CrystEngComm Blog

This CrystEngComm Hot article describes the “liquid-assisted” solid-state synthesis of ruthenium^III/cobalt^III-Hbiim complexes.

The authors use a mechanochemical route and investigate the crystallisation mechanism.

They were particularly surprised to discover that ‘the phase obtained from the solid-state reaction may be different from that prepared from solution in some cases, even though they crystallize from an identical solution.’

Read the full paper to find out more about the surprising phase change observed…

Liquid-assisted solid-state reaction: assembly of (6,3) and (10,3) hydrogen-bonded networks based on [M(Hbiim)3] by oxidation of [M(H2biim)3]2+ complexes in the presence of acetate anions
Yu-Hui Tan, Li-Fei Yang, Man-Li Cao, Jin-Ji Wu and Bao-Hui Ye
CrystEngComm, 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C1CE00009H, Paper

READ FOR FREE until 16th April

Zhien Lin and collegues from Sichuan University, China have developed a promising open-framework beryllium phosphite in this CrystEngComm Hot article.

The team made (C₂H₈N)₂[Be₃(HPO₃)₄], referred to as BeHPO-1, which was found to have a low density, integrating large 16-ring channels, and an interrupted 3,4-connected framework, and has potential for use in catalysis, separation, and ion-exchange processes.

BeHPO3-1 has a very low-density framework, which is better than other open-framework metal phosphates, and similiar to mesoporous germanate SU-M.

The authors were particularly excited to discover both left- and right-handed helical channels in the structure and hope that this material will be ‘a step forward toward the rational construction of new open-framework inorganic solids with low densities’

Read the full article to find out more about this beryllium-containing open framework…

(C2H8N)2[Be3(HPO3)4]: a low-density beryllium phosphite with large 16-membered rings and helical channels
Xiuchao Luo, Daibing Luo, Maochu Gong, Yaoqiang Chen and Zhien Lin
CrystEngComm, 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C1CE05117B, Communication

FREE TO READ until 4th April

This CrystEngComm Hot article details the preparation of a new pentanuclear heterotrimetallic complex [Cu₂CoNi₂(Me₂Ea)₆Cl₄] with an unusual heterotrimetallic structure, like that of a butterfly.

This work is part of the authors investigation into the coordination chemistry of  complexes containg copper, cobalt and nickel.

Read the full article to find out more about the ‘butterfly-like’ structure…

Direct synthesis and crystal structure of a new pentanuclear heterotrimetallic Cu/Co/Ni complex with 2-(dimethylamino)ethanol. Discussion of possible “butterfly-like” molecular structure types
Dmytro S. Nesterov, Claudia Graiff, Antonio Tiripicchio and Armando J. L. Pombeiro
CrystEngComm, 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C1CE05049D, Paper

FREE TO READ until 8th April

Using nonlinear optical crystals for second harmonic generators is an exciting field, and in this CrystEngComm Hot article, a high quality single crystal of K₃B₆O₁₀Br has been grown using a topseeded solution growth method. The crystal shows excellent second harmonic generation properties, three times better than KH₂PO₄

This work is particularly significant as this is the first time a single crystal of this type has been synthesised that is large enough to  demonstrate NLO properties.

Find out more by reading the full paper…

Crystal growth and optical properties of a noncentrosymmetric haloid borate, K3B6O10Br
Min Zhang, Shi-Lie Pan, Xiao-Yun Fan, Zhong-Xiang Zhou, Kenneth R. Poeppelmeier and Yun Yang
CrystEngComm, 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0CE00725K, Paper

FREE TO READ until 1st April

In this CrystEngComm Hot article, Jon Zubieta and colleagues at Syracuse University, review the solid state coordination chemistry of three coordination polymers (1,2,4-triazole, 1,2,4-triazolate and 4-pyridyltetrazolate).

This study on the recent literature gives an excellent insight into the latest developments in this field, including important structural trends and stucture/property correlations.

Read the full article for FREE to find out more…

Solid state coordination chemistry of metal-1,2,4-triazolates and the related metal-4-pyridyltetrazolates
Wayne Ouellette, Stephanie Jones and Jon Zubieta
CrystEngComm, 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0CE00919A, Highlight

FREE to read until 1st April

Robert W. Lancaster and colleagues from University College London, have investigated the phenomenon of ‘disappearing polymorphs’, using a 50 year old progesterone sample obtained from the University of Innsbruck archive.

Disappearing polymorphs are an unusual occurance, where a form that was previously considered to be stable and easy to make, suddenly becomes very difficult to obtain. The reasons for this are poorly understood, and here Lancaster looks into the case of the hormone progesterone, where the modern version suffers from a ‘disappearing polymorph’, which can be found in the 50 year old archived sample.

Read the full article for FREE to find out more.

Fifty-year old samples of progesterone demonstrate the complex role of synthetic impurities in stabilizing a metastable polymorph
Robert W. Lancaster, Lisa D. Harris and David Pearson
CrystEngComm, 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0CE00858C, Communication

In this CrystEngComm Hot article, Sunil Verma and co-workers have produced a large single crystal of lithium pnitrophenolate trihydrate, which can be used as a non-linear optical material.

Non-linear optical materials can be used in lasers, and organic NLO materials are particularly desirable because they have higher non-linearity and better laser damage resistance when compared to inorganic materials.

This article is significant because the authors have managed to grow a large size crystal, which is normally difficult due to the weakness of the van der Waals and hydrogen bonds holding the molecules together.

Read the full article to find out more about the slow cooling solution growth method used…

Solubility, crystal growth, morphology, crystalline perfection and optical homogeneity of lithium p-nitrophenolate trihydrate, a semiorganic NLO crystal
S. Dinakaran, Sunil Verma and S. Jerome Das
CrystEngComm, 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0CE00663G, Paper

READ FOR FREE until 3rd March 2011