Exploring weak intermolecular interactions in thiocyanate-bonded Zn(ii) and Cd(ii) complexes with methylimidazole: crystal structures, Hirshfeld surface analysis and luminescence properties

Thermodynamics of spin crossover in a bis(terpyridine) cobalt(II) complex featuring a thioether functionality

In this contribution, a terpyridine-based ligand bearing a thioether functionality is used to prepare a new cobalt(II) spin crossover complex: [Co(TerpyPhSMe)2](PF6)2 (1), where TerpyPhSMe is 4'-(4-methylthiophenyl)-2,2':6',2''-terpyridine. Its structure, determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction, reveals a mer coordination of the tridentate terpyridine ligands, leading to a tetragonally compressed octahedron. Intermolecular interactions in the crystal lattice freeze the complex in the high spin state in the solid state at all temperatures, as indicated by magnetometry and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectra. When dissolved in acetonitrile, however, temperature dependent electronic, 1H-NMR and EPR spectra highlight an entropy-driven spin crossover transition, whose thermodynamics parameters have been determined. This is the first report of a cobalt(II) SCO complex featuring a thioether group, allowing its implementation in chemically grown bistable monolayers and may open important perspectives for the use of such systems in molecular spintronics.

The Surface of Colloidal Metal-Organic Framework Nanoparticles Revealed by Vibrational Sum Frequency Scattering Spectroscopy

Solvation shells strongly influence the interfacial chemistry of colloidal systems, from the activity of proteins to the colloidal stability and catalysis of nanoparticles. Despite their fundamental and practical importance, solvation shells have remained largely undetected by spectroscopy. Furthermore, their ability to assemble at complex but realistic interfaces with heterogeneous and rough surfaces remains an open question. Here, we apply vibrational sum frequency scattering spectroscopy (VSFSS), an interface-specific technique, to colloidal nanocrystals with porous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as a case study. Due to the porous nature of the solvent-particle boundary, MOF particles challenge conventional models of colloidal and interfacial chemistry. Their multiweek colloidal stability in the absence of conventional surface ligands suggests that stability may arise in part from solvation forces. Spectra of colloidally stable Zn(2-methylimidazolate)2 (ZIF-8) in polar solvents indicate the presence of ordered solvation shells, solvent-metal binding, and spontaneous ordering of organic bridging linkers within the MOF. These findings help explain the unexpected colloidal stability of MOF colloids, while providing a roadmap for applying VSFSS to wide-ranging colloidal nanocrystals in general.

Quality-dependent performance of hydrophobic ZIF-67 upon high-pressure water intrusion-extrusion process

Zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF) microporous materials have already been employed in many fields of energetic and environmental interest since the last decade. The commercial scale production of some of these materials makes them more accessible for their implementation in industrial processes; however, their massive synthesis may entail modifications to the preparation protocols, which may result in a loss in the optimization of this process and a drop in the material's quality. This fact may have implications for the performance of these materials during their lifetime, especially when they are used in applications such as energy dissipation, in which they are subjected to several operating cycles under high pressures. This study focuses on ZIF-67, a material that has demonstrated in the past its ability to dissipate energy through the water intrusion-extrusion process under high pressure. Two ZIF-67 samples were synthesized using different protocols, and 2 batches of different qualities (labelled as high quality (HQ) and low quality (LQ)) were obtained and analysed by water porosimetry to study their performance in the intrusion-extrusion process. Unexpectedly, minor structural differences, which are typically neglected especially under production conditions, had a dramatic effect on their performance. The results presented in this study reiterate the importance of quality control with respect to reproducibility of experimental results. In a broader perspective, they are critical to the technology transfer from academia to industry.

Valence tautomerism in a cobalt-dioxolene complex containing an imidazolic ancillary ligand

This work reports the synthesis, structural, spectroscopic and magnetic investigation of two complexes, [Co(bmimapy)(3,5-DTBCat)]PF₆·H₂O (1) and [Co(bmimapy)(TCCat)]PF₆·H₂O (2), where bmimapy is an imidazolic tetradentate ancillary ligand and 3,5-DTBCat and TCCat are the 3,5-di-tert-butyl-catecholate and tetrachlorocatecholate anions, respectively. Their structures have been elucidated using single crystal X-ray diffraction, showing a pseudo-octahedral cobalt ion bound to a chelating dioxolene ligand and the ancillary bmimapy ligand in a folded conformation. Magnetometry displayed an entropy-driven, incomplete, Valence Tautomeric (VT) process for 1 in the 300-380 K temperature range, while 2 displayed a temperature independent, diamagnetic low-spin cobalt(iii)-catecholate charge distribution. This behaviour was interpreted on the basis of the cyclic voltammetric analysis, allowing the estimation of the free energy difference associated with the VT interconversion of +8 and +96 kJ mol^-1 for 1 and 2, respectively. A DFT analysis of this free energy difference highlighted the ability of the methyl-imidazole pendant arm of bmimapy favouring the onset of the VT phenomenon. This work introduces the imidazolic bmimapy ligand to the scientific community working in the field of valence tautomerism, increasing the library of ancillary ligands to prepare temperature switchable molecular magnetic materials.

Zn(II) halide coordination compounds with imidazole and 2-methylimidazole. Structural and computational characterization of intermolecular interactions and disorder

Novel zinc(II) coordination compounds with imidazole (Im) and 2-methylimidazole (2-MeIm) were prepared and characterized: [ZnX₂(Im)₂] (X = Cl (1a), Br (1b), I (1c)) and [ZnX₂(2-MeIm)₂] (X = Cl (2a), Br (2b), I (2c)). Coordination compounds 1a–c were prepared mechanochemically by neat grinding while 2a–c were prepared by solution synthesis. The complexes were characterized by FT-IR and NMR spectroscopy and by powder X-ray diffraction. Crystal and molecular structures were determined by the single crystal X-ray diffraction. The characteristic of all structures is a distorted tetrahedral coordination of zinc consisting of two halide atoms and two nitrogen atoms from the imidazole (or 2-methylimidazole) ligand. Molecules in 1a–c are interconnected by hydrogen bonds into 3D structures. Structures of 1b and 1c were found to have similar unit cells and similar crystal packing and hydrogen bonding. Introduction of the 2-methylimidazole substituent introduced disorder in the crystal structures of 2a–c. Because of the very small size of the crystals data were collected by synchrotron radiation. For the disordered 2a,2b and 2c fixed geometry was used in refining of the structures. Crystal structures of 2a–c are characterized by chains of molecules connected by hydrogen bonds of the type N–H⋅⋅⋅X, with weak π⋅⋅⋅π and van der Waals interactions between the chains. The QTAIM, RDG and NCI computational analysis of 1a and 2a–c confirmed the presence of weak attractive intermolecular interactions that can be attributed to weak N–H⋅⋅⋅X and van der Waals interactions.

Novel 'main-part' isostructuralism in metal complexes with 1-methylimidazole: crystal structures, energy calculations and magnetic properties

Two new transition metal complexes with 1-methylimidazole (1-MeIm) and azide as ligands, namely, [Co(1-MeIm)₄(N₃)₂] (1) and [Ni(1-MeIm)₄(N₃)₂] (2), have been synthesized and characterized by IR, Raman, UV-Vis and XPS spectroscopy. Their crystal structures were solved by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The supramolecular self-assembly of the two complexes is governed by non-classical C-H⋯N hydrogen bonds and C-H⋯π interactions. Lattice energies and intermolecular interaction energies for various molecular pairs are quantified using the PIXEL method. DFT computational studies to assess the binding energy through modern tools like non-covalent interaction (NCI plots) analysis and reduced density gradient (RDG) analysis have also been carried out. A detailed analysis of geometric descriptors revealed the existence of quasi-isostructural pairs or 'main-part' isostructuralism in a series formed by 1, 2, and a related cadmium complex, being more evident in the 1/2 pair. DFT studies using theoretical models have been used to disclose the relative importance of the H-bond and C-H⋯π noncovalent interactions. Magnetic measurements for compound 1 show weak ferrimagnetic coupling between adjacent M(II) centers, mediated by H-bonding and C-H⋯π non-covalent interactions.

Mechanism of action of nitrification inhibitors based on dimethylpyrazole: A matter of chelation

In agriculture, the applied nitrogen (N) can be lost in the environment in different forms because of microbial transformations. It is of special concern the nitrate (NO₃^-) leaching and the nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions, due to their negative environmental impacts. Nitrification inhibitors (NIs) based on dimethylpyrazole (DMP) are applied worldwide in order to reduce N losses. These compounds delay ammonium (NH₄⁺) oxidation by inhibiting ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) growth. However, their mechanism of action has not been demonstrated, which represent an important lack of knowledge to use them correctly. In this work, through chemical and biological analysis, we unveil the mechanism of action of the commonly applied 3,4-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole dihydrogen phosphate (DMPP) and the new DMP-based NI, 2-(3,4-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-succinic acid (DMPSA). Our results show that DMP and DMPSA form complexes with copper (Cu²⁺) cations, an indispensable cofactor in the nitrification pathway. Three coordination compounds namely [Cu(DMP)₄Cl₂] (CuDMP1), [Cu(DMP)₄SO₄]_n (CuDMP2) and [Cu(DMPSA)₂]·H₂O (CuDMPSA) have been synthesized and chemical and structurally characterized. The CuDMPSA complex is more stable than those containing DMP ligands; however, both NIs show the same nitrification inhibition efficiency in soils with different Cu contents, suggesting that the active specie in both cases is DMP. Our soil experiment reveals that the usual application dose is enough to inhibit nitrification within the range of Cu and Zn contents present in agricultural soils, although their effects vary depending on the content of these elements. As a result of AOB inhibition by these NIs, N₂O-reducing bacteria seem to be beneficed in Cu-limited soils due to a reduction in the competence. This opens up the possibility to induce N₂O reduction to N₂ through Cu fertilization. On the other hand, when fertilizing with micronutrients such as Cu and Zn, the use of NIs could be beneficial to counteract the increase of nitrification derived from their application.

Post-synthetic modification of supramolecular assemblies of β-diketonato Cu(ii) complexes: comparing and contrasting the molecular topology by crystal structure and quantum computational studies

Solvent-induced structural transformations on the metal coordination sphere in homoleptic (1 and 2) and heteroleptic (3 and 4) Cu(ii) complexes were analyzed and investigated by crystallographic and quantum computational studies.

Intermolecular interactions in antipyrine-like derivatives 2-halo-N-(1,5-dimethyl-3-oxo-2-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)benzamides: X-ray structure, Hirshfeld surface analysis and DFT calculations

Based on experimental and computational data, a complex network of intermolecular interactions has been rationalized for antipyrine compounds.

Solvent induced mononuclear and dinuclear mixed ligand Cu(ii) complex: structural diversity, supramolecular packing polymorphism and molecular docking studies

Phenolate bridged dinuclear and solvent induced mononuclear supramolecular isomers of Cu(ii) complex have been reported to explore the structural diversity and their antibacterial activity supported by molecular docking studies.

Five complexes based on a new racemic tetraoxaspiro ligand: correlation of potential coordination preferences with the structure, magnetic properties and luminescence properties

A new ligand, rac-(R,S)-3,9-bis(pyridin-3-yl)-2,4,8,10-tetraoxaspiro[5.5]undecane ((R,S)-bptu), is synthesized, and five novel complexes, namely, {[Cu[(R,S)-bptu]Cl2]·0.5NMP}n (1), {[Zn[(R,S)-bptu]Cl2]·CH3CN}n (2), {Cd2[(R,S)-bptu]2Cl4(NMP)2}n (3), {[Cd[(R,S)-bptu]2Cl2]·2CH3CN}n (4), and {Cd3[(R,S)-bptu]2Cl6(DMF)2}n (5), (NMP = N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, DMF = N,N-dimethylformamide), are obtained via a layered diffusional reaction. (R,S)-bptu and complexes 1-5 are characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, element analyses, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analyses (TGA). Complexes 1-3 show three different 1D structures: 1 is a mesomeric looped chain, 2 is a racemic helix compound, and 3 is a mesomeric zigzag chain, while 4 and 5 are two different mesomeric 2D structures, of which 4 is a 2D wave-like layer and 5 is a 2D cellular layer. Structural diversity indicates that the coordination preferences (cis- and trans-configurations) of (R,S)-bptu play a leading role in the self-assembly of complexes: cis-bptu tends to form one-dimensional structures 1-3, while trans-bptu is easier to construct higher dimensional structures 4-5. Secondly, the different transition metal atom M(ii) adopts diverse geometry in 1-5: Cu(ii) adopts square pyramidal geometry in 1, Zn(ii) employs a tetrahedron configuration in 2, and especially in 3-5, Cd(ii) displays a trigonal bipyramidal configuration, cis-cis-trans, cis and trans octahedral configuration. Finally, the different solvent system, the coordinated/free solvent, and the secondary building units (SBUs) affect the diversification of the structure. A variable temperature magnetic susceptibility investigation manifests that antiferromagnetic interactions exist between the neighbouring metal ions in 1. Furthermore, the luminescence properties of 2-5 are investigated in the solid state at room temperature, and 4 shows highly selective and sensitive sensing for Fe3+ ions.

Crystal melting and glass formation in copper thiocyanate based coordination polymers

The melting point of Cu⁺ coordination polymer crystals is controlled by ligands, and the reversible crystal-to-glass state is observed.