Photomagnetic Switching of Heterometallic Complexes [M(dmf)4(H2O)3(μ‐CN)Fe(CN)5]⋅H2O (M=Nd,La, Gd,Y) Analyzed by Single‐Crystal X‐ray Diffraction and Ab Initio Theory

Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction measurements have been carried out on [Nd(dmf)₄(H₂O)₃(μ‐CN)Fe(CN)₅]?H₂O ( 1 ; dmf=dimethylformamide), [Nd(dmf)₄(H₂O)₃(μ‐CN)Co(CN)₅]?H₂O ( 2 ), [La(dmf)₄(H₂O)₃(μ‐CN)Fe(CN)₅]?H₂O ( 3 ), [Gd(dmf)₄(H₂O)₃(μ‐CN)Fe(CN)₅]?H₂O ( 4 ), and [Y(dmf)₄(H₂O)₃(μ‐CN)Fe(CN)₅]?H₂O ( 5 ), at 15(2) K with and without UV illumination of the crystals. Significant changes in unit‐cell parameters were observed for all the iron‐containing complexes, whereas 2 showed no response to UV illumination. Photoexcited crystal structures have been determined for 1 , 3 , and 4 based on refinements of two‐conformer models, and excited‐state occupancies of 78.6(1), 84(6), and 86.6(7) % were reached, respectively. Significant bond‐length changes were observed for the Fe–ligand bonds (up to 0.19 Å), the cyano bonds (up to 0.09 Å), and the lanthanide–ligand bonds (up to 0.10 Å). Ab initio theoretical calculations were carried out for the experimental ground‐state geometry of 1 to understand the electronic structure changes upon UV illumination. The calculations suggest that UV illumination gives a charge transfer from the cyano groups on the iron atom to the lanthanide ion moiety, {Nd(dmf)₄(H₂O)₃}, with a distance of approximately 6 Å from the iron atom. The charge transfer is accompanied by a reorganization of the spin state on the {Fe(CN)₆} complex, and a change in geometry that produces a metastable charge‐transfer state with an increased number of unpaired electrons, thus accounting for the observed photomagnetic effect.     

The New Photocrystallography

Shine your light : Recent work in photocrystallography demonstrates a large photoinduced increase in the magnetic susceptibility of a solid, which is accompanied by significant changes in the bond lengths of the Nd? NC? Fe moiety (see picture; black are ground‐state bond lengths in Å, red are photoinduced bond lengths).

     

X‐Ray Diffraction as a Local Probe Tool

For the structural characterization of nanoscale objects, X‐ray diffraction is widely used as a technique complementing local probe analysis methods such as scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Details on strain distributions, chemical composition, or size and shape of nanostructures are addressed. X‐ray diffraction traditionally obtains very good statistically averaged properties over large ensembles—provided this averaging is meaningful for ensembles with sufficiently small dispersion of properties. In many cases, however, it is desirable to combine different analysis techniques on exactly the same nano‐object, for example, to gain a more detailed insight into the interdependence of properties. X‐ray beams focused to diameters in the sub‐micron range, which are available at third‐generation synchrotron sources, allow for such X‐ray diffraction studies of individual nano‐objects.     

氰根桥联三核异金属配合物的合成、晶体结构及磁性研究

采用[(Tp)Fe(CN)₃]-(Tp=hydrotris(pyrazolyl)borate)与Mn(Ac)₂·4H₂O反应，合成了氰根桥联的异金属三核配合物[Mn(phen)₂][(Tp)Fe(CN)₃]₂·5H₂O (1)(phen=1，10-phenanthroline)，并对其结构和磁性进行了研究。晶体结构分析结果表明该化合物晶体属于三斜晶系，P1空间群。在该配合物中，Mn(Ⅱ)与2个phen分子及2个[(Tp)Fe(CN)₃]^-配位，形成一种弯曲的三核结构。磁性测量结果表明，Mn(Ⅱ)和Fe(Ⅲ)之间通过氰根桥联产生弱的反铁磁相互作用。     

A 3D 12‐Ring Zeolite with Ordered 4‐Ring Vacancies Occupied by (H2O)2 Dimers

A germanate zeolite, PKU‐14, with a three‐ dimensional large‐pore channel system was structurally characterized by a combination of high‐resolution powder X‐ray diffraction, rotation electron diffraction, NMR, and IR spectroscopy. Ordered Ge₄O₄ vacancies inside the [4⁶.6¹²] cages has been found in PKU‐14, in which a unique (H₂O)₂ dimer was located at the vacancies and played a structure‐directing role. It is the first time that water clusters are found to be templates for ordered framework vacancies.     

X‐Ray and Electron Diffraction Study of Poly(p‐dioxanone)

Summary: Solution‐grown lamellar crystals of poly(p‐dioxanone) (PPDX) have been crystallized isothermally from butane‐1,4‐diol at 100 °C. The crystal structure of PPDX has been determined by interpretation of X‐ray fiber diagrams of PPDX fibers and electron diffraction diagrams of lozenge‐shaped chain‐folder lamellar crystals. The unit cell of PPDX is orthorhombic with space group P2₁2₁2₁ and parameters: a = 0.970 nm, b = 0.742 nm, and c (chain axis) = 0.682 nm. There are two chains per unit cell, which exist in an antiparallel arrangement.

Transmission electron micrograph of PPDX chain‐folded lamellar crystals obtained by isothermal crystallization and its electron diffraction diagram.     

Synthesis and X‐ray Crystal Structures of Ru3(CO)9(μ‐arphos)(L) [L = AsPh3, As(m‐C6H4Me)3, As(p‐C6H4Me)3]

Three new triruthenium clusters, Ru₃(CO)₉(μ‐arphos)AsPh₃ ( 1 ), Ru₃(CO)₉(μ‐arphos)As(m‐C₆H₄Me)₃ ( 2 ), and Ru₃(CO)₉(μ‐arphos)As(p‐C₆H₄Me)₃ ( 3 ) were synthesized via thermal reactions of Ru₃(CO)₁₀(μ‐arphos) with different tertiary arsine ligands [AsPh₃, As(m‐C₆H₄Me)₃, As(p‐C₆H₄Me)₃]. All these complexes were fully characterized by elemental analysis, FT‐IR, NMR spectroscopy, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction.     

Elusive Silane–Alane Complex [SiH⋅⋅⋅Al]: Isolation,Characterization, and Multifaceted Frustrated Lewis Pair Type Catalysis

The super acidity of the unsolvated Al(C₆F₅)₃ enabled isolation of the elusive silane–alane complex [Si? H???Al], which was structurally characterized by spectroscopic and X‐ray diffraction methods. The Janus‐like nature of this adduct, coupled with strong silane activation, effects multifaceted frustrated‐Lewis‐pair‐type catalysis. When compared with the silane–borane system, the silane–alane system offers unique features or clear advantages in the four types of catalytic transformations examined in this study, including: ligand redistribution of tertiary silanes into secondary and quaternary silanes, polymerization of conjugated polar alkenes, hydrosilylation of unactivated alkenes, and hydrodefluorination of fluoroalkanes.     

Cleavage of the Fe—Fe Bond of （Me2SiSiMe2） [η^5－C5H4Fe（CO）2]2 with Na／Hg and Molecular Structure of the Ring－Opened Complex

The reaction of the rifle cyclic complex (1) with sodium amalgam in THF resulted in the expected cleavage of the Fe-Fe bond to afford his-sodium salt ( Me2SiSiMe2 ) [η^5-C5H4Fe(CO)2]2 (4). The latter was not isolated and was used directly to react with MeI, PhCH2Cl, CH3C(O)Cl, PhC(O)Cl,Cy3SnCl (Cy= cyclohexyl) or Ph3SnCl to afford corresponding ring-opened derivatives (Me2SiSiMe2) [η^5-C5H4Fe(CO)2]2 [5, R=Me; 6, R=PhCH2; 7, R=CH3C(O); 8, R=PhC(O); 9, R = Cy3Sn or 10, R = Ph3Sn ]. The crystal and molecular structures of 10 were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The molecule took the desired ant/ conformation around the Si-Si bond. The length of the Si--Si bond is 0.2343(3)nm, which is essentially identical to that in the cyclic structure of 1[0.2346(4) tun]. This result unambiguously demonstrates that the Si--Si bond in the cyclic structure of 1 is not subject to obvious strain.     

The Nitrogen‐Assisted Triphenylphosphine Displacement of Methylpyridine Ligand in Palladium(II) Complex: Crystal Structures of [Pd(PPh3)2{η1‐C5H3N(CH3)}(Br)] and [Pd(PPh3)Br]2{μ,η2‐C5H3N(CH3)}2

Treatment of Pd(PPh₃)₄ with 2‐bromo‐4‐methylpyridine, C₅H₃N(CH₃)Br, in dichloromethane at ?20 °C causes the oxidative addition reaction to produce the palladium complex [Pd(PPh₃)₂ {η¹‐C₅H₃N(CH₃)}(Br)], 2 , by substituting two triphenylphosphine ligands. In a dichloromethane solution of complex 2 at room temperature for 3 h, it undergoes displacement of the triphenylphosphine ligand to form the dipalladium complex [Pd(PPh₃)Br]₂{μ,η²‐C₅H₃N(CH₃)}₂, 3 , in which the two 4‐methylpyridine ligands coordinated through carbon to one metal center and bridging the other metal through the nitrogen atom. Complexes 2 and 3 are characterized by X‐ray diffraction analyses.     

N‐Methylimidazolkomplexe des Berylliums: [Be(Me‐Im)4]I2 und [Be3(μ‐OH)3(Me‐Im)6]Cl3

Tetra(N‐methylimidazole)‐beryllium‐di‐iodide, [Be(Me‐Im)₄]I₂ ( 1 ), was prepared from beryllium powder and iodine in N‐methylimidazole suspension to give yellow single crystal plates, which were characterized by X‐ray diffraction and IR spectroscopy. Compound 1 crystallizes tetragonally in the space group I 2d with four formula units per unit cell. Lattice dimensions at 100(2) K: a = b = 1784.9(1), c = 696.2(1) pm, R₁ = 0.0238. The structure consists of homoleptic dications [Be(Me‐Im)₄]²⁺ with short Be–N distances of 170.3(3) pm and iodide ions with weak interionic C–H ··· I contacts. Experiments to yield crystalline products from reactions of N‐methylimidazole with BeCl₂ and (Ph₄P)₂[Be₂Cl₆], respectively, in dichloromethane solutions were unsuccessful. However, single crystals of [Be₃(μ‐OH)₃(Me‐Im)₆]Cl₃ ( 2 ) were obtained from these solutions in the presence of moisture air. According to X‐ray diffraction studies, two different crystal individuals ( 2a and 2b ) result, depending on the starting materials BeCl₂ and (Ph₄P)₂[Be₂Cl₆], respectively [ 2a : Space group P2₁/n, Z = 4; 2b : Space group P , Z = 2]. As a side‐product from the reaction of N‐methylimidazole with (Ph₄P)₂[Be₂Cl₆] single crystals of (Ph₄P)Cl·CH₂Cl₂ ( 3 ) were identified crystallographically (P2₁/n, Z = 4) which are isotypical with the corresponding known bromide (Ph₄P)Br·CH₂Cl₂.     

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.     

Solid- and solution-state studies of the novel mu-dicyanamide-bridged dinuclear spin-crossover system {[(Fe(bztpen)]2[mu-N(CN)2]}(PF6)3 x n H2O

The mononuclear diamagnetic compound {Fe(bztpen)[N(CN)2]}(PF6)CH3OH (1) (bztpen = N-benzyl-N,N',N'-tris(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine) has been synthesized and its crystal structure studied. Complex 1 can be considered to be the formal precursor of two new dinuclear, dicyanamide-bridged iron(II) complexes with the generic formula {[(Fe(bztpen)]2[mu-N(CN)2]}(PF6)3 x n H2O (n = 1 (2) or 0 (3)), which have been characterized in the solid state and in solution. In all three complexes, the iron atoms have a distorted [FeN6] octahedral coordination defined by a bztpen ligand and a terminal (1) or a bridging dicyanamide ligand (2 and 3). In the solid state, 2 and 3 can be considered to be molecular isomers that differ by the relative position of the phenyl ring of the two {Fe(bztpen)[N(CN)2]}+ halves (cis and trans, respectively). Depending on the texture of the sample, 2 exhibits paramagnetic behavior or displays a very incomplete spin transition at atmospheric pressure. Complex 3 undergoes a gradual two-step spin transition with no observed hysteresis in the solid state. Both steps are approximately 100 K wide, centered at approximately 200 K and approximately 350 K, with a plateau of approximately 80 K separating the transitions. The crystal structure of 3 has been determined in steps of approximately 50 K between 400 K and 90 K, which provides a fascinating insight into the structural behavior of the complex and the nature of the spin transition. Order-disorder transitions occur in the dicyanamide bridge and the PF6(-) ions simultaneously, with the spin-crossover behavior suggesting that these transitions may trigger the two-step character. In solution, 2 and 3 display very similar continuous spin conversions. Electrochemical studies of 2 and 3 show that the voltammograms are typical of dimeric systems with electronic coupling of the metals through the dicyanamide ligand.     

Synthesis and Characterization of a Uranium(II) Monoarene Complex Supported by δ Backbonding

The low‐temperature (Ad,MeArO)₃mes}U] ( 1 ), with potassium spheres in the presence of a slight excess of 2.2.2‐cryptand, affords the quantitative conversion of 1 into the uranium(II) monoarene complex [K(2.2.2‐crypt)][((^Ad,MeArO)₃mes)U] ( 1‐K ). The molecular and electronic structure of 1‐K was established experimentally by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, variable‐temperature ¹H NMR and X‐band EPR spectroscopy, solution‐state and solid‐state magnetism studies, and optical absorption spectroscopy. The electronic structure of the complex was further investigated by DFT calculations. The complete body of evidence confirms that 1‐K is a uranium(II) monoarene complex with a 5f ⁴ electronic configuration supported by δ backbonding and that the nearly reversible, room‐temperature reduction observed for 1 at ?2.495 V vs. Fc/Fc⁺ is principally metal‐centered.     

Metal Complexes of New Mixed Oxaaza‐Macrocyclic Ligands. X‐Ray Crystal Structure of L1, L2, [SrL2(H2O)2](ClO4)2 and [BaL2(NCS)2(CH3CN)]·CH3CN

A new mixed oxaaza‐macrocyclic ligand, L¹, has been obtained by direct synthesis between 1,4‐bis‐(2′‐formylphenyl)‐1,4‐dioxabutane and the diamine 2,2′‐ethylenedioxydiethylamine. The dialkylated ligand L², bearing two nitrobenzyl pendant groups, has been prepared and transitional, post‐transitional and Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺, and Ba²⁺ metal complexes have been synthesized in order to elucidate the coordination preferences. The crystal structures of the ligands L¹ and L² and the complexes [SrL²(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₂ and [BaL²(NCS)₂(CH₃CN)]·CH₃CN have been determined by single crystal X‐ray diffraction. The structures reveal the presence of mononuclear endomacrocyclic complexes where the pendant arms radiate away from the ligand.     

Synthesis and Investigation of 1,3‐Bis(5‐nitraminotetrazol‐1‐yl)propan‐2‐ol and its Salts

1,3‐Bis(5‐nitraminotetrazol‐1‐yl)propan‐2‐ol ( 5 ) was prepared by the reaction of 5‐aminotetrazole and 1,3‐dichloroisopropanol under basic conditions. Obtained 1,3‐bis(5‐aminotetrazol‐1‐yl)propan‐2‐ol ( 3 ) was nitrated with 100 % nitric acid. In this context in situ hydrolysis of the nitrate ester was studied. Metal and nitrogen‐rich salts of the neutral compound 5 were prepared and analyzed. Crystal structures of three salts and the sensitivities toward impact, friction and electrostatic discharge were determined as well. The performance values of the compounds were calculated using the EXPLO5 program. A detailed comparison of the different salts is also enclosed.