Manuel Wilke

Direct In Situ Investigation of Milling Reactions Using Combined X‐ray Diffraction and Raman Spectroscopy

The combination of two analytical methods including time-resolved in situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy provides a new opportunity for a detailed analysis of the key mechanisms of milling reactions. To prove the general applicability of our setup, we investigated the mechanochemical synthesis of four archetypical model compounds, ranging from 3D frameworks through layered structures to organic molecular compounds. The reaction mechanism for each model compound could be elucidated. The results clearly show the unique advantage of the combination of XRD and Raman spectroscopy because of the different information content and dynamic range of both individual methods. The specific combination allows to study milling processes comprehensively on the level of the molecular and crystalline structures and thus obtaining reliable data for mechanistic studies.

Synthesis, structure determination, and formation of a theobromine:oxalic acid 2:1 cocrystal†

The structure and the formation pathway of a new theobromine:oxalic acid (2:1) cocrystal are presented. The cocrystal was synthesised mechanochemically and its structure was solved based on the powder X-ray data. The mechanochemical synthesis of this model compound was studied in situ using synchrotron XRD. Based on the XRD data details of the formation mechanism were obtained. The formation can be described as a self-accelerated (‘liquid like’) process from a highly activated species.

Mechanochemical synthesis and characterisation of two new bismuth metal organic frameworks

Two metal organic structures composed of the ligands benzene-1,4-dicarboxylate and pyridine-2,5-dicarboxylate and bismuth cations are presented: (H2Im)[Bi(1,4-bdc)2] (1) and [Bi(pydc)(NO3)2(H2O)2]·H2O (2) (bdc = benzenedicarboxylate, H2Im = imidazole cation, pydc = pyridinedicarboxylate). Both compounds were synthesised via grinding and the crystal structure of compound (2) was solved based on its powder diffraction pattern. Compound 1 crystallised isostructurally to the dimethyl ammonium containing compound (dma)[Bi(1,4-bdc)2]. Raman spectroscopy and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) measurements provided additional information about the two mechanochemically synthesised metal organic compounds.

Cadmium phenylphosphonates: preparation, characterisation and in situ investigation

The crystalline cadmium phenylphosphonates Cd(O3PPh)·H2O (1), Cd(HO3PPh)2 (2), and Cd(HO3PPh)2(H2O3PPh) (3) can be synthesized via solid state reactions by grinding together cadmium acetate with the respective equivalents of phenylphosphonic acid. Phosphonates (2) and (3) have not been obtained via any other synthesis method so far. The determination of the crystal structure of the new compounds (2) and (3) based on powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) data is reported. The milling reactions were investigated using in situ synchrotron PXRD. Based on these data, an identification of intermediates and a detailed analysis of the underlying mechanisms were possible.

The crystallisation of copper(II) phenylphosphonates

The crystal structures and syntheses of four different copper(ii) phenylphosphonates, the monophenylphosphonates α-, β-, and γ-Cu(O3PC6H5)·H2O (α-CuPhPmH (1) β-CuPhPmH (2) and γ-CuPhPmH (3)), and the diphosphonate Cu(HO3PC6H5)2·H2O (CuPhP2mH (4)), are presented. The compounds were synthesized from solution at room temperature, at elevated temperature, under hydrothermal conditions, and mechanochemical conditions. The structures of α-CuPhPmH (1) and CuPhP2mH (4) were solved from powder X-ray diffraction data. The structure of β-CuPhPmH (2) was solved by single crystal X-ray analysis. The structures were validated by extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) and DTA analyses. Disorder of the crystal structure was elucidated by electron diffraction. The relationship between the compounds and their reaction pathways were investigated by in situ synchrotron measurements.

Fast and efficient synthesis of a host guest system: a mechanochemical approach

An unusually fast and effective synthesis procedure for a host guest system consisting of a metal organic framework (MOF) and a polyoxometalate (POM) is described. The material was synthesised mechanochemically and the evolution of the structure was monitored ex and in situ using synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD).

Crystal structure and in situ investigation of a mechanochemical synthesized 3D zinc N -(phosphonomethyl)glycinate

Abstract The mechanochemical synthesis of the zinc N-(phosphonomethyl)glycinate Zn(O3PCH2NH2CH2CO2)·H2O (1) is presented. The structure was solved from powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) data. In the three-dimensional pillared structure, the Zn atoms are coordinated tetrahedrally. In situ investigations of the reaction process with synchrotron PXRD and Raman spectroscopy reveal a two-step process including the formation of an intermediate.

Crystalline bilayers unzipped and rezipped: solid-state reaction cycle of a metal–organic framework with triple rearrangement of intralayer bonds

We present a series of remarkable structural transformations for a family of layered metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) in a three-step solid-state reaction cycle. The cycle represents new dynamic behavior of 2D coordination polymers and involves the sequence of reactions: {[Mn2(ina)4(H2O)2]·2EtOH}n (JUK-1) → {(NH4)2[Mn(ina)2(NCS)2]}n·xH2O (JUK-2) → {[Mn2(ina)2(Hina)2(NCS)2]}n (JUK-3) → JUK-1 (Hina = isonicotinic acid), each accompanied by rearrangement of intralayer coordination bonds and each induced by a different external stimulus. In situ investigation of the first step of the cycle by combined synchrotron X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy reveals direct mechanochemical unzipping of JUK-1 bilayers to respective JUK-2 layers with reaction rates dependent on the milling conditions. In contrast, the reverse zipping of JUK-2 layers involves two steps and proceeds through a new MOF (JUK-3) whose structure was elucidated by powder X-ray diffraction. Magnetic measurements confirm conversions of manganese nodes in the reaction cycle. The findings indicate the possibility of developing coordination-based assemblies with large structural responses for use in smart stimuli-responsive systems and sensor technologies.

Divalent metal phosphonates – new aspects for syntheses, in situ characterization and structure solution

Abstract Divalent metal phosphonates are promising hybrid materials with a broad field of application. The rich coordination chemistry of the phosphonate linkers enables the formation of structures with different dimensionalities ranging from isolated complexes and layered structures to porous frameworks incorporating various functionalities through the choice of the building blocks. In brief, metal phosphonates offer an interesting opportunity for the design of multifunctional materials. Here, we provide a short review on the class of divalent metal phosphonates discussing their syntheses, structures, and applications. We present the advantages of the recently introduced mechanochemical pathway for the synthesis of divalent phosphonates as a possibility to generate new, in certain cases metastable compounds. The benefits of in situ investigation of synthesis mechanisms as well as the implementation of sophisticated methods for the structure analysis of the resulting compounds are discussed.

In situ analysis of mechanochemical reactions using combined X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy

Mechanochemistry is increasingly used for synthesizing various materials including metal organic compounds and cocrystals. Although this synthesis approach offers a fast and pure synthesis in high yields, there is a lack in understanding the mechanisms of milling reactions. The necessary data can only be obtained in in situ experiments, which were only recently established for milling reactions. Herein, we present a novel setup enabling a combined in situ investigation of mechanochemical reactions using synchrotron XRD and Raman spectroscopy. The specific combination allows to study milling processes comprehensively on the level of the molecular and crystalline structure and thus obtaining reliable data for mechanistic studies. Besides well-known MOFs like ZIF-8, the formation process of new metal phosphonates and model cocrystals could be studied in detail. The syntheses pathway of the different compounds could be revealed. The results prove that the presented method combination is applicable for a wide range of materials and will provide the necessary understanding to tune and optimize mechanochemically synthesized compounds.