Nonlinear Optical Activity of a Chiral Organic-Inorganic ([(NH3CH2CH2)3NH])2[MnBr5]Br5 Photoluminescent and Piezoelectric Crystal.

The family of Mn-based organic-inorganic hybrids has greatly expanded due to their advantages in applications. They also show superior bright and size-tunable photoluminescence and can be considered a perfect alternative to toxic lead-based compounds. In this work, we present the detailed structural, optical, and electrical characterization of ([(NH3CH2CH2)3NH])2[MnBr5]Br5. The title compound exhibits a unique type of inorganic arrangement created by the trigonal bipyramids. It crystallizes in noncentrosymmetric space group R32, indicating its optical activity, piezoelectricity, and second-order optical nonlinearity proven by the second harmonic of light measurements. The studied crystals exhibit intense photoluminescence originating from the Mn(II) ion 4T1(G) → 6A1 transition. The measured lifetime of the photoluminescence emission is ≤1.5 ms, while the measured quantum yield for both powder and crystal samples reaches ∼70%.

Synergic Temperature Effect of Star-like Monodisperse Iron Oxide Nanoparticles and Their Related Responses in Normal and Cancer Cells.

Magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) anisotropy has been tailored by the preparation of MNPs having different shapes (star-like, cubic, and polyhedral) using a self-modified rapid hot-injection process. The surface modification of MNPs was performed through etidronic ligand grafting with a strong binding affinity to mixed metal oxides, ensuring sufficient colloidal stability, surface protection, and minimized aggregation and interparticle interactions. The heating effect was induced by contactless external stimulation through the action of an alternating magnetic field and NIR laser radiation (808 nm). The efficacy of the energy conversion was evaluated as a function of the particle shape, concentration, and external stimuli parameters. In turn, the most efficient star-like particles have been selected to study their response in contact with normal and cancer cells. It was found that the star-like MNPs (Fe3O4 SL-NPs) at 2 mg/mL concentration induce necrosis and significantly alter cell cycle progression, while 0.5 mg/mL can stimulate the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory response in normal cells. A biologically relevant heating effect leading to heat-mediated cell death was achieved at a 2 mg/mL concentration of star-like particles and was enhanced by the addition of ascorbic acid (AA). AA-mediated photomagnetic hyperthermia can lead to the modulation of the heat-shock response in cancer cells that depends on the genotypic and phenotypic variations of cell lines.

Dielectric-Optical Switches: Photoluminescent, EPR, and Magnetic Studies on Organic-Inorganic Hybrid (azetidinium)2MnBr4.

A new organic-inorganic hybrid, AZEMnBr, has been synthesized and characterized. The thermal differential scanning calorimetry, differential thermal analysis, and thermogravimetric analyses indicate one structural phase transition (PT) at 346 and 349 K, on cooling and heating, respectively. AZEMnBr crystallizes at 365 K in the orthorhombic, Pnma, structure, which transforms to monoclinic P21/n at 200 K. Due to the X-ray diffraction studies, the anionic MnBr42- moiety is discrete. The azetidinium cations show dynamical disorder in the high-temperature phase. In the proposed structural PT, the mechanism is classified as an order-disorder type. The structural changes affect the dielectric response. In this paper, the multiple switches between low- and high- dielectric states are presented. In addition, it was also observed that the crystal possesses a mutation of fluorescent properties between phase ON and OFF in the PT's point vicinity. We also demonstrate that EPR spectroscopy effectively detects PTs in structurally diverse Mn(II) complexes. AZEMnBr compounds show DC magnetic data consistent with the S = 5/2 spin system with small zero-field splitting, which was confirmed by EPR measurements and slow magnetic relaxation under the moderate DC magnetic field typical for a single-ion magnet behavior. Given the above, this organic-inorganic hybrid can be considered a rare example of multifunctional materials that exhibit dielectric, optical, and magnetic activity.

Structure, ferroelasticity and Goldilocks zone phase transitions in C3H5N2Al(SO4)2·6H2O.

The single crystal growth and sequence of reversible phase transition are described for C3H5N2Al(SO4)2·6H2O. Thermal and structural analyses combined with dielectric studies and optical observations revealed the structural phase transition at T1 = 339/340 K (I↔II) and T2 = 347/348 K (II↔III) on heating and cooling, respectively. Both phase transitions are of the first-order type. The symmetry changes from monoclinic to trigonal phase. At 293 K, the large crystals are usually divided into numerous domains of the ferroelastic type that disappear above T1 on heating and reappear below T1 on cooling. The domain structure pattern is characteristic for the transition between trigonal and monoclinic phases. The changes of entropy and clear increase of permittivity at T1 provide evidence for the order-disorder character of this phase transition. The transition at T2 seems to be displacive.

Structural phase transitions coupled with prominent dielectric anomalies and dielectric relaxation in [(CH3)3NH]2[KCo(CN)6] and mixed [(CH3)3NH]2[KFexCo1-x(CN)6] double perovskite hybrids.

The crystals of pure [(CH3)3NH]2[KFe(CN)6] (TrMAFe) and [(CH3)3NH]2[KCo(CN)6] (TrMACo) as well as their mixed crystals (TrMAFexCo1-x), with different ratios of x = 0, 0.12, 0.18, 0.49, 0.56, 0.73, 0.81, 1.0, have been grown from aqueous solutions. The structure of TrMACo has been determined at 360 K to be cubic (Fm3[combining macron]m). In phase II (100 K), the TrMACo crystal is monoclinic (C2/c). The thermal stability of the pure and mixed crystals has been determined by using both DTA and TGA. Based on the DSC results, we have found a single phase transition (PT) for both pure and mixed crystals. The Fe(iii) concentration was estimated by using the SEM technique. We have found a linear relationship between the PT temperature (Tc) and the molar concentration of Fe(iii). Based on the obtained results, a phase diagram has been constructed. The mechanism of the structural PT has been discussed based on the results of dielectric relaxation and 1H NMR and X-ray spectroscopy measurements. The results confirmed that the PT mechanism of both pure and mixed crystals is related to the change in the dynamic state of the TrMA+ cations. The dielectric activation energy changes linearly with the mole fraction ranking from 35 to 38 kJ mol-1, for the mixed crystals.

Reactions of Piperazin-2-one, Morpholin-3-one, and Thiomorpholin-3-one with Triethyl Phosphite Prompted by Phosphoryl Chloride: Scope and Limitations.

The reaction of the title lactams with triethyl phosphite prompted by phosphoryl chloride provided six-membered ring heterocyclic phosphonates or bisphosphonates. These novel scaffolds might be of interest as building blocks in medicinal chemistry. The course of the reaction was dependent on the structure of the used substrate. Thus, morpholin-3-one and thiomorpholin-3-one readily provided the corresponding 1,1-bisphosphonates (compounds 1, 2, 7, 14 and 16), whereas the protection of their nitrogen atom resulted in the formation of dehydrophosphonates (compounds 5, 6, and 8). Piperazin-2-one reacted differently yielding mixture of cis- and trans- piperazine-2,3-diyl-bisphosphonates (compounds 10 and 11). Since cytosine could be considered as an analogue of piperin-2-one, its ditosyl derivative 18 was used as a substrate affording compound 19 being a product of phosphite addition to double bond. In dependence of their structures, hydrolysis of the obtained diethyl phosphonates resulted either in corresponding cyclic phosphonic acids or in the degradation of carbon-to-phosphorus bond.

Novel bimetallic MOF phosphors with an imidazolium cation: structure, phonons, high- pressure phase transitions and optical response.

We report the synthesis, crystal structure, phonons and luminescence properties of three novel heterometallic metal organic frameworks (MOFs) with perovskite-like topology of the following formulas: [C3H5N2]Na0.5Cr0.5(HCOO)3 (ImNaCr), [C3H5N2]Na0.5Al0.5(HCOO)3 (ImNaAl) and [C3H5N2]Na0.5Al0.475Cr0.025(HCOO)3 (ImNaAlCr with 5 mol% of Cr3+). ImNaCr crystallizes in a monoclinic system (P2/n space group) with one imidazolium cation (Im+) in an asymmetric unit forming six N-HO and four C-HO hydrogen bonds. In contrast to other known heterometallic MOFs, the complete substitution of Cr3+ ions with smaller Al3+ ions leads to a change of the crystal symmetry. ImNaAl adopts a monoclinic P21/n space group with two distinct Im+ cations and different H-bonding patterns. The DSC measurements and XRD single-crystal studies show that the studied crystals do not undergo structural phase transitions in the 80-400 K range. The high-pressure Raman studies of ImNaCr reveal the presence of two reversible structural instabilities, first in the 0.4-1.1 GPa range and second near 4 GPa. The first pressure-induced phase transition involves weak distortion of the metal-formate framework, while the second one is associated with partial and reversible amorphization of the sample. We discuss the stability of heterometallic formate MOFs depending on their building blocks. The luminescence measurements show that both the fully concentrated crystal (ImNaCr) and the diluted one (ImNaAlCr) exhibit a Cr3+-based emission characteristic of intermediate ligand field strength. We also show that the spectroscopic properties of heterometallic MOFs depend strongly on the templated cation, i.e. the decreasing size of the organic cation leads to an increase in the crystal field.

Revisiting the charge density analysis of 2,5-dichloro-1,4-benzoquinone at 20†K.

A high-resolution X-ray diffraction measurement of 2,5-dichloro-1,4-benzoquinone (DCBQ) at 20 K was carried out. The experimental charge density was modeled using the Hansen-Coppens multipolar expansion and the topology of the electron density was analyzed in terms of the quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM). Two different multipole models, predominantly differentiated by the treatment of the chlorine atom, were obtained. The experimental results have been compared to theoretical results in the form of a multipolar refinement against theoretical structure factors and through direct topological analysis of the electron density obtained from the optimized periodic wavefunction. The similarity of the properties of the total electron density in all cases demonstrates the robustness of the Hansen-Coppens formalism. All intra- and intermolecular interactions have been characterized.

Polar metal-formate frameworks templated with 1,2-diaminoethane-water assemblies showing ferromagnetic and ferroelectric properties.

A set of five novel formate frameworks templated with assemblies comprising diprotonated 1,2-diaminoethane (DAE) and a water molecule of the formula: [NH3(CH2)2NH3]M2(HCOO)6·H2O, where M = Mg, Mn, Co, Ni, Zn, has been synthesized. Four compounds crystallize in the polar R3 space group and one in the chiral P6322 space group (Ni-analog) at room temperature. The polyammonium-water assemblies, mutually joined by hydrogen bonds, fill the cavities of the frameworks and are disordered in the three latter compounds. Additional disorder is found in the Ni-sample as the DAE2+-H2O couple is placed in a special position on the 63 screw axis. IR spectroscopy provides evidence of proton dynamic disorder within the assemblies, which turns into a static one at low temperatures. The crystals preserve their arrangement up to approximately 370 K as shown by differential calorimetric measurements and temperature-dependent IR spectroscopy. The ferroelectric nature of a representative of the family, DAEMgF, at room temperature has been confirmed by pyroelectric measurements. It has been found that the spontaneous polarization may be changed by an external electric field. The magnetic studies reveal a weak ferromagnetic behavior within 8.5-35 K for magnetically active ions: Mn, Co, and Ni.

Experimental and Theoretical Electron Density Determination for Two Norbornene Derivatives: Topological Analysis Provides Insights on Reactivity.

The electron density distribution of two substituted norbornene derivatives (cis-5-norbornene-endo-2,3-dicarboxylic anhydride (1) and 7-oxabicylo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-exo-2,3-dicarboxylic anhydride (2) has been determined from low-temperature (20 K) X-ray diffraction data and from DFT calculations with periodic boundary conditions. Topological analysis of the electron density is discussed with respect to exo-selective additions, the partial retro-Diels-Alder (rDA) character of the ground state, and intermolecular interaction energies.

Revised structure of trans-resveratrol: Implications for its proposed antioxidant mechanism.

The crystal structure of trans-resveratrol has been redetermined by X-ray diffraction. The newly refined structure demonstrates that the previously reported, dynamically disordered hydrogen-bonding network is rather the superposition of two crystallographically independent molecules of trans-resveratrol. This latter arrangement possesses a well-defined hydrogen-bonding network in a unit cell of double the previously reported volume. While not meant as a criticism of the proposed antioxidant mechanism itself, the present studies clearly show that the X-ray diffraction data should no longer be used for its additional support.

Cholesterol oxidase: ultrahigh-resolution crystal structure and multipolar atom model-based analysis.

Examination of protein structure at the subatomic level is required to improve the understanding of enzymatic function. For this purpose, X-ray diffraction data have been collected at 100 K from cholesterol oxidase crystals using synchrotron radiation to an optical resolution of 0.94 Å. After refinement using the spherical atom model, nonmodelled bonding peaks were detected in the Fourier residual electron density on some of the individual bonds. Well defined bond density was observed in the peptide plane after averaging maps on the residues with the lowest thermal motion. The multipolar electron density of the protein-cofactor complex was modelled by transfer of the ELMAM2 charge-density database, and the topology of the intermolecular interactions between the protein and the flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) cofactor was subsequently investigated. Taking advantage of the high resolution of the structure, the stereochemistry of main-chain bond lengths and of C=O···H-N hydrogen bonds was analyzed with respect to the different secondary-structure elements.

Crystal structure of iso-butyl-ammonium hydrogen oxalate hemihydrate.

In the title hydrated mol-ecular salt, C4H12N(+)·C2HO4 (-)·0.5H2O, the O atom of the water mol-ecule lies on a crystallographic twofold axis. The dihedral angle between the CO2 and CO2H planes of the anion is 18.47 (8)°. In the crystal, the anions are connected to each other by strong near-linear O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds. The water mol-ecules are located between the chains of anions and iso-butyl-amine cations; their O atoms participate as donors and acceptors, respectively, in O-H⋯O and N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, which form channels (dimensions = 4.615 and 3.387 Å) arranged parallel to [010].

Crystal structure of allyl-ammonium hydrogen succinate at 100†K.

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C2H8N(+)·C4H5O4 (-), consists of two allyl-ammonium cations and two hydrogen succinate anions (Z' = 2). One of the cations has a near-perfect syn-periplanar (cis) conformation with an N-C-C-C torsion angle of 0.4 (3)°, while the other is characterized by a gauche conformation and a torsion angle of 102.5 (3)°. Regarding the anions, three out of four carboxilic groups are twisted with respect to the central C-CH2-CH2-C group [dihedral angles = 24.4 (2), 31.2 (2) and 40.4 (2)°], the remaining one being instead almost coplanar, with a dihedral angle of 4.0 (2)°. In the crystal, there are two very short, near linear O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds between anions, with the H atoms shifted notably from the donor O towards the O⋯O midpoint. These O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds form helical chains along the [011] which are further linked to each other through N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds (involving all the available NH groups), forming layers lying parallel to (100).

Substituent effects in nitro derivatives of carbazoles investigated by comparison of low-temperature crystallographic studies with density functional theory (DFT) calculations.

The crystal structure of 9H-carbazole, C12H9N, (I), has been redetermined at low temperature for use as a reference structure in a comparative study with the structures of 1-nitro-9H-carbazole, C12H8N2O2, (II), and 9-nitrocarbazole, C12H8N2O2, (III). The molecule of (I) has crystallographically imposed mirror symmetry (Z' = 0.5). All three solid-state structures are slightly nonplanar, the dihedral angles between the planes of the arene and pyrrole rings ranging from 0.40 (7)° in (III) to 1.82 (18)° in (II). Nevertheless, a density functional theory (DFT) study predicts completely planar conformations for the isolated molecules. To estimate the influence of nitro-group substitution on aromaticity, the HOMA (harmonic oscillator model of aromaticity) descriptor of π-electron delocalization has been calculated in each case. The HOMA indices for the isolated and solid-state molecules are relatively consistent and decrease in value for aromatic rings that are substituted with a π-electron-withdrawing nitro group. Substitution of the arene ring influences the π-electron delocalization in the ring only weakly, showing strong resistance to a perturbation of its geometry, contrary to what is observed for nitro substitution of the five-membered heterocyclic pyrrole ring. In (II), the molecules are arranged in near-planar dimers connected to each other by strong N-H···O hydrogen bonds that stack parallel to the crystallographic b axis. A similar stacking arrangement is observed in (III), although here the stacked structure is formed by stand-alone molecules.

Allyl-ammonium hydrogen oxalate hemihydrate.

In the title hydrated mol-ecular salt, C3H8N(+)·C2HO4 (-)·0.5H2O, the water O atom lies on a crystallographic twofold axis. The C=C-C-N torsion angle in the cation is 2.8 (3)° and the dihedral angle between the CO2 and CO2H planes in the anion is 1.0 (4)°. In the crystal, the hydrogen oxalate ions are linked by O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, generating [010] chains. The allyl-ammonium cations bond to the chains through N-H⋯O and N-H⋯(O,O) hydrogen bonds. The water mol-ecule accepts two N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds and makes two O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds. Together, the hydrogen bonds generate (100) sheets.

Substituent effects in trans-p,p'-disubstituted azobenzenes: X-ray structures at 100†K and DFT-calculated structures.

The crystal and molecular structures of two para-substituted azobenzenes with π-electron-donating -NEt2 and π-electron-withdrawing -COOEt groups are reported, along with the effects of the substituents on the aromaticity of the benzene ring. The deformation of the aromatic ring around the -NEt2 group in N,N,N',N'-tetraethyl-4,4'-(diazenediyl)dianiline, C20H28N4, (I), may be caused by steric hindrance and the π-electron-donating effects of the amine group. In this structure, one of the amine N atoms demonstrates clear sp(2)-hybridization and the other is slightly shifted from the plane of the surrounding atoms. The molecule of the second azobenzene, diethyl 4,4'-(diazenediyl)dibenzoate, C18H18N2O4, (II), lies on a crystallographic inversion centre. Its geometry is normal and comparable with homologous compounds. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to analyse the changes in the geometry of the studied compounds in the crystalline state and for the isolated molecules. The most significant changes are observed in the values of the N=N-C-C torsion angles, which for the isolated molecules are close to 0.0°. The HOMA (harmonic oscillator model of aromaticity) index, calculated for the benzene ring, demonstrates a slight decrease of the aromaticity in (I) and no substantial changes in (II).

2,4-Di-tert-butyl-6-({[2-(di-methyl-amino)-eth-yl](2-hy-droxy-benz-yl)amino}-meth-yl)phenol.

The title compound, C26H40N2O2, has both its N atoms in trigonal-pyramidal geometries. The mol-ecular structure is stabilized by O-H⋯N and C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds. In the crystal, C-H⋯π inter-actions lead to the formation of a supramolecular helical chain along the b-axis direction.

Crystal structure of N-(tert-but-oxy-carbon-yl)glycyl-(Z)-ß-bromo-dehydro-alanine methyl ester [Boc-Gly-(ß-Br)((Z))ΔAla-OMe].

The title compound, C11H17BrN2O5, is a de-hydro-amino acid with a C=C bond between the α- and ß-C atoms. The amino acid residues are linked trans to each other and there are no strong intra-molecular hydrogen bonds. The torsion angles indicate a non-helical conformation of the mol-ecule. The dipeptide folding is influenced by an inter-molecular N-H⋯O hydrogen bond and also minimizes steric repulsion. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked by strong N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, generating (001) sheets. The sheets are linked by weak C-H⋯O and C-H⋯Br bonds and short Br⋯Br [3.4149 (3) Å] inter-actions.

Crystal structure of N-(tert-but-oxy-carbon-yl)phenyl-alanylde-hydro-alanine isopropyl ester (Boc-Phe-ΔAla-OiPr).

In the title compound, the de-hydro-dipeptide (Boc-Phe-ΔAla-OiPr, C20H28N2O5), the mol-ecule has a trans conformation of the N-methyl-amide group. The geometry of the de-hydro-alanine moiety is to some extent different from those usually found in simple peptides, indicating conjugation between the H2C=C group and the peptide bond. The bond angles around de-hydro-alanine have unusually high values due to the steric hindrance, the same inter-action influencing the slight distortion from planarity of the de-hydro-alanine. The mol-ecule is stabilized by intra-molecular inter-actions between the isopropyl group and the N atoms of the peptide main chain. In the crystal, an N-H⋯O hydrogen bond links the mol-ecules into ribbons, giving a herringbone head-to-head packing arrangement extending along the [100] direction. In the stacks, the mol-ecules are linked by weak C-H⋯O hydrogen-bonding associations.