Towards a fuller understanding of selected molecular compounds

This work is separated into two distinct sections. The first section deals with the analysis by variable temperature single crystal X-ray diffraction of crystalline molecular materials with novel physical properties. The second section details the electron density analysis of selected crystalline compounds using high resolution, low temperature single crystal X-ray diffraction. Chapter 1 provides introduction to X-ray diffraction outlining the theory this work is based on. Chapter 2 introduces the molecular material studies based on materials containing the bis(ethylenedithio)-tetrathiaftilvalene molecule. The aim of these studies was to achieve a greater understanding of the materials and the changes they undergo when exposed to variations in temperature whilst in the crystalline state. These structural changes observed are very minor but have dramatic effects on the electrical properties of the materials studied. It became apparent that the only way to form a full understanding of these materials was to be able to 'see' the electronic configuration of the materials, not just their gross structure. The field of electron density analysis by X- ray diffraction is now a well documented area. Chapter 4 provides an introduction to the field of electron density analysis. Diffraction experiments were conducted on systems of different complexity to investigate this field and these results are reported in Chapter 5. No electron density analyses have been conducted on the molecular materials studied in Chapter 3 as yet, due to the lack of crystals of suitable quality. It was also noted that to fully categorise the nature of the physical changes occurring in these structures that a diffractometer capable of analysing these samples throughout the temperature range of their physical phenomena was needed. An outline for the development of such a diffractometer is detailed in Chapter 6, 'future works'

Trigonal to pentagonal bipyramidal coordination switching in a Co(II) single-ion magnet

In molecular magnetism and single-ion magnets in particular, the observation of slow relaxation of the magnetization is intimately linked to the coordination environment of the metal center. Such systems typically have blocking temperatures well below that of liquid nitrogen, and therefore detailed magnetic characterization is usually carried out at very low temperatures. Despite this, there has been little advantage taken of ultralow temperature single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques that could provide a full understanding of the crystal structure in the same temperature regime where slow magnetic relaxation occurs. Here, we present a systematic variable temperature single crystal X-ray diffraction study of [CoII(NO3)3(H2O)(HDABCO)] (1) {DABCO = 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane} conducted between 295 to 4 K. A reversible and robust disorder-to-order, single-crystal to single-crystal phase transition was identified, which accompanied a switching of the coordination geometry around the central Co(II) from 5- to 7-coordinate below 140 K. The magnetic properties were investigated, revealing slow relaxation of the magnetization arising from a large easy-plane magnetic anisotropy (+D) in the Co(II) pentagonal bipyramidal environment observed at low temperatures. This study highlights the importance of conducting thorough low temperature crystallographic studies, particularly where magnetic characterization is carried out at such low temperatures

Two alternative approaches to access mixed hydride-amido zinc complexes : synthetic, structural and solution implications

Using bis(amide) Zn(HMDS)2 (HMDS = 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexamethyldisilazide) as a precursor, this study explores the synthesis of N-heterocyclic carbene stabilized mixed amido-hydride zinc complexes using two alternative hydride sources, namely dimethylamine borane (DMAB) and phenylsilane PhSiH3. Hydride-rich zinc cluster Zn4(HMDS)2H6·2IPr (1) (IPr = 1,3-bis(2,6-di-isopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene), which can be envisaged as a co-complex of IPr·ZnH2 and (HMDS)ZnH, is obtained when DMAB is employed, with the concomitant formation of heteroleptic bis(amido)borane [HB(NMe2)(HMDS)] and H2 evolution. NMR studies in d8-THF show that although the bulky carbene IPr does not bind to the zinc bis(amide), its presence in the reaction media is required in order to stabilise 1. Reactions using the slightly less sterically demanding NHC IXy (IXy = 1,3-bis-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene) led to the isolation and structural elucidation of the carbene adduct Zn(HMDS)2·IXy (2). Contrastingly, mixtures of equimolar amounts of PhSiH3 and the zinc bis(amide) (60 °C, 3 h, hexane) afforded monomeric heteroleptic hydride (HMDS)ZnH·IPr (3). NMR studies, including DOSY experiments, revealed that while the integrity of 3 is retained in polar d8-THF solutions, in lower polarity C6D6 it displays a much more complex solution behaviour, being in equilibrium with the homoleptic species ZnH2·IPr, Zn(HMDS)2 and IPr

Structural studies into the spin crossover behaviour of Fe(abpt)2(NCS)2 polymorphs B and D

The spin-crossover behaviour of [Fe(abpt)2(NCS)2] (abpt = 4-amino-3,5-bis(pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazole) polymorphs B and D has been studied using single crystal X-ray diffraction to monitor changes in structural features. High pressure single crystal measurements on polymorph B showed that it underwent a monoclinic P21/n (Z′ = 0.5) to triclinic P-1 (Z′ = 2 × 0.5) phase transition between 11.5 and 13.5 kbar, at which point it also starts to undergo a thermally inaccessible spin crossover. In polymorph D which also crystallises in the mononclinic space group P21/n (Z′ = 2 × 0.5) one of the unique Fe centres undergoes a thermal spin transition. It also displays light-induced excited spin-state trapping (LIESST), and a structure has been obtained at 30 K through continuous irradiation with a 670 nm 5 mW CW laser. In addition high pressure single crystal measurements on polymorph D showed a stepped pressure induced spin transition. At ∼9.6 kbar one of the unique Fe centres had undergone a spin transition and by ∼15 kbar both of the unique Fe centres are shown to be essentially low spin, a situation that is thermally inaccessible. Crystallographic data were collected for both polymorphs using variable temperature or high pressure single crystal X-ray diffraction to allow changes in cell parameters, bond lengths and distortion parameters to be monitored for the spin crossover or phase transition

Putting the Squeeze on Molecule-Based Magnets: Exploiting Pressure to Develop Magneto-Structural Correlations in Paramagnetic Coordination Compounds

The cornerstone of molecular magnetism is a detailed understanding of the relationship between structure and magnetic behaviour, i.e., the development of magneto-structural correlations. Traditionally, the synthetic chemist approaches this challenge by making multiple compounds that share a similar magnetic core but differ in peripheral ligation. Changes in the ligand framework induce changes in the bond angles and distances around the metal ions, which are manifested in changes to magnetic susceptibility and magnetisation data. This approach requires the synthesis of a series of different ligands and assumes that the chemical/electronic nature of the ligands and their coordination to the metal, the nature and number of counter ions and how they are positioned in the crystal lattice, and the molecular and crystallographic symmetry have no effect on the measured magnetic properties. In short, the assumption is that everything outwith the magnetic core is inconsequential, which is a huge oversimplification. The ideal scenario would be to have the same complex available in multiple structural conformations, and this is something that can be achieved through the application of external hydrostatic pressure, correlating structural changes observed through high-pressure single crystal X-ray crystallography with changes observed in high-pressure magnetometry, in tandem with high-pressure inelastic neutron scattering (INS), high-pressure electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, and high-pressure absorption/emission/Raman spectroscopy. In this review, which summarises our work in this area over the last 15 years, we show that the application of pressure to molecule-based magnets can (reversibly) (1) lead to changes in bond angles, distances, and Jahn–Teller orientations; (2) break and form bonds; (3) induce polymerisation/depolymerisation; (4) enforce multiple phase transitions; (5) instigate piezochromism; (6) change the magnitude and sign of pairwise exchange interactions and magnetic anisotropy, and (7) lead to significant increases in magnetic ordering temperatures

Ultra-low temperature structure determination of a Mn12 single-molecule magnet and the interplay between lattice solvent and structural disorder

We have determined the ultra-low temperature crystal structure of the archetypal single-molecule magnet (SMM) [Mn12O12(O2CMe)16(H2O)4]·4H2O·2MeCO2H (1) at 2 K, by using a combination of single-crystal X-ray and single-crystal neutron diffraction. This is the first structural study of any SMM in the same temperature regime where slow magnetic relaxation occurs. We reveal an additional hydrogen bonding interaction between the {Mn12} cluster and its solvent of crystallisation, which shows how the lattice solvent transmits disorder to the acetate ligands in the {Mn12} complex. Unusual quantum properties observed in 1 have long been attributed to disorder. Hence, we studied the desolvation products of 1, in order to understand precisely the influence of lattice solvent on the structure of the cluster. We present two new axially symmetric structures corresponding to different levels of desolvation of 1, [Mn12O12(O2CMe)16(H2O)4]·4H2O (2) and [Mn12O12(O2CMe)16(H2O)4] (3). In 2, removal of acetic acid of crystallisation largely resolves positional disorder in the affected acetate ligands, whereas removal of lattice water molecules further resolves the acetate ligand disorder in 3. Due to the absence of acetic acid of crystallisation, both 2 and 3 have true, unbroken S4 symmetry, showing for the first time that it is possible to prepare fully axial Mn12–acetate analogues from 1, via single-crystal to single-crystal transformations

Utilising sodium-mediated ferration for regioselective functionalisation of fluoroarenes via C-H and C-F bond activations

Pairing iron bis(amide) Fe(HMDS)2 with Na(HMDS) to form new sodium ferrate base [(dioxane)0.5·NaFe(HMDS)3] (1) enables regioselective mono and di-ferration (via direct Fe-H exchange) of a wide range of fluoroaromatic substrates under mild reaction conditions. Trapping of several ferrated intermediates has provided key insight into how synchronised Na/Fe cooperation operates in these transformations. Furthermore using excess 1 at 80oC switches on a remarkable cascade process inducing the collective 2-fold C-H/3-fold C-F bond activations, where each C-H bond is transformed to a C-Fe bond whereas each C-F bond is transformed into a C-N bond