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The copper iodide complexes are known for their large variety of coordination geometries. Such diversity, while making it difficult to predict the final structure, permits the preparation of a great number of copper iodide complexes based on the same ligand. The target of the research was that of thoroughly exploring the chemistry of CuI and the ligand diphenyl-2-pyridyl phosphine (PN) by varying the stoichiometric ratio and/or the aggregation state. Six different compounds have been identified: [Cu4I4(PN)2], [Cu4I4(PN)2·(CH2Cl2)0.5], [CuI(PN)0.5]∞, [CuI(PN)3] whose structures have been determined during this study, CuI(PN)2 which was characterized by powder diffraction and [Cu2I2(PN)3] which has been already reported. The preparation routes are also different: synthesis in solution yielded [Cu4I4(PN)2·(CH2Cl2)0.5] and [CuI(PN)3] while [CuI(PN)0.5]∞ and CuI(PN)2 were obtained only via solid state reactions. These two latter examples confirmed that mechanochemistry is a valid route to explore the landscape of the possible structures of CuI derivatives. Crystallization by traditional solution procedures failed to give the desired crystal, so structure determination of the new compounds was tackled in two ways: by attempting crystal growth via solvothermal synthesis and by resolving the structure from X-ray powder diffraction data with "direct space" methods. What is more the photophysical properties of the complexes that could be obtained as sufficiently pure powders have also been investigated and are reported herein.

Reactions between copper(I) iodide and triphenylphosphine have been explored in solution and in the solid state and six luminescent coordination complexes have been obtained and characterized by X-ray diffraction and UV-vis spectroscopy and photophysics. Solid-state reactions of CuI with PPh(3) in different conditions (kneading, vapour digestion) and stoichiometries resulted in the formation of high ratio ligand:metal compounds while tetrameric structures could be obtained only by solution reactions. Crystal structures were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction while purity of the bulk product was checked by powder diffraction (XRPD). Three different tetrameric structures with 1:1 stoichiometry have been synthesized: two closed cubane-type polymorphs [CuI(PPh(3))](4) (form 1a) and [CuI(PPh(3))](4) (form 1b) and an open step-like isomer [CuI(PPh(3))](4) (form 2). The conversions between the polymorphs and isomers have been studied and characterized by XRPD. The most stable form [CuI(PPh(3))](4) (form 1b) can convert into the open step-like isomer [CuI(PPh(3))](4) (form 2) in a slurry experiment with EtOH or CH(2)Cl(2) or AcCN and converts back into [CuI(PPh(3))](4)1b when exposed to vapors of toluene. At room temperature all the tetrameric compounds exhibit luminescence in the solid state and, notably, the two polymorphs show a dissimilar dual emission at low temperature. The luminescence features in the solid state seem to be peculiarly related to the presence of the aromatic phosphine ligand and depend on the Cu-Cu distance in the cluster.

The variety of crystal forms that may be associated with one specific molecule of interest can be extremely large: in addition to polymorphs, all sorts of crystalline solids can be obtained, from molecular and ionic co-crystals to hydrates/solvates, to, needless to say, polymorphs of all these new crystal forms. Lack of predictability of crystallization experiments, far from representing a failure or a nuisance, should encourage in the crystal maker the same attitude shown by the three princes of Serendip (who were making unexpected discoveries by virtue of their "sagacity and readiness of mind") to be ready to pick new avenues as the crystal experiments will yield something unplanned for., (Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Five new polymorphs and one hydrated form of 2-thiobarbituric acid have been isolated and characterised by solid-state methods. In both the crystalline form II and in the hydrate form, the 2-thiobarbituric molecules are present in the enol form, whereas only the keto isomer is present in crystalline forms I (reported in 1967 by Calas and Martinex), III, V and VI. In form IV, on the other hand, a 50:50 ordered mixture of enol/keto molecules is present. All new forms have been characterised by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, 1D and 2D ((1)H, (13)C, and (15)N) solid-state NMR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction at variable temperature. It has been possible to induce keto-enol conversion between the forms by mechanical methods. The role of hydrogen-bond interactions in determining the relative stability of the polymorphs and as a driving force in the conversions has been ascertained. To the best of the authors' knowledge, the 2-thiobarbituric family of crystal forms represents the richest collection of examples of tautomeric polymorphism so far reported in the literature.

The metal-organic frameworks (MOF) of cluster [Cu(4)I(4)(DABCO)(2)] (DABCO=1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane) have been prepared and characterized as two different crystalline forms, I and II. Form I is obtained by reaction of DABCO and CuI in aqueous solution or by solvothermal reaction, while form II is obtained by reacting DABCO and CuI in acetonitrile. Their luminescence properties in the solid state have been analyzed at room temperature and at 77 K. MOF II has bright emission with a maximum at 556 nm that shifts bathochromically at low temperature in conjunction with a marked change in the colour of the emission. The emission of MOF I has a maximum at 580 nm and a less pronounced temperature dependence. The peculiar luminescence properties of the two isomers have been interpreted by utilising current knowledge on the excited states properties of Cu(I) cubane clusters. The two isomers exhibit a high degree of porosity and can release the disordered solvent molecules trapped in the channels, whilst preserving the crystal structure. Isomer I can be converted into II on exposure to acetonitrile or methanol vapour, whereas II reverts to I when heated in a closed pan at 250 degrees C.

Para-methyl benzyl alcohol (p-MeBA II) and para-chloro benzyl alcohol (p-ClBA) are quasi-isostructural and share the same hydrogen-bond patterns, but their crystals are not isomorphous. No new polymorphs could be obtained by conventional polymorph screening based on different solvents and different crystallization conditions. Formation of a new polymorph of p-MeBA named p-MeBA I, isomorphous with the crystal of p-ClBA, was induced by hetero-seeding with a small quantity of powdered p-ClBA added to a supersaturated solution of p-MeBA in hexane, while seeding of p-ClBA with p-MeBA II failed to give a new phase of p-ClBA isomorphous with known crystalline p-MeBA II. Mixed crystals of p-MeBA and p-ClBA were also prepared with different p-MeBA/p-ClBA ratios to understand the role of the different functional groups in the crystal structure. Crystal phases were characterized by combined use of single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and solid-state NMR spectroscopy.

The structural relationship between the two crystal forms of cinchomeronic acid (CA 3,4-dicarboxypyridine) has been investigated by single crystal X-ray diffraction, IR and Raman spectroscopy and solid state NMR spectroscopy, showing that the two polymorphs form a monotropic system, with the orthorhombic form I being the thermodynamically stable form, while the monoclinic form II is unstable. In both forms CA crystallizes as a zwitterion and decomposes before melting. The crystal structure and spectroscopic analysis indicate that the difference in stability can be ascribed to the strength of the hydrogen-bonding patterns established by the protonated N-atom and the carboxylic/carboxylate O-atoms.

Fumaric, malonic, maleic, and hydromuconic (HOOCCH2(CH)2CH2COOH) acids were used to prepare a series of hydrogen-bonded adducts or salts, depending on whether acid-base proton transfer takes place, with the dibase [N(muCH2CH2)3N] in various stoichiometric ratios. The resulting compounds have been investigated by using the 1H MAS, 15N, and 13C cross polarisation magic-angle spinning (CPMAS) methods and discussed in relation to X-ray diffraction studies to ascertain the nature of the O-HO, NH-O, and N+-HO- hydrogen bonds between the various species. In addition, two polymorphic forms of the malonic compound and a hydrate in the maleic case were examined. We also present the correlations between the chemical shifts of the hydrogen-bonded protons and those from the proton transfer reaction (acid-to-base) with the heavy atom distances. The dynamic behaviour in the solid-state of the [N(muCH2CH2)3N] adducts with fumaric 2:1, maleic 1:1 hydrate, and hydromuconic acids, and a malonate 2:1 polymorph adduct have been investigated by using variable-temperature 1H spin-lattice relaxation times. A substantial agreement between the activation energies obtained from fitting the T1 data and the results of potential energy barrier calculations demonstrates that the facile reorientation of the [N(muCH2CH2)3N] molecule occurs in several of the adducts.

The organometallic zwitterion [Co(III)(eta(5)-C(5)H(4)COOH)(eta(5)-C(5)H(4)COO)] reacts quantitatively as a solid polycrystalline phase with a number of crystalline alkali salts MX (M = K(+), Rb(+), Cs(+), NH(4) (+); X = Cl(-), Br(-), I(-), PF(6)(-), although not in all cation/anion permutations) to afford supramolecular complexes of the formula [Co(III)(eta(5)-C(5)H(4)COOH)(eta(5)-C(5)H(4)COO)](2).M(+)X(-). In some cases, the mechanochemical complexation requires kneading of the two solids with a catalytic amount of water. The characterization of the solid-state products has been achieved by a combination of X-ray single-crystal and powder-diffraction experiments. The hydrogen-bonding interactions have been investigated by solid-state NMR spectroscopy. The mechanochemical reactions imply a profound solid-state rearrangement accompanied by breaking and forming of O-H...O hydrogen-bonding interactions between the organometallic molecules. All compounds could also be obtained by solution crystallization of the inorganic salts in the presence of the organometallic unit. The solid-state complexation of alkali cations by the organometallic zwitterion has been described as a special kind of solvation process taking place in the solid state.

Structure-reactivity correlations for triplet 1,4-hydroxybiradicals in solution are made difficult by the presence of multiple reactive conformers and the possibility of conformation-dependent intersystem crossing. These problems can be overcome by working in the crystalline state, where the conformations of the 1,4-hydroxybiradicals are fixed and determinable by X-ray crystallography of the parent ketones, assuming that hydrogen atom abstraction occurs with little or no change in conformation. This approach is applied to 15 bi- and tricyclic ketones designed to have slightly different biradical conformations, so that the effect of small and incremental changes in geometry on biradical behavior can be tested. The results indicate that, while geometry does have a strong influence on 1,4-hydroxybiradical partitioning between cyclization, cleavage, and reverse hydrogen transfer, a full understanding of the results requires that the strain involved in forming the cyclization products be taken into account.

Mechanical mixing of solid dicarboxylic acids of variable chain length HOOC(CH(2))(n)COOH (n = 1-7) with solid 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane generates the corresponding salts or co-crystals of the formula [N(CH(2)CH(2))(3)N]-H-[OOC(CH(2))(n)COOH] (n=1-7). Preparation of the same systems from solution has been instrumental for a full characterization of the mechanochemical products by means of single-crystal and powder-diffraction X-ray analyses, as well as by solid-state NMR. The acid-base adducts, whether involving proton transfer from the COOH group to the N-acceptor, that is having ((-))O...H-N((+)) interactions, or the formation of neutral O-H...N hydrogen bonds, show a melting point alternation phenomenon analogous to that shown by the neutral carboxylic acids. The carbon chemical shift tensors of the COOH group obtained from the sideband intensity of low speed spinning NMR spectra provide a reliable criterion for assigning the protonation state of the adducts.

Manual grinding of the organometallic complex [Fe(eta(5)-C(5)H(4)COOH)(2)] with a number of solid bases, namely 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane, C(6)H(12)N(2), 1,4-phenylenediamine, p-(NH(2))(2)C(6)H(4), piperazine, HN(C(2)H(4))(2)NH, trans-1,4-cyclohexanediamine, p-(NH(2))(2)C(6)H(10), and guanidinium carbonate [(NH(2))(3)C](2)[CO(3)], generates quantitatively the corresponding adducts, [HC(6)H(12)N(2)][Fe(eta(5)-C(5)H(4)COOH)(eta(5)-C(5)H(4)COO)] (1), [HC(6)H(8)N(2)][Fe(eta(5)-C(5)H(4)COOH)(eta(5)-C(5)H(4)COO)] (2), [H(2)C(4)H(10)N(2)][Fe(eta(5)-C(5)H(4)COO)(2)] (3), [H(2)C(6)H(14)N(2)][Fe(eta(5)-C(5)H(4)COO)(2)].2 H(2)O, (4.2 H(2)O), and [C(NH(2))(3)](2)[Fe(eta(5)-C(5)H(4)COO)(2)].2 H(2)O, (5.2 H(2)O), respectively. Crystallization from methanol in the presence of seeds of the ground sample allows the growth of single crystals of these adducts; therefore we were able to determine the structures of the adducts by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. This information was used in turn to identify and characterize the polycrystalline materials obtained by the grinding process. In the case of [HC(6)N(2)H(12)][Fe(eta(5)-C(5)H(4)COOH)(eta(5)-C(5)H(4)COO)] (1), the base can be removed by mild treatment regenerating the starting dicarboxylic acid, while in all other cases decomposition is observed. The solid-solid processes described herein imply molecular diffusion through the lattice, breaking and reassembling of hydrogen-bonded networks, and proton transfer from acid to base.

Exposure of the solid zwitterion [CoIII(eta 5-C5H4COOH)(eta 5-C5H4COO)] to vapours of formic acid quantitatively produces the co-crystal [CoIII(eta 5-C5H4COOH)(eta 5-C5H4COO)] [HCOOH] without proton transfer from formic acid to the deprotonated -COO- group on the zwitterion; formic acid can be quantitatively removed by mild thermal treatment, regenerating the starting material.

The solid-state structures of a series of alkali metal salts of the croconate dianion (C(5)O(5)(2-)) and of croconic acid (H(2)C(5)O(5)) have been determined. The alkali metal croconates were obtained by ring contraction of rhodizonic acid (H(2)C(6)O(6)), upon treatment with alkali metal hydroxides and recrystallisation from water. The novel species Na(2)C(5)O(5) x 2H(2)O, Rb(2)C(5)O(5) and Cs(2)C(5)O(5), as well as the mixed hydrogencroconate/croconate salt K(3)(HC(5)O(5))(C(5)O(5)) small middle dot2 H(2)O are described and compared with the Li(+), K(+) and NH(4)(+) salts. Single crystals of croconic acid were obtained by crystallisation of croconic acid in the presence of HCl. Crystal structure determinations showed that the C(5)O(5)(2-) ions tend to organize themselves in columns. The interplanar separations lie in the narrow range 3.12-3.42 A and do not necessarily reflect the presence of pi-stacking interactions. It is argued that the small interplanar separation is the result of a compromise between packing of flat croconate units and the spherical cations together with the water molecules that fill the coordination spheres of the alkali metal atoms.

Cooperative strong negatively charged and neutral O-H⋅⋅⋅O as well as weak charge-assisted C-H δ+ ⋅⋅⋅O δ- hydrogen-bonding interactions have been utilized for the crystal engineering of organometallic Fe II /Co III and Fe II /Cr I sandwich complexes. A section of the structure of [(η 6 -C 6 H 6 ) 2 Cr] + {[(η 5 -C 5 H 4 COOH)(η 5 -C 5 H 4 COO)Fe][(η 5 -C 5 H 4 COOH) 2 Fe] 0.5 } - is shown in the picture., (© 1998 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH, Weinheim, Fed. Rep. of Germany.)