Samantha K. Callear

Supramolecular binding and separation of hydrocarbons within a functionalized porous metal–organic framework

Supramolecular interactions are fundamental to host-guest binding in many chemical and biological processes. Direct visualization of such supramolecular interactions within host-guest systems is extremely challenging, but crucial to understanding their function. We report a comprehensive study that combines neutron scattering, synchrotron X-ray and neutron diffraction, and computational modelling to define the detailed binding at a molecular level of acetylene, ethylene and ethane within the porous host NOTT-300. This study reveals simultaneous and cooperative hydrogen-bonding, π···π stacking interactions and intermolecular dipole interactions in the binding of acetylene and ethylene to give up to 12 individual weak supramolecular interactions aligned within the host to form an optimal geometry for the selective binding of hydrocarbons. We also report the cooperative binding of a mixture of acetylene and ethylene within the porous host, together with the corresponding breakthrough experiments and analysis of adsorption isotherms of gas mixtures.

Hydrogen production from ammonia using sodium amide.

This paper presents a new type of process for the cracking of ammonia (NH3) that is an alternative to the use of rare or transition metal catalysts. Effecting the decomposition of NH3 using the concurrent stoichiometric decomposition and regeneration of sodium amide (NaNH2) via sodium metal (Na), this represents a significant departure in reaction mechanism compared with traditional surface catalysts. In variable-temperature NH3 decomposition experiments, using a simple flow reactor, the Na/NaNH2 system shows superior performance to supported nickel and ruthenium catalysts, reaching 99.2% decomposition efficiency with 0.5 g of NaNH2 in a 60 sccm NH3 flow at 530 °C. As an abundant and inexpensive material, the development of NaNH2-based NH3 cracking systems may promote the utilization of NH3 for sustainable energy storage purposes.

A systematic study of the crystallisation products of a series of dicarboxylic acids with imidazole derivatives

Nineteen new crystal structures are reported containing α,ω-alkanedicarboxylic acids (HOOC–(CH2)n−2–COOH, n = 0–6), maleic acid and fumaric acid with imidazole, 1-methylimidazole, 2-methylimidazole, 4-methylimidazole and 1,2-dimethylimidazole. These were characterised by single crystal X-ray diffraction at 120 K and their crystal structures are discussed together with five published structures. In all of the characterised acid–base combinations at least one of the acidic hydrogens has been transferred to the base and most have a 1 : 1 stoichiometry. Nearly two thirds of the crystal structures adopt a basic sheet topology containing hydrogen bonded anion chains linked by cations. The sheet topologies have been classified based upon the principles of a scheme proposed by MacDonald et al. (J. C. MacDonald, P. C. Dorrestein and M. M. Pilley, Cryst. Growth Des., 2001, 1, 29–38).

Pentacoordinate silicon complexes with dynamic motion resembling a pendulum on the SN2 reaction pathway

A series of glutarimide derivatives which has two carbonyl coordination sites for intramolecular pentacoordination at silicon with a X(1+n)SiC(3-n)O moiety have been synthesised and characterized. The substituent (leaving group) effects on the Si-O bond exchange between the two coordination sites (resembling a pendulum) have been studied by comparison of the differently substituted (X = F, Cl, OTf, Br and I) structures. The activation parameters for the Si-O bond exchange process were measured by NMR and separately computed and are consistent with the strength of Si-O bond coordination and the nature of the leaving group, X. The temperature-dependent (29)Si NMR spectroscopy is supported by X-ray crystallography and shows that the tetrahedral reactant is converted into pentacoordinate intermediates by intramolecular O-Si association followed by reversion to a tetrahedral geometry by Si-X dissociation. The two association/dissociation patterns offer a model for nucleophilic substitution at a silicon atom. A continuum of structures on the S(N)2 reaction profile from the glutarimide derivatives correlates reasonably well with the structural data obtained from derivatives of lactams, diketopiperazines and quinolones.

Microwave-mediated synthesis of an arylboronate library

A series of arylboronates has been synthesized from the reaction of 2-(2-, (3-, or (4-(bromomethyl)phenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolane 1{1-3} respectively with a range of N-, S-, and O-nucleophiles, using microwave-mediated chemistry. For the synthesis of N- and S-substituted boronates, a supported base, PS-NMM, was employed, and many reactions were complete within 15 min. With O-nucleophiles, a mixture of tetrabutylammonium bromide, potassium carbonate, and sodium hydroxide was employed. The resulting aminomethyl, mercaptomethyl, or alkoxy-/phenoxymethyl-arylboronates were subjected to microwave-mediated Suzuki Miyaura coupling reactions to afford a range of biaryls in moderate to good yields. The X-ray structures of five boronates were determined.

Confinement of Iodine Molecules into Triple-Helical Chains within Robust Metal–Organic Frameworks

During nuclear waste disposal process, radioactive iodine as a fission product can be released. The widespread implementation of sustainable nuclear energy thus requires the development of efficient iodine stores that have simultaneously high capacity, stability and more importantly, storage density (and hence minimized system volume). Here, we report high I2 adsorption in a series of robust porous metal–organic materials, MFM-300(M) (M = Al, Sc, Fe, In). MFM-300(Sc) exhibits fully reversible I2 uptake of 1.54 g g–1, and its structure remains completely unperturbed upon inclusion/removal of I2. Direct observation and quantification of the adsorption, binding domains and dynamics of guest I2 molecules within these hosts have been achieved using XPS, TGA-MS, high resolution synchrotron X-ray diffraction, pair distribution function analysis, Raman, terahertz and neutron spectroscopy, coupled with density functional theory modeling. These complementary techniques reveal a comprehensive understanding of the host–I2 and I2–I2 binding interactions at a molecular level. The initial binding site of I2 in MFM-300(Sc), I2I, is located near the bridging hydroxyl group of the [ScO4(OH)2] moiety [I2I···H–O = 2.263(9) Å] with an occupancy of 0.268. I2II is located interstitially between two phenyl rings of neighboring ligand molecules [I2II···phenyl ring = 3.378(9) and 4.228(5) Å]. I2II is 4.565(2) Å from the hydroxyl group with an occupancy of 0.208. Significantly, at high I2 loading an unprecedented self-aggregation of I2 molecules into triple-helical chains within the confined nanovoids has been observed at crystallographic resolution, leading to a highly efficient packing of I2 molecules with an exceptional I2 storage density of 3.08 g cm–3 in MFM-300(Sc).

Stereospecific generation of homochiral helices in coordination polymers built from enantiopure binaphthyl-based ligands

The novel enantiopure dipyridyl spacer 2,2′-dimethoxy-1,1′-binaphthyl-3,3′-bis(4-pyridyl-amido) (R)-L has been designed as a robust source of axial chirality to obtain helical coordination polymers. The reaction of (R)-L and the differently substituted dithiophosphato complexes [Ni((RO)2PS2)2] [R = Me (1), Et (2)] efficiently yielded coordination polymers (1·L)∞ and (2·L)∞, respectively, consisting of helical chains in which the nickel(II) ions of the [Ni((RO)2PS2)2] units are bridged by the enantiopure L ligands. The obtained polymers differ in terms of the configuration at the metal centres, which is trans and cis for (1·L)∞ and (2·L)∞, respectively. The cis configuration in (2·L)∞ generates a further element of chirality around the metal center, which occurs stereospecifically, as only one enantiomeric form is present, with homochiral helices packed with opposite screw sense in the crystal. The electronic and structural features of L, (1·L)∞, and (2·L)∞ have been investigated by means of DFT theoretical calculations, and the theoretical results have been compared with the experimental ones coming from single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The cis/trans isomerism displayed by the metal centers in (1·L)∞ and (2·L)∞ has been tentatively explained on the basis of the results of theoretical calculations performed on hypothetical pentacoordinated intermediates.

Synthesis and structure of pillared molybdates and tungstates with framework layers.

Six new layered lanthanide molybdate and tungstate phases pillared by either naphthalenedisulfonate (NDS) or fumarate anions have been synthesized hydrothermally and structurally characterized. Five of these materials, [Nd(H(2)O)MoO(4)](2)[2,6-NDS] (1), [Nd(H(2)O)MoO(4)](2)[1,5-NDS] (2), [La(H(2)O)WO(4)](2)[1,5-NDS] (3), [La(H(2)O)WO(4)](2)[2,6-NDS] (4), and [Ce(H(2)O)MoO(4)](2)[fumarate] (6), have a closely related cationic inorganic layer structure which comprises a bilayer of polyhedra leading to the formation of a framework layer containing small, inaccessible pores. These layers are pillared by the organic anions which also bridge between the lanthanide cations within the layers. In the La/WO(4)/2,6-NDS system, a second polymorph, [La(2)(H(2)O)(2)W(2)O(8)][2,6-NDS] (5), is observed. In this compound, the tungstate anions have dimerized, forming W(2)O(8)(4-). This dimer is unique and comprises two square-based pyramidal tungsten centers which are opposed to each other.

Conformation and interactions of dopamine hydrochloride in solution

The aqueous solution of dopamine hydrochloride has been investigated using neutron and X-ray total scattering data together with Monte-Carlo based modelling using Empirical Potential Structure Refinement. The conformation of the protonated dopamine molecule is presented and the results compared to the conformations found in crystal structures, dopamine-complexed protein crystal structures and predicted from theoretical calculations and pharmacophoric models. It is found that protonated dopamine adopts a range of conformations in solution, highlighting the low rotational energy barrier between different conformations, with the preferred conformation being trans-perpendicular. The interactions between each of the species present (protonated dopamine molecules, water molecules, and chloride anions) have been determined and are discussed with reference to interactions observed in similar systems both in the liquid and crystalline state, and predicted from theoretical calculations. The expected strong hydrogen bonds between the strong hydrogen bond donors and acceptors are observed, together with evidence of weaker CH hydrogen bonds and π interactions also playing a significant role in determining the arrangement of adjacent molecules.

How the Surface Structure Determines the Properties of CuH

CuH is a material that appears in a wide diversity of circumstances ranging from catalysis to electrochemistry to organic synthesis. There are both aqueous and nonaqueous synthetic routes to CuH, each of which apparently leads to a different product. We developed synthetic methodologies that enable multigram quantities of CuH to be produced by both routes and characterized each product by a combination of spectroscopic, diffraction and computational methods. The results show that, while all methods for the synthesis of CuH result in the same bulk product, the synthetic path taken engenders differing surface properties. The different behaviors of CuH obtained by aqueous and nonaqueous routes can be ascribed to a combination of very different particle size and dissimilar surface termination, namely, bonded hydroxyls for the aqueous routes and a coordinated donor for the nonaqueous routes. This work provides a particularly clear example of how the nature of an adsorbed layer on a nanoparticle surface determines the properties.