The pseudo-single-crystal method: a third approach to crystal structure determination.

A novel method that enables single-crystal diffraction data to be obtained from a powder sample is presented. A suspension of LiCoPO(4) microrods was subjected to a frequency-modulated dynamic elliptical magnetic field to align the microrods; the alignment achieved was consolidated by photopolymerization of the suspending UV-curable monomer. The composite thus obtained (referred to as a pseudo single crystal) gave rise to X-ray diffraction data from which the crystal structure was solved using the standard method for single-crystal X-ray analyses. The structure determined was in good agreement with that reported using a conventional single crystal.

Crystal design of monometallic single-molecule magnets consisting of cobalt-aminoxyl heterospins.

Five N-aryl-N-pyridylaminoxyls, which have no substituent (PhNOpy), one substituent (MeOPhNOpy and tert-BuPhNOpy) at the 4-position, and three substituents (TPPNOpy and TBPNOpy) at the 2, 4, and 6-positions of the phenyl ring, were prepared as new ligands for cobalt-aminoxyl heterospin systems. The 1:4 complexes, [Co(NCS)2(PhNOpy)4] (1), [Co(NCS)2(MeOPhNOpy)4] (2), [Co(NCS)2(tertBuPhNOpy)4] (3), [Co(NCS)2(TPPNOpy)4] (4), [Co(NCS)2(TBPNOpy)4] (5a), and [Co(NCO)2(TBPNOpy)4] (5b), were obtained as single crystals. The molecular geometry revealed by X-ray crystallography for all complexes except 4 is a compressed octahedron. In the crystal structure of 1, 2, and 3, the organic spin centers have various short contacts within 4 A with the neighboring molecules to form 3D and 2D spin networks. On the other hand, complexes 5a and 5b have no significant short intermolecular contacts, indicating that they are magnetically isolated. 1 and 2 behaved as a 3D antiferromagnet with a Neel temperature, T(N), of 22 K and as a weak 3D antiferromagnet with a T(N) of 2.9 K and a spin-flop field at 1.9 K, Hsp(1.9), of 0.7 kOe, respectively. 3 was a canted 2D antiferromagnet (a weak ferromagnet) with T(N) = 4.8 K and showed a hysteresis loop with a coercive force, Hc, of 1.3 kOe at 1.9 K. On the other hand, the trisubstituted complexes 4, 5a, and 5b functioned as single-molecule magnets (SMMs). 5b had an effective activation barrier, U(eff), value of 28 K in a microcrystalline state and 48 K in a frozen solution.

Adducts of acetylene and dimethylacetylenedicarboxylate at sulfurs in sulfur-bridged incomplete cubane-type tungsten clusters.

Reactions are reported of sulfur-bridged incomplete cubane-type tungsten clusters having W(3)(micro(3)-S)(micro-S)(3) cores with acetylene and its derivative dimethylacetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD). The reaction of the isothiocyanate tungsten cluster [W(3)(micro(3)-S)(micro-S)(3)(NCS)(9)](5)(-) (5) with acetylene in 0.1 M HCl afforded a novel complex having two acetylene molecules in different adduct formation modes, [W(3)(micro(3)-S)(micro(3)-SCH=CHS)(micro-SCH=CH(2))(NCS)(9)](4)(-) (6), and the presence of two kinds of intermediates [W(3)(micro(3)-S)(micro-S)(micro(3)-SCH=CHS)(NCS)(9)](5)(-) (7) and [W(3)(micro(3)-S)(micro-S)(2)(micro-SCH=CH(2))(NCS)(9)](4)(-) (8) was observed. The reaction of the diethyldithiophosphate (dtp) tungsten cluster [W(3)(micro(3)-S)(micro-S)(3)(micro-OAc)(dtp)(3)(CH(3)CN)] (10) with DMAD in acetonitrile containing acetic acid resulted in the formation of another complex having two DMAD molecules of different adduct formation modes, [W(3)(micro(3)-S)(micro-SC(CO(2))=CH(CO(2)CH(3)))(micro(3)-SC(CO(2)CH(3))=C(CO(2)CH(3))S)(micro-OAc)(dtp)(3)] (11), where hydrolysis of one of the four ester groups of the two DMAD groups occurred and the resultant carboxylic group coordinated to tungsten. The conformation of the micro-SCH=CH(2) moiety in 6 is different from that of the corresponding moiety in [W(3)(micro(3)-S)(micro-O)(micro-S)(micro-SCH=CH(2))(NCS)(9)](4)(-) (4). Introduction of the second acetylene molecule to the intermediate [W(3)(micro(3)-S)(micro-S)(2)(micro-SCH=CH(2))(NCS)(9)](4)(-) (8) resulted in the formation of 6. The clusters were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, (1)H NMR spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography (for (Hpy)(4).6.1.33py.0.5H(2)O and 11.CH(3)CN), and the formation of 6 and 11 was examined in detail from a mechanistic point of view.