A novel water-resistant and thermally stable black lead halide perovskite, phenyl viologen lead iodide C22H18N2(PbI3)2.

A novel black organoammonium iodoplumbate semiconductor, namely phenyl viologen lead iodide C22H18N2(PbI3)2 (PhVPI), was successfully synthesized and characterized. This material showed physical and chemical properties suitable for photovoltaic applications. Indeed, low direct allowed band gap energy (Eg = 1.32 eV) and high thermal stability (up to at least 300 °C) compared to methylammonium lead iodide CH3NH3PbI3 (MAPI, Eg = 1.5 eV) render PhVPI potentially attractive for solar cell fabrication. The compound was extensively characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (performed on both powder and single crystals), UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-Vis DRS), UV-photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS), FT-IR spectroscopy, TG-DTA, and CHNS analysis. Reactivity towards water was monitored through X-ray powder diffraction carried out after prolonged immersion of the material in water at room temperature. Unlike its methyl ammonium counterpart, PhVPI proved to be unaffected by water exposure. The lack of reactivity towards water is to be attributed to the quaternary nature of the nitrogen atoms of the phenyl viologen units that prevents the formation of acid-base equilibria when in contact with water. On the other hand, PhVPI's thermal stability was evaluated by temperature-controlled powder XRD measurements following an hour-long isothermal treatment at 250 and 300 °C. In both cases no signs of decomposition could be detected. However, the compound melted incongruently at 332 °C producing, upon cooling, a mostly amorphous material. PhVPI was found to be slightly soluble in DMF (∼5 mM) and highly soluble in DMSO. Nevertheless, its solubility in DMF can be dramatically increased by adding an equimolar amount of DMSO. Therefore, phenyl viologen lead iodide can be amenable for the fabrication of solar devices by spin coating as actually done for MAPI-based cells. The crystal structure, determined by means of single crystal X-ray diffraction using synchrotron radiation, turned out to be triclinic and consequently differs from the prototypal perovskite structure. In fact, it comprises infinite double chains of corner-sharing PbI6 octahedra along the a-axis direction with phenyl viologen cations positioned between the columns. Finally, the present determination of PhVPI's electronic band structure achieved through UPS and UV-Vis DRS is instrumental in using the material for solar cells.

Synthesis, physico-chemical characterization and structure of the elusive hydroxylammonium lead iodide perovskite NH3OHPbI3.

The synthesis of hydroxylammonium lead iodide NH3OHPbI3 was accomplished by means of the reaction between water solutions of HI and NH2OH with PbI2 in sulfolane in conjunction with either crystallization by CH2Cl2 vapor diffusion or sulfolane extraction with toluene. The appropriate choice of the solvent was found to be crucial in order to attain the desired material. The synthesized compound was extensively characterized by single crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, 1H-NMR spectroscopy, TG-DTA-QMS EGA (Evolved Gas Analysis), ESI-MS, and CHNS analysis. NH3OHPbI3 is an extremely reactive, deliquescent solid that easily oxidizes in air releasing iodine. Furthermore, it is the first reported perovskite to melt (m.p. around 80 °C) before decomposing exothermally at 103 °C. Such a chemical behavior, together with its optical absorption properties (i.e. yellow-colored perovskite), renders this material totally unsuitable for photovoltaic applications. The deliquescence of the material is to be ascribed to the strong hydrophilicity of hydroxylammonium ion. On the other hand, the relatively high Brønsted acidity of hydroxylammonium (pKa = 5.97) compared to other ammonium cations, promotes the reduction of atmospheric oxygen to water and the NH3OHPbI3 oxidation. The crystal structure, determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction with synchrotron radiation, is orthorhombic, but differs from the prototypal perovskite structure. Indeed it comprises infinite chains of face-sharing PbI6 octahedra along the c-axis direction with hydroxylammonium cations positioned between the columns, forming layers on the ac plane. The solvent intercalates easily between the layers. The crystal structure is apparently anomalous considering that the expected Goldschmidt's tolerance factor for the system (0.909) lies in the range of a stable prototypal perovskite structure. Therefore, the strong hydrogen bond forming tendency of hydroxylamine is likely to account for the apparent structural anomaly.

A novel 1D-AF hybrid organic-inorganic chromium(II) methyl phosphonate dihydrate: synthesis, X-ray crystal and molecular structure, and magnetic properties.

Light-blue crystals of chromium(II) methyl phosphonate dihydrate, [Cr(CH(3)PO(3))(H(2)O)].H(2)O, were obtained in water by mixing filtered solutions of methylphosphonic acid and chromium(II) chloride in the presence of urea in an inert atmosphere. The compound was characterized by elemental analysis, TGA-DSC, X-ray crystallography, magnetic measurements, and UV-visible and FT-IR spectroscopies. The crystal and molecular structures (orthorhombic Pnma (no. 62): a = 4.4714(5) A, b = 6.8762(7) A, c = 19.180(2) A, Z = 4) have been solved using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The chromium(II) ion is six-coordinated by oxygens (4 + 2) to form an elongated octahedron, with the four equatorial oxygen atoms belonging to [-PO(3)](2-) phosphonate groups. This stereochemistry of the Cr(II) ion (high-spin d(4) electronic configuration) is ascribed to the Jahn-Teller effect. The [CrO(6)] chromophore, the [CH(3)PO(3)](2-) anions, and the water molecules build a novel one-dimensional (1D) metal(II) oxide chain, anchored to each other within the ab plane by two oxygens of the phosphonate ligand. Within the chain, each Cr(2+) ion is connected through double oxygen bridges to its two neighbors, forming edge-sharing octahedra running along the b axis. The chains are further connected with the adjacent chains by phosphonate [-PO(3)](2-) groups of the ligand, forming an inorganic layer that alternates along the c axis of the unit cell with bilayers, consisting of methyl groups and water of crystallization. The thermal variation of the magnetic susceptibility follows the Curie-Weiss law, with a large negative Weiss constant, theta = -60 K, indicating the presence of antiferromagnetic AF exchange interactions between neighboring Cr(II) ions. The magnetic behavior and the magnetic dimensionality have been analyzed in terms of Fisher's classical limiting form of the Heisenberg chain theory, and a value of J = -9.3 cm(-1) was found. The negative value of the intra-chain exchange constant coupling J confirms the presence of an AF coupling. No sign of long-range magnetic ordering down to 2 K (the lowest measured temperature) is observed, in agreement with the predominant one-dimensional character of the exchange interactions.

Comparison of the structure and magnetic order in a series of layered Ni(II) organophosphonates, Ni[(RPO3)(H2O)] (R = C6H5, CH3, C18H37).

The reaction of nickel chloride with phenyl phosphonic acid under hydrothermal conditions resulted in the isolation of yellow-green single crystals of Ni[(C(6)H(5)PO(3))(H(2)O)]. The structure of the compound has been solved by X-ray single-crystal diffraction studies. Ni[(C(6)H(5)PO(3))(H(2)O)] crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pmn2(1) and is isostructural with the Mn(II), Fe(II), and Co(II) analogues. It presents the typical features of the hybrid 2D structures, consisting of alternating inorganic and organic layers. The former are formed by six-coordinated nickel(II) ions bridged by oxygen atoms into the layers. The inorganic layers are capped by the phenyl phosphonate groups, with phenyl groups of two adjacent ligands forming a hydrophobic bilayer region, and van der Waals contacts are established between them. The magnetic properties investigated by means of dc and ac susceptibility measurements point to an AF exchange coupling between nearest neighboring Ni(II) ions. Below 5 K, the compound orders magnetically showing the typical features of a canted antiferromagnet. The magnetic behavior and magnetic dimensionality of Ni[(C(6)H(5)PO(3))(H(2)O)] have been fully analyzed and compared to those of the Ni(II) parent compounds Ni[(RPO(3))(H(2)O)] (where R = CH(3), C(18)H(37)), which exhibit different symmetries of the inorganic layers and lengths of the R groups.

(3R,5S)-5(3)-Carb-oxy-3,4,5,6-tetra-hydro-2H-1,4-thia-zin-4-ium-3(5)-carboxyl-ate.

The molecule of the zwitterionic title compound, C(6)H(9)NO(4)S, which lies on a mirror plane, shows a puckered chair conformation of the six-membered ring with the S and N atoms out of the mean plane of the other four C atoms by 0.929 (2) and 0.647 (2) Å, respectively. The ionized carboxyl group is equatorially oriented. The hydrogen-bonding network includes very short O-H⋯O [2.470 (2) Å] and N-H⋯S [3.471 (2) and 3.416 (2) Å] inter-molecular contacts.

An unusual syn conformation of 5-formyluracil stabilized by supramolecular interactions.

The asymmetric unit of the amino-oxo tautomer of 5-formyluracil (systematic name: 2,4-dioxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidine-5-carbaldehyde), C(5)H(4)N(2)O(3), comprises one planar amino-oxo tautomer, as every atom in the structure lies on a crystallographic mirror plane. At variance with all the previously reported small-molecule crystal structures containing the 5-formyluracil residue, the formyl substituent in the title compound exhibits an unusual syn conformation. The molecules are linked into planar sheets parallel to the bc plane by a combination of six N-H...O and C-H...O hydrogen bonds. Four of the hydrogen bonds are utilized to stabilize the formyl group in the syn conformation.

Hydrogen-bonded supramolecular motifs in the 1:1 monohydrated molecular adduct of acetoguanaminium chloride with acetoguanamine and in 2,4,6-triaminopyrimidinediium dichloride dihydrate.

In the 1:1 monohydrated molecular adduct 2,4-diamino-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazin-1-ium chloride 2,4-diamino-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazine monohydrate, C(4)H(8)N(5)(+).Cl(-).C(4)H(7)N(5).H(2)O, formed between 2,4-diamino-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazin-1-ium chloride (acetoguanaminium chloride) and 2,4-diamino-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazine (acetoguanamine), and in triaminopyrimidinediium dichloride dihydrate, C(4)H(9)N(5)(2+).2Cl(-).2H(2)O, whose cationic component lies across a twofold rotation axis, the protonation occurs at the ring N atoms and the bond distances in the protonated molecules indicate significant bond alterations, consistent with charge-separated polar forms. The supramolecular structures of both compounds are stabilized by systems of hydrogen bonds forming complex sheets, interlinked by sets of hydrogen bonds involving the solvent water molecules and the chloride anions.

Evidence of the facile hydride and enolate addition to the imine bond of an aluminum-salophen complex.

The isolation of complexes 2 and 3, unambiguously characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, demonstrates that nucleophilic additions to the aluminum-coordinated imino bond of salophen complex 1 can be achieved under very mild conditions.

The 1:1 complex of cytosine and 5-fluorouracil monohydrate revisited.

The monohydrated molecular adduct cytosine-5-fluorouracil-water (1/1/1) (denoted CytFur) [systematic name: 4-aminopyrimidin-2(1H)-one-5-fluoropyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione-water (1/1/1)], C(4)H(5)N(3)O x C(4)H(3)FN(2)O(2) x H(2)O, was determined some 40 years ago [Voet & Rich (1969). J. Am. Chem. Soc. 91, 3069-3075] and is widely cited as the first example of an intermolecular complex between two pyrimidinic nucleobases. In view of the importance of these base associations, CytFur has been reinvestigated with modern laboratory equipment to higher precision and with the location and free refinement of the H atoms. The new experiment reaffirms the results of the original and clarifies the tautomeric form exhibited by the compounds. The asymmetric unit comprises a hydrogen-bonded adduct of the canonical amino-oxo tautomers in an exact 1:1 ratio and a water molecule of crystallization. This cyclic dimer forms a layered structure approximately parallel to the bc plane by joining through hydrogen bonds other such cyclic dimers. Disordered water molecules run through tunnels formed by surrounding molecular adducts along the a axis.

The 1:1 cocrystals of the proton-transfer compound dilituric acid--phenylbiguanide monohydrate.

A proton-transfer compound, 1-phenylbiguanidium 5-nitro-2,6-dioxo-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyrimidin-4-olate monohydrate, C(8)H(12)N(5)(+) x C(4)H(2)N(3)O(5)(-) x H(2)O, has been synthesized by a reaction between dilituric acid (5-nitro-2,4,6-trihydroxypyrimidine, Dilit) and phenylbiguanide (N-phenylimidocarbonimidic diamide, Big). This compound cocrystallized as a 1:1 adduct, and the asymmetric unit consists of two dilituric amino-oxo planar tautomeric anions (Dilit(-)), two monoprotonated phenylbiguanidium cations (BigH(+)) and two water molecules of crystallization (Z' = 2). Protonation occurs at the N atom attached to the phenyl ring of Big as a result of the proton-transfer process from the acidic hydroxy group of Dilit. In the crystal structure, the hydrated 1:1 adduct is stabilized by 25 two- and three-center hydrogen bonds.

Nicotinohydrazide.

IN THE TITLE COMPOUND (ALTERNATIVE NAME: pyridine-3-carbo-hydrazide, C(6)H(7)N(3)O), the asymmetric unit contains a single mol-ecule. In contrast with nicotinic acid and nicotinamide, the C=O bond is found to be oriented cis with respect to the C(ipso) C N fragment in the pyridine ring. The pyridine ring and the hydrazide group make a dihedral angle of 34.0 (2)°. In the crystal structure, mol-ecules are associated into a three-dimensional framework by a combination of N-H⋯N and three-centre N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds.

Characterization of wax manufactures of historical and artistic interest.

Purpose of this scientific research is the physic and chemical characterization of two historical wax manufactures, made at the end of XIX century by Francesco Bianchi, a papal engraver. The chemical and analytical investigation was necessary to complete and to confirm the restorer's work. The IR Spectroscopy, X-Ray and GC-MS, the best technique to characterise wax, allowed us to obtain the following results. The two manufactures were made with commercial beeswax: in fact, the relative chromatograms showed unchanged peaks about esters of palmitic acid with C24 to C32 alcohol molecules; using standard beeswax we determined the same amount of hydrocarbons present in the wax manufactures. We found several hydrocarbons in these beeswax materials so that it is reasonable to think about successive modifications. ZnO (white zinc), a pigment, was added, probably due to its colour and covering capacity. Sb2S3, Anthimoniun vermilion, a red-orange pigment, was added to these manufactures to give them a soft pink-orange colour. By all used techniques we determined some modifications in the original beeswax; surely they were made to get a more malleable, mouldable, and then more able to be modelled wax.

Diastereoselective electrochemical carboxylation of chiral alpha-bromocarboxylic acid derivatives: an easy access to unsymmetrical alkylmalonic ester derivatives.

The diastereoselective electrochemical carboxylation of chiral N-(2-bromoacyl)oxazolidin-2-ones has been studied. This reaction was carried out by cathodic reduction of the C-Br bond, in the presence of carbon dioxide, followed by treatment with diazomethane. The yields and the diastereomeric ratio of the two epimeric alkylmalonic acid derivatives are strongly affected by various factors: solvent-supporting electrolyte system, temperature, electrode material, electrolysis conditions, oxazolidinone moiety. The higher yields (88%) were obtained starting from N-(2-bromopropionyl)-4R-phenyloxazolidin-2-one 1a, but with poor diastereoselectivity (61:39). The two epimers were easily separated by flash chromatography. The best results were achieved using a different chiral auxiliary: Oppolzer's camphor sultam. Starting from 1j a good yield in carboxylated product was obtained (80%) with excellent diastereoselectivity (98:2). These chiral alkylmalonic acid derivatives are valuable building blocks in the synthesis of molecules with biological activity and of chiral propane-1,3-diols derivatives.

Cr[(H3N-(CH2)2-PO3)(Cl)(H2O)]: X-ray single-crystal structure and magnetism of a polar organic-inorganic hybrid chromium(II) organophosphonate.

Cr[(H(3)N-(CH(2))(2)-PO(3))(Cl)(H(2)O)], a rare example of a polar organic-inorganic hybrid material containing Cr(2+), was prepared from CrCl(2), 2-aminoethylphosphonic acid, and urea in water and isolated as light-blue crystals. It crystallizes in the noncentrosymmetric monoclinic space group P2(1), with a = 5.249(1) A, b = 14.133(3) A, c = 5.275(1) A, and beta = 105.55(2) degrees. The inorganic layer of the hybrid network is formed by Cr(II) five-coordinated by three oxygen atoms from the phosphonates and one from the water molecule in a square pyramidal unit, whose apical position is occupied by the Cl(-) ion. Hydrogen bonds are established between the coordinating water molecule and the oxygen atoms of adjacent phosphonate ligands. The inorganic network is interspersed by ethylammonium groups, and the terminal ammonium moiety is linked to the apical Cl(-) ions through hydrogen bonds. Electrostatic interactions as well as hydrogen bonds and the coordinated chlorine atoms ensure the cohesion of the 3D structure. The lattice is polar (lack of inversion center), and this fact determines the magnetic behavior of the compound at low temperatures. The magnetic susceptibility data in the temperature range from 300 to 50 K show Curie-Weiss behavior, with C = 2.716 cm(3) K mol(-1) and the Weiss constant theta = -2.2 K. The corresponding effective magnetic moment of 4.7 mu(B) compares well with the expected value for Cr(2+) in d(4) high-spin configuration. A slight decrease of the chiT product versus T observed at temperatures below 50 K indicates nearest-neighbor antiferromagnetic exchange interactions. On cooling below T = 6 K, the magnetic susceptibility increases sharply up to a maximum at ca. 5 K and then decreases again. Below T = 6 K, hysteresis loops taken at different temperatures show that Cr[(H(3)N-(CH(2))(2)-PO(3))(Cl)(H(2)O)] behaves as a weak ferromagnet with the critical temperature T(N) at 5.5 K. The spin canting is responsible of the long-range magnetic ordering. The values of the coercive field, H(c), and of remnant magnetization, M(r), obtained from the hysteresis loop at T = 4.5 K (the lowest measured temperature) are 30 Oe and 0.08 mu(B), respectively.

1,3-Bridged p-methyloctahomotetraoxacalix[4]arene-bis-crown-3.

The title compound, 13,21,35,43-tetramethyl-3,6,9,17,25,28,31,39,46,49-decaoxaheptacyclo[21.21.3.3(11,33).0(2,41).0(10,15).0(19,24).0(32,37)]pentaconta-1,10,12,14,19,21,23,32,34,36,41,43-dodecaene, C(44)H(52)O(10), differs from previously reported 1,3-bridged calix[4]arene[bond]bis-crown compounds in having an enlarged calixarene ring and shorter polyoxyethylene bridges. The cavity is partly filled by the bridges.

X-ray single-crystal structure and magnetic properties of Fe[CH(3)PO(3))] x H(2)O: a layered weak ferromagnet.

The crystal and molecular structure of the layered weak-ferromagnet Fe[CH(3)PO(3)] x H(2)O has been solved by X-ray single-crystal diffraction techniques. Crystal data for Fe[CH(3)PO(3)] x H(2)O are the following: orthorhombic space group Pna2(1); a =17.538(2), b = 4.814(1), c = 5.719(1) A. The structure is lamellar, and it consists of alternating organic and inorganic layers along the a direction of the unit cell. The inorganic layers are made of Fe(II) ions octahedrally coordinated by five phosphonate oxygen atoms and one from oxygen of the water molecule. Each phosphonate group coordinates four metal ions, through chelation and bridging, making in this way a cross-linked Fe-O network. The resultant layers are then separated by bilayers of the methyl groups, with van der Waals contacts between them. The compound is air stable, and it dehydrates under inert atmosphere at temperatures above 120 degrees C. The oxidation state of the metal ion is +2, and the electronic configuration is d(6)( )()high spin (S = 2), as determined from dc magnetic susceptibility measurements from 150 K to ambient temperature. Below 100 K, the magnetic moment of Fe[CH(3)PO(3)] x H(2)O rises rapidly to a maximum at T(max) approximately equal to 24 K, and then it decreases again. The onset of peak at T = 25 K is associated with the 3D antiferromagnetic long-range ordering, T(N). The observed critical temperature, T(N), is like all the other previously reported Fe(II) phosphonates, and it appears to be nearly independent of the interlayer spacing in this family of hybrid organic-inorganic layered compounds. Below T(N), the compound behaves as a "weak ferromagnet", and represents the third kind of magnetic materials with a spontaneous magnetization below a finite critical temperature, ferromagnets and ferrimagnets being the other two types.