Crystal engineering: molecular networks based on inclusion phenomena

1998 ◽  
pp. 727-734 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mir Wais Hosseini ◽  
André De Cian
Keyword(s):  
Crystal Engineering ◽  
Molecular Networks ◽  
Inclusion Phenomena

Engineering crystals built from molecules containing boron

2006 ◽  
Vol 78 (7) ◽  
pp. 1305-1321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth E. Maly ◽  
Nadia Malek ◽  
Jean-Hugues Fournier ◽  
Patricia Rodríguez-Cuamatzi ◽  
Thierry Maris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crystal Engineering ◽  
Molecular Crystals ◽  
Molecular Geometry ◽  
Molecular Networks ◽  
Structure And Properties ◽  
Structures And Properties ◽  
Structural Preferences ◽  
Direct Association ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Molecular Components

The study of compounds containing boron continues to have an important impact on virtually every area of chemistry. One of the few areas in which compounds of boron have been neglected is crystal engineering, which seeks to develop and exploit an understanding of how the structure and properties of crystals are related to the individual atomic or molecular components. Although detailed predictions of crystal structures are not yet reliable, crystal engineers have developed a sound qualitative strategy for anticipating and controlling structural preferences. This strategy is based on the design of special molecules, called tectons, which feature carefully selected cores and multiple peripheral functional groups that can direct association and thereby place neighboring molecules in predetermined positions. Recent work has demonstrated that molecular crystals with unique properties can be constructed logically from tectons with boron in their cores or sticky sites of association. In particular, the -B(OH)2 group of boronic acids engages in reliable patterns of hydrogen bonding, and its use as a sticky site in tectons has emerged as an effective tool for controlling association predictably. In addition, replacement of tetraphenylsilyl or tetraphenylmethyl cores in tectons by tetraphenylborate leaves the overall molecular geometry little changed, but it has the profound effect of introducing charge. Tectons derived from tetraphenylborate can be used rationally to construct porous charged molecular networks that resemble zeolites and undergo selective ion exchange. In such ways, boron offers chemists exciting new ways to engineer molecular crystals with predetermined structures and properties.

Template mediated crystal engineering

1994 ◽  
Vol 52 ◽  
pp. 480-481
Author(s):  
Brigid R. Heywood ◽  
S. Champ
Keyword(s):  
Crystal Engineering ◽  
Electrostatic Interactions ◽  
Alkyl Chain ◽  
Crystallographic Axis ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Engineering Process ◽  
Solution Interface ◽  
Extensive Program ◽  
Geometric Homology ◽  
Long Alkyl Chain

Recent work on the crystallisation of inorganic crystals under compressed monomolecular surfactant films has shown that two dimensional templates can be used to promote the oriented nucleation of solids. When a suitable long alkyl chain surfactant is cast on the crystallisation media a monodispersied population of crystals forms exclusively at the monolayer/solution interface. Each crystal is aligned with a specific crystallographic axis perpendicular to the plane of the monolayer suggesting that nucleation is facilitated by recognition events between the nascent inorganic solid and the organic template.For example, monolayers of the long alkyl chain surfactant, stearic acid will promote the oriented nucleation of the calcium carbonate polymorph, calcite, on the (100) face, whereas compressed monolayers of n-eicosyl sulphate will induce calcite nucleation on the (001) face, (Figure 1 & 2). An extensive program of research has confirmed the general principle that molecular recognition events at the interface (including electrostatic interactions, geometric homology, stereochemical complementarity) can be used to promote the crystal engineering process.

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