An alternating pi-stacked bisdithiazolyl radical conductor

A general synthetic route to the resonance-stabilized pyrazine-bridged bisdithiazolyl framework, involving the reductive deprotection of 2,6-diaminopyrazine-bisthiocyanate and cyclization with thionyl chloride, has been developed. An N-methyl bisdithiazolyl radical, 4-methyl-4H-bis[1,2,3]dithiazolo[4,5-b:5',4'-e]pyrazin-3-yl, has been prepared and characterized in solution by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Its crystal structure has been determined at several temperatures. At 295 K, the structure belongs to the space group Cmca and consists of evenly spaced radicals pi-stacked in an alternating ABABAB fashion along the x-direction. At 123 K, the space group symmetry is lowered by loss of C-centering to Pccn, so that the radicals are no longer evenly spaced along the pi-stack. At 88 K, a further lowering of space group symmetry to P21/c is observed. Extended Hückel Theory band structure calculations indicate a progressive opening of a band gap at the Fermi level in the low-temperature structures. Magnetic susceptibility measurements over the range 4-300 K reveal essentially diamagnetic behavior below 120 K. Variable-temperature single-crystal conductivity (sigma) measurements indicate that the conductivity is activated, even at room temperature, with a room-temperature value sigma RT=0.001 S cm-1 and a thermal activation energy Eact=0.19 eV. Under an applied pressure of 5 GPa, sigma RT is increased by 3 orders of magnitude, but the conductivity remains activated, with Eact being lowered to 0.11 eV at 5.5 GPa.     

A 2D homochiral inorganic-organic framework exhibiting a spin-flop transition

A 2D homochiral inorganic-organic framework {[Mn(NPTA)(4,4'-bpy)(H(2)O)]·(H(2)O)(2)}(n) was prepared by assembling achiral polar 4-nitrophthalic acid, manganese ions, and ancillary 4,4'-bipyridine ligands (NPTA = 4-nitrophthalate) (4,4'-bpy = 4,4'-bipyridine). The isomorphous Zn(ii) compound was also prepared as a diamagnetic analogue. Adjacent manganese spin centres are linked by the syn-anti carboxylate to form a helical chain, and chains of the same chirality are connected by 4,4'-bpy ligands to generate a homochiral layered framework. Edge-to-face aromatic interactions between neighboring layers lead to a 3D homochiral supramolecular structure. Magnetization and heat capacity measurements indicate that the framework is a weak antiferromagnet at low applied field. The magnetic interactions between adjacent manganese ions in the helical chain can be fitted using the 1D Fisher model, with 2J/k = -0.68 K and g = 2.00. Moreover, the compound displays a unique field-dependent spin-flop transition in high magnetic fields, with a critical field of 23.6 kOe at 1.9 K.     

Chiral azide-bridged two-dimensional Cu(II) compounds showing a field-induced spin-flop transition

Two azide-bridged chiral Cu(II) compounds, [Cu(R,R-dacy)(N3)2]n (R,R-dacy = trans-(1R,2R)-diaminocyclohexane) and [Cu(S,S-dacy)(N3)2]n (S,S-dacy = trans-(1S,2S)-diaminocyclohexane), with two-dimensional layer structures exhibiting end-to-end and end-on azide bridging patterns, were prepared and among them was examined to show a field-induced spin-flop transition.     

The first crystal structure of a monomeric phenoxyl radical: 2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenoxyl radical

Crystals of the 2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenoxyl radical have been isolated and characterized by X-ray diffraction, and calculations have been performed that give the distribution of spin density in the radical.     

Crossing the insulator-to-metal barrier with a thiazyl radical conductor

The layered-sheet architecture of the crystal structure of the fluoro-substituted oxobenzene-bridged bisdithiazolyl radical FBBO affords a 2D π-electronic structure with a large calculated bandwidth. The material displays high electrical conductivity for a f = 1/2 system, with σ(300 K) = 2 × 10(-2) S cm(-1). While the conductivity is thermally activated at ambient pressure, with E(act) = 0.10 eV at 300 K, indicative of a Mott insulating state, E(act) is eliminated at 3 GPa, suggesting the formation of a metallic state. The onset of metallization is supported by infrared measurements, which show closure of the Mott-Hubbard gap above 3 GPa.     

Synthesis, structure and physical properties of the first one-dimensional phenalenyl-based neutral radical molecular conductor

We report the preparation, crystallization, and solid-state characterization of a benzyl-substituted spirobiphenalenyl radical. The crystal structure shows that the radical is monomeric in the solid state, with the molecules packed in an unusual one-dimensional (1-D) fashion that we refer to as a pi-step stack. This particular mode of 1-D stacking is forced on the lattice arrangement by the presence of the orthogonal phenalenyl units that were specifically incorporated to prevent the crystallization of low-dimensional structures. The structure shows that this strategy is effective, and neighboring molecules in the stack can only interact via the overlap of one pair of active (spin-bearing) carbon atoms per phenalenyl unit, leading to the pi-step structure in which the remaining four active carbon atoms per phenalenyl unit do not interact with nearest neighbor molecules. The magnetic susceptibility data in the temperature range 4-360 K may be fit to an antiferromagnetic Heisenberg S = 1/2 linear chain model with intrachain spin coupling J = -52.3 cm(-1). Despite the uniform stacking, the material has a room temperature conductivity of 1.4 x 10(-3) S/cm and is best described as a Mott insulator.     

Co[HO2C(CH2)3NH(CH2PO3H)2]2: a new canted antiferromagnet

A new cobalt(II) carboxylate-phosphonate, namely, Co[HO2C(CH2)3NH(CH2PO3H)2]2, with a layered architecture has been synthesized by hydrothermal reactions. The Co(II) ion in the title compound is octahedrally coordinated by six phosphonate oxygen atoms from four carboxylate phosphonate ligands. Neighboring CoO6 octahedra are interconnected by phosphonate groups into a 2D layer with a 4,4-net topology. Adjacent layers are further cross-linked via hydrogen bonds between the noncoordinate carboxylate groups and noncoordinate phosphonate oxygens. The ac and dc magnetic susceptibility and magnetization measurements indicate that Co[HO2C(CH2) 3NH(CH2PO3H)2]2 is a canted antiferromagnet with T(c) = 8.75 K.     

Two WV-MnIII bimetallic assemblies built by octacyanotungstate(v) and MnIII Schiff bases: molecular structures and a spin-flop transition

Two W(V)-Mn(III) bimetallic compounds, [Mn(Cl-salmen)(H(2)O)2]{[Mn(5-Clsalmen)(H(2)O)]2[W(CN)8].2H(2)O (1.2H(2)O) [5-Clsalmen = N,N'-(1-methylethylene)bis(5-chlorosalicylideneiminato) dianion], which contains trinuclear Mn(2)W and isolated Mn(III) moieties, and [Mn(3-MeOsalcy)(H(2)O)2]3[W(CN)(8)].2H(2)O (2.2H(2)O) [3-MeOsalcy = N,N'-(trans-1,2-cyclohexanediylethylene)bis(3-methoxysalicylideneiminato) dianion] molecules were prepared in redox processes and characterized using X-ray analysis and magnetic measurements. Compound 1 is composed of the {[Mn(5-Clsalmen)(H(2)O)]2[W(CN)8]}- trimer, in which two CN groups among eight in [W(CN)8](3-) bridge W(5+) and two Mn(3+) ions and the remaining CN ligands are hydrogen-bonded to water molecules or unbound, and the [Mn(Cl-salmen)(H(2)O)2]+ cation. Subsequently, two water molecules of the isolated cation are subject to hydrogen bonds. For 2, there are no covalent bonds among the subunits and six serial stacks of [Mn(3-MeOsalcy)(H(2)O)2]+ units are all hydrogen-bonded. The many hydrogen bonds found in both complexes eventually lead to three-dimensional networks. The magnetic studies for 1 reveal that antiferromagnetic interactions (J = -5.4 cm(-1)) between W(V) and Mn(III) centers within the trimer are transmitted via the bridging CN groups. Intermolecular antiferromagnetic couplings (zJ' = -0.2 cm(-1)) are also observed. The static and dynamic magnetic data of 1 demonstrate the existence of a field-induced spin-flop transition occurring among the clusters and monomeric molecules.     

Phosphorus: first principle simulation of a liquid-liquid phase transition

We report a Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics study of the liquid-liquid phase transition in phosphorus. We employed a gradient corrected density functional (B-LYP) to describe the electronic structure and performed simulations at constant pressure. Upon increasing pressure we observed, along the 1500 K isotherm, a structural transition converting the molecular P4 liquid into an atomic liquid with a network structure. Our calculations suggest this transition to be first order with a discontinuous density increase accompanied by an insulator into metal transition. The transition pressure is significantly higher than obtained by employing the less accurate local density functional (LDA) [Morishita, Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 105701 (2001)], which matches the experimental value for the pressure. We argue why the LDA result should be considered fortuitous. The change of the calculated structure factor upon the transition shows the same trend as experimentally observed. Analysis of the structural changes during the phase transition revealed that a chain of linked and opened up ("butterfly") P4 molecules may serve as a seed triggering the transition from the molecular to the network phase.     

A unique trapping by crystal forces of a hydronium cation displaying a transition state structure

An hydronium cation has been discovered which is unique among all crystallographic such ions of the Cambridge Database. Of composition H₇O₃⁺ it has a structure that is totally different from those classically known with structures H₂O-H₂O-H₃O⁺ and H₂O-(H₃O⁺)-H₂O. Unlike the crystallographically classical ones, the cation discussed here has a bifurcated hydrogen bond. From a central H₃O⁺ moiety a single hydrogen bond donor extends to two adjacent water molecules. Quantum chemical calculations in absence of the crystal environment demonstrate that the bifurcated hydrogen bond structure is that of a transition state for the H₇O₃⁺ complex. Thus remarkably, it appears that crystal forces have captured the ion in what would otherwise be a short-lived and unstable transition state formation.     

The first preparation of beta-lactones by radical cyclization

beta-Lactones have, for the first time, been prepared by 4-exo-trig radical cyclization. Thus, alpha-ethenoyloxy radicals react in the presence of tributylstannane in a photothermal process to give beta-lactones. Highest yields were obtained when groups capable of stabilizing a carbon-centered radical were present at the 3-position of the alkenoate acceptor.     

Effect of [Fe(CN)6]4- substitutions on the spin-flop transition of a layered nickel phyllosilicate

A 3 to 1 Ni/Si antiferromagnetic layered phyllosilicate, Ni(3)Si(C(3)H(6)NH(3))F(0.65)O(1.9)(OH)(4.45)(CH(3)COO)(1.1)·xH(2)O, was modified with K(4)[Fe(CN)(6)]·3H(2)O. This compound retained its ordering as proved by X-ray diffraction, while infrared spectra revealed the presence of [Fe(CN)(6)](4-) groups and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that the latter partially substitute the acetate groups. Both the parent and the modified compound are canted antiferromagnets with an anisotropy perpendicular to the layers and show spin-flop transitions. For the parent compound, a single step spin-flop occurs at H = 24 kOe. The modified compound shows increased antiferromagnetic canting and a two-step transition (H(1) = 24 kOe, H(2) = 48 kOe). These results testify to the existence of competing interactions that depend sensitively on the grafted species.     

E.S.R. of a one-dimensional Heisenberg antiferromagnet which undergoes a crystalline to discotic phase transition

Abstract

Single crystals and polycrystalline samples of the compounds bis(1,3-di(p-n-octylphenyl)propane-l,3-dionato)copper(II) [I], and bis(l,3-di(p-n-octyloxy-phenyl)propane-l,3-dionato)copper(II) [II] have been studied by E.S.R. The E.S.R. spectra of single crystals of [I] at 298 K have the features associated with a spin 1/2 one-dimensional Heisenberg antiferromagnet while the spectra of single crystals of [II] do not. E.S.R. of single crystals of [I] and [II] provides a reliable means of detecting previously reported crystalline to discotic phase transitions. Single crystals of [I] heated beyond the temperature of the first discotic phase transition yield single line E.S.R. spectra which have an angular dependence and an asymmetric lineshape; these observations suggest that, in the discotic phase, exchange interactions are still significant and a degree of long range order is maintained.     

The first bowl-shaped stable neutral radical with a corannulene system: synthesis and characterization of the electronic structure

[structure: see text] A bowl-shaped neutral radical with a corannulene system has been designed and synthesized for the first time as a stable solid in air. An unequivocal characterization of the electronic properties of the radical shows that an appreciable amount of spin delocalization extends onto the corannulene unit's curved surface.     

The first ESR observation of radical species in subcritical water

Triphenylmethanol was treated in subcritical and supercritical water. A radical species, triphenylmethyl radical, was directly generated from triphenylmethanol in subcritical and supercritical water without using any radical initiator. The radical formation was confirmed by direct electron spin resonance (ESR) measurement in high-temperature and high-pressure subcritical water and by capturing the radical intermediate using hydrogen donors in supercritical water.     

A stable alkyl hydride of a first row transition metal

Hydrogenolysis of a Cr(III) dialkyl precursor produced a binuclear chromium complex with a bridging hydride and a bridging alkyl; this structurally characterized organometallic compound is thermally very stable and does not undergo the expected reductive elimination of alkane.