CrystEngComm Blog

We have updated our reviewer recommended ‘HOT articles’ for 2021.

We update our HOT articles collection quarterly and have made the selected articles free to access until 24 May 2021! This collection represents the top 10% of research published in CrystEngComm between January – March 2021.

Make the most of the free to access period by browsing the collection today!

We have updated our reviewer recommend ‘HOT articles’ for 2020.

We update our HOT articles collection quarterly and have made the selected articles free to access until 18 February 2021! This collection represents the top 10% of research published in CrystEngComm between October – December 2020.

Make the most of the free to access period by browsing the collection today!

We have updated our reviewer recommend ‘HOT articles’ for 2020.

We update our HOT articles collection quarterly and have made the selected articles free to access until 21 August 2020! This collection represents the top 10% of research published in CrystEngComm between April – June 2020.

Make the most of the free to access period by browsing the collection today!

We have updated our reviewer recommend ‘HOT articles’ for 2020.

We update our HOT articles collection quarterly and have made the selected articles free to access until 22 May 2020! This collection represents the top 10% of research published in CrystEngComm between January – March 2020.

Make the most of the free to access period by browsing the collection today!

We have updated our reviewer recommend ‘HOT articles’ for 2019.

We update our HOT articles collection quarterly and have made the selected articles free to access until 11 March 2020! This collection represents the top 10% of research published in CrystEngComm between October – December 2019.

Make the most of the free to access period by browsing the collection today!

A new metal-organic-framework (MOF) based sensor for the explosive, trinitrophenol (TNP or picric acid), is reported by scientists at the Indian Institute of Technology,  Guwahati, India.

MOFs have been studied for a variety of potential uses, including as sensors.  The size and electronic properties of their pores can make MOFs sensitive to particular compounds and these features can be readily modified.  In their paper,  Mostakim SK and Shyam Biswas describe a MOF formed from Zr(IV) and the ligand 4,4′-(benzoijc]ij1,2,5]thiadiazole-4,7-diyl)dibenzoic acid (H₂BTDB).  The as-synthesised material, [Zr₆O₄(OH)₄(BTDB)₆]·8H₂O·6DMF, is activated by stirring with methanol and heating under vacuum, removing water and DMF from the pores. This activated MOF is strongly luminescent both in the solid state and in organic solvents.

Luminescence is quenched in the presence of TNP, an explosive commonly used in the production of fireworks, landmines and matches.  Other uses include: as an antiseptic and to treat burns, in metallurgy and in the dyeing industry. Shock or friction can cause dry TNP to explode so it is usually stored wet for safety reasons.   TNP is also mutagenic and/or carcinogenic and its presence in the environment as a result of industry is problematic.  Current detection methods for TNP and other related explosive compounds have low selectivity and are not portable.

Schematic representation of the selective sensing of TNP

This new MOF not only allows detection of TNP at levels as low as 1.63 × 10−6 M, but is also selective for TNP in the presence of other similar compounds such as trinitrotoluene (TNT). The MOF is also photostable and reusable and therefore has potential for use as a portable TNP sensor in practical situations. The authors are now investigating other potential sensors based on luminescent MOFs using related ligands.

For more information, see the full paper here:

A thiadiazole-functionalized Zr(IV)-based metal–organic framework as a highly fluorescent probe for the selective detection of picric acid
Mostakim SK and Shyam Biswas
CrystEngComm, 2016, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C6CE00421K

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Gwenda Kyd has a PhD in metallocarborane chemistry from the University of Edinburgh. Other research work includes the spectroscopic study of the structure of glasses and organometallic electron-transfer reactions and the preparation of new inorganic phosphors. She has recently published a book on chemicals from plants.

December 2015’s HOT articles are below and free to access for 4 weeks. These are also in a collection available for viewing on our website.

Intermolecular interaction energies in transition metal coordination compounds
Andrew G. P. Maloney, Peter A. Wood and Simon Parsons
CrystEngComm, 2015, 17, 9300-9310
DOI: 10.1039/C5CE01522G

Free to access until 23^rd December 2015

α,ω-Alkanediyldiammonium dications sealed within calix[5]arene capsules with a hydrophobic bayonet-mount fastening
Giovanna Brancatelli, Giuseppe Gattuso, Silvano Geremia, Nadia Manganaro, Anna Notti, Sebastiano Pappalardo, Melchiorre F. Parisi and Ilenia Pisagatti
CrystEngComm, 2015, 17, 7915-7921
DOI: 10.1039/C5CE01558H

Free to access until 23^rd December 2015

Combinatorial crystal synthesis of ternary solids based on 2-methylresorcinol
Niyaz A. Mir, Ritesh Dubey, Srinu Tothadi and Gautam R. Desiraju
CrystEngComm, 2015, 17, 7866-7869
DOI: 10.1039/C5CE01280E

Free to access until 23^rd December 2015