What we have learned from the study of solid p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene compounds.

The study of solid p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene and its compounds with a variety of techniques has provided a good understanding of the versatility of this host molecule, how to induce a number of distinct host-guest motifs, its molecular recognition properties, the complex phase relationships and unique properties such as gas adsorption without having obvious channels.

Standard Reference Material (SRM 1990) For Single Crystal Diffractometer Alignment.

An international project was successfully completed which involved two major undertakings: (1) a round-robin to demonstrate the viability of the selected standard and (2) the certification of the lattice parameters of the SRM 1990, a Standard Reference Material(®) for single crystal diffractometer alignment. This SRM is a set of ≈3500 units of Cr-doped Al2O3, or ruby spheres [(0.420.011 mole fraction % Cr (expanded uncertainty)]. The round-robin consisted of determination of lattice parameters of a pair of crystals: the ruby sphere as a standard, and a zeolite reference to serve as an unknown. Fifty pairs of crystals were dispatched from Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute to volunteers in x-ray laboratories world-wide. A total of 45 sets of data was received from 32 laboratories. The mean unit cell parameters of the ruby spheres was found to be a=4.7608 ű0.0062 Å, and c=12.9979 ű0.020 Å (95 % intervals of the laboratory means). The source of errors of outlier data was identified. The SRM project involved the certification of lattice parameters using four well-aligned single crystal diffractometers at (Bell Laboratories) Lucent Technologies and at NRC of Canada (39 ruby spheres), the quantification of the Cr content using a combined microprobe and SEM/EDS technique, and the evaluation of the mosaicity of the ruby spheres using a double-crystal spectrometry method. A confirmation of the lattice parameters was also conducted using a Guinier-Hägg camera. Systematic corrections of thermal expansion and refraction corrections were applied. These rubies- are rhombohedral, with space group [Formula: see text]. The certified mean unit cell parameters are a=4.76080±0.00029 Å, and c=12.99568 ű0.00087 Å (expanded uncertainty). These certified lattice parameters fall well within the results of those obtained from the international round-robin study. The Guinier-Hägg transmission measurements on five samples of powdered rubies (a=4.7610 ű0.0013 Å, and c = 12.9954 ű0.0034 Å) agreed well with the values obtained from the single crystal spheres.

Interaction of ferrocenoyl-dipeptides with 3-aminopyrazole derivatives: beta-sheet models? A synthetic, spectroscopic, structural, and electrochemical study.

The use of 3-aminopyrazole derivatives as beta-sheet templates is investigated using a series of ferrocenoyl (Fc)-dipeptides (Fc-Gly(2)-OEt, Fc-Ala(2)-OBzl, Fc-Leu-Phe-OMe, Fc-Val-Phe-OMe, Fc-Phe(2)-OMe, Fc-Leu(2)-OMe, Fc-Val(2)-OMe). The synthesis and full characterization are reported. The solid-state structures of Fc-Gly(2)-OMe and Fc-Leu-Phe-OMe show extensive hydrogen bonding of the podand peptide substituents, resulting in the formation of supramolecular Fc-dipeptide assemblies. For Fc-Gly(2)-OMe, this can be described as a parallel beta-sheet, whereas intermolecular interactions in Fc-Leu-Phe-OMe result in the formation of supramolecular helical structures. The saturation titrations of Fc-dipeptides with 3-amino-5-methylpyrazole (3-AMP) and 3-trifluoroacetylamido-5-methylpyrazole (3-TFAc-AMP) show a 1:1 interaction of the Fc-peptide with the aminopyrazole derivatives. IR measurements in solution confirm binding to the top face of the Fc-dipeptide and the involvement of the Fc-C=O and the ester C=O groups in establishing H-bonding interactions with the 3-TFAc-AMP. However, binding constants in chloroform are low and range from 8 to 27 M(-1), which correspond to binding energies of 5-7 kJ mol(-1). In higher polarity solvents, such as acetonitrile or acetone, the binding constants are below 5 M(-1), emphasizing the limited utility of 3-AMP derivatives as beta-sheet templates. Electrochemical measurements confirm the weak interactions between the various Fc-dipeptides and 3-TFAc-AMP. Typical shifts in the redox potential of the Fc moiety are in the range 0-20 mV. Attempts to modify 3-AMP at the 3-position by carbodiimide coupling with amino acid derivatives and, thus, enhance the binding to the Fc-peptides resulted in 2-amino acid substituted 3-AMP derivatives. Substitution at the 2-position blocks the binding site, and no interactions with Fc-dipeptides are observed.

The effects of anion variation and ligand derivatization on silver coordination networks based upon weaker interactions.

This article presents a series of silver(I) coordination networks based upon nonchelating bidentate thioether ligands. Frameworks using AgOTs as the silver(I) starting material form two-dimensional frameworks and are quite stable as shown by differential scanning calorimetry/thermogravimetric analysis (DSC/TGA) data. The networks are sufficiently robust as to maintain the same layered motif when the basic skeleton of the ligand is sequentially derivatized with -OEt, OBu, and OHex groups. Crystal structures of the AgOTs complexes of the underivatized and bis(hexoxy) derivatives, compounds 5 and 8, respectively, are presented as well as powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) data of the other complexes. For 5, C20H20S3O3Ag, crystal data are as follows: monoclinic, space group P2(1)/n, a = 11.8117(5) A, b = 7.8813(5) A, c = 22.3316(10) A, beta = 102.245(5) degrees, V = 2031.6(2) A(3), Z = 4. For 8, C30H44S3O6Ag, crystal data are as follows: triclinic, space group Ponebar a = 8.445(4) A, b = 10.855(5) A, c = 19.308(9) A, alpha = 84.53(1) degrees, beta = 78.76(1) degrees, gamma = 68.43(1) degrees V = 1613.9(13) A(3), Z = 2. Changing the silver(I) starting material to AgPF6 results in a shift to a one-dimensional structure, 9, as shown by X-ray crystallography and in highly compromised stability. For 9, C14H16S2N2PF6Ag, crystal data are as follows: monoclinic, space group P2/n, a = 11.9658(11) A, b = 3.9056(4) A, c = 19.6400(18) A, beta = 92.87(1) degrees, V = 916.70(15) A(3), Z = 4.

Nickel(II) and zinc(II) dibenzoylmethanates: molecular and crystal structure, polymorphism, and guest- or temperature-induced oligomerization.

Four forms of nickel(II) and two of zinc(II) dibenzoylmethanates have been isolated and characterized with powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses, differential scanning calorimetry, magnetic susceptibility measurements, and solid-state 13C cross-polarization/magic angle spinning NMR. Nickel dibenzoylmethanate, Ni(DBM)2 (DBM = PhCOCHCOPh-), forms three polymorphic forms (light-green, brown, and green) and a fourth clathrate form with guest benzene included. The light-green polymorph is metastable. Substituted benzenes induce recrystallization of the polymorph into a stable brown form (C30H22NiO4; a = 26.502(3) A, b = 5.774(1) A, c = 16.456(2) A, beta = 116.03(1) degrees; monoclinic, C2/c; Z = 4). Unlike the other forms, the brown form is diamagnetic and is comprised of monomers of the low-spin [Ni(DBM)2] complex. The Ni(II) is chelated by two DBM ligands in a square planar environment by four donor oxygen atoms. When heated, the brown form transforms to a green form which is stable above 202 degrees C (C90H66Ni3O12; a = 13.819(2) A, b = 16.252(2) A, c = 17.358(2) A, beta = 108.28(1) degrees; monoclinic, P2(1)/n; Z = 2). This polymorph is formed by van der Waals packing of trimers [Ni3(DBM)6] containing linear Ni3 clusters with an Ni-Ni distance of 2.81 A. The cluster is surrounded by six DBM ligands, providing a distorted octahedral environment about each Ni by six oxygen atoms. Benzene stabilizes the trimeric structure at room temperature, forming a [Ni3(DBM)6].2(benzene) inclusion compound (Ni-Ni distance of 2.83 A) with guest benzene molecules located in channels (C90H66Ni3O12 + 2(C6H6); a = 17.670(2) A, b = 20.945(3) A, c=11.209(2) A, beta = 102.57(1) degrees; monoclinic, P2(1)/c; Z = 2). Zinc dibenzoylmethanate has been prepared in two polymorphic forms. The monomeric form contains [Zn(DBM)2] molecules with the zinc center in a distorted tetrahedral environment of four oxygens from the two chelated DBMs (C30H22O4Zn; a = 10.288(2) A, b = 10.716(2) A, c = 12.243(2) A, alpha = 89.19(1) degrees, beta = 75.39(1) degrees, gamma = 64.18(1) degrees; triclinic, P1; Z = 2). Another, dimeric form contains [Zn2(DBM)4] species, with two zinc atoms separated by a distance of 3.14 A and each zinc coordinated by five oxygen atoms (C60H44O8Zn2; a = 25.792(3) A, b = 7.274(1) A, c = 24.307(2) A, beta = 90.58(1) degrees; monoclinic, C2/c; Z = 4). The polymorphic variety of the title complexes and the peculiarities of the Ni(II) and Zn(II) coordination environments are discussed in the context of using the complexes as precursors for new metal complex hosts.