Selective Gold Precipitation by a Tertiary Diamide Driven by Thermodynamic Control.

The simple diamide ligand L was previously shown to selectively precipitate gold from acidic solutions typical of e-waste leach streams, with precipitation of gallium, iron, tin, and platinum possible under more forcing conditions. Herein, we report direct competition experiments to afford the order of selectivity. Thermal analysis indicates that the gold-, gallium-, and iron-containing precipitates present as the most thermodynamically stable structures at room temperature, while the tin-containing structure does not. Computational modeling established that the precipitation process is thermodynamically driven, with ion exchange calculations matching the observed experimental selectivity ordering. Calculations also show that the stretched ligand conformation seen in the X-ray crystal structure of the gold-containing precipitate is more strained than in the structures of the other metal precipitates, indicating that intermolecular interactions likely dictate the selectivity ordering. This was confirmed through a combination of Hirshfeld, noncovalent interaction (NCI), and quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) analyses, which highlight favorable halogen···halogen contacts between metalates and pseudo-anagostic C-H···metal interactions in the crystal structure of the gold-containing precipitate.

Tuning energetic properties through co-crystallisation - a high-pressure experimental and computational study of nitrotriazolone: 4,4'-bipyridine.

We report the preparation of a co-crystal formed between the energetic molecule 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO) and 4,4'-bipyridine (BIPY), that has been structurally characterised by high-pressure single crystal and neutron powder diffraction data up to 5.93 GPa. No phase transitions or proton transfer were observed up to this pressure. At higher pressures the crystal quality degraded and the X-ray diffraction patterns showed severe twinning, with the appearance of multiple crystalline domains. Computational modelling indicates that the colour changes observed on application of pressure can be attributed to compression of the unit cell that cause heightened band dispersion and band gap narrowing that coincides with a shortening of the BIPY π⋯π stacking distance. Modelling also suggests that the application of pressure induces proton migration along an N-H⋯N intermolecular hydrogen bond. Impact-sensitivity measurements show that the co-crystal is less sensitive to initiation than NTO, whereas computational modelling suggests that the impact sensitivities of NTO and the co-crystal are broadly similar.

Accounting for super-, plateau- and mesa-rate burning by lead and copper-based ballistic modifiers in double-base propellants: a computational study.

We present a first-principles computational study to understand the action of lead and copper-based ballistic modifiers in the combustion of double-base propellants (DBPs). We show that lead oxide clusters are easily broken down upon addition of small amounts of carbon and the resulting graphitic matrix, dispersed with weakly bound and exposed Pb sites, acts as a Lewis acid to bind small molecule Lewis bases such as NO2 and CH2O that form in the combustion flame. This accounts for super-rate burning, where the fuel burn rate is enhanced. We also show how carbon availability accounts for the plateau- and mesa-rate burning effects, where the fuel burn rate is suppressed. In contrast, cluster integrity on binding carbon to copper oxide is retained, and interaction with NO2 and CH2O is essentially negligible. Carbon binds more strongly to copper oxide, however, and we therefore propose that when carbon levels start to fall this results in the lead oxide clusters being starved of carbon, which leads to plateau and mesa burning. Taken together, the calculations support a general model that accounts for the super-, plateau- and mesa-rate ballistic modifier burning effects.

High-pressure structural studies and pressure-induced sensitisation of 3,4,5-trinitro-1H-pyrazole.

Herein we report the first high-pressure study of the energetic material 3,4,5-trinitro-1H-pyrazole (3,4,5-TNP) using neutron powder diffraction and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. A new high-pressure phase, termed Form II, was first identified through a substantial change in the neutron powder diffraction patterns recorded over the range 4.6-5.3 GPa, and was characterised further by compression of a single crystal to 5.3 GPa in a diamond-anvil cell using X-ray diffraction. 3,4,5-TNP was found to be sensitive to initiation under pressure, as demonstrated by its unexpected and violent decomposition at elevated pressures in successive powder diffraction experiments. Initiation coincided with the sluggish phase transition from Form I to Form II. Using a vibrational up-pumping model, its increased sensitivity under pressure can be explained by pressure-induced mode hardening. These findings have potential implications for the safe handling of 3,4,5-TNP, on the basis that shock- or pressure-loading may lead to significantly increased sensitivity to initiation.

Is the impact sensitivity of RDX polymorph dependent?

Impact-sensitivity predictions based on the vibrational up-pumping model show a strong polymorph dependency for RDX and highlight that one of the high-pressure forms, which forms during shock-wave experiments, is appreciably more susceptible to mechanical initiation. The origin of the predicted impact sensitivity variation can be attributed to vibrational mode hardening by pressure and to differences in the molecular conformation of RDX in the four polymorphs studied. These polymorphs present different distributions of molecular vibrations within their respective up-pumping windows, which leads to their varying ability to up-pump and trap the vibrational energy that arises from mechanical insult.

Efficient Recycling of Gold and Copper from Electronic Waste by Selective Precipitation.

The recycling of metals from electronic waste (e-waste) using efficient, selective, and sustainable processes is integral to circular economy and net-zero aspirations. Herein, we report a new method for the selective precipitation of metals such as gold and copper that offsets the use of organic solvents that are traditionally employed in solvent extraction processes. We show that gold can be selectively precipitated from a mixture of metals in hydrochloric acid solution using triphenylphosphine oxide (TPPO), as the complex [(TPPO)4 (H5 O2 )][AuCl4 ]. By tuning the acid concentration, controlled precipitation of gold, zinc and iron can be achieved. We also show that copper can be selectively precipitated using 2,3-pyrazinedicarboxylic acid (2,3-PDCA), as the complex [Cu(2,3-PDCA-H)2 ]n ⋅ 2n(H2 O). The combination of these two precipitation methods resulted in the recovery of 99.5 % of the Au and 98.5 % of the Cu present in the connector pins of an end-of-life computer processing unit. The selectivity of these precipitation processes, combined with their straightforward operation and the ability to recycle and reuse the precipitants, suggests potential industrial uses in the purification of gold and copper from e-waste.

Simple Amides and Amines for the Synergistic Recovery of Rhodium from Hydrochloric Acid by Solvent Extraction.

The separation and isolation of many of the platinum group metals (PGMs) is currently achieved commercially using solvent extraction processes. The extraction of rhodium is problematic however, as a variety of complexes of the form [RhCln (H2 O)6-n ](n-3)- are found in hydrochloric acid, making it difficult to design a reagent that can extract all the rhodium. In this work, the synergistic combination of a primary amine (2-ethylhexylamine, LA ) with a primary amide (3,5,5-trimethylhexanamide, L1 ) is shown to extract over 85 % of rhodium from 4 M hydrochloric acid. Two rhodium complexes are shown to reside in the organic phase, the ion-pair [HLA ]3 [RhCl6 ] and the amide complex [HLA ]2 [RhCl5 (L1 )]; in the latter complex, the amide is tautomerized to its enol form and coordinated to the rhodium centre through the nitrogen atom. This insight highlights the need for ligands that target specific metal complexes in the aqueous phase and provides an efficient synergistic solution for the solvent extraction of rhodium.

Cooperative Heterometallic Catalysts for Lactide Ring-Opening Polymerization: Combining Aluminum with Divalent Metals.

While homometallic (salen)Al catalysts display excellent performance in lactide ring-opening polymerization (ROP), heterometallic (salen)Al complexes have yet to be reported. Herein, we describe four heterobimetallic (salen)Al catalysts and show that the choice of the heterometal is key. Cooperative Al/Mg and Al/Zn combinations improved the catalyst activity by a factor of up to 11 compared to the mono-Al analogue, whereas the mono-Mg and mono-Zn analogues were completely inactive. In contrast, Al/Li and Al/Ca heterocombinations stunted the polymerization rate. Kinetic and computational studies suggest that Al/Mg and Al/Zn cooperativity arises from the close intermetallic proximity facilitating chloride bridging (thus enhancing initiation), which promotes a rigid square pyramidal geometry around the Al center and further increases the available monomer coordination sites. This work also translates the use of ab initio molecular dynamics calculations to ROP, introducing a useful method of investigating catalyst flexibility and revealing that ligand strain and molecular rigidity can enhance heterometallic catalyst performance.

Predicting the impact sensitivities of energetic materials through zone-center phonon up-pumping.

The development of new energetic materials (EMs) is accompanied by significant hazards, prompting interest in their computational design. Before reliable in silico design strategies can be realized, however, approaches to understand and predict EM response to mechanical impact must be developed. We present here a fully ab initio model based on phonon up-pumping that successfully ranks the relative impact sensitivity of a series of organic EMs. The methodology depends only on the crystallographic unit cell and Brillouin zone center vibrational frequencies. We, therefore, expect this approach to become an integral tool in the large-scale screening of potential EMs.

Aluminium-Catalyzed C(sp)-H Borylation of Alkynes.

Historically used in stoichiometric hydroalumination chemistry, recent advances have transformed aluminium hydrides into versatile catalysts for the hydroboration of unsaturated multiple bonds. This catalytic ability is founded on the defining reactivity of aluminium hydrides with alkynes and alkenes: 1,2-hydroalumination of the unsaturated π-system. This manuscript reports the aluminium hydride catalyzed dehydroborylation of terminal alkynes. A tethered intramolecular amine ligand controls reactivity at the aluminium hydride centre, switching off hydroalumination and instead enabling selective reactions at the alkyne C-H σ-bond. Chemoselective C-H borylation was observed across a series of aryl- and alkyl-substituted alkynes (21 examples). On the basis of kinetic and density functional theory studies, a mechanism in which C-H borylation proceeds by σ-bond metathesis between pinacolborane (HBpin) and alkynyl aluminium intermediates is proposed.

Towards understanding the catalytic properties of lead-based ballistic modifiers in double base propellants.

Lead-based ballistic modifiers are additives in double base propellants (DBPs) which render the burn rate insensitive to changes in pressure within a defined pressure range, thus imparting greater control of combustion conditions. In-coming European legislation will soon ban the use of lead in propellant formulations, however, and few suitable candidate replacement materials are currently available. In an effort to understand better the unique properties offered by lead-based modifiers, we present a first-principles computational study on Pb, PbO, PbO2, SnO2 and Bi2O3, all of which have been investigated experimentally as ballistic modifier materials. Our study demonstrates that various quantifiable properties exist for the lead-based materials. Overall, they have narrower electronic band gaps, lower surface energies and lower surface work functions than the lead-free systems, indicating a greater propensity to form stable chemical surfaces with higher catalytic activity. We also show that of the set, only Pb and α-PbO can support the formation of a weakly bound layer of amorphous carbon, a key experimental observable in the burning of DBPs.

Probing the structural and electronic response of Magnus green salt compounds [Pt(NH2R)4][PtCl4] (R = H, CH3) to pressure.

Despite possessing the desirable crystal packing and short PtPt stacking distances required for a large piezoresistive response, the conductivity-pressure response of the Magnus green salt [Pt(NH3)4][PtCl4] is extremely sluggish. Through a combination of high-pressure X-ray diffraction and hybrid-DFT solid state calculations this study demonstrates that the poor conductivity-pressure response is due to a low volumetric compression anisotropy, a relatively large ambient pressure band gap and a lack of dispersion in the conduction band. Ligand modification (from NH3 to NH2CH3) does not enhance the piezoresistive response, causing even lower anisotropy of the volumetric compression and an unexpected phase transition at above 2 GPa. This study demonstrates that consideration of frontier band dispersion is a key design criterion, alongside crystal packing and PtPt stacking distances, for piezoresistive materials.

Pressure-induced non-innocence in bis(1,2-dionedioximato)Pt(ii) complexes: an experimental and theoretical study of their insulator-metal transitions.

Bis(1,2-dionedioximato) complexes of Pt(ii) are known for their propensity to form linear chains of metal complexes in the solid state, and under the application of pressure members of the family display interesting optical and conductive properties. Two examples, Pt(bqd)2 and Pt(dmg)2, are known to undergo insulator-to-metal-to-insulator transitions, with the metallic state reached at 0.8-1.4 GPa and 5 GPa, respectively. Previous interpretations of these materials' behaviour focused on the role of the filled dz2 and vacant p orbitals on platinum, with little consideration to the role of the ligand. Here, the pressure-structural behaviour of Pt(bqd)2 is investigated through single crystal X-ray diffraction, the first such study on this material. The difference in conductive behaviour under pressure between Pt(bqd)2 and Pt(dmg)2 is then interpreted through a combination of experimental and computational methods, including conductivity measurements under high pressure and electronic structure calculations. Our computational work reveals the significant contribution from ligand low-lying vacant π-orbitals to the frontier orbitals and bands in these complexes, and provides an explanation for the experimentally observed re-entrant insulator-to-metal-to-insulator transitions, and the differences in behaviour between the two compounds.

Proton Chelating Ligands Drive Improved Chemical Separations for Rhodium.

Current methods for the extraction of rhodium carry the highest carbon footprint and worst pollution metrics of all of the elements used in modern technological applications. Improving upon existing methods is made difficult by the limited understanding of the molecular-level chemistry occurring in extraction processes, particularly in the hydrometallurgical separation step. While many of the precious metals can be separated by solvent extraction, there currently exist no commercial extractants for Rh. This is due to its complicated mixed speciation upon leaching into hydrochloric acid, which gives rise to difficulties in designing effective reagents for solvent extraction. Herein we show that the diamidoamine reagent N- n-hexylbis( N-methyl- N- n-octylethylamide)amine transports Rh(III) from aqueous HCl into an organic phase as the monoaquated dianion [RhCl5(H2O)]2- through the formation of an outer-sphere assembly; this assembly has been characterized by experimentation (slope analysis, FT-IR and NMR spectroscopy, EXAFS, SANS, and ESI-MS) and computational modeling. The paper demonstrates the importance of applying a broad range of techniques to obtain a convincing mode of action for the complex processes involved in anion recognition in the solution phase. A consistent and comprehensive understanding of how the ligand operates to achieve Rh(III) selectivity over the competitor anion Cl- has emerged. This knowledge will guide the design of extractants and thus offers promise for improving the sustainability of metal extraction from both traditional mining sources and the recycling of secondary source materials.

Tuning the Swing Effect by Chemical Functionalization of Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks.

Many zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) are promising candidates for use in separation technologies. Comprising large cavities interconnected by small windows they can be used, at least in principle, as molecular sieves where molecules smaller than the window size are able to diffuse into the material while larger molecules are rejected. However, "swing effect" or "gate opening" phenomena resulting in an enlargement of the windows have proven to be detrimental. Here, we present the first systematic experimental and computational study of the effect of chemical functionalization of the imidazole linker on the framework dynamics. Using high-pressure (HP) single-crystal X-ray diffraction, density functional theory, and grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations, we show that in the isostructural ZIF-8, ZIF-90, and ZIF-65 functional groups of increasing polarity (-CH3, -CHO, and -NO2) on the imidazole linkers provide control over the degree of rotation and thus the critical window diameter. On application of pressure, the substituted imidazolate rings rotate, resulting in an increase in both pore volume and content. Our results show that the interplay between the guest molecules and the chemical function of the imidazole linker is essential for directing the swing effect in ZIF frameworks and therefore the adsorption performance.

Anisotropic lattice softening near the structural phase transition in the thermosalient crystal 1,2,4,5-tetrabromobenzene.

The thermosalient effect (crystal jumping on heating) attracts much attention as both an intriguing academic phenomenon and in relation to its potential for the development of molecular actuators but its mechanism remains unclear. 1,2,4,5-Tetrabromobenzene (TBB) is one of the most extensively studied thermosalient compounds that has been shown previously to undergo a phase transition on heating, accompanied by crystal jumping and cracking. The difference in the crystal structures and intermolecular interaction energies of the low- and high-temperature phases is, however, too small to account for the large stress that arises over the course of the transformation. The energy is released spontaneously, and crystals jump across distances that exceed the crystal size by orders of magnitude. In the present work, the anisotropy of lattice strain is followed across the phase transition by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, focusing on the structural evolution from 273 to 343 K. A pronounced lattice softening is observed close to the transition point, with the structure becoming more rigid immediately after the phase transition. The diffraction studies are further supported by theoretical analysis of pairwise intermolecular energies and zone-centre lattice vibrations. Only three modes are found to monotonically soften up to the phase transition, with complex behaviour exhibited by the remaining lattice modes. The thermosalient effect is delayed with respect to the structural transformation itself. This can originate from the martensitic mechanism of the transformation, and the accumulation of stress associated with vibrational switching across the phase transition. The finding of this study sheds more light on the nature of the thermosalient effect in 1,2,4,5-tetrabromobenzene and can be applicable also to other thermosalient compounds.

Vibrationally induced metallisation of the energetic azide α-NaN3.

As initiation of an energetic material requires rupture of a covalent bond, and therefore population of antibonding electronic states, consideration of the electronic band gap has dominated initiation mechanisms for solid state materials. Most prominent are models based on metallisation, where static mechanical perturbation leads to closing of the electronic band gap. This work explores an alternative mechanism for the dynamic metallisation of a model energetic material, where vibrational excitation resulting from mechanical impact is found to induce transient metallisation of α-NaN3. The normal coordinates associated with bending the azido anion close the electronic band gap, facilitating the formation of highly reactive species important for initiation of energetic materials. The DFT simulated vibrational spectrum of α-NaN3 exhibits excellent reproduction of the experimental low-temperature inelastic neutron scattering spectrum (INS).

Inter- versus Intramolecular Structural Manipulation of a Dichromium(II) Pacman Complex through Pressure Variation.

The effect of pressure on the intranuclear M···M separation and intermolecular secondary interactions in the dinuclear chromium Pacman complex [Cr2(L)](C6H6) was evaluated because this compound contains both a short Cr···Cr separation and an exogenously bound molecule of benzene in the solid state. The electronic structure of [Cr2(L)] was determined by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, SQUID magnetometry, and density functional theory calculations and shows a diamagnetic ground state through antiferromagnetic exchange, with no evidence for a Cr-Cr bond. Analysis of the solid-state structures of [Cr2(L)](C6H6) at pressures varying from ambient to 3.0 GPa shows little deformation in the Cr···Cr separation, i.e., no Cr-Cr bond formation, but instead a significantly increased interaction between the exogenous arene and the chromium iminopyrrolide environment. It is therefore apparent from this analysis that [Cr2(L)] would be best exploited as a rigid chemical synthon, with pressure regulation being used to mediate the approach and secondary interactions of possible substrates.

A Simple Primary Amide for the Selective Recovery of Gold from Secondary Resources.

Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) such as mobile phones contains a plethora of metals of which gold is by far the most valuable. Herein a simple primary amide is described that achieves the selective separation of gold from a mixture of metals typically found in mobile phones by extraction into toluene from an aqueous HCl solution; unlike current processes, reverse phase transfer is achieved simply using water. Phase transfer occurs by dynamic assembly of protonated and neutral amides with [AuCl4 ](-) ions through hydrogen bonding in the organic phase, as shown by EXAFS, mass spectrometry measurements, and computational calculations, and supported by distribution coefficient analysis. The fundamental chemical understanding gained herein should be integral to the development of metal-recovery processes, in particular through the use of dynamic assembly processes to build complexity from simplicity.

A Computational and Experimental Approach Linking Disorder, High-Pressure Behavior, and Mechanical Properties in UiO Frameworks.

Whilst many metal-organic frameworks possess the chemical stability needed to be used as functional materials, they often lack the physical strength required for industrial applications. Herein, we have investigated the mechanical properties of two UiO-topology Zr-MOFs, the planar UiO-67 ([Zr6O4(OH)4 (bpdc)6], bpdc: 4,4'-biphenyl dicarboxylate) and UiO-abdc ([Zr6O4(OH)4 (abdc)6], abdc: 4,4'-azobenzene dicarboxylate) by single-crystal nanoindentation, high-pressure X-ray diffraction, density functional theory calculations, and first-principles molecular dynamics. On increasing pressure, both UiO-67 and UiO-abdc were found to be incompressible when filled with methanol molecules within a diamond anvil cell. Stabilization in both cases is attributed to dynamical linker disorder. The diazo-linker of UiO-abdc possesses local site disorder, which, in conjunction with its longer nature, also decreases the capacity of the framework to compress and stabilizes it against direct compression, compared to UiO-67, characterized by a large elastic modulus. The use of non-linear linkers in the synthesis of UiO-MOFs therefore creates MOFs that have more rigid mechanical properties over a larger pressure range.