Efficient sample delivery is an essential aspect of serial crystallography at both synchrotrons and X-ray free-electron lasers. Rastering fixed target chips through the X-ray beam is an efficient method for serial delivery from the perspectives of both sample consumption and beam time usage. Here, an approach for loading fixed targets using acoustic drop ejection is presented that does not compromise crystal quality, can reduce sample consumption by more than an order of magnitude and allows serial diffraction to be collected from a larger proportion of the crystals in the slurry.

Detection of heavy elements, such as metals, in macromolecular crystallography (MX) samples by X-ray fluorescence is a function traditionally covered at synchrotron MX beamlines by silicon drift detectors, which cannot be used at X-ray free-electron lasers because of the very short duration of the X-ray pulses. Here it is shown that the hybrid pixel charge-integrating detector JUNGFRAU can fulfill this function when operating in a low-flux regime. The feasibility of precise position determination of micrometre-sized metal marks is also demonstrated, to be used as fiducials for offline prelocation in serial crystallography experiments, based on the specific fluorescence signal measured with JUNGFRAU, both at the synchrotron and at SwissFEL. Finally, the measurement of elemental absorption edges at a synchrotron beamline using JUNGFRAU is also demonstrated.

With the introduction of the multi-bend achromats in the new fourth-generation storage rings the emittance has decreased by an order of magnitude resulting in increased brightness. However, the higher brightness comes with smaller beam sizes and narrower radiation cones. As a consequence, the requirements on mechanical stability regarding the beamline components increases. Here an innovative five-axis parallel kinematic mirror unit for use with soft X-ray beamlines using off-axis grazing-incidence optics is presented. Using simulations and measurements from the HIPPIE beamline at the MAX IV Laboratory it is shown that it has no Eigen frequencies below 90 Hz. Its positioning accuracy is better than 25 nm linearly and 17–35 µrad angularly depending on the mirror chamber dimensions.

The high temporal resolution in data acquisition, possible in the quick-scanning EXAFS (QEXAFS) mode of operation, provides new challenges in efficient data processing methods. Here a new approach is developed that combines an easy to use interactive graphical interface with highly optimized and fully parallelized Python-based routines for extracting, normalizing and interpolating oversampled time-resolved XAS spectra from a raw binary stream of data acquired during operando QEXAFS studies. The programs developed are freely available via a Github repository.

Serial synchrotron crystallography (SSX) is an emerging technique for static and time-resolved protein structure determination. Using specifically patterned silicon chips for sample delivery, the `hit-and-return' (HARE) protocol allows for efficient time-resolved data collection. The specific pattern of the crystal wells in the HARE chip provides direct access to many discrete time points. HARE chips allow for optical excitation as well as on-chip mixing for reaction initiation, making a large number of protein systems amenable to time-resolved studies. Loading of protein microcrystals onto the HARE chip is streamlined by a novel vacuum loading platform that allows fine-tuning of suction strength while maintaining a humid environment to prevent crystal dehydration. To enable the widespread use of time-resolved serial synchrotron crystallography (TR-SSX), detailed technical descriptions of a set of accessories that facilitate TR-SSX workflows are provided.

Possibilities in auxiliary technique combinations with small- and wide-angle X ray scattering are described, as well as more complicated sample environments used in X-ray and neutron scattering.

It has been revealed that in cylindrical nano-confinement, the hydrogen-bonding direction of nylon-12 crystals in the rod could self-assemble to be parallel to the long axis of the rod. The dominant growth direction and hydrogen-bonding direction of the γ-form crystal in the long axis of the rod has been revealed by TEM–SAED and WAXD.

An expectation maximization algorithm is implemented to resolve the indexing ambiguity which arises when merging data from many crystals in protein crystallography, especially in cases where partial reflections are recorded in serial femtosecond crystallography (SFX) at XFELs.

This feature article reviews the control and understanding of nanoparticle shape from their crystallography and growth. Particular emphasis is placed on systems relevant for plasmonics and catalysis.

A review of recent and ongoing development and results within the field of biological solution small-angle X-ray scattering (BioSAXS), with a focus on the increasing complexity of biological samples, data collection and data evaluation strategies.

A neutron crystallographic study of perdeuterated transthyretin reveals important aspects of the structure relating to its stability and its propensity to form fibrils, as well as evidence of a single water molecule that affects the symmetry of the two binding pockets.

Today, there is very little doubt that chemistry owes as much to crystallography as crystallography does to chemistry. This mutual synergy defines modern chemical crystallography.

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The transmembrane intracellular lectin ER–Golgi intermediate compartment protein 53 (ERGIC-53) and the soluble EF-hand multiple coagulation factor deficiency protein 2 (MCFD2) form a complex that functions as a cargo receptor, trafficking various glycoproteins between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the Golgi apparatus. It has been demonstrated that the carbohydrate-recognition domain (CRD) of ERGIC-53 (ERGIC-53CRD) interacts with N-linked glycans on cargo glycoproteins, whereas MCFD2 recognizes polypeptide segments of cargo glycoproteins. Crystal structures of ERGIC-53CRD complexed with MCFD2 and mannosyl oligosaccharides have revealed protein–protein and protein–sugar binding modes. In contrast, the polypeptide-recognition mechanism of MCFD2 remains largely unknown. Here, a 1.60 Å resolution crystal structure of the ERGIC-53CRD–MCFD2 complex is reported, along with three other crystal forms. Comparison of these structures with those previously reported reveal that MCFD2, but not ERGIC-53–CRD, exhibits significant conformational plasticity that may be relevant to its accommodation of various polypeptide ligands.

Protein–protein and protein–ligand interactions often involve conformational changes or structural rearrangements that can be quantified by solution small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). These scattering intensity measurements reveal structural details of the bound complex, the number of species involved and, additionally, the strength of interactions if carried out as a titration. Although a core part of structural biology workflows, SAXS-based titrations are not commonly used in drug discovery contexts. This is because prior knowledge of expected sample requirements, throughput and prediction accuracy is needed to develop reliable ligand screens. This study presents the use of the histidine-binding protein (26 kDa) and other periplasmic binding proteins to benchmark ligand screen performance. Sample concentrations and exposure times were varied across multiple screening trials at four beamlines to investigate the accuracy and precision of affinity prediction. The volatility ratio between titrated scattering curves and a common apo reference is found to most reliably capture the extent of structural and population changes. This obviates the need to explicitly model scattering intensities of bound complexes, which can be strongly ligand-dependent. Where the dissociation constant is within 102 of the protein concentration and the total exposure times exceed 20 s, the titration protocol presented at 0.5 mg ml−1 yields affinities comparable to isothermal titration calorimetry measurements. Estimated throughput ranges between 20 and 100 ligand titrations per day at current synchrotron beamlines, with the limiting step imposed by sample handling and cleaning procedures.

A novel monoclinic phase of human insulin co-crystallized with m-cresol was structurally characterized by means of powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction.

The crystal structure of the c-type cytochrome NirC from Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been determined and reveals the simultaneous presence of monomers and 3D domain-swapped dimers in the same asymmetric unit.

From the perspective of a young(ish) structural biologist who currently specialises in macromolecular X-ray crystallography, are the best years of crystallography over? Some evidence and hopefully thought-provoking analysis is presented here on the subject.

In the mol­ecule of the title N,N'-disubstituted imidazol-2-yl­idene palladium(II) complex, [PdBr2(C21H24N4O)]·CH2Cl2, the palladium(II) atom adopts a slightly distorted square-planar coordination (r.m.s. deviation = 0.0145 Å), and the five-membered chelate ring is almost planar [maximum displacement = 0.015 (8) Å]. The mol­ecular conformation is enforced by intra­molecular C—H⋯Br hydrogen bonds. In the crystal, complex mol­ecules and di­chloro­methane mol­ecules are linked into a three-dimensional network by C—H⋯O and C—H⋯Br hydrogen bonds.

In the title compound, [Pd(C10H24N4)]I2·H2O, the PdII ion is four-coordinated in a slightly distorted square-planar coordination environment defined by four N atoms from a 1,4,8,11-tetra­aza­cyclo­tetra­decane ligand. The cationic complex, two I− anions and the solvent water mol­ecule are linked through inter­molecular hydrogen bonds into a three-dimensional network structure.

In the title compound, [Pd(C7H3NO4)(C10H8N2)]·H2O, the PdII cation is four-coordinated in a distorted square-planar coordination geometry defined by the two N atoms of the 2,2'-bi­pyridine ligand, one O atom and one N atom from the pyridine-2,6-di­carboxyl­ate anion. The complex and solvent water mol­ecule are linked by inter­molecular hydrogen bonds. In the crystal, the complex mol­ecules are stacked in columns along the a axis.

An aluminium-deficient Al8Cr5-type inter­metallic with formula Al7.85Cr5.16 (octa­aluminium penta­chromium) was uncovered when high-pressure sinter­ing of a mixture with composition Al11Cr4 was carried out. Structure analysis reveals that there are three co-occupied positions with refined occupancy factors for Al atoms being 0.958, 0.772 and 1/2. The present phase is confirmed to be isotypic with the previously reported rhombohedral Al8Cr5 ordered phase [Bradley & Lu (1937). Z. Kristallogr. 96, 20–37] and structurally closely related to the disordered phases of rhombohedral Al16Cr9.5 and cubic Al8Cr5.

The title compound {systematic name: N-[2-(5-meth­oxy-1H-indol-3-yl)eth­yl]-N-(prop-2-en-1-yl)prop-2-en-1-amine), C17H22N2O, has a single tryptamine mol­ecule in the asymmetric unit. The mol­ecules are linked by strong N—H⋯N hydrogen bonds into zigzag chains with graph-set notation C(7) along the [010] direction.

In the title bis­chalcone, C17H12Br2O, the olefinic double bonds are almost coplanar with their attached 4-bromo­phenyl rings [torsion angles = −10.2 (4) and −6.2 (4)°], while the carbonyl double bond is in an s-trans conformation with with respect to one of the C=C bonds and an s-cis conformation with respect to the other [C=C—C=O = 160.7 (3) and −15.2 (4)°, respectively]. The dihedral angle between the 4-bromo­phenyl rings is 51.56 (2)°. In the crystal, mol­ecules are linked into a zigzag chain propagating along [001] by weak C—H⋯π inter­actions. The conformations of related bis­chalcones are surveyed and a Hirshfeld surface analysis is used to investigate and qu­antify the inter­molecular contacts.

The title compound (systematic name: bis­{2-[4-(acet­yloxy)-1H-indol-3-yl]ethan-1-aminium} but-2-enedioate), 2C14H19N2O2+·C4H2O42−, has a single protonated psilacetin cation and one half of a fumarate dianion in the asymmetric unit. There are N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds between the ammonium H atoms and the fumarate O atoms, as well as N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds between the indole H atoms and the fumarate O atoms. The hydrogen bonds hold the ions together in infinite one-dimensional chains along [111].

This study is an investigation into the crystal structure of the biologically active drug mol­ecule riluzole [RZ, 6-(tri­fluoro­meth­oxy)-1,3-benzo­thia­zol-2-amine], C8H5F3N2OS, and its derivative, the riluzolium chloride salt [RZHCl, 2-amino-6-(tri­fluoro­meth­oxy)-1,3-benzo­thia­zol-3-ium chloride], C8H6F3N2OS+·Cl−. In spite of repeated efforts to crystallize the drug, its crystal structure has not been reported to date, hence the current study provides a method for obtaining crystals of both riluzole and its corresponding salt, riluzolium hydro­chloride. The salt was obtained by grinding HCl with the drug and crystallizing the obtained solid from di­chloro­methane. The crystals of riluzole were obtained in the presence of l-glutamic acid and d-glutamic acid in separate experiments. In the crystal structure of RZHCl, the –OCF3 moiety is perpendicular to the mol­ecular plane containing the riluzolium ion, as can be seen by the torsion angle of 107.4 (3)°. In the case of riluzole, the torsion angles of the four different mol­ecules in the asymmetric unit show that in three cases the tri­fluoro­meth­oxy group is perpendicular to the riluzole mol­ecular plane and only in one mol­ecule does the –OCF3 group lie in the same mol­ecular plane. The crystal structure of riluzole primarily consists of strong N—H⋯N hydrogen bonds along with weak C—H⋯F, C—H⋯S, F⋯F, C⋯C and C⋯S inter­actions, while that of its salt is stabilized by strong [N—H]+⋯Cl− and weak C—H⋯Cl−, N—H⋯S, C—H⋯F, C⋯C, S⋯N and S⋯Cl− inter­actions.

Three new isotypic heteropolynuclear complexes, namely penta­aqua­carbonato­penta­kis­(glycinehydroxamato)nitrato­penta­copper(II)lanthanide(III) x-hydrate, [LnCu5(GlyHA)5(CO3)(NO3)(H2O)5]·xH2O (GlyHA2− is glycine­hydrox­amate, N-hy­droxy­glycinamidate or amino­aceto­hydroxamate, C2H4N2O22−), with lanthanide(III) (LnIII) = gadolinium (Gd, 1, x = 3.5), dysprosium (Dy, 2, x = 3.28) and holmium (Ho, 3, x = 3.445), within a 15-metallacrown-5 class were obtained on reaction of lanthanide(III) nitrate, copper(II) acetate and sodium glycinehydroxamate. Complexes 1–3 contain five copper(II) ions and five bridging GlyHA2− anions, forming a [CuGlyHA]5 metallamacrocyclic core. The LnIII ions are coordinated to the metallamacrocycle through five O-donor hydroxamates. The electroneutrality of complexes 1–3 is achieved by a bidentate carbonate anion coordinated to the LnIII ion and a monodentate nitrate anion coordinated apically to one of the copper(II) ions of the metallamacrocycle. The lattice parameters of complexes 1–3 are similar to those previously reported for an EuIII–CuII 15-metallacrown-5 complex with glycine­hydroxamate of proposed composition [EuCu5(GlyHA)5(OH)(NO3)2(H2O)4]·3.5H2O [Stemmler et al. (1999). Inorg. Chem. 38, 2807–2817]. High-quality X-ray data obtained for 1–3 have allowed a re-evaluation of the X-ray data solution proposed earlier for the EuCu5 complex and suggest that the formula is actually [EuCu5(GlyHA)5(CO3)(NO3)(H2O)5]·3.5H2O.

The isostructural title compounds, poly[piperazin-1-ium [di-μ-bromido-caesium]], {(C4H11N2)[CsBr2]}n, and poly[piperazin-1-ium [di-μ-bromido-rubidium]], {(C4H11N2)[RbBr2]}n, contain singly-protonated piperazin-1-ium cations and unusual ABr6 (A = Cs or Rb) trigonal prisms. The prisms are linked into a distinctive `curtain wall' arrangement propagating in the (010) plane by face and edge sharing. In each case, a network of N—H⋯N, N—H⋯Br and N—H⋯(Br,Br) hydrogen bonds consolidates the structure.

Bidentate and tridentate coordination of a 2,4-di-tert-butyl-substituted bridging amine bis­(phenolate) ligand to a palladium(II) center are observed within the same crystal structure, namely di­chlorido­({6,6'-[(ethane-1,2-diylbis(methyl­aza­nedi­yl)]bis­(methyl­ene)}bis­(2,4-di-tert-butyl­phenol))palladium(II) chlorido­(2,4-di-tert-butyl-6-{[(2-{[(3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hy­droxy­phen­yl)meth­yl](meth­yl)amino}­eth­yl)(meth­yl)amino]­meth­yl}phenolato)palladium(II) methanol 1.685-solvate 0.315-hydrate, [PdCl2(C34H56N2O2)][PdCl(C34H55N2O2)]·1.685CH3OH·0.315H2O. Both complexes exhibit a square-planar geometry, with unbound phenol moieties participating in inter­molecular hydrogen bonding with co-crystallized water and methanol. The presence of both κ2 and κ3 coordination modes arising from the same solution suggest a dynamic process in which phenol donors may coordinate or dissociate from the metal center, and offers insight into catalyst speciation throughout Pd-mediated processes. The unit cell contains di­chlorido­({6,6'-[(ethane-1,2-diylbis(methyl­aza­nedi­yl)]bis­(methyl­ene)}bis­(2,4-di-tert-butyl­phenol))palladium(II), {(L2)PdCl2}, and chlorido­(2,4-di-tert-butyl-6-{[(2-{[(3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hy­droxy­phen­yl)meth­yl](methyl)amino}eth­yl)(meth­yl)amino]­meth­yl}phenolato)palladium(II), {(L2X)PdCl}, mol­ecules as well as fractional water and methanol solvent mol­ecules.

A one-dimensional ladder-type coordination polymer, poly[[(μ2-hydroxido)(μ2-1H-pyrazole-3,5-di­carboxyl­ato)gallium(III)] monohydrate], [Ga(C5H2N2O4)(OH)(H2O)]n or [Ga(HPDC)(OH)(H2O)]n, I, isotypic with a V3+ coordination polymer previously reported by Chen et al. [J. Coord. Chem. (2008). 61, 3556–3567] was prepared from Ga3+ and pyrazole-3,5-di­carb­oxy­lic acid monohydrate (H3PDC·H2O). Compound I was isolated using three distinct experimental methods: hydro­thermal (HT), microwave-assisted (MWAS) and one-pot (OP) and the crystallite size should be fine-tuned according to the method employed. The coordination polymeric structure is based on a dimeric Ga3+ moiety comprising two μ2-bridging hydroxide groups, which are inter­connected by HPDC2− anionic organic linkers. The close packing of individual polymers is strongly directed by the supra­molecular inter­actions, namely several O—H⋯O and N—H⋯O hydrogen-bonding inter­actions.

The non-porous three-dimensional structure of poly[(μ5-2-amino­benzene-1,4-di­carboxyl­ato)(μ6-oxalato)(oxomium)europium(III)], [Eu(C8H5NO4)(C2O4)(H3O)]n or [EuIII(NH2–BDC)(ox)(H3O)]n (NH2–BDC2− = 2-amino­terephthalate and ox2− = oxalate) is constructed from two-dimensional layers of EuIII–carboxyl­ate–oxalate, which are connected by NH2–BDC2− pillars. The basic structural unit of the layer is an edge-sharing dimer of TPRS-{EuIIIO9}, which is assembled through the ox2− moiety. The intra­layer void is partially occupied by TPR-{EuIIIO6} motifs. Weak C—H⋯O and strong, classical intra­molecular N—H⋯O and inter­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen-bonding inter­actions, as well as weak π–π stacking inter­actions, affix the organic pillars within the framework. The two-dimensional layer can be simplified to a uninodal 4-connected sql/Shubnikov tetra­gonal plane net with point symbol {44.62}.

In the context of increasing hardware and software automation in the process of crystal structure determination by X-ray diffraction, and based on conference sessions presenting some of the experience of senior crystallographers for the benefit of younger colleagues, an outline is given here of some basic concepts and applications of symmetry in crystallography. Three specific examples of structure determinations are discussed, for which an understanding of these aspects of symmetry avoids mistakes that can readily be made by reliance on automatic procedures. Topics addressed include pseudo-symmetry, twinning, real and apparent disorder, chirality, and structure validation.

The title compound [systematic name: (1R*, 8S)-2-acetamidoocta­hydro­pyrrol­izin-4-ium chloride–N-[(1R, 8S)-hexa­hydro-1H-pyrrolizin-2-yl)acetamide (1/1)], 2(C9H16N2O)·HCl or C9H17N2O+·Cl−·C9H16N2O, arose as an unexpected product when 1-exo-acetamido­pyrrolizidine (AcAP; C9H16N2O) was dissolved in CHCl3. Within the AcAP pyrrolizidine group, the unsubstituted five-membered ring is disordered over two orientations in a 0.897 (5):0.103 (5) ratio. Two AcAP mol­ecules related by a crystallographic twofold axis link to H+ and Cl− ions lying on the rotation axis, thereby forming N—H⋯N and N—H⋯Cl⋯H—N hydrogen bonds. The first of these has an unusually short N⋯N separation of 2.616 (2) Å: refinement of different models against the present data set could not distinguish between a symmetrical hydrogen bond (H atom lying on the twofold axis and equidistant from the N atoms) or static or dynamic disorder models (i.e. N—H⋯N + N⋯H—N). Computational studies suggest that the disorder model is slightly more stable, but the energy difference is very small.

The equimolar reaction between a racemic mixture of (R)- and (S)-camphorquinone with thio­semicarbazide yielded the title compound, C11H17N3OS [common name: (R)- and (S)-camphor thio­semicarbazone], which maintains the chirality of the methyl­ated chiral carbon atoms and crystallizes in the centrosymmetric space group C2/c. There are two mol­ecules in general positions in the asymmetric unit, one of them being the (1R)-camphor thio­semicarbazone isomer and the second the (1S)- isomer. In the crystal, the mol­ecular units are linked by C—H⋯S, N—H⋯O and N—H⋯S inter­actions, building a tape-like structure parallel to the (overline{1}01) plane, generating R21(7) and R22(8) graph-set motifs for the H⋯S inter­actions. The Hirshfeld surface analysis indicates that the major contributions for crystal cohesion are from H⋯H (55.00%), H⋯S (22.00%), H⋯N (8.90%) and H⋯O (8.40%) inter­actions.

The crystal and mol­ecular structures of the title organotin di­thio­carbamate compounds, [Sn(C6H5)3(C7H10NS2)] (I) and [Sn(C6H5)2(C7H10NS2)2] (II), present very distinct tin atom coordination geometries. In (I), the di­thio­carbamate ligand is asymmetrically coordinating with the resulting C3S2 donor set defining a coordination geometry inter­mediate between square-pyramidal and trigonal–bipyramidal. In (II), two independent mol­ecules comprise the asymmetric unit, which differ in the conformations of the allyl substituents and in the relative orientations of the tin-bound phenyl rings. The di­thio­carbamate ligands in (II) coordinate in an asymmetric mode but the Sn—S bonds are more symmetric than observed in (I). The resulting C2S4 donor set approximates an octa­hedral coordination geometry with a cis-disposition of the ipso-carbon atoms and with the more tightly bound sulfur atoms approximately trans. The only directional inter­molecular contacts in the crystals of (I) and (II) are of the type phenyl-C—H⋯π(phen­yl) and vinyl­idene-C—H⋯π(phen­yl), respectively, with each leading to a supra­molecular chain propagating along the a-axis direction. The calculated Hirshfeld surfaces emphasize the importance of H⋯H contacts in the crystal of (I), i.e. contributing 62.2% to the overall surface. The only other two significant contacts also involve hydrogen, i.e. C⋯H/H⋯C (28.4%) and S⋯H/H⋯S (8.6%). Similar observations pertain to the individual mol­ecules of (II), which are clearly distinguishable in their surface contacts, with H⋯H being clearly dominant (59.9 and 64.9%, respectively) along with C⋯H/H⋯C (24.3 and 20.1%) and S⋯H/H⋯S (14.4 and 13.6%) contacts. The calculations of energies of inter­action suggest dispersive forces make a significant contribution to the stabilization of the crystals. The exception is for the C—H⋯π contacts in (II) where, in addition to the dispersive contribution, significant contributions are made by the electrostatic forces.

The title compound represents the thallium(I) salt of a substituted 1,2,5-oxa­diazole, [Tl(C3H3N4O3)]n, with amino- and hydroxamate groups in the 4- and 3- positions of the oxa­diazole ring, respectively. In the crystal, the deprotonated hydroxamate group represents an inter­mediate between the keto/enol tautomers and forms a five-membered chelate ring with the thallium(I) cation. The coordination sphere of the cation is augmented to a distorted disphenoid by two monodentately binding O atoms from two adjacent anions, leading to the formation of zigzag chains extending parallel to the b axis. The cohesion within the chains is supported by π–π stacking [centroid–centroid distance = 3.746 (3) Å] and inter­molecular N—H⋯N hydrogen bonds.

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C10H11NO4, which was synthesized via nitration reaction of eugenol (4-allyl-2-meth­oxy­phenol) with a mixture of nitric acid and sulfuric acid, consists of three independent mol­ecules of similar geometry. Each mol­ecule displays an intra­molecular hydrogen bond involving the hydroxide and the nitro group forming an S(6) motif. The crystal cohesion is ensured by inter­molecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds in addition to π–π stacking inter­actions between the aromatic rings [centroid–centroid distances = 3.6583 (17)–4.0624 (16) Å]. The Hirshfeld surface analysis and the two-dimensional fingerprint plots show that H⋯H (39.6%), O⋯H/H⋯O (37.7%), C⋯H/H⋯C (12.5%) and C⋯C (4%) are the most important contributors towards the crystal packing.

The title compound, bis­(4-hy­droxy-N-isopropyl-N-methyl­tryptammonium) (4-HO-MiPT) fumarate (systematic name: bis­{[2-(4-hy­droxy-1H-indol-3-yl)eth­yl](meth­yl)propan-2-yl­aza­nium} but-2-enedioate), 2C14H21N2O+·C4H2O42−, has a singly protonated tryptammonium cation and one half of a fumarate dianion in the asymmetric unit. The tryptammonium and fumarate ions are held together in one-dimensional chains by N—H⋯O and O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. These chains are a combination of R42(20) rings, and C22(15) and C44(30) parallel chains along (110). They are further consolidated by N—H⋯π inter­actions. There are two two-component types of disorder impacting the tryptammonium fragment with a 0.753 (7):0.247 (7) occupancy ratio and one of the fumarate oxygen atoms with a 0.73 (8):0.27 (8) ratio.

The sexa­dentate ligand 1,1,1-tris­[(salicyl­idene­amino)­meth­yl]ethane has been reported numerous times in its triply deprotonated form coordinated to transition metals and lanthanides, yet it has been rarely employed with main-group elements, including in substituted forms. Its structures with gallium and indium are reported as solvates, namely, ({[(2,2-bis­{[(2-oxido­benzyl­idene)amino-κ2N,O]meth­yl}prop­yl)imino]­meth­yl}phenololato-κ2N,O)gallium(III) pyridine monosolvate, [Ga(C26H24N3O3)]·C5H5N, the aceto­nitrile 0.75-solvate, [Ga(C26H24N3O3)]·0.75C2H3N, and ({[(2,2-bis­{[(2-oxido­benzyl­idene)amino-κ2N,O]meth­yl}prop­yl)imino]­meth­yl}phenololato-κ2N,O)indium(III) di­chloro­methane monosolvate, [In(C26H24N3O3)]·CH2Cl2. All three metal complexes are pseudo-octa­hedral and each structure contains multiple weak C—H⋯O and/or C—H⋯N inter­molecular hydrogen-bonding inter­actions. The syntheses and additional characterization in the forms of melting points, high-resolution mass spectra, infra-red (IR) spectra, and 1H and 13C NMR spectra are also reported.

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.