A three-dimensional adamantane-like nanoscopic cage built from four iodide-bridged triangular Mo3S7 cluster units

Chemical oxidation of a Mo3S7 cluster featuring catecholate ligands, namely [Mo3S7(Cl4cat)3]2 (Cl4cat = tetrachlorocatecholate), allows the isolation of a unique nanoscopic molecular cage made of four iodide-bridged Mo3S7 clusters as the kinetically favoured produc

Chemistry of some ruthenium phenolates: synthesis, structure and redox properties

Reaction of three phenolate ligands, viz. 2,4,6-tribromophenol (HL1, where H stands for the phenolic proton), 2-nitrophenol (HL2) and 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (HL3O), with [Ru(PPh3)3Cl2] in a 2¦1 molar ratio in the presence of a base gives complexes of type [Ru(PPh3)2(L)2] (L=L1, L2 and L3). The 2,4,6-tribromophenolate ligand (L1) binds to ruthenium as a bidentate O,Br-donor, while the 2-nitrophenolate ligand (L2) acts as a bidentate O,O-donor. 2,4,6-Trinitrophenol (HL3O) undergoes oxygen loss from one nitro group at the ortho position and coordinates to ruthenium in the 2-nitroso-4,6-dinitrophenolate (L3) form through the nitroso nitrogen and phenolate oxygen. The structures of the [Ru(PPh3)2(L1)2] and [Ru(PPh3)2(L3)2] complexes have been solved by X-ray crystallography. In [Ru(PPh3)2(L1)2] the coordination sphere around ruthenium is O2P2Br2 with a trans-cis-cis disposition of the three sets of donor atoms, respectively. In [Ru(PPh3)2(L3)2] ruthenium has a N2O2P2 coordination sphere with a cis-cis-trans arrangement of the three sets of donor atoms, respectively. The [Ru(PPh3)2(L)2] complexes are diamagnetic (low-spin d6, S=0) and in acetonitrile solution show intense MLCT transitions in the visible region. Cyclic voltammetry on the [Ru(PPh3)2(L)2] complexes shows a reversible ruthenium(II)-ruthenium(III) oxidation within 0.63-0.71 V versus SCE followed by an irreversible ruthenium(III)-ruthenium(IV) oxidation near 1.5 V versus SCE

Neocuproine/nitrato complexes of Ni(II). Neutral and cationic species including salts with TCNQ: Preparation, chemical and spectroscopic properties and comparative structural chemistry

The cationic complex [Ni(neoc)2(NO3)]+ with NO3− (1), TCNQ− (3), or (TCNQ-TCNQ)2− (4) as counterions, and the neutral complex [Ni(neoc)([NO3]−-κ1O)([NO3]−-κ2O,O´)(H2O)] (2) can be obtained from different reactions involving Ni(II), neoc, NO3− and TCNQ. The molecular and extended crystal structure of compound 2, which displays two different coordination modes for NO3−, are compared to those of the analogous Mn, Fe and Co compounds, revealing a correlation between the coordination geometry of the nominally monodentate nitrato ligand and the covalent radius of the central metal atom. Despite the differences in molecular geometry, the extended structures of the Ni (2) and Mn compounds are similar to each other but different from those of the Fe and Co complexes, which are similar to each other. Complex 1 was further used in the preparation of a new heterospin compound [Ni(neoc)2(NO3)](TCNQ) (3), having an ionic structure with the same complex cation present in 1, accompanied by centrosymmetric anion-radicals (ARs) TCNQ•−. Through a different preparation process, complex 4, with the formula [Ni(neoc)2(NO3)]2(TCNQ-TCNQ), containing the same complex cation as in complexes 1 and 3, but now with the centrosymmetric σ-dimerized dianion (TCNQ-TCNQ)2− has been obtained. The influence of NO3−, TCNQ•− and TCNQ-TCNQ2− anions on the crystal structure of the cation [Ni(neoc)2(NO3)]+ in the compounds has been studied. All of the complexes reported here have supramolecular structures governed by hydrogen bonding systems, adding to their stability

Synthesis of 1,2-diaminotruxinic d-cyclobutanes by BF₃-controlled [2 + 2]-photocycloaddition of 5(4<i>H</i>)-oxazolones and stereoselective expansion of d-cyclobutanes to give highly substituted pyrrolidine-2,5-dicarboxylates

The irradiation of (Z)-4-arylidene-5(4H)-oxazolones 1a–1u with blue light (465 nm) in the presence of the photosensitizer [Ru(bpy)3](BF4)2 (2.5 mol%) and the Lewis acid BF3·OEt2 (2 equiv.) in deoxygenated methanol at room temperature affords the corresponding 1,2-diaminotruxinic cyclobutane bis-amino esters 2a–2u stereoselectively as the δ-isomer. Characterization of cyclobutanes 2 shows that the photocycloaddition takes place by the coupling of two Z-oxazolones in a head-to-head 1,2-anti way. This change in the orientation of the coupling is promoted by O- or/and N-bonding of the BF3 additive. The δ-cyclobutanes 2 undergo a ring expansion when heated in methanol in the presence of NaOMe (1/1 molar ratio) to give densely substituted pyrrolidine-2,5-dicarboxylates 3 in a regio- and stereoselective way. The mechanism of the cyclobutane-to-pyrrolidine ring expansion has been elucidated using DFT methods

Chemistry of a Nitrosyl Ligand ¿:¿-Bridging a Ditungsten Center: rearrangement and N–O Bond cleavage reactions

The novel nitrosyl-bridged complex [W2Cp2(μ-PtBu2)(μ-κ:η-NO)(CO)(NO)](BAr4) [Ar = 3,5-C6H3(CF3)2] was prepared in a multistep procedure starting from the hydride [W2Cp2(μ-H)(μ-PtBu2)(CO)4] and involving the new complexes [W2Cp2(μ-PtBu2)(CO)4](BF4), [W2Cp2(μ-PtBu2)(CO)2(NO)2](BAr4), and [W2(μ-κ:η5-C5H4)Cp(μ-PtBu2)(CO)(NO)2] as intermediates, which follow from reactions with HBF4·OEt2, NO, and Me3NO·2H2O, respectively. The nitrosyl-bridged cation easily added chloride upon reaction with [N(PPh3)2]Cl, with concomitant NO rearrangement into the terminal coordination mode, to give [W2ClCp2(μ-PtBu2)(CO)(NO)2], and underwent N–O and W–W bond cleavages upon the addition of CNtBu to give the mononuclear phosphinoimido complex [WCp(NPtBu2)(CNtBu)2](BAr4). Another N–O bond cleavage was induced upon photochemical decarbonylation at 243 K, which gave the oxo- and phosphinito-bridged nitrido complex [W2Cp2(N)(μ-O)(μ-OPtBu2)(NO)](BAr4), likely resulting from a N–O bond cleavage step following decarbonylation

What is a crystal to the new chemical crystallographer, after that first, automated structure analysis?

This educational review postulates the importance of maintaining an adequate level of crystallographic education among structure-dependent scientists whose interests are not primarily in crystallography, at a time when automation and validation have made it possible to obtain high-quality structure analyses in many cases with a minimum of crystallographic background. The topics addressed are intended to form a second round of crystallographic education for a novice user whose first round involved hands-on experience with structure solution and an introduction to elementary concepts. The specific topics, chosen for their relevance as basic knowledge and their lack of emphasis in many formal treatments, are (1) crystallographic reference frames and the utility of the reciprocal cell in geometrical calculations; (2) the relationship between the two concepts that constitute our model of the crystal, namely the unit cell and the lattice; (3) the manner in which an atom is represented in concept and in practice; (4) the importance of interleaved symmetry elements required by the presence of additional symmetry on a lattice; (5) the harnessing of the natural properties of the crystalline state for the potential manipulation of properties of synthetic crystals; and (6) useful terminology for navigating a crystal structure.Support was provided by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (Spain, Grant PGC2018–093451-B-I00), the European Union Regional Development Fund, FEDER, and the Diputación General de Aragón, Project M4, E11_20R.Peer reviewe

An introduction to the special issue on interplay of crystallography, spectroscopy and theoretical methods for solving chemical problems

Special issue on Interplay of crystallography, spectroscopy and theoretical methods for solving chemical problems.-- Editorial.Peer Reviewe

Metal-metal bonded compounds and metal clusters

Preface.Peer Reviewe

Crystalline transformers: more within than meets the eye

Studies of phase transitions in molecular crystals are becoming more commonplace as improvements in instrumentation and technique enable more efficient exploration of the behavior of samples with varying external conditions, usually temperature. This scientific commentary provides contextual background on this type of study, with reference to an article on transformations in a ferrocenyl-acetylide-gold(I) complex [Makal (2018). Acta Cryst. B74, 427-435].The following funding is acknowledged: Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (Spain) (grant No. MAT2015-68200-C2-1-P); Diputación General de Aragón (grant No. E11_17R).Peer reviewe