Pentacoordinate Phosphorus in a High‐Pressure Polymorph of Phosphorus Nitride Imide P4N6(NH)

Coordination numbers higher than usual are often associated with superior mechanical properties. In this contribution we report on the synthesis of the high‐pressure polymorph of highly condensed phosphorus nitride imide P₄N₆(NH) representing a new framework topology. This is the first example of phosphorus in trigonal‐bipyramidal coordination being observed in an inorganic network structure. We were able to obtain single crystals and bulk samples of the compound employing the multi‐anvil technique. γ‐P₄N₆(NH) has been thoroughly characterized using X‐ray diffraction, solid‐state NMR and FTIR spectroscopy. The synthesis of γ‐P₄N₆(NH) gives new insights into the coordination chemistry of phosphorus at high pressures. The synthesis of further high‐pressure phases with higher coordination numbers exhibiting intriguing physical properties seems within reach.     

Sb‐Triggered β‐to‐α Transition: Solvothermal Synthesis of Metastable α‐Cu2Se

Control over phase stabilities during synthesis processes is of great importance for both fundamental studies and practical applications. We describe herein a facile strategy for the synthesis of Cu₂Se with phase selectivity through a simple solvothermal method. In the presence and absence of SbCl₃, monoclinic α‐Cu₂Se and cubic β‐Cu₂Se can be synthesized, respectively. The formation of α‐Cu₂Se requires optimization of the Cu/Se molar ratio in the starting reagents, the reaction temperature, as well as the timing for the addition of SbCl₃. Differential scanning calorimetry of the synthesized α‐Cu₂Se has shown that a part of it undergoes a phase transition to β‐Cu₂Se at 135 °C, and that this phase transition is irreversible on cooling to ambient temperature. Kinetic studies have revealed that in the presence of Sb species the kinetically favored β‐Cu₂Se transforms to the thermodynamically favored α‐Cu₂Se. In this β‐to‐α phase transition process, the distribution of Cu ions in β‐Cu₂Se, as determined by the Cu/Se ratio and temperature, is likely to play a crucial role.     

Steady‐State and Pseudo‐Steady‐State Photocrystallographic Studies on Linkage Isomers of [Ni(Et4dien)(η2‐O,ON)(η1‐NO2)]: Identification of a New Linkage Isomer

At temperatures below 150 K, the photoactivated metastable endo‐nitrito linkage isomer [Ni(Et₄dien)(η²‐O,ON)(η¹‐ONO)] (Et₄dien=N,N,N′,N′‐tetraethyldiethylenetriamine) can be generated with 100 % conversion from the ground state nitro‐(η¹‐NO₂) isomer on irradiation with 500 nm light, in the single crystal by steady‐state photocrystallographic techniques. Kinetic studies show the system is no longer metastable above 150 K, decaying back to the ground state nitro‐(η¹‐NO₂) arrangement over several hours at 150 K. Variable‐temperature kinetic measurements in the range of 150–160 K show that the rate of endo‐nitrito decay is highly dependent on temperature, and an activation energy of E_act=+48.6(4) kJ mol^?1 is calculated for the decay process. Pseudo‐steady‐state experiments, where the crystal is continually pumped by the light source for the duration of the X‐ray experiment, show the production of a previously unobserved, exo‐nitrito‐(η¹‐ONO) linkage isomer only at temperatures close to the metastable limit (ca. 140–190 K). This exo isomer is considered to be a transient excited‐state species, as it is only observed in data collected by pseudo‐steady‐state methods.     

β‐Strand Mimetic Foldamers Rigidified through Dipolar Repulsion

Many therapeutically relevant protein–protein interactions contain hot‐spot regions on secondary structural elements, which contribute disproportionately to binding enthalpy. Mimicry of such α‐helical regions has met with considerable success, however the analogous approach for the β‐strand has received less attention. Presented herein is a foldamer for strand mimicry in which dipolar repulsion is a central determinant of conformation. Computation as well as solution‐ and solid‐phase data are consistent with an ensemble weighted almost exclusively in favor of the desired conformation.     

An Investigation of Poly(dimethylsiloxane) Chain Dynamics and Order in Its Inclusion Compound with γ‐Cyclodextrin by Fast‐MAS Solid‐State NMR Spectroscopy

The dynamics of poly(dimethylsiloxane) in its inclusion compound with γ‐cyclodextrin are elucidated using modern fast‐MAS solid‐state NMR techniques. Measurements of methyl ¹H–¹H and ¹H–¹³C dipolar coupling constants indicate that the polymer undergoes a uniform motion, rendering all methyl groups equivalent. The dynamics of the Si—C bond is characterized by either a dynamic order parameter of S = 0.72, or, assuming a stably rotating helical structure, an inclination angle of 73° relative to the rotation axis.     

A High‐Pressure Polymorph of Phosphorus Nitride Imide

Phosphorus nitride imide, PN(NH), is of great scientific importance because it is isosteric with silica (SiO₂). Accordingly, a varied structural diversity could be expected. However, only one polymorph of PN(NH) has been reported thus far. Herein, we report on the synthesis and structural investigation of the first high‐pressure polymorph of phosphorus nitride imide, β‐PN(NH); the compound has been synthesized using the multianvil technique. By adding catalytic amounts of NH₄Cl as a mineralizer, it became possible to grow single crystals of β‐PN(NH), which allowed the first complete structural elucidation of a highly condensed phosphorus nitride from single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction data. The structure was confirmed by FTIR and ³¹P and ¹H solid‐state NMR spectroscopy. We are confident that high‐pressure/high‐temperature reactions could lead to new polymorphs of PN(NH) containing five‐fold‐ or even six‐fold‐coordinated phosphorus atoms and thus rivalling or even surpassing the structural variety of SiO₂.     

Ladder π‐Conjugated Materials Containing Main‐Group Elements

Ladder π‐conjugated compounds, which have fully ring‐fused polycyclic skeletons, are an important class of materials possessing significant potentials for application in organic electronics. The incorporation of main‐group elements, such as B, Si, P, S, and Se, into the ladder skeletons as bridging moieties is a powerful strategy to endow unusual electronic structures as well as suitable molecular arrangements in the solid state, giving rise to attractive photophysical and electronic properties. Recent efforts have produced a number of fascinating ladder materials, some of which indeed showed high performance as light‐emitting materials and charge carrier transporting materials. This Focus Review is an overview of the progress in this chemistry, focusing on several important π‐conjugated skeletons.     

Oxonium Ions Substituting Cesium Ions in the Structure of the New High‐Pressure Borate HP‐Cs1−x(H3O)xB3O5 (x=0.5–0.7)

The new high‐pressure borate HP‐Cs_1?x(H₃O)_xB₃O₅ (x=0.5–0.7) was synthesized under high‐pressure/high‐temperature conditions of 6 GPa/900 °C in a Walker‐type multianvil apparatus. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c (Z=8) with the parameters a=1000.6(2), b=887.8(2), c=926.3(2) pm, β=103.1(1)°, V=0.8016(3) nm³, R1=0.0452, and wR2=0.0721 (all data). The boron–oxygen network is analogous to those of the compounds HP‐MB₃O₅, (M=K, Rb) and exhibits all three structural motifs of borates—BO₃ groups, corner‐sharing BO₄ tetrahedra, and edge‐sharing BO₄ tetrahedra—at the same time. Channels inside the boron–oxygen framework contain the cesium and oxonium ions, which are disordered on a specific site. Estimating the amount of hydrogen by solid‐state NMR spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction led to the composition HP‐Cs_1?x(H₃O)_xB₃O₅ (x=0.5–0.7), which implies a nonzero phase width.     

MH4P6N12 (M=Mg,Ca): New Imidonitridophosphates with an Unprecedented Layered Network Structure Type

Isotypic imidonitridophosphates MH₄P₆N₁₂ (M=Mg, Ca) have been synthesized by high‐pressure/high‐temperature reactions at 8 GPa and 1000 °C starting from stoichiometric amounts of the respective alkaline‐earth metal nitrides, P₃N₅, and amorphous HPN₂. Both compounds form colorless transparent platelet crystals. The crystal structures have been solved and refined from single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction data. Rietveld refinement confirmed the accuracy of the structure determination. In order to quantify the amounts of H atoms in the respective compounds, quantitative solid‐state ¹H NMR measurements were carried out. EDX spectroscopy confirmed the chemical compositions. FTIR spectra confirmed the presence of NH groups in both structures. The crystal structures reveal an unprecedented layered tetrahedral arrangement, built up from all‐side vertex‐sharing PN₄ tetrahedra with condensed dreier and sechser rings. The resulting layers are separated by metal atoms.     

Zinkkomplexe des N,N,S‐Liganden 2‐Mercaptobenzyl‐bis‐(2‐pyridylmethyl)amin

Zinc Complexes of the N,N,S‐Ligand 2‐Mercaptobenzyl‐bis‐(2‐pyridylmethyl)amine An improved synthesis of the title ligand MBPA–H has made its complex chemistry accessible. With diethyl zinc it forms the reactive ethyl complex (MBPA)Zn–C₂H₅ ( 1 ) whose reaction with phenol leads to (MBPA)Zn–OC₆H₅ ( 2 ). With zinc nitrate the labile compound (MBPA)Zn–ONO₂ ( 3 ) is formed which in turn is converted with thiophenolate into (MBPA)Zn–SC₆H₅ ( 4 ). Structure determinations of 2 and 3 have confirmed severely deformed trigonal‐bipyramidal coordinations of the zinc atom whose ligation patterns correspond to those in some hydrolytic zinc enzymes.     

Nanoparticles of [Fe(NH2‐trz)3]Br2⋅3 H2O (NH2‐trz=2‐Amino‐1,2,4‐triazole) Prepared by the Reverse Micelle Technique: Influence of Particle and Coherent Domain Sizes on Spin‐Crossover Properties

By changing the surfactant/water ratio , nanoparticles of the iron(II) spin crossover material, [Fe(NH₂‐trz)₃]Br₂ ? 3 H₂O (with NH₂‐trz=4‐amino‐1,2,4‐triazole), have been synthesised from 1 μm down to 30 nm (see figure). Magnetic and reflectivity experiments indicate that the critical size for observing a thermal hysteresis in this 1D polymer family is around 50 nm, and powder X‐ray diffraction shows that particles of about 30 nm are constituted by about one coherent domain.

     

Synthesis and Molecular Structure of β‐Phosphinoyl Carboxamides: An Unexpected Case of Chiral Discrimination of Hydrogen‐Bonded Dimers in the Solid State

A series of N,P,P‐trisubstituted aminophosphanes react with diphenylcyclopropenone to afford an easily separable mixture of two diastereomeric α,β‐diphenyl‐β‐phosphinoyl carboxamides in good yields. X‐ray crystal structures reveal that these compounds associate into dimers, formed from two enantiomeric units linked by two bifurcated hydrogen bonds, whereby the oxygen atom of the phosphoryl group acts as a dual acceptor for the vicinal NH and CH of a carbonyl group of a neighbouring molecule. Studies on the interconversion between diastereomeric phosphinoyl carboxamides in basic solution show that the thermodynamically most stable isomer depends on the nature of the substituent at the nitrogen atom. Simple computational calculations explain this phenomenon.