad range of strain rates was studied by direct microscopic examination. The principle of revealing structural rearrangements is as follows. Before annealing, an oriented sample is coated with a thin (a few nanometers) metal layer. Subsequent annealing, which entails a change in the geometric dimensions of a polymer, leads to the appearance of a surface relief in the coating. The direct microscopic examination of the microrelief provides information on structural rearrangements in the polymer substrate. It was shown that identical microreliefs were formed in PVC independently of its preliminary stretching. For PET, it was found that the self-extension process in the direction of the draw axis was effected along with contraction during annealing. The superimposition of these processes is imaged as relief with two perpendicular folded structures. The obtained results give direct information on stress fields responsible for processes that occur in oriented polymers during their annealing; such information is difficult or even impossible to gain by any other means.     

Synthesis of open-framework zinc phosphates from organophosphorus amides

The use of hexamethylphosphoramide as a single source of amine and phosphorus has made it possible to synthesize new three-dimensional zinc phosphate frameworks under solvothermal conditions.     

Kinetic and mechanistic investigations of hydrothermal transformations in zinc phosphates

The room-temperature crystallization of [C(6)N(2)H(18)][Zn(HPO(4))(H(2)PO(4))(2)], an organically templated zinc phosphate containing [Zn(2)(HPO(4))(2)(H(2)PO(4))(4)](4)(-) molecular anions, and its transformation to compounds containing either one- or two-dimensional inorganic components, [C(6)N(2)H(18)][Zn(3)(H(2)O)(4)(HPO(4))(4)], [C(4)N(2)H(12)][Zn(HPO(4))(2)(H(2)O)], or [C(3)N(2)H(6)][Zn(4)(OH)(PO(4))(3)], under hydrothermal conditions were studied in-situ using energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction. The ability to collect data during reactions in a large volume ( approximately 23 mL) Teflon-lined autoclave under real laboratory conditions has allowed for the elucidation of kinetic and mechanistic information. Kinetic data have been determined by monitoring changes in the integrated peak intensities of Bragg reflections and have been modeled using the Avrami-Erofe'ev expression. The crystallization of [C(6)N(2)H(18)][Zn(HPO(4))(H(2)PO(4))(2)] is a diffusion-controlled process, while nucleation is increasingly more important in determining the overall rate of the formation of [C(6)N(2)H(18)][Zn(3)(H(2)O)(4)(HPO(4))(4)], [C(4)N(2)H(12)][Zn(HPO(4))(2)(H(2)O)], and [C(3)N(2)H(6)][Zn(4)(OH)(PO(4))(3)]. The transformation of [C(6)N(2)H(18)][Zn(HPO(4))(H(2)PO(4))(2)] to [C(4)N(2)H(12)][Zn(HPO(4))(2)(H(2)O)] and [C(3)N(2)H(6)][Zn(4)(OH)(PO(4))(3)] occurs via a dissolution-reprecipitation mechanism, while the transformation to [C(6)N(2)H(18)][Zn(3)(H(2)O)(4)(HPO(4))(4)] may be the first observation of a direct topochemical conversion of one organically templated solid to another under hydrothermal conditions.     

An infrared and Raman spectroscopic study of natural zinc phosphates

Zinc phosphates are important in the study of the phosphatisation of metals. Raman spectroscopy in combination with infrared spectroscopy has been used to characterise the zinc phosphate minerals. The minerals may be characterised by the patterns of the hydroxyl stretching vibrations in both the Raman and infrared spectra. Spencerite is characterised by a sharp Raman band at 3516 cm(-1) and tarbuttite by a single band at 3446 cm(-1). The patterns of the Raman spectra of the hydroxyl stretching region of hopeite and parahopeite are different in line with their differing crystal structures. The Raman spectrum of the PO4 stretching region shows better band separated peaks than the infrared spectra which consist of a complex set of overlapping bands. The position of the PO4 symmetric stretching mode can be used to identify the zinc phosphate mineral. It is apparent that Raman spectroscopy lends itself to the fundamental study of the evolution of zinc phosphate films.     

Combinatorial approach for the hydrothermal syntheses of open-framework zinc phosphates

Applying a combinatorial strategy, new zinc phosphates with interesting framework architectures have been hydrothermally synthesized and their structures solved by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.     

New method for synthesis of carbalkoxyalkylamidodialkyl phosphates

Conclusions A method is proposed for the preparation of N-phosphorylated aminoacid derivatives by reaction between dialkyl phosphites and aminoacid esters in the presence of carbon tetrachloride.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 1180–1182, May, 1969.     

Formation of one-, two-, and three-dimensional open-framework zinc phosphates in the presence of a tetramine

Five new open-framework zinc phosphates, encompassing the entire hierarchy of open-framework structures, have been synthesized hydrothermally in the presence of triethylenetetramine. The structures include one-dimensional ladders, two-dimensional layers, and three-dimensional structures as well as a zinc phosphate where the amine acts as a ligand. [C6N4H22]0.5[Zn(HPO4)2] (I): monoclinic, space group P2(1)/c (no. 14), a = 5.2677(1) A, b = 13.3025(1) A, c = 14.7833(1) A, beta = 96.049 degrees, Z = 4. [C6N4H22]0.5[Zn2(HPO4)3] (II): triclinic, space group P1 (no. 2), a = 7.515(1) A, b = 8.2553(1) A, c = 12.911(1) A, alpha = 98.654(1) degrees, beta = 101.274(1) degrees, gamma = 115.791(1) degrees, Z = 2. [C6N4H22]0.5[Zn2P2O8] (III): triclinic, space group P1 (no. 2), a = 8.064(1) A, b = 8.457(1) A, c = 9.023(1) A, alpha = 111.9(1) degrees, beta = 108.0(1) degrees, gamma = 103.6(1) degrees, Z = 2. [C6N4H22]0.5[Zn3(PO4)2(HPO4)] (IV): triclinic, space group P1 (no. 2), a = 5.218(1) A, b = 8.780(1) A, c = 16.081(1) A, alpha = 89.3(1) degrees, beta = 83.5(1) degrees, gamma = 74.3(1) degrees, Z = 2. [C6N4H20]0.5[Zn4P4O16] (V): monoclinic, space group P2(1)/c (no. 14), a = 9.219(1) A, b = 15.239(1) A, c = 10.227(1) A, beta = 105.2(1), Z = 4. The structure of I is composed of ZnO4 and HPO4 tetrahedra, which are edge-shared to form four-membered rings, which, in turn, form a one-dimensional chain (ladder). In II, these ladders are fused into a layer. The structures of III and IV comprise networks of ZnO4 and PO4 tetrahedra forming three-dimensional architectures. In V, the amine molecule coordinates to the Zn and acts as a pillar supporting the zinc phosphate layers, which possess infinite Zn-O-Zn linkages. The 16-membered one-dimensional channel in IV and the ZnO3N pillar, along with infinite Zn-O-Zn linkages in V, are novel features. The structure of the open-framework zinc phosphates is found to depend sensitively on the relative concentrations of the amine and phosphoric acid, with high concentrations of the latter favoring structures with lower dimensions.     

Natural abundance solid-state 67Zn NMR characterization of microporous zinc phosphites and zinc phosphates at ultrahigh magnetic field

Zinc-phosphite and -phosphate based microporous materials are crystalline open framework materials with potential industrial applications. Although (31)P MAS NMR has been used for characterization of these materials, the local environments around zinc centres have never been directly probed by solid-state NMR due to the many unfavourable NMR characteristics of (67)Zn. In this work, we have characterized the local structure around the Zn centres in several representative microporous zinc phosphites and zinc phosphates by acquiring natural abundance (67)Zn solid-state NMR spectra at ultrahigh magnetic field of 21.1 T. The observed line-shapes are mainly determined by the second order quadrupolar interaction. The NMR tensor parameters were extracted from the spectra and are related to the local geometry around the Zn centre. Computational study of the electric field gradient (EFG) tensor at Zn was performed using hybrid density functional theory (DFT) calculations at B3LYP level of theory on model clusters. The calculations using Projector Augmented-Wave (PAW) method were also carried out with the CASTEP code wherever it was possible. The work has shown that it is possible to study Zn environments in porous materials which often have very low Zn concentration by natural abundance (67)Zn SSNMR at very high magnetic fields.     

The affinity of phosphates to zinc(II) complexes can be increased with hydrogen bond donors

Amino H-bond donors adjacent to a zinc(II) centre increase the affinity of phosphates to the zinc(II) centre.     

Zinc-porphyrin phosphonate coordination: structural control through a zinc phosphoryl-oxygen interaction

Inter- and intramolecular zinc-porphyrin phosphonate coordination in the cis and trans isomers of zinc tetraphenylporphyrinstyryldiphosphonate is reported, demonstrating the potential of the zinc phosphoryl-oxygen interaction for structural control.     

Thermoanalytical and structural characterization of fluoridated calcium phosphates prepared in anhydrous alcohols

A thermoanalytical, morphological, and structural study of fluoridated calcium phosphates that were prepared by different variants of a synthesis in anhydrous alcohols is reported. The obtained materials were neither fully amorphous nor single-phased crystalline, and their nature considerably depended on the synthesis conditions. In all cases, the retention of significant amounts of solvent in the solid product was observed. A complete removal of the solvent was only possible by heating to temperatures above ~573–673 K which resulted in variations in the elemental composition, phase changes, and an increase of the crystallinity. Consequently, this synthesis in anhydrous alcohols is not a viable route to obtain materials with a defined crystallinity and stoichiometry.     

Visualization of structural rearrangements responsible for temperature-induced shrinkage of amorphous polycarbonate after its deformation at different conditions

Structural rearrangements during the temperature-induced shrinkage of amorphous polycarbonate after its tensile drawing below and above the glass transition temperature, rolling at room temperature, and solvent crazing have been studied with the use of the direct microscopic procedure. This evidence demonstrates that the character of structural rearrangements during the temperature-induced shrinkage of the oriented amorphous polymer is primarily controlled by the temperature and mode of deformation. In the case of the polymer sample stretched above the glass transition temperature, the subsequent temperature-induced shrinkage is shown to be homogeneous and proceeds via the simultaneous diffusion of polymer chains within the whole volume of the polymer sample. When polymer deformation is carried out at temperatures below the glass transition temperature, the subsequent temperature-induced shrinkage within the volume of the polymer sample is inhomogeneous and proceeds via the movement of rather large polymer blocks that are separated by the regions of inelastically deformed polymer (shear bands or crazes).     

Synthesis of complex phosphates with a langbeinite structure from melts

Phase formation processes were studied and features of the crystallization of complex phosphates with a langbeinite structure from potassium phosphate melts were established. The compounds obtained were characterized by X-ray phase analysis, IR spectroscopy, diffuse reflection spectroscopy, and ESR spectroscopy.     

X-ray structural study of a zinc(II) inclusion complex of a phenolate-pendant cyclam

The molecular structure of phenol-pendant cyclam-zinc(II) complex,4a, has been determined by X-ray structure analysis. Crystals of4a · ClO₄ · CH₃OH (C₁₆H₂₇N₄OZn · ClO₄ · CH₃OH) are monoclinic, space groupP2₁/nn, with four molecules in the unit cell of dimensionsa=31.198(2) Å,b=8.426(1) Å,c=8.214(1) Å, and=93.96(1)°. The structure was solved by the heavy atom method and refined anisotropically toR=0.044,R _w=0.062 for 1551 independent reflections. The complex assumes a five-coordinate, square pyramidal geometry, where zinc(II) is surrounded by the cyclam moiety in a planar fashion with the pendant phenolate anion occupying an axial position. An extremely short Zn-O(phenolate) bond distance of 1.983(5) Å, in conjunction with the 0.288 Å displacement of Zn(II) above the cyclam N₄ plane toward the phenolate, accounts for the extremely low pK _a value of 5.8 for the pendant phenol. These facts about4a, in comparison with the previous findings for the Ni(II) (4b) and Cu(II) complexes (4c) with the same ligand, illustrate well the characteristics of zinc(II) ion coordination properties.This paper is dedicated to the memory of the late Dr C. J. Pedersen.