Publication
Title
Water structures and packing efficiency in methylene blue cyanometallate salts
Author
Abstract
Crystal structure prediction is the holy grail of crystal engineering and is key to its ambition of driving the formation of solids based on the selection of their molecular constituents. However, this noble quest is hampered by the limited predictability of the incorporation of solvent molecules, first and foremost the ubiquitous water. In this context, we herein report the structure of four methylene blue cyanometallate phases, where anions with various shapes and charges influence the packing motif and lead to the formation of differently hydrated structures. Importantly, water molecules are observed to play various roles as isolated fillings, dimers, or an infinite network with up to 13 water molecules per repeating unit. Each crystal structure has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and evaluated with the aid of Hirshfeld surface analysis, focussing on the role of water molecules and the hierarchy of different classes of interactions in the overall supramolecular landscape of the crystals. Finally, the collected pieces of evidence are matched together to highlight the leading role of MB stacking and to derive an explanation for the observed hydration diversity based on the structural role of water molecules in the crystal architecture.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Crystals
Publication
2020
ISSN
2073-4352
DOI
10.3390/CRYST10070558
Volume/pages
10 :7 (2020) , 12 p.
Article Reference
558
ISI
000554226900001
Medium
E-only publicatie
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
Deciphering defects in Metal-Organic Framework nanocrystals using electron diffuse scattering analyses.
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 14.09.2020
Last edited 10.11.2024
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