Observation of a re-entrant phase transition in the molecular complex tris(µ2-3,5-diiso-propyl-1,2,4-triazolato-κ2N1:N2)trigold(I) under high pressure.

We report a molecular crystal that exhibits four successive phase transitions under hydro-static pressure, driven by aurophilic interactions, with the ground-state structure re-emerging at high pressure. The effect of pressure on two polytypes of tris(µ2-3,5-diiso-propyl-1,2,4-triazolato-κ2N1:N2)trigold(I) (denoted Form-I and Form-II) has been analysed using luminescence spectroscopy, single-crystal X-ray diffraction and first-principles computation. A unique phase behaviour was observed in Form-I, with a complex sequence of phase transitions between 1 and 3.5 GPa. The ambient C2/c mother cell transforms to a P21/n phase above 1 GPa, followed by a P21/a phase above 2 GPa and a large-volume C2/c supercell at 2.70 GPa, with the previously observed P21/n phase then reappearing at higher pressure. The observation of crystallographically identical low- and high-pressure P21/n phases makes this a rare example of a re-entrant phase transformation. The phase behaviour has been characterized using detailed crystallographic theory and modelling, and rationalized in terms of molecular structural distortions. The dramatic changes in conformation are correlated with shifts of the luminescence maxima, from a band maximum at 14040 cm-1 at 2.40 GPa, decreasing steeply to 13550 cm-1 at 3 GPa. A similar study of Form-II displays more conventional crystallographic behaviour, indicating that the complex behaviour observed in Form-I is likely to be a direct consequence of the differences in crystal packing between the two polytypes.

Tunable trimers: using temperature and pressure to control luminescent emission in gold(I) pyrazolate-based trimers.

A systematic investigation into the relationship between the solid-state luminescence and the intermolecular Au⋅⋅⋅Au interactions in a series of pyrazolate-based gold(I) trimers; tris(µ2 -pyrazolato-N,N')-tri-gold(I) (1), tris(µ2 -3,4,5- trimethylpyrazolato-N,N')-tri-gold(I) (2), tris(µ2 -3-methyl-5-phenylpyrazolato-N,N')-tri-gold(I) (3) and tris(µ2 -3,5-diphenylpyrazolato-N,N')-tri-gold(I) (4) has been carried out using variable temperature and high pressure X-ray crystallography, solid-state emission spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and computational techniques. Single-crystal X-ray studies show that there is a significant reduction in the intertrimer Au⋅⋅⋅Au distances both with decreasing temperature and increasing pressure. In the four complexes, the reduction in temperature from 293 to 100 K is accompanied by a reduction in the shortest intermolecular Au⋅⋅⋅Au contacts of between 0.04 and 0.08 Å. The solid-state luminescent emission spectra of 1 and 2 display a red shift with decreasing temperature or increasing pressure. Compound 3 does not emit under ambient conditions but displays increasingly red-shifted luminescence upon cooling or compression. Compound 4 remains emissionless, consistent with the absence of intermolecular Au⋅⋅⋅Au interactions. The largest pressure induced shift in emission is observed in 2 with a red shift of approximately 630 cm(-1) per GPa between ambient and 3.80 GPa. The shifts in all the complexes can be correlated with changes in Au⋅⋅⋅Au distance observed by diffraction.

Terbium(III) and yttrium(III) complexes with pyridine-substituted nitronyl nitroxide radical and different ß-diketonate ligands. Crystal structures and magnetic and luminescence properties.

A terbium(III) complex of nitronyl nitroxide free radical 2-(2-pyridyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-4,5-dihydro1H-imidazolyl-1-oxy-3-oxide (NIT2Py), [Tb(acac)3NIT2Py]·0.5H2O (3) (acac = acetylacetonate), was synthesized for comparison with the previously reported [Tb(hfac)3NIT2Py]·0.5C7H16 (1) (hfac = hexafluoroacetylacetonate), together with their yttrium analogues [Y(hfac)3NIT2Py]·0.5C7H16 (2) and [Y(acac)3NIT2Py]·0.5H2O (4). The crystal structures show that in all complexes the nitronyl nitroxide radical acts as a chelating ligand. Magnetic studies show that 3 like 1 exhibits slow relaxation of magnetization at low temperature, suggesting single-molecule magnet behavior. The luminescence spectra show resolved vibronic structure with the main interval decreasing from 1600 cm(-1) to 1400 cm(-1) between 80 and 300 K. This effect is analyzed quantitatively using experimental Raman frequencies.

Evidences of segregated SnO2 type nanoparticles coating layered double hydroxide at moderate temperature.

A series of layered double hydroxide (LDH) materials prepared by classical coprecipitation in the presence of divalent Co2+, trivalent Al3+, and tetravalent Sn4+ cations have been investigated as a function of the temperature. As illustrated for the cation composition (Co; Al; Sn) of (0.75; 0.175; 0.075), the segregation of SnO2-type nanodomains in an interphasing LDH sand-rose region is directly evidenced by transmission electron microscopy and selected area electron diffraction (TEM/SAED). At moderate temperature (400 degrees C) the local environment around the cobalt cations is strongly modified, whereas the local structure is found to be unchanged in the vicinity of the tin cations. It is explained on the basis of the breakdown of the lamellar assembly and of the partial oxidation of Co2+ cations and that tin dioxide domains are still segregated from LDH particles. Even if the tin dioxide component does not participate from a structural point of view in the LDH composition, its beneficial effect on the textural properties is significant, increasing the specific surface area and narrowing the pore size distribution.