Poly[(2,2'-bipyridine)tetrakis(imidazolato)diiron(II)]: structural and spin-state phase transitions and low-temperature magnetic ordering in a unique 2-dimensional material

Poly[(2,2'-bipyridine)tetrakis(imidazolato)diiron(II)] was synthesized by the reaction of ferrocene with imidazole in an excess of 2,2'- bipyridine in a Carius tube at 130 degrees C. Dc magnetic susceptibility studies at an applied field of 1000 G reveal that on cooling from room temperature, the material undergoes two structural phase transitions designated alpha --> beta and beta --> gamma at 151 and 133 K, respectively. On warming, the gamma --> beta and beta --> alpha transitions are observed at 137 and 151 K, respectively; a 4 K thermal hysteresis clearly detectable in the lower temperature beta <--> gamma transition. These structural phase transitions have also been studied by detailed, variable-temperature, ac susceptibility and M?ssbauer spectroscopy techniques. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies done at 294, 143, and 113 K reveal 2, 12, and 6 unique iron centers in the alpha-, beta-, and gamma-forms, respectively. All three forms have the same basic structure involving 2D extended double layer sheets (bilayers) of alternating tetrahedral and octahedral irons singly bridged by imidazolate ligands, with the octahedral centers additionally coordinated by 2,2'-bipyridine ligands that occupy positions between the sheets. Magnetic susceptibility and bond length data reveal that in the gamma-phase one in three six-coordinate sites corresponds to spin singlet ground-state iron(II); i.e., the overall alpha --> gamma process involves a spin-crossover transition such that at least 1/6 of the iron sites in the gamma-phase correspond to S = 0. This is supported by the low-temperature M?ssbauer spectra of the gamma-phase, which reveal the simultaneous presence of both S = 2 and S = 0 iron(II) centers. The compound magnetically orders, with a resultant small remnant magnetization, at low temperatures. The magnetic phase transition, studied by a combination of dc and ac susceptibility and M?ssbauer techniques, occurs at T(c) approximately 6.5 K.     

Trends in 19F-19F and 29Si-19F coupling constants in organosilicon derivatives containing SiF2 and Si2F4 units

Consideration of ¹⁹F-¹⁹F and ²⁹Si-¹⁹F coupling constants in a series of organosilicon derivatives containing SiF₂ and Si₂F₄ units reveals a number of trends which are useful for structural and stereochemical assignments. For example the vicinal ¹⁹F-¹⁹F coupling constants in a number of CSiF₂SiF₂C- derivatives (including straight chain compounds, disilacyclobutanes and disilacyclohexanes) show an apparent linear dependence on dihedral angle, varying in magnitude from near zero for small values of φ up to ca. 19 Hz for φ ～ 180°. This is particularly useful for stereochemical assignments [1,2]. In addition ²⁹Si-¹⁹F coupling constants appear to fall in quite distinct ranges (¹J_SiF > 300 Hz, 29 Hz < ²J_SiF < 55 Hz, ³J_SiF < 10 Hz). This is quite useful for structural assignments [1,6]. Reaction of SiF₂ with 1,3-cyclohexadiene gives two new silicon fluorine compounds: a disilabicyclo[2,2,2]octene and an HSi₂F₅-substituted cyclohexadiene.     

Molecular dynamics studies of melting and solid-state transitions of ammonium nitrate

Molecular dynamics simulations are used to calculate the melting point and some aspects of high-temperature solid-state phase transitions of ammonium nitrate (AN). The force field used in the simulations is that developed by Sorescu and Thompson [J. Phys. Chem. A 105, 720 (2001)] to describe the solid-state properties of the low-temperature phase-V AN. Simulations at various temperatures were performed with this force field for a 4 x 4 x 5 supercell of phase-II AN. The melting point of AN was determined from calculations on this supercell with voids introduced in the solid structure to eliminate superheating effects. The melting temperature was determined by calculating the density and the nitrogen-nitrogen radial distribution functions as functions of temperature. The melting point was predicted to be in the range 445 +/- 10 K, in excellent agreement with the experimental value of 442 K. The computed temperature dependences of the density, diffusion, and viscosity coefficient for the liquid are in good agreement with experiment. Structural changes in the perfect crystal at various temperatures were also investigated. The ammonium ions in the phase-II structure are rotationally disordered at 400 K. At higher temperatures, beginning at 530 K, the nitrate ions are essentially rotationally unhindered. The density and radial distribution functions in this temperature range show that the AN solid is superheated. The rotational disorder is qualitatively similar to that observed in the experimental phase-II to phase-I solid-state transition.