Selective signalling of alcohols by a molecular lattice and mechanism of single-crystal-to-single-crystal transformations

Single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SCSC) transformations of molecular materials involving exchange of lattice molecules are becoming commonplace and very relevant in areas like chemical sensing or the pharmaceutical sector. Spin crossover (SCO) complexes could be great candidates to act as molecular...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Sánchez Costa, José, Rodriguez-Jimenez, Santiago, Craig, Gavin, 1979-, Barth, Benjamin, Beavers, Christine M., Teat, Simon J., Gagnon, Kevin J., Barrios Moreno, Leoní Alejandra, Roubeau, Olivier, Aromí Bedmar, Guillem
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2020
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Barcelona
Repositorio:Dipòsit Digital de la UB
OAI Identifier:oai:diposit.ub.edu:2445/185293
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/185293
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Cristalls
Molècules
Alcohol
Crystals
Molecules
Descripción
Sumario:Single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SCSC) transformations of molecular materials involving exchange of lattice molecules are becoming commonplace and very relevant in areas like chemical sensing or the pharmaceutical sector. Spin crossover (SCO) complexes could be great candidates to act as molecular chemical sensors using spin switching to signal detection. We describe here the capacity of the Fe(II) molecular material [Fe(bpp)(H2L)](ClO4)2·C3H6O (bpp and H2L are 2,6-bis-(pyrazol-3-yl)-pyridine type ligands) to have its lattice acetone molecules replaced by certain selected alcohols from the gas phase (MeOH, EtOH or nPrOH but not iPrOH), signalling the process by a spin transition that also changes the colour of the crystals. The magnetic response of the signalling complex depends on the chain length of the alcohol, allowing selective detection. As these molecular exchanges are SCSC processes, the structures of the alcoholates obtained have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD). The removal of n-propanol from its host lattice has been quenched in operando at various intermediate stages and studied by SCXRD to unveil crucial details of the mechanism of this SCSC transformation.