Spontaneous piezoeletric effect as evidence of ferroelastoelectricity in guanidine zinc sulfate crystal.

The crystal of [C(NH2)3]2Zn(SO4)2 guanidine zinc sulfate was grown and its structure, dilatometric, dielectric, elastic and piezoelectric properties were studied in a broad temperature range, covering the phase transition point. The crystal undergoes a continuous phase transition at 178 K from the room temperature tetragonal phase with a space group I 4 ¯ 2 d to the tetragonal low temperature phase with a space group I 4 ¯ . The structural X-ray studies allowed proposing molecular mechanism associated with the rearrangement in the configuration of N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds and reorientation of guanidine cations in the structure, leading to a change in the symmetry of the low temperature phase. Results of thermal expansion and dielectric studies are typical of a structural nonferroelectric continuous transition. Also measurement of piezoelectric and elastic properties revealed small anomalies at 178 K. Below the transition temperature, a new piezoelectric component, that is a ferroelastoelectric macroscopic order parameter, was found.

Structural basis of main proteases of MERS-CoV bound to antineoplastic drug carmofur.

Recurrent epidemics of coronaviruses have posed significant threats to human life and health. The mortality rate of patients infected with the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is 35 %. The main protease (Mpro) plays a crucial role in the MERS-CoV life cycle, and Mpro exhibited a high degree of conservation among different coronaviruses. Therefore inhibition of Mpro has become an effective strategy for the development of broad-spectrum anti-coronaviral drugs. The inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro by the anti-tumor drug carmofur has been revealed, but structural studies of carmofur in complex with Mpro from other types of coronavirus have not been reported. Hence, we revealed the structure of the MERS-CoV Mpro-carmofur complex, analysed the structural basis for the binding of carmofur to MERS-CoV Mpro in detail, and compared the binding patterns of carmofur to Mpros of two different coronaviruses, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. Considering the importance of Mpros for coronavirus therapy, structural understanding of Mpro inhibition by carmofur could contribute to the design and development of novel antiviral drugs with safe and broad-spectrum efficacy.

Structural and Mutational Analyses of Trehalose Synthase from Deinococcus radiodurans Reveal the Interconversion of Maltose-Trehalose Mechanism.

Trehalose synthase (TreS) catalyzes the reversible interconversion of maltose to trehalose, playing a vital role in trehalose production. Understanding the catalytic mechanism of TreS is crucial for optimizing the enzyme activity and enhancing its suitability for industrial applications. Here, we report the crystal structures of both the wild type and the E324D mutant of Deinococcus radiodurans trehalose synthase in complex with the trehalose analogue, validoxylamine A. By employing structure-guided mutagenesis, we identified N253, E320, and E324 as crucial residues within the +1 subsite for isomerase activity. Based on these complex structures, we propose the catalytic mechanism underlying the reversible interconversion of maltose to trehalose. These findings significantly advance our comprehension of the reaction mechanism of TreS.

Rerefinement of the crystal structure of BiF5.

The crystal structure of bis-muth penta-fluoride, BiF5, was rerefined from single-crystal data. BiF5 crystallizes in the α-UF5 structure type in the form of colorless needles. In comparison with the previously reported crystal-structure model [Hebecker (1971 ▸). Z. Anorg. Allg. Chem. 384, 111-114], the lattice parameters and fractional atomic coordinates were determined to much higher precision and all atoms were refined anisotropically, leading to a significantly improved structure model. The Bi atom (site symmetry 4/m..) is surrounded by six F atoms in a distorted octa-hedral coordination environment. The [BiF6] octa-hedra are corner-linked to form infinite straight chains extending parallel to [001]. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations at the PBE0/TZVP level of theory were performed on the crystal structure of BiF5 to calculate its IR and Raman spectra. These are compared with experimental data.

Synthesis, mol-ecular and crystal structures of 4-amino-3,5-di-fluoro-benzo-nitrile, ethyl 4-amino-3,5-di-fluoro-benzoate, and diethyl 4,4'-(diazene-1,2-di-yl)bis-(3,5-di-fluoro-benzoate).

The crystal structures of two inter-mediates, 4-amino-3,5-di-fluoro-benzo-nitrile, C7H4F2N2 (I), and ethyl 4-amino-3,5-di-fluoro-benzoate, C9H9F2NO2 (II), along with a visible-light-responsive azo-benzene derivative, diethyl 4,4'-(diazene-1,2-di-yl)bis-(3,5-di-fluoro-benzoate), C18H14F4N2O4 (III), obtained by four-step synthetic procedure, were studied using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The mol-ecules of I and II demonstrate the quinoid character of phenyl rings accompanied by the distortion of bond angles related to the presence of fluorine substituents in the 3 and 5 (ortho) positions. In the crystals of I and II, the mol-ecules are connected by N-H⋯N, N-H⋯F and N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, C-H⋯F short contacts, and π-stacking inter-actions. In crystal of III, only stacking inter-actions between the mol-ecules are found.

Crystal and mol-ecular structure of 2-methyl-1,4-phenyl-ene bis-(3,5-di-bromo-benzoate).

The aryl diester compound, 2-methyl-1,4-phenyl-ene bis-(3,5-di-bromo-benzoate), C21H12Br4O4, was synthesized by esterification of methyl hydro-quinone with 3,5-di-bromo-benzoic acid. A crystalline sample was obtained by cooling a sample of the melt (m.p. = 502 K/DSC) to room temperature. The mol-ecular structure consists of a central benzene ring with anti-3,5-di-bromo-benzoate groups symmetrically attached at the 1 and 4 positions and a methyl group attached at the 2 position of the central ring. In the crystal structure (space group P), mol-ecules of the title aryl diester are located on inversion centers imposing disorder of the methyl group and H atom across the central benzene ring. The crystal structure is consolidated by a network of C-H⋯Br hydrogen bonds in addition to weaker and offset π-π inter-actions involving the central benzene rings as well as the rings of the attached 3,5-di-bromo-benzoate groups.

Crystal structure of 4-bromo-5,7-dimeth-oxy-2,3-di-hydro-1H-inden-1-one.

In the title mol-ecule, C11H11BrO3, the di-hydro-indene moiety is essentially planar but with a slight twist in the saturated portion of the five-membered ring. The meth-oxy groups lie close to the above plane. In the crystal, π-stacking inter-actions between six-membered rings form stacks of mol-ecules extending along the a-axis direction, which are linked by weak C-H⋯O and C-H⋯Br hydrogen bonds. A Hirshfeld surface analysis was performed showing H⋯H, O⋯H/H⋯O and Br⋯H/H⋯Br contacts make the largest contributions to inter-molecular inter-actions in the crystal.

Crystal structures of four thio-glycosides involving carbamimido-thio-ate groups.

The compounds 2',3',4',6'-tetra-O-acetyl-ß-d-gluco-pyranosyl N'-cyano-N-phenyl-carbamimido-thio-ate (C22H25N3O9S, 5a), 2',3',4',6'-tetra-O-acetyl-ß-d-galacto-pyranosyl N'-cyano-N-phenyl-carbamimido-thio-ate, (C22H25N3O9S, 5b), 2',3',4',6'-tetra-O-acetyl-ß-d-galacto-pyranosyl N'-cyano-N-methyl-carbamimido-thio-ate (C17H23N3O9S, 5c), and 2',3',4',6'-tetra-O-acetyl-ß-d-galacto-pyranosyl N'-cyano-N-p-tolyl-carbamimido-thio-ate (C23H27N3O9S, 5d) all crystallize in P212121 with Z = 4. For all four structures, the configuration across the central (formal) C=N(CN) double bond of the carbamimido-thio-ate group is Z. The torsion angles C5-O1-C1-S (standard sugar numbering) are all close to 180°, confirming the ß position of the substituent. Compound 5b involves an intra-molecular hydrogen bond N-H⋯O1; in 5c this contact is the weaker branch of a three-centre inter-action, whereas in 5a and 5d the H⋯O distances are much longer and do not represent significant inter-actions. The C-N bond lengths at the central carbon atom of the carbamimido-thio-ate group are almost equal. All C-O-C=O torsion angles of the acetyl groups correspond to a synperiplanar geometry, but otherwise all four mol-ecules display a high degree of conformational flexibility, with many widely differing torsion angles for equivalent groups. In the crystal packing, 5a, 5c and 5d form layer structures involving the classical hydrogen bond N-H⋯Ncyano and a variety of 'weak' hydrogen bonds C-H⋯O or C-H⋯S. The packing of 5b is almost featureless and involves a large number of borderline 'weak' hydrogen bonds. In an appendix, a potted history of wavelength preferences for structure determination is presented and it is recommended that, even for small organic crystals in non-centrosymmetric space groups, the use of Mo radiation should be considered.

Crystal structure of Staudtienic acid, a diterpenoid from Staudtia kamerunensis Warb. (Myristicaceae).

This title compound, C20H26O2, was isolated from the benzene fraction of the stem bark of Staudtia kamerunensis Warb. (Myristicaceae) using column chromatography techniques over silica gel. The compound was fully characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, one and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy, IR and MS spectrometry. The compound has two fused cyclo-hexane rings attached to a benzene ring, with a carb-oxy-lic acid on C-4. This cyclo-hexene ring has a chair conformation while the other adopts a half-chair conformation. The benzene ring is substituted with a propenyl moiety. The structure is characterized by inter-molecular O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, two C-H⋯O intra-molecular hydrogen bonds and two C-H⋯π inter-actions. The mol-ecular structure confirms previous studies carried out by spectroscopic techniques.

Synthesis, mol-ecular and crystal structure of [(NH2)2CSSC(NH2)2]2[RuBr6]Br2·3H2O.

The title compound, bis-[di-thio-bis-(formamidinium)] hexa-bromido-ruthenium dibromide trihydrate, [(NH2)2CSSC(NH2)2]2[RuBr6]Br2·3H2O, crystallizes in the ortho-rhom-bic system, space group Cmcm, Z = 4. The [RuBr6]2- anionic complex has an octa-hedral structure. The Ru-Br distances fall in the range 2.4779 (4)-2.4890 (4) Å. The S-S and C-S distances are 2.0282 (12) and 1.783 (2) Å, respectively. The H2O mol-ecules, Br- ions, and NH2 groups of the cation are linked by hydrogen bonds. The conformation of the cation is consolidated by intra-molecular O-H⋯Br, O-H⋯O, N-H⋯Br and N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds. The [(NH2)2CSSC(NH2)2]2+ cations form a hydrogen-bonded system involving the Br - ions and the water mol-ecules. Two Br - anions form four hydrogen bonds, each with the NH2 groups of two cations, thus linking the cations into a ring. The rings are connected by water mol-ecules, forming N-H⋯O-H⋯Br hydrogen bonds.

Crystal structure of polymeric bis-(3-amino-1H-pyrazole)-cadmium diiodide.

The reaction of cadmium iodide with 3-amino-pyrazole (3-apz) in ethano-lic solution leads to tautomerization of the ligand and the formation of crystals of the title compound, catena-poly[[di-iodido-cadmium(II)]-bis-(µ-3-amino-1H-pyrazole)-κ2 N 2:N 3;κ2 N 3:N 2], [CdI2(C3H5N3)2] n or [CdI2(3-apz)2] n . Its asymmetric unit consists of a half of a Cd2+ cation, an iodide anion and a 3-apz mol-ecule. The Cd2+ cations are coordinated by two iodide anions and two 3-apz ligands, generating trans-CdN4I2 octa-hedra, which are linked into chains by pairs of the bridging ligands. In the crystal, the ligand mol-ecules and iodide anions of neighboring chains are linked through inter-chain hydrogen bonds into a di-periodic network. The inter-molecular contacts were qu-anti-fied using Hirshfeld surface analysis and two-dimensional fingerprint plots, revealing the relative qu-anti-tative contributions of the weak inter-molecular contacts.

Structural determination of oleanane-28,13ß-olide and taraxerane-28,14ß-olide fluoro-lactonization products from the reaction of oleanolic acid with SelectfluorTM.

The X-ray crystal structure data of 12-α-fluoro-3ß-hy-droxy-olean-28,13ß-olide methanol hemisolvate, 2C30H47FO3·CH3OH, (1), and 12-α-fluoro-3ß-hy-droxy-taraxer-28,14ß-olide methanol hemisolvate, 2C30H47FO3·CH3OH, (2), are described. The fluoro-lactonization of oleanolic acid using SelectfluorTM yielded a mixture of the six-membered δ-lactone (1) and the unusual seven-membered γ-lactone (2) following a 1,2-shift of methyl C-27 from C-14 to C-13.

Crystal structure determination and Hirshfeld surface analysis of N-acetyl-N-3-meth-oxy-phenyl and N-(2,5-di-meth-oxy-phen-yl)-N-phenyl-sulfonyl derivatives of N-[1-(phenyl-sulfon-yl)-1H-indol-2-yl]methanamine.

Two new [1-(phenyl-sulfon-yl)-1H-indol-2-yl]methanamine derivatives, namely, N-(3-meth-oxy-phen-yl)-N-{[1-(phenyl-sulfon-yl)-1H-indol-2-yl]meth-yl}acetamide, C24H22N2O4S, (I), and N-(2,5-di-meth-oxy-phen-yl)-N-{[1-(phenyl-sulfon-yl)-1H-indol-2-yl]meth-yl}benzene-sulfonamide, C29H26N2O6S2, (II), reveal a nearly orthogonal orientation of their indole ring systems and sulfonyl-bound phenyl rings. The sulfonyl moieties adopt the anti-periplanar conformation. For both compounds, the crystal packing is dominated by C-H⋯O bonding [C⋯O = 3.312 (4)-3.788 (8) Å], with the structure of II exhibiting a larger number, but weaker bonds of this type. Slipped π-π inter-actions of anti-parallel indole systems are specific for I, whereas the structure of II delivers two kinds of C-H⋯π inter-actions at both axial sides of the indole moiety. These findings agree with the results of Hirshfeld surface analysis. The primary contributions to the surface areas are associated with the contacts involving H atoms. Although II manifests a larger fraction of the O⋯H/H⋯O contacts (25.8 versus 22.4%), most of them are relatively distal and agree with the corresponding van der Waals separations.

Crystal structure of bis-[(η5-tert-butyl-cyclo-pentadien-yl)tri-carbonyl-molybdenum(I)](Mo-Mo).

The dinuclear mol-ecule of the title compound, [Mo2(C9H13)2(CO)6] or [Mo( t BuCp)(CO)3]2 where t Bu and Cp are tert-butyl and cyclo-penta-dienyl, is centrosymmetric and is characterized by an Mo-Mo bond length of 3.2323 (3) Å. Imposed by inversion symmetry, the t BuCp and the carbonyl ligands are in a transoid arrangement to each other. In the crystal, inter-molecular C-H⋯O contacts lead to the formation of layers parallel to the bc plane.

Synthesis, structural studies and Hirshfeld surface analysis of 2-[(4-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)methyl]pyridin-1-ium hexa-kis-(nitrato-κ2 O,O')thorate(IV).

Reaction of thorium(IV) nitrate with 2-[(4-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)meth-yl]pyridine (L) yielded (LH)2[Th(NO3)6] or (C14H13N4)2[Th(NO3)6] (1), instead of the expected mixed-ligand complex [Th(NO3)4 L 2], which was detected in the mass spectrum of 1. In the structure, the [Th(NO3)6]2- anions display an icosa-hedral coordination geometry and are connected by LH+ cations through C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds. The LH+ cations inter-act via N-H⋯N hydrogen bonds. Hirshfeld surface analysis indicates that the most important inter-actions are O⋯H/H⋯O hydrogen-bonding inter-actions, which represent a 55.2% contribution.

Crystal structure of catena-poly[[methanoldioxidouranium(VI)]-µ-2-[5-(2-oxidophen-yl)-1H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl]acetato-κ2 O:O'].

In the title complex, [U(C10H7N3O3)O2(CH3OH)] n , the UVI cation has a typical penta-gonal-bipyramidal environment with the equatorial plane defined by one N and two O atoms of one doubly deprotonated 2-[5-(2-hy-droxy-phen-yl)-1H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl]acetic acid ligand, a carboxyl-ate O atom of the symmetry-related ligand and the O atom of the methanol mol-ecule [U-N/Oeq 2.256 (4)-2.504 (5) Å]. The axial positions are occupied by two oxide O atoms. The equatorial atoms are almost coplanar, with the largest deviation from the mean plane being 0.121 Šfor one of the O atoms. The benzene and triazole rings of the tetra-dentate chelating-bridging ligand are twisted by approximately 21.6 (2)° with respect to each other. The carboxyl-ate group of the ligand bridges two uranyl cations, forming a neutral zigzag chain reinforced by a strong O-H⋯O hydrogen bond. In the crystal, adjacent chains are linked into two-dimensional sheets parallel to the ac plane by C/N-H⋯N/O hydrogen bonding and π-π inter-actions. Further weak C-H⋯O contacts consolidate the three-dimensional supra-molecular architecture. In the solid state, the compound shows a broad medium intensity LMCT transition centred around 463 nm, which is responsible for its red colour.

Pyrazine-bridged polymetallic copper-iridium clusters.

Single crystals of the mol-ecular compound, {Cu20Ir6Cl8(C21H24N2)6(C4H4N2)3]·3.18CH3OH or [({Cu10Ir3}Cl4(IMes)3(pyrazine))2(pyrazine)]·3.18CH3OH [where IMes is 1,3-bis-(2,4,6-trimethylphen-yl)imidazol-2-yl-idene], with a unique heterometallic cluster have been prepared and the structure revealed using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The mol-ecule is centrosymmetric with two {Cu10Ir3} cores bridged by a pyrazine ligand. The polymetallic cluster contains three stabilizing N-heterocyclic carbenes, four Cl ligands, and a non-bridging pyrazine ligand. Notably, the Cu-Ir core is arranged in an unusual shape containing 13 vertices, 22 faces, and 32 sides. The atoms within the trideca-metallic cluster are arranged in four planes, with 2, 4, 4, 3 metals in each plane. Ir atoms are present in alternate planes with an Ir atom featuring in the peripheral bimetallic plane, and two Ir atoms featuring on opposite sides of the non-adjacent tetra-metallic plane. The crystal contains two disordered methanol solvent mol-ecules with an additional region of non-modelled electron density corrected for using the SQUEEZE routine in PLATON [Spek (2015 ▸). Acta Cryst. C71, 9-18]. The given chemical formula and other crystal data do not take into account the unmodelled methanol solvent mol-ecule(s).

Crystal structure of the 1:1 co-crystal 4-(di-methylamino)-pyridin-1-ium 8-hy-droxy-quinoline-5-sulfonate-N,N-di-methyl-pyridin-4-amine.

The asymmetric unit of the title compound is composed of two independent ion pairs of 4-(di-methyl-amino)-pyridin-1-ium 8-hy-droxy-quinoline-5-sulfonate (HDMAP+·HqSA-, C7H11N2 +·C9H6NO4S-) and neutral N,N-di-methyl-pyridin-4-amine mol-ecules (DMAP, C7H10N2), co-crystallized as a 1:1:1 HDMAP+:HqSA-:DMAP adduct in the monoclinic system, space group Pc. The compound has a layered structure, including cation layers of HDMAP+ with DMAP and anion layers of HqSA- in the crystal. In the cation layer, there are inter-molecular N-H⋯N hydrogen bonds between the protonated HDMAP+ mol-ecule and the neutral DMAP mol-ecule. In the anion layer, each HqSA- is surrounded by other six HqSA-, where the planar network structure is formed by inter-molecular O-H⋯O and C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds. The cation and anion layers are linked by inter-molecular C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds and C-H⋯π inter-actions.

Synthesis, crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of [1-(4-bromo-phen-yl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl]methyl 2-(4-nitro-phen-oxy)acetate.

The title compound, C17H13BrN4O5, was synthesized by a Cu2Br2-catalysed Meldal-Sharpless reaction between 4-nitro-phen-oxy-acetic acid propargyl ether and para-bromo-phenyl-azide, and characterized by X-ray structure determination and 1H NMR spectroscopy. The mol-ecules, with a near-perpendicular orientation of the bromo-phenyl-triazole and nitro-phen-oxy-acetate fragments, are connected into a three-dimensional network by inter-molecular C-H⋯O and C-H⋯N hydrogen bonds (confirmed by Hirshfeld surface analysis), π-π and Br-π inter-actions.

Crystal structures of seven gold(III) complexes of the form LAuX 3 (L = substituted pyridine, X = Cl or Br).

The structures of seven gold(III) halide derivatives of general formula LAuX 3 (L = methyl-pyridines or di-methyl-pyridines, X = Cl or Br) are presented: tri-chlorido-(2-methyl-pyridine)-gold(III), [AuCl3(C6H7N)], 1 (as two polymorphs 1a and 1b); tri-bromido-(2-methyl-pyridine)-gold(III), [AuBr3(C6H7N)], 2; tri-bromido-(3-methyl-pyridine)-gold(III), [AuBr3(C6H7N)], 3; tri-bromido-(2,4-di-meth-yl-pyridine)-gold(III), [AuBr3(C7H9N)], 4; tri-chlorido-(3,5-di-methylpyridine)-gold(III), [AuCl3(C7H9N)], 5; tri-bromido-(3,5-di-methyl-pyridine)-gold(III), [AuBr3(C7H9N)], 6, and tri-chlorido-(2,6-di-methyl-pyridine)-gold(III), [AuCl3(C7H9N)], 7. Additionally, the structure of 8, the 1:1 adduct of 2 and 6, [AuBr3(C6H7N)]·[AuBr3(C7H9N)], is included. All the structures crystallize solvent-free, and all have Z' = 1 except for 5 and 7, which display crystallographic twofold rotation symmetry, and 4, which has Z' = 2. 1a and 2 are isotypic. The coordination geometry at the gold(III) atoms is, as expected, square-planar. Four of the crystals (1a, 1b, 2 and 8) were non-merohedral twins, and these structures were refined using the 'HKLF 5' method. The largest inter-planar angles between the pyridine ring and the coordination plane are observed for those structures with a 2-methyl substituent of the pyridine ring. The Au-N bonds are consistently longer trans to Br (average 2.059 Å) than trans to Cl (average 2.036 Å). In the crystal packing, a frequent feature is the offset-stacked and approximately rectangular dimeric moiety (Au-X)2, with anti-parallel Au-X bonds linked by Au⋯X contacts at the vacant positions axial to the coordination plane. The dimers are connected by further secondary inter-actions (Au⋯X or X⋯X contacts, 'weak' C-H⋯X hydrogen bonds) to form chain, double chain ('ladder') or layer structures, and in several cases linked again in the third dimension. Only 1b and 7 contain no offset dimers; these structures instead involve C-H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds combined with Cl⋯Cl contacts (1b) or Cl⋯π contacts (7). The packing patterns of seven further complexes LAuX 3 involving simple pyridines (taken from the Cambridge Structural Database) are compared with those of 1-8.