Following the recent demonstration of grazing-incidence X-ray fluorescence (GIXRF)-based characterization of the 3D atomic distribution of different elements and dimensional parameters of periodic nanoscale structures, this work presents a new computational scheme for the simulation of the angular-dependent fluorescence intensities from such periodic 2D and 3D nanoscale structures. The computational scheme is based on the dynamical diffraction theory in many-beam approximation, which allows a semi-analytical solution to the Sherman equation to be derived in a linear-algebraic form. The computational scheme has been used to analyze recently published GIXRF data measured on 2D Si3N4 lamellar gratings, as well as on periodically structured 3D Cr nanopillars. Both the dimensional and structural parameters of these nanostructures have been reconstructed by fitting numerical simulations to the experimental GIXRF data. Obtained results show good agreement with nominal parameters used in the manufacturing of the structures, as well as with reconstructed parameters based on the previously published finite-element-method simulations, in the case of the Si3N4 grating.

A portable IR fiber laser-heating system, optimized for X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) and nuclear inelastic scattering (NIS) spectroscopy with signal collection through the radial opening of diamond anvil cells near 90°with respect to the incident X-ray beam, is presented. The system offers double-sided on-axis heating by a single laser source and zero attenuation of incoming X-rays other than by the high-pressure environment. A description of the system, which has been tested for pressures above 100 GPa and temperatures up to 3000 K, is given. The XES spectra of laser-heated Mg0.67Fe0.33O demonstrate the potential to map the iron spin state in the pressure–temperature range of the Earth's lower mantle, and the NIS spectra of laser-heated FeSi give access to the sound velocity of this candidate of a phase inside the Earth's core. This portable system represents one of the few bridges across the gap between laser heating and high-resolution X-ray spectroscopies with signal collection near 90°.

A modulation wave approach is used to interpret the coupled longer range as well as truly short range order hidden in the highly structured diffuse intensity distributions of three representative such systems. The longer range as well as the truly short range order simultaneously encoded in such highly structured diffuse intensity distributions is highlighted.

151 homes for Keyworth recommended for approval by council  West Bridgford Wire

British Geological Survey submits application for geoenergy observatory in Cheshire  ThinkGeoEnergy

Improving Britain’s geological mapping  The Guardian

BGS appoints new director  Agg-Net

Coronavirus: Is lockdown an opportunity for scientific research?  sciencefocus.com

A new scaling program is presented with new features to support multi-sweep workflows and analysis within the DIALS software package.

In the title compound, [CuCl2(C9H18N4)]·CH3OH, the central CuII ion is coordinated by three N atoms from the pyrazole derivative ligand and two chloride co-ligands. The coordination geometry around the CuII ion is distorted trigonal–bipyramidal. In the crystal, the mol­ecules are linked by C—H⋯O, C—H⋯Cl and O—H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds, forming a three-dimensional framework with the lattice solvent mol­ecule.

Trinuclear copper–pyrazolate entities are present in various Cu-based enzymes and nanojar supra­molecular arrangements. The reaction of copper(II) chloride with pyrazole (pzH) and sodium benzoate (benzNa) assisted by microwave radiation afforded a neutral centrosymmetric hexa­nuclear copper(II) complex, [Cu6(C7H5O2)4(OH)2(C3H3N2)6(C2H5OH)2]·2C2H5OH. Half a mol­ecule is present in the asymmetric unit that comprises a [Cu3(μ3-OH)(pz)3]2+ core with the copper(II) atoms arranged in an irregular triangle. The three copper(II) atoms are bridged by an O atom of the central hydroxyl group and by three bridging pyrazolate ligands on each of the sides. The carboxyl­ate groups show a chelating mode to one and a bridging syn,syn mode to the other two CuII atoms. The coordination environment of one CuII atom is square-planar while it is distorted square-pyramidal for the other two. Two ethanol mol­ecules are present in the asymmetric unit, one binding to one of the CuII atoms, one as a solvent mol­ecule. In the crystal, stabilization arises from inter­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen-bonding inter­actions.

In the title compound, [Cu2(C7HF4O2)4(C12H8N2)2(CH3OH)], the mol­ecule lies on a twofold rotation axis in space group C2/c. The Cu2+ ion exhibits a distorted octa­hedral sphere with two N atoms from the phenanthroline ligand, three O atoms from the 2,3,4,5-tetra­fluoro­benzoate ligands and one O atom from a methanol mol­ecule. The distortion from an octa­hedral shape is a consequence of the Jahn–Teller effect of CuII and the small bite angle for the bidentate fluoro­benzoate ligand [54.50 (11)°]. The methanol mol­ecule bridges two symmetry-related CuII atoms to form the complete mol­ecule. In the bidentate fluoro­benzoate ligand, one F atom is disordered over two positions of equal occupancy. In the crystal structure, only weak inter­molecular inter­actions are observed.

The reaction of ligand 5,7-di­hydro-1H,3H-dithieno[3,4-b:3',4'-e]pyrazine (L) with CuI lead to the formation of a three-dimensional coordination polymer, incorporating the well known [CuxIx]n staircase motif (x = 4). These polymer [Cu4I4]n chains are linked via the N and S atoms of the ligand to form the three-dimensional coordination polymer poly[(μ4-5,7-di­hydro-1H,3H-dithieno[3,4-b:3',4'-e]pyrazine-κ4N:N':S:S')tetra-μ3-iodido-tetra­copper], [Cu4I4(C8H8N2S2)]n (I). The asymmetric unit is composed of half a ligand mol­ecule, with the pyrazine ring located about a center of symmetry, and two independent copper(I) atoms and two independent I− ions forming the staircase motif via centers of inversion symmetry. The framework is consolidated by C—H⋯I hydrogen bonds.

The asymmetric unit of the binuclear title compound, [Cu2(C8H7O3)4(H2O)2], comprises two halves of diaquatetra­kis­(μ-3-meth­oxy­benzoato-κ2O1:O1')dicopper(II) units. The paddle-wheel structure of each complex is completed by application of inversion symmetry, with the inversion centre situated at the midpoint between two CuII atoms in each dimer. The two CuII atoms of each centrosymmetric dimer are bridged by four 3-meth­oxy­benzoate anions resulting in Cu⋯Cu separations of 2.5961 (11) and 2.6060 (12) Å, respectively. The square-pyramidal coordination sphere of each CuII atom is completed by an apical water mol­ecule. Inter­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds of weak nature link the complexes into layers parallel to (100). The three-dimensional network structure is accomplished by C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds inter­linking adjacent layers.

The reaction of ligand 3,4,8,10,11,13-hexa­hydro-1H,6H-bis­([1,4]di­thio­cino)[6,7-b:6',7'-e]pyrazine (L) with CuI led to the formation of a two-dimensional coordination polymer, incorporating a [Cu2I2] motif. These units are linked via the four S atoms of the ligand to form the title two-dimensional coordination poly­mer, poly[[μ4-3,4,8,10,11,13-hexa­hydro-1H,6H-bis­([1,4]di­thio­cino)[6,7-b:6',7'-e]pyrazine]di-μ-iodido-dicopper(I)], [Cu2I2(C12H16N2S4)]n, (I). The asymmetric unit is composed of a ligand mol­ecule, two copper(I) atoms and two I− ions. Both copper(I) atoms are fourfold S2I2 coordinate with almost regular trigonal-pyramidal environments. In the crystal, the layers, lying parallel to (102), are linked by C—H⋯I hydrogen bonds, forming a supra­molecular framework.

Typical electroless copper baths (ECBs), which are used to chemically deposit copper on printed circuit boards, consist of an aqueous alkali hydroxide solution, a copper(II) salt, formaldehyde as reducing agent, an l-(+)-tartrate as complexing agent, and a 2,2'-bi­pyridine derivative as stabilizer. Actual speciation and reactivity are, however, largely unknown. Herein, we report on the synthesis and crystal structure of aqua-1κO-bis­(4,4'-dimeth­oxy-2,2'-bi­pyri­dine)-1κ2N,N';2κ2N,N'-[μ-(2R,3R)-2,3-dioxidosuccinato-1κ2O1,O2:2κ2O3,O4]dicopper(II) octa­hydrate, [Cu2(C12H12N2O2)2(C4H2O6)(H2O)]·8H2O, from an ECB mock-up. The title compound crystallizes in the Sohncke group P21 with one chiral dinuclear complex and eight mol­ecules of hydrate water in the asymmetric unit. The expected retention of the tartrato ligand's absolute configuration was confirmed via determination of the absolute structure. The complex mol­ecules exhibit an ansa-like structure with two planar, nearly parallel bi­pyridine ligands, each bound to a copper atom that is connected to the other by a bridging tartrato `handle'. The complex and water mol­ecules give rise to a layered supra­molecular structure dominated by alternating π stacks and hydrogen bonds. The understanding of structures ex situ is a first step on the way to prolonged stability and improved coating behavior of ECBs.

The asymmetric units of the title compounds, trans-di­aqua­(3-benzyl-1,3,5,8,12-penta­aza­cyclo­tetra­decane-κ4N1,N5,N8,N12)copper(II) isophthalate monohydrate, [Cu(C16H29N5)(H2O)2](C8H4O4)·H2O, (I), and trans-di­aqua­[3-(pyridin-3-ylmeth­yl)-1,3,5,8,12-penta­aza­cyclo­tetra­decane-κ4N1,N5,N8,N12]copper(II) iso­phthalate 0.9-hydrate, [Cu(C15H28N6)(H2O)2](C8H4O4)·0.9H2O, (II) consist of one di­aqua macrocyclic cation, one di­carboxyl­ate anion and uncoordinated water mol­ecule(s). In each compound, the metal ion is coordinated by the four secondary N atoms of the macrocyclic ligand and the mutually trans O atoms of the water mol­ecules in a tetra­gonally distorted octa­hedral geometry. The average equatorial Cu—N bond lengths are significantly shorter than the average axial Cu—O bond lengths [2.020 (9) versus 2.495 (12) Å and 2.015 (4) versus 2.507 (7) Å for (I) and (II), respectively]. The coordinated macrocyclic ligand in the cations of both compounds adopts the most energetically favorable trans-III conformation. In the crystals, the complex cations and counter-anions are connected via hydrogen-bonding inter­actions between the N—H groups of the macrocycles and the O—H groups of coordinated water mol­ecules as the proton donors and the O atoms of the carboxyl­ate as the proton acceptors. Additionally, as a result of O—H⋯O hydrogen bonding with the coordinated and water mol­ecules of crystallization, the isophthalate dianions form layers lying parallel to the (overline{1}01) and (100) planes in (I) and (II), respectively.

The title tetra­nuclear copper complex, [Cu4Cl6O(C6H9N3O3)4] or [Cu4Cl6O­(MET)4] [MET is 1-(2-hy­droxy­eth­yl)-2-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazole or metronidazole], contains a tetra­hedral arrangement of copper(II) ions. Each copper atom is also linked to the other three copper atoms in the tetra­hedron via bridging chloride ions. A fifth coordination position on each metal atom is occupied by a nitro­gen atom of the monodentate MET ligand. The result is a distorted CuCl3NO trigonal–bipyramidal coordination polyhedron with the axial positions occupied by oxygen and nitro­gen atoms. The extended structure displays O—H⋯O hydrogen bonding, as well as unusual short O⋯N inter­actions [2.775 (4) Å] between the nitro groups of adjacent clusters that are oriented perpendicular to each other. The scattering contribution of disordered water and methanol solvent mol­ecules was removed using the SQUEEZE procedure [Spek (2015). Acta Cryst. C71, 9–16] in PLATON [Spek (2009). Acta Cryst. D65, 148–155].

Reductive cyclization of 1,3,5-triphenyl- and 3-(2-meth­oxy­phen­yl)-1,5-di­phenyl­pentane-1,5-diones by zinc in acetic acid medium leads to the formation of 1,2,4-tri­phenyl­cyclo­pentane-1,2-diol [1,2,4-Ph3C5H5-1,2-(OH)2, C23H22O2, (I)] and 4-(2-meth­oxy­phen­yl)-1,2-di­phenyl­cyclo­pentane-1,2-diol [4-(2-MeOC6H4)-1,2-Ph2C5H5-1,2-(OH)2, C24H24O3, (II)]. Their single crystals have been obtained by crystallization from a THF/hexane solvent mixture. Diols (I) and (II) crystallize in ortho­rhom­bic (Pbca) and triclinic (Poverline{1}) space groups, respectively, at 150 K. Their asymmetric units comprise one [in the case of (I)] and three [in the case of (II)] crystallographically independent mol­ecules of the achiral (1R,2S,4r)-diol isomer. Each hydroxyl group is involved in one intra­molecular and one inter­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bond, forming one-dimensional chains. Compounds (I) and (II) have been used successfully as precatalyst activators for the ring-opening polymerization of ∊-caprolactone.

Two CuII complexes [Cu(C14H13N4O2)Cl]n, I, and [Cu4(C8H10NO2)4Cl4]n, II, have been synthesized. In the structure of the mononuclear complex I, each ligand is coordinated to two metal centers. The basal plane around the CuII cation is formed by one chloride anion, one oxygen atom, one imino and one pyridine nitro­gen atom. The apical position of the distorted square-pyramidal geometry is occupied by a pyridine nitro­gen atom from a neighbouring unit, leading to infinite one-dimensional polymeric chains along the b-axis direction. Each chain is connected to adjacent chains by inter­molecular C—H⋯O and C—H⋯Cl inter­actions, leading to a three-dimensional network structure. The tetra­nuclear complex II lies about a crystallographic inversion centre and has one core in which two CuII metal centers are mutually inter­connected via two enolato oxygen atoms while the other two CuII cations are linked by a chloride anion and an enolato oxygen. An open-cube structure is generated in which the two open-cube units, with seven vertices each, share a side composed of two CuII ions bridged by two enolato oxygen atoms acting in a μ3-mode. The CuII atoms in each of the two CuO3NCl units are connected by one μ2-O and two μ3-O atoms from deprotonated hydroxyl groups and one chloride anion to the three other CuII centres. Each of the penta­coordinated CuII cations has a distorted NO3Cl square-pyramidal environment. The CuII atoms in each of the two CuO2NCl2 units are connected by μ2-O and μ3-O atoms from deprotonated alcohol hy­droxy groups and one chloride anion to two other CuII ions. Each of the penta­coordinated CuII cations has a distorted NO2Cl2 square-pyramidal environment. In the crystal, a series of intra­molecular C—H⋯O and C—H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds are observed in each tetra­nuclear monomeric unit, which is connected to four tetra­nuclear monomeric units by inter­molecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, thus forming a planar two-dimensional structure in the (overline{1}01) plane.

In the title metal–organic framework, [Fe(C6H8N2)2{Cu(CN)2}2]n, the low-spin FeII ion lies at an inversion centre and displays an elongated octa­hedral [FeN6] coordination environment. The axial positions are occupied by two symmetry-related bridging 2-ethyl­pyrazine ligands, while the equatorial positions are occupied by four N atoms of two pairs of symmetry-related cyanide groups. The CuI centre is coordinated by three cyanide carbon atoms and one N atom of a bridging 2-ethyl­pyrazine mol­ecule, which form a tetra­hedral coordination environment. Two neighbouring Cu atoms have a short Cu⋯Cu contact [2.4662 (7) Å] and their coordination tetra­hedra are connected through a common edge between two C atoms of cyanide groups. Each Cu2(CN)2 unit, formed by two neighbouring Cu atoms bridged by two carbons from a pair of μ-CN groups, is connected to six FeII centres via two bridging 2-ethyl­pyrazine mol­ecules and four cyanide groups, resulting in the formation of a polymeric three-dimensional metal–organic coordination framework.

The title coordination polymer, {[Cu3(C4H4N3O9)3(SeO4)(OH)]·2H2O}n or ([Cu3(μ3-OH)(trgly)3(SeO4)]·2H2O), crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/c. The three independent Cu2+ cations adopt distorted square-pyramidal geometries with {O2N2+O} polyhedra. The three copper centres are bridged by a μ3-OH anion, leading to a triangular [Cu3(μ3-OH)] core. 2-(1,2,4-Triazol-4-yl)acetic acid (trgly-H) acts in a deprotonated form as a μ3-κ3N1:N2:O ligand. The three triazolyl groups bridge three copper centres of the hydroxo-cluster in an N1:N2 mode, thus supporting the triangular geometry. The [Cu3(μ3-OH)(tr)3] clusters serve as secondary building units (SBUs). Each SBU can be regarded as a six-connected node, which is linked to six neighbouring triangles through carboxyl­ate groups, generating a two-dimensional uninodal (3,6) coordination network. The selenate anion is bound in a μ3-κ3O1:O2:O3 fashion to the trinuclear copper platform. The [Cu3(OH)(trgly)3(SeO4)] coordination layers and guest water mol­ecules are linked together by numerous O—H⋯O and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, leading to a three-dimensional structure.

The reaction of 2-methyl­thio-5-amino-1,3,4-thia­diazole (Me-SNTD; C3H5N3S2) with copper(II) acetate monohydrate [Cu(OAc)2·H2O; C4H8CuO5] resulted in the formation of the title binuclear compound, [Cu2(C2H3O2)4(C3H5N3S2)2] or [Cu2(OAc)4(Me-SNTD)2]. The structure has triclinic (P overline{1}) symmetry with a crystallographic inversion centre located at the midpoint of the line connecting the Cu atoms in the dimer. These two Cu atoms of the dimer [Cu⋯Cu = 2.6727 (6) Å] are held together by four carboxyl­ate groups. Each Cu atom is further coordinated to the N atom of an Me-SNTD mol­ecule and exhibits a Jahn–Teller-distorted octa­hedral geometry. The dimers are connected into infinite chains by hydrogen bonds between the NH (Me-SNTD) and the carboxyl­ate groups of neighbouring mol­ecules, generating an R22(12) ring motif. The mol­ecules are further linked by C—H⋯π inter­actions between the thia­diazole rings and the methyl groups of the acetate units.

The crystal and mol­ecular structures of the title CuII complex, isolated as a dihydrate, [Cu(C21H14N3O3)2]·2H2O, reveals a highly distorted coordination geometry inter­mediate between square-planar and tetra­hedral defined by an N2O2 donor set derived from two mono-anionic bidentate ligands. Furthermore, each six-membered chelate ring adopts an envelope conformation with the Cu atom being the flap. In the crystal, imidazolyl-amine-N—H⋯O(water), water-O—H⋯O(coordinated, nitro and water), phenyl-C—H⋯O(nitro) and π(imidazol­yl)–π(nitro­benzene) [inter-centroid distances = 3.7452 (14) and 3.6647 (13) Å] contacts link the components into a supra­molecular layer lying parallel to (101). The connections between layers forming a three-dimensional architecture are of the types nitro­benzene-C—H⋯O(nitro) and phenyl-C—H⋯π(phen­yl). The distorted coordination geometry for the CuII atom is highlighted in an analysis of the Hirshfeld surface calculated for the metal centre alone. The significance of the inter­molecular contacts is also revealed in a study of the calculated Hirshfeld surfaces; the dominant contacts in the crystal are H⋯H (41.0%), O⋯H/H⋯O (27.1%) and C⋯H/H⋯C (19.6%).

The asymmetric unit of the title com­pound, catena-poly[[[(perchlorato-κO)copper(II)]-μ-3-(3-carb­oxy­prop­yl)-1,5,8,12-tetra­aza-3-azonia­cyclo­tetra­decane-κ4N1,N5,N8,N12] bis­(per­chlorate)], {[Cu(C13H30N5O2)(ClO4)](ClO4)2}n, (I), consists of a macrocyclic cation, one coordinated per­chlorate anion and two per­chlorate ions as counter-anions. The metal ion is coordinated in a tetra­gonally distorted octa­hedral geometry by the four secondary N atoms of the macrocyclic ligand, the mutually trans O atoms of the per­chlorate anion and the carbonyl O atom of the protonated carb­oxy­lic acid group of a neighbouring cation. The average equatorial Cu—N bond lengths [2.01 (6) Å] are significantly shorter than the axial Cu—O bond lengths [2.379 (8) Å for carboxyl­ate and average 2.62 (7) Å for disordered per­chlorate]. The coordinated macrocyclic ligand in (I) adopts the most energetically favourable trans-III conformation with an equatorial orientation of the substituent at the protonated distal 3-position N atom in a six-membered chelate ring. The coordination of the carb­oxy­lic acid group of the cation to a neighbouring com­plex unit results in the formation of infinite chains running along the b-axis direction, which are cross­linked by N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds between the secondary amine groups of the macrocycle and O atoms of the per­chlorate counter-anions to form sheets lying parallel to the (001) plane. Additionally, the extended structure of (I) is consolidated by numerous intra- and interchain C—H⋯O contacts.

In the title com­plex, [Cu(C18H12F6N2O4)]·0.5C6H6O2, the CuII ion has a square-planar coordination geometry, being ligated by two N and two O atoms of the tetra­dentate open-chain Schiff base ligand 6,6'-{(1E,1'E)-[ethane-1,2-diylbis(aza­nylyl­idene)]bis­(methanylyl­idene)}bis­[2-(tri­fluoro­meth­oxy)phenol]. The crystal packing is stabilized by intra­molecular O—H⋯O and inter­molecular C—H⋯F, C—H⋯O and C—H⋯π hydrogen bonds. In addition, weak π–π inter­actions form a three-dimensional structure. Hirshfeld surface analysis and two-dimensional fingerprint plots were performed and created to analyze the inter­molecular inter­actions present in the crystal, indicating that the most important contributions for the crystal packing are from F⋯H/H⋯F (25.7%), H⋯H (23.5%) and C⋯H/H⋯C (12.6%) inter­actions.

In the asymmetric unit of the title coordination compound, {[Cu(CN)(C4H3OC2H5N2)][Cu(CN)]}n, there are two Cu atoms with different coordination environments. One CuI ion is coordinated in a triangular coordination geometry by the N atom of the 2-eth­oxy­pyrazine mol­ecule and by two bridging cyanide ligands, equally disordered over two sites exchanging C and N atoms, thus forming polymeric chains parallel to the c axis. The other Cu atom is connected to two bridging cyanide groups disordered over two sites with an occupancy of 0.5 for each C and N atom, and forming an almost linear polymeric chain parallel to the b axis. In the crystal, the two types of chain, which are orthogonal to each other, are connected by cuprophilic Cu⋯Cu inter­actions [2.7958 (13) Å], forming two-dimensional metal–organic coordination layers parallel to the bc plane. The coordination framework is further stabilized by weak long-range (electrostatic type) C—H⋯π inter­actions between cyano groups and 2-eth­oxy­pyrazine rings.

The title compound, [IrZnI2(C10H15)(C3H9P)2]·0.5C6H6 or [Cp*(PMe3)2Ir]-[ZnI2] (Cp* = cyclo-C5Me5) was obtained and characterized as its benzene solvate [Cp*(PMe3)2Ir]-[ZnI2]·0.5C6H6. The bimetallic complex in this structure contains the Lewis-acidic fragment ZnI2 bonded to the Lewis-basic fragment Cp*(PMe3)2Ir, with an Ir—Zn bond distance of 2.452 (1) Å. The compound was obtained by reacting [Cp*(PMe3)IrI2] with 2-Ad2Zn (2-Ad = 2-adamant­yl), resulting in the reduction of the IrIII complex and formation of the IrI–ZnII adduct. The crystal studied was a twin by non-merohedry with a refined BASF parameter of 0.223 (1).

A reaction of copper(II) carbonate and potassium 4-sulfo­benzoic acid in water acidified with hydro­chloric acid yielded two crystalline products. Tetra­aqua­bis­(4-carb­oxy­benzene­sulfonato)­copper(II) dihydrate, [Cu(O3SC6H4CO2H)2(H2O)4]·2H2O, (I), crystallizes in the triclinic space group Poverline{1} with the Cu2+ ions located on centers of inversion. Each copper ion is coordinated to four water mol­ecules in a square plane with two sulfonate O atoms in the apical positions of a Jahn–Teller-distorted octa­hedron. The carboxyl­ate group is protonated and not involved in coordination to the metal ions. The complexes pack so as to create a layered structure with alternating inorganic and organic domains. The packing is reinforced by several O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds involving coordinated and non-coordinated water mol­ecules, the carb­oxy­lic acid group and the sulfonate group. Hexa­aqua­copper(II) 4-carb­oxy­benzene­sulfonate, [Cu(H2O)6](O3SC6H4CO2H)2, (II), also crystallizes in the triclinic space group Poverline{1} with Jahn–Teller-distorted octa­hedral copper(II) aqua complexes on the centers of inversion. As in (I), the carboxyl­ate group on the anion is protonated and the structure consists of alternating layers of inorganic cations and organic anions linked by O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. A reaction of silver nitrate and potassium 4-sulfo­benzoic acid in water also resulted in two distinct products that have been structurally characterized. An anhydrous silver potassium 4-carb­oxy­benzene­sulfonate salt, [Ag0.69K0.31](O3SC6H4CO2H), (III), crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c. There are two independent metal sites, one fully occupied by silver ions and the other showing a 62% K+/38% Ag+ (fixed) ratio, refined in two slightly different positions. The coordination environments of the metal ions are composed primarily of sulfonate O atoms, with some participation by the non-protonated carboxyl­ate O atoms in the disordered site. As in the copper compounds, the cations and anions cleanly segregate into alternating layers. A hydrated mixed silver potassium 4-carb­oxy­benzene­sulfonate salt dihydrate, [Ag0.20K0.80](O3SC6H4CO2H)·2H2O, (IV), crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/c with the Ag+ and K+ ions sharing one unique metal site coordinated by two water mol­ecules and six sulfonate O atoms. The packing in (IV) follows the dominant motif of alternating inorganic and organic layers. The protonated carboxyl­ate groups do not inter­act with the cations directly, but do participate in hydrogen bonds with the coordinated water mol­ecules. (IV) is isostructural with pure potassium 4-sulfo­benzoic acid dihydrate.

The polymeric title compound, [Cu2(C2H3N)2(C3H6S2)2](PF6)2, represents an example of a one-dimensional coordination polymer resulting from the reaction of [Cu(MeCN)4][PF6] with 1,3-di­thiol­ane. The cationic one-dimensional ribbon consists of two copper(I) centers each ligated by one aceto­nitrile mol­ecule and inter­connected through two bridging 1,3-di­thiol­ane ligands. One S-donor site of each ligand is κ1-bound to Cu, whereas the second S atom acts as a four-electron donor, bridging two Cu atoms in a κ4-bonding mode. The positive charge of each copper cation is compensated for by a hexa­fluorido­phosphate counter-ion. In the crystal, the polymer chains are linked by a series of C—H⋯F hydrogen bonds, forming a supra­molecular framework. The crystal studied was refined as a two-component twin.

The title homoleptic Schiff base complexes, [M(C14H9Cl2N2O)2], for M = CoII, (I), and CuII, (II), present distinct coordination geometries despite the Schiff base dianion coordinating via the phenolato-O and imine-N atoms in each case. For (I), the coordination geometry is based on a trigonal bipyramid whereas for (II), a square-planar geometry is found (Cu site symmetry overline{1}). In the crystal of (I), discernible supra­molecular layers in the ac plane are sustained by chloro­benzene-C—H⋯O(coordinated), chloro­benzene-C—H⋯π(fused-benzene ring) as well as π(fused-benzene, chloro­benzene)–π(chloro­benzene) inter­actions [inter-centroid separations = 3.6460 (17) and 3.6580 (16) Å, respectively]. The layers inter-digitate along the b-axis direction and are linked by di­chloro­benzene-C—H⋯π(fused-benzene ring) and π–π inter­actions between fused-benzene rings and between chloro­benzene rings [inter-centroid separations = 3.6916 (16) and 3.7968 (19) Å, respectively] . Flat, supra­molecular layers are also found in the crystal of (II), being stabilized by π–π inter­actions formed between fused-benzene rings and between chloro­benzene rings [inter-centroid separations = 3.8889 (15) and 3.8889 (15) Å, respectively]; these stack parallel to [10overline{1}] without directional inter­actions between them. The analysis of the respective calculated Hirshfeld surfaces indicate diminished roles for H⋯H contacts [26.2% (I) and 30.5% (II)] owing to significant contributions by Cl⋯H/H⋯Cl contacts [25.8% (I) and 24.9% (II)]. Minor contributions by Cl⋯Cl [2.2%] and Cu⋯Cl [1.9%] contacts are indicated in the crystals of (I) and (II), respectively. The inter­action energies largely arise from dispersion terms; the aforementioned Cu⋯Cl contact in (II) gives rise to the most stabilizing inter­action in the crystal of (II).

In the title compound, di­aqua­bis­(ethyl­enedi­amine-κ2N,N')copper(II) bis­(2-nitro­benzoate), [Cu(C2H8N2)2(H2O)2](C7H4NO4)2, two di­aqua­bis­(ethyl­enedi­amine)­copper(II) cations and four nitro­benzoate anions are present in the asymmetric unit. All four anions are `whole-mol­ecule' disordered over two sets of sites. The major components have refined occupancies of 0.572 (13), 0.591 (9), 0.601 (9) and 0.794 (10). The CuII ions exhibit slightly distorted octa­hedral geometries. In the crystal, cations and anions are connected to each other via N—H⋯O and O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming a two-dimensional network parallel to (200). The inter­molecular contacts in the crystal were further analysed using Hirshfeld surface analysis, which indicates that the most significant contacts are O⋯H/H⋯O (42.9%), followed by H⋯H (35.7%), C⋯H/H⋯C (14.2%), C⋯C (2.9%), C⋯O/O⋯C (2.2%), N⋯H/H⋯N (0.9%) and N⋯O/O⋯N (0.3%).

The reaction of N-phenyl-1-(pyridin-2-yl)methanimine with copper chloride dihydrate produced the title neutral complex, [CuCl2(C12H10N2)(H2O)]·H2O. The CuII ion is five-coordinated in a distorted square-pyramidal geometry, in which the two N atoms of the bidentate Schiff base, as well as one chloro and a water mol­ecule, form the irregular base of the pyramidal structure. Meanwhile, the apical chloride ligand inter­acts through a strong hydrogen bond with a water mol­ecule of crystallization. In the crystal, mol­ecules are arranged in pairs, forming a stacking of symmetrical cyclic dimers that inter­act in turn through strong hydrogen bonds between the chloride ligands and both the coordinated and the crystallization water mol­ecules. The mol­ecular and electronic structures of the complex were also studied in detail using EPR (continuous and pulsed), FT–IR and Raman spectroscopy, as well as magnetization measurements. Likewise, Hirshfeld surface analysis was used to investigate the inter­molecular inter­actions in the crystal packing.

Crystals of the new compound, AgSr4Cu4.5(PO4)6, were grown successfully by the hydro­thermal process. The asymmetric unit of the crystal structure of the title compound contains 40 independent atoms (4 Sr, 4.5 Cu, 1 Ag, 6 P and 24 O), which are all in general positions except for one Cu atom, which is located on an inversion centre. The Cu atoms are arranged in CuOn (n = 4 or 5) polyhedra, linked through common oxygen corners to build a rigid three-dimensional motif. The connection of these copper units is assured by PO4 tetra­hedra. This arrangement allows the construction of layers extending parallel to the (100) plane and hosts suitable cavities in which Ag+ and Sr2+ cations are located. The crystal-structure cohesion is ensured by ionic bonds between the silver and strontium cations and the oxygen anions belonging to two adjacent sheets. Charge-distribution analysis and bond-valence-sum calculations were used to validate the structural model.

A copper(II) dimer with the deprotonated anion of 2-bromo­nicotinic acid (2-BrnicH), namely, tetrakis(μ-2-bromonicotinato-κ2O:O')bis[aquacopper(­II)](Cu—Cu), [Cu2(H2O)2(C6H3BrNO2)4] or [Cu2(H2O)2(2-Brnic)4], (1), was prepared by the reaction of copper(II) chloride dihydrate and 2-bromo­nicotinic acid in water. The copper(II) ion in 1 has a distorted square-pyramidal coordination environment, achieved by four carboxyl­ate O atoms in the basal plane and the water mol­ecule in the apical position. The pair of symmetry-related copper(II) ions are connected into a centrosymmetric paddle-wheel dinuclear cluster [Cu⋯Cu = 2.6470 (11) Å] via four O,O'-bridging 2-bromo­nicotinate ligands in the syn-syn coordination mode. In the extended structure of 1, the cluster mol­ecules are assembled into an infinite two-dimensional hydrogen-bonded network lying parallel to the (001) plane via strong O—H⋯O and O—H⋯N hydrogen bonds, leading to the formation of various hydrogen-bond ring motifs: dimeric R22(8) and R22(16) loops and a tetra­meric R44(16) loop. The Hirshfeld surface analysis was also performed in order to better illustrate the nature and abundance of the inter­molecular contacts in the structure of 1.

The title pyrazine dicarboxamide ligand, N2,N3-bis­(quinolin-8-yl)pyrazine-2,3-dicarboxamide (H2L1), C24H16N6O2, has a twisted conformation with the outer quinoline groups being inclined to the central pyrazine ring by 9.00 (6) and 78.67 (5)°, and by 79.94 (4)° to each other. In the crystal, molecules are linked by C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming layers parallel to the (10overline{1}) plane, which are in turn linked by offset π–π inter­actions [inter­centroid distances 3.4779 (9) and 3.6526 (8) Å], forming a supra­molecular three-dimensional structure. Reaction of the ligand H2L1 with Cu(ClO4)2 in aceto­nitrile leads to the formation of the binuclear complex, [μ-(3-{hy­droxy[(quinolin-8-yl)imino]­meth­yl}pyrazin-2-yl)[(quinolin-8-yl)imino]­methano­lato]bis­[diaceto­nitrile­copper(II)] tris­(per­chlor­ate) aceto­nitrile disolvate, [Cu2(C24H15N6O2)(CH3CN)4](ClO4)3·2CH3CN or [Cu2(HL1−)(CH3CN)4](ClO4)3·2CH3CN (I). In the cation of complex I, the ligand coordinates to the copper(II) atoms in a bis-tridentate fashion. A resonance-assisted O—H⋯O hydrogen bond is present in the ligand; the position of this H atom was located in a difference-Fourier map. Both copper(II) atoms are fivefold coordinate, being ligated by three N atoms of the ligand and by the N atoms of two aceto­nitrile mol­ecules. The first copper atom has a perfect square-pyramidal geometry while the second copper atom has a distorted shape. In the crystal, the cation and perchlorate anions are linked by a number of C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming a supra­molecular three-dimensional structure.

In the title compound, [Cu(C16H8Br3N2O)2]·C2H6OS, the CuII atom is tetra­coordinated in a square-planar coordination, being surrounded by two N atoms and two O atoms from two N,O-bidentate (E)-1-[(2,4,6-tri­bromo­phen­yl)diazen­yl]naphthalen-2-olate ligands. The two N atoms and two O atoms around the metal center are trans to each other, with an O—Cu—O bond angle of 177.90 (16)° and a N—Cu—N bond angle of 177.8 (2)°. The average distances between the CuII atom and the coordinated O and N atoms are 1.892 (4) and 1.976 (4) Å, respectively. In the crystal, complexes are linked by C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds and by π–π inter­actions involving adjacent naphthalene ring systems [centroid–centroid distance = 3.679 (4) Å]. The disordered DMSO mol­ecules inter­act weakly with the complex mol­ecules, being positioned in the voids left by the packing arrangement of the square-planar complexes. The DMSO solvent mol­ecule is disordered over two positions with occupancies of 0.70 and 0.30.

Crystal structures are reported for N-(4-meth­oxy­phen­yl)piperazine (MeOPP), (I), and for its 3,5-di­nitro­benzoate, 2,4,6-tri­nitro­phenolate (picrate) and 4-amino­benzoate salts, (II)–(IV), the last of which crystallizes as a monohydrate. In MeOPP, C11H16N2O, (I), the 4-meth­oxy­phenyl group is nearly planar and it occupies an equatorial site on the piperazine ring: the mol­ecules are linked into simple C(10) chains by N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. In each of the salts, i.e., C11H17N2O+·C7H3N2O6−, (II), C11H17N2O+·C6H2N3O7−, (III), and C11H17N2O+·C7H6NO2−·H2O, (IV), the effectively planar 4-meth­oxy­phenyl substituent again occupies an equatorial site on the piperazine ring. In (II), two of the nitro groups are disordered over two sets of atomic sites and the bond distances in the anion indicate considerable delocalization of the negative charge over the C atoms of the ring. The ions in (II) are linked by two N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds to form a cyclic, centrosymmetric four-ion aggregate; those in (III) are linked by a combination of N—H⋯O and C—H⋯π(arene) hydrogen bonds to form sheets; and the components of (IV) are linked by N—H⋯O, O—H⋯O and C—H⋯π(arene) hydrogen bonds to form a three-dimensional framework structure. Comparisons are made with the structures of some related compounds.

The title compound, [Mn(C3H7NO)4(H2O)2][Cu5(C7H4NO3)4]·C3H7NO or cis-[Mn(H2O)2(DMF)4]{Cu[12-MCCu(II)N(shi)-4]}·DMF, where MC is metallacrown, shi3− is salicyl­hydroximate, and DMF is N,N-di­methyl­formamide, crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/n. Two crystallographically independent metallacrown anions are present in the structure, and both anions exhibit minor main mol­ecule disorder by an approximate (non-crystallographic) 180° rotation with occupancy ratios of 0.9010 (9) to 0.0990 (9) for one anion and 0.9497 (8) to 0.0503 (8) for the other. Each penta­copper(II) metallacrown contains four CuII ions in the MC ring and a CuII ion captured in the central cavity. Each CuII ion is four-coordinate with a square-planar geometry. The anionic {Cu[12-MCCu(II)N(shi)-4]}2− is charged-balanced by the presence of a cis-[Mn(H2O)2(DMF)4]2+ cation located in the lattice. In addition, the octa­hedral MnII counter-cation is hydrogen bonded to both MC anions via the coordinated water mol­ecules of the MnII ion. The water mol­ecules form hydrogen bonds with the phenolate and carbonyl oxygen atoms of the shi3− ligands of the MCs.

Temperature is a ubiquitous environmental variable used to explore materials structure, properties and reactivity. This article reports a new paradigm for variable-temperature measurements that varies the temperature continuously across a sample such that temperature is measured as a function of sample position and not time. The gradient approach offers advantages over conventional variable-temperature studies, in which temperature is scanned during a series measurement, in that it improves the efficiency with which a series of temperatures can be probed and it allows the sample evolution at multiple temperatures to be measured in parallel to resolve kinetic and thermodynamic effects. Applied to treat samples at a continuum of temperatures prior to measurements at ambient temperature, the gradient approach enables parametric studies of recovered systems, eliminating temperature-dependent structural and chemical variations to simplify interpretation of the data. The implementation of spatially resolved variable-temperature measurements presented here is based on a gradient-heater design that uses a 3D-printed ceramic template to guide the variable pitch of the wire in a resistively heated wire-wound heater element. The configuration of the gradient heater was refined on the basis of thermal modelling. Applications of the gradient heater to quantify thermal-expansion behaviour, to map metastable polymorphs recovered to ambient temperature, and to monitor the time- and temperature-dependent phase evolution in a complex solid-state reaction are demonstrated.

A furnace that covers the temperature range from room temperature up to 2000 K has been designed, built and implemented on the D2AM beamline at the ESRF. The QMAX furnace is devoted to the full exploration of the reciprocal hemispace located above the sample surface. It is well suited for symmetric and asymmetric 3D reciprocal space mapping. Owing to the hemispherical design of the furnace, 3D grazing-incidence small- and wide-angle scattering and diffraction measurements are possible. Inert and reactive experiments can be performed at atmospheric pressure under controlled gas flux. It is demonstrated that the QMAX furnace allows monitoring of structural phase transitions as well as microstructural evolution at the nanoscale, such as self-organization processes, crystal growth and strain relaxation. A time-resolved in situ oxidation experiment illustrates the capability to probe the high-temperature reactivity of materials.

Copper-containing nitrite reductases (CuNiRs) that convert NO2− to NO via a CuCAT–His–Cys–CuET proton-coupled redox system are of central importance in nitrogen-based energy metabolism. These metalloenzymes, like all redox enzymes, are very susceptible to radiation damage from the intense synchrotron-radiation X-rays that are used to obtain structures at high resolution. Understanding the chemistry that underpins the enzyme mechanisms in these systems requires resolutions of better than 2 Å. Here, for the first time, the damage-free structure of the resting state of one of the most studied CuNiRs was obtained by combining X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) and neutron crystallography. This represents the first direct comparison of neutron and XFEL structural data for any protein. In addition, damage-free structures of the reduced and nitrite-bound forms have been obtained to high resolution from cryogenically maintained crystals by XFEL crystallography. It is demonstrated that AspCAT and HisCAT are deprotonated in the resting state of CuNiRs at pH values close to the optimum for activity. A bridging neutral water (D2O) is positioned with one deuteron directed towards AspCAT Oδ1 and one towards HisCAT N∊2. The catalytic T2Cu-ligated water (W1) can clearly be modelled as a neutral D2O molecule as opposed to D3O+ or OD−, which have previously been suggested as possible alternatives. The bridging water restricts the movement of the unprotonated AspCAT and is too distant to form a hydrogen bond to the O atom of the bound nitrite that interacts with AspCAT. Upon the binding of NO2− a proton is transferred from the bridging water to the Oδ2 atom of AspCAT, prompting electron transfer from T1Cu to T2Cu and reducing the catalytic redox centre. This triggers the transfer of a proton from AspCAT to the bound nitrite, enabling the reaction to proceed.

The X-chromosome-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) is a multidomain protein whose main function is to block apoptosis by caspase inhibition. XIAP is also involved in other signalling pathways, including NF-κB activation and copper homeostasis. XIAP is overexpressed in tumours, potentiating cell survival and resistance to chemotherapeutics, and has therefore become an important target for the treatment of malignancy. Despite the fact that the structure of each single domain is known, the conformation of the full-length protein has never been determined. Here, the first structural model of the full-length XIAP dimer, determined by an integrated approach using nuclear magnetic resonance, small-angle X-ray scattering and electron paramagnetic resonance data, is presented. It is shown that XIAP adopts a compact and relatively rigid conformation, implying that the spatial arrangement of its domains must be taken into account when studying the interactions with its physiological partners and in developing effective inhibitors.