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Characterization of the soft X-ray spectrometer PEAXIS at BESSY II

The performance of the recently commissioned spectrometer PEAXIS for resonant inelastic soft X-ray scattering (RIXS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and its hosting beamline U41-PEAXIS at the BESSY II synchrotron are characterized. The beamline provides linearly polarized light from 180 eV to 1600 eV allowing for RIXS measurements in the range 200–1200 eV. The monochromator optics can be operated in different configurations to provide either high flux with up to 1012 photons s−1 within the focal spot at the sample or high energy resolution with a full width at half maximum of <40 meV at an incident photon energy of ∼400 eV. The measured total energy resolution of the RIXS spectrometer is in very good agreement with theoretically predicted values obtained by ray-tracing simulations. PEAXIS features a 5 m-long RIXS spectrometer arm that can be continuously rotated about the sample position by 106° within the horizontal photon scattering plane, thus enabling the study of momentum-transfer-dependent excitations. Selected scientific examples are presented to demonstrate the instrument capabilities, including measurements of excitations in single-crystalline NiO and in liquid acetone employing a fluid cell sample manipulator. Planned upgrades of the beamline and the RIXS spectrometer to further increase the energy resolution to ∼100 meV at 1000 eV incident photon energy are discussed.




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Full-field spectroscopic measurement of the X-ray beam from a multilayer monochromator using a hyperspectral X-ray camera

Multilayer monochromator devices are commonly used at (imaging) beamlines of synchrotron facilities to shape the X-ray beam to relatively small bandwidth and high intensity. However, stripe artefacts are often observed and can deteriorate the image quality. Although the intensity distribution of these artefacts has been described in the literature, their spectral distribution is currently unknown. To assess the spatio-spectral properties of the monochromated X-ray beam, the direct beam has been measured for the first time using a hyperspectral X-ray detector. The results show a large number of spectral features with different spatial distributions for a [Ru, B4C] strip monochromator, associated primarily with the higher-order harmonics of the undulator and monochromator. It is found that their relative contributions are sufficiently low to avoid an influence on the imaging data. The [V, B4C] strip suppresses these high-order harmonics even more than the former, yet at the cost of reduced efficiency.




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AP-XPS beamline, a platform for operando science at Pohang Accelerator Laboratory

Beamline 8A (BL 8A) is an undulator-based soft X-ray beamline at Pohang Accelerator Laboratory. This beamline is aimed at high-resolution ambient-pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (AP-XPS), soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy (soft-XAS) and scanning photoemission microscopy (SPEM) experiments. BL 8A has two branches, 8A1 SPEM and 8A2 AP-XPS, that share a plane undulator, the first mirror (M1) and the monochromator. The photon beam is switched between the two branches by changing the refocusing mirrors after the monochromator. The acceptance angle of M1 is kept glancing at 1.2°, and Pt is coated onto the mirrors to achieve high reflectance, which ensures a wide photon energy range (100–2000 eV) with high resolution at a photon flux of ∼1013 photons s−1. In this article, the main properties and performance of the beamline are reported, together with selected experiments performed on the new beamline and experimental system.




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The HXD95: a modified Bassett-type hydrothermal diamond-anvil cell for in situ XRD experiments up to 5 GPa and 1300 K

A new diamond-anvil cell apparatus for in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction measurements of liquids and glasses, at pressures from ambient to 5 GPa and temperatures from ambient to 1300 K, is reported. This portable setup enables in situ monitoring of the melting of complex compounds and the determination of the structure and properties of melts under moderately high pressure and high temperature conditions relevant to industrial processes and magmatic processes in the Earth's crust and shallow mantle. The device was constructed according to a modified Bassett-type hydro­thermal diamond-anvil cell design with a large angular opening (θ = 95°). This paper reports the successful application of this device to record in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction of liquid Ga and synthetic PbSiO3 glass to 1100 K and 3 GPa.




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A lathe system for micrometre-sized cylindrical sample preparation at room and cryogenic temperatures

A simple two-spindle based lathe system for the preparation of cylindrical samples intended for X-ray tomography is presented. The setup can operate at room temperature as well as under cryogenic conditions, allowing the preparation of samples down to 20 and 50 µm in diameter, respectively, within minutes. Case studies are presented involving the preparation of a brittle biomineral brachiopod shell and cryogenically fixed soft brain tissue, and their examination by means of ptychographic X-ray computed tomography reveals the preparation method to be mainly free from causing artefacts. Since this lathe system easily yields near-cylindrical samples ideal for tomography, a usage for a wide variety of otherwise challenging specimens is anticipated, in addition to potential use as a time- and cost-saving tool prior to focused ion-beam milling. Fast sample preparation becomes especially important in relation to shorter measurement times expected in next-generation synchrotron sources.




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A portable on-axis laser-heating system for near-90° X-ray spectroscopy: application to ferropericlase and iron silicide

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°.




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Understanding the mechanical limitations of the performance of soft X-ray monochromators at MAX IV laboratory

MAX IV is a fourth-generation, or diffraction-limited, synchrotron light source with a number of state-of-the-art beamlines. The performance of a beamline is, to a high degree, set by the energy resolution it can achieve, which in turn is governed to a large extent by the monochromator. During the design phase of a monochromator, the mechanical requirements must be fully understood and met with margin. During commissioning, the performance must be verified and optimized. In this paper, six soft X-ray monochromators at MAX IV beamlines (Bloch, Veritas, HIPPIE, SPECIES, FinEstBeAMS and SoftiMAX) are examined with a focus on their resolving power, energy range and the time required to change measurement range, as those parameters are dependent on each other. The monochromators have a modern commercial design, planned and developed in close collaboration with the vendors. This paper aims to present the current status of the commissioning at MAX IV with emphasis on elucidating the mechanical limitations on the performance of the monochromators. It contains analysis of the outcome and our approach to achieve fast and high-resolution monochromators.




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Foreword to the special virtual issue dedicated to the proceedings of the PhotonDiag2018 workshop on FEL Photon Diagnostics, Instrumentation, and Beamlines Design




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Time dependence of X-ray polarizability of a crystal induced by an intense femtosecond X-ray pulse

The time evolution of the electron density and the resulting time dependence of the X-ray polarizability of a crystal irradiated by highly intense XFEL femtosecond pulses is investigated theoretically. Rate equations for bound electrons and the Boltzmann equation for the unbound electron gas are used in calculations.




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The indexing ambiguity in serial femtosecond crystallography (SFX) resolved using an expectation maximization algorithm

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.




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Binding site asymmetry in human transthyretin: insights from a joint neutron and X-ray crystallographic analysis using perdeuterated protein

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.




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In-depth analysis of subclass-specific conformational preferences of IgG antibodies

An extended analysis of structural ensembles obtained from small-angle X-ray scattering data reveals subclass-specific conformational preferences of IgG antibodies, which are largely determined by the hinge-region structure.












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Visualization Bench for the screening of crystallization assays and the automation of in situ experiments




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The crystal structure of the heme d1 biosynthesis-associated small c-type cytochrome NirC reveals mixed oligomeric states in crystallo

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.




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Ion permeation in potassium ion channels

Key structural biology experiments that have sought to elucidate how potassium ions permeate and pass through the selectivity filter of potassium ion channels are reviewed.




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Structural basis of carbohydrate binding in domain C of a type I pullulanase from Paenibacillus barengoltzii




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Polymeric poly[[decaaquabis(μ6-1,8-disulfonato-9H-carbazole-3,6-dicarboxylato)di-μ3-hydroxy-pentazinc] decahydrate]

The asymmetric unit of the title MOF, [Zn5(C14H5NO10S2)2(OH)2(H2O)10]n comprises three ZnII atoms, one of which is located on a centre of inversion, a tetra-negative carboxyl­ate ligand, one μ3-hydroxide and five water mol­ecules, each of which is coordinated. The ZnII atom, lying on a centre of inversion, is coordinated by trans sulfoxide-O atoms and four water mol­ecules in an octa­hedral geometry. Another ZnII atom is coordinated by two carboxyl­ate-O atoms, one hy­droxy-O, one sulfoxide-O and a water-O atom to define a distorted trigonal–bipyramidal geometry; a close Zn⋯O(carboxyl­ate) inter­action derived from an asymmetrically coordinating ligand (Zn—O = 1.95 and 3.07 Å) suggests a 5 + 1 coordination geometry. The third ZnII atom is coordinated in an octa­hedral fashion by two hy­droxy-O atoms, one carboxyl­ate-O, one sulfoxide-O and two water-O atoms, the latter being mutually cis. In all, the carboxyl­ate ligand binds six ZnII ions leading to a three-dimensional architecture. In the crystal, all acidic donors form hydrogen bonds to oxygen acceptors to contribute to the stability of the three-dimensional architecture.




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Di­chlorido­{N,N,N'-trimethyl-N'-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl-κN2)meth­yl]ethane-1,2-di­amine-κ2N,N'}copper(II) methanol monosolvate

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.




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Crystal structure of bis­(1-ethyl-1H-imidazole-κN3)(meso-tetra­mesitylporphyrinato-κ4N,N',N'',N''')iron(III) perchlorate chloro­benzene sesquisolvate

In the complex cation of title compound, [Fe(C56H52N4)(C5H8N2)2]ClO4·1.5C6H5Cl, the ironIII atom is coordinated in a distorted octa­hedral manner by four pyrrole N atoms of the porphyrin ring system in the equatorial plane, and by two N atoms of the 1-ethyl­imidazole ligands in the axial sites. A disordered perchlorate anion and one and a half chloro­benzene solvent mol­ecules are also present. The cationic complex exhibits a highly ruffled porphyrin core. The average Fe—Np (Np is a porphyrin N atom) bond length is 1.988 (5), and the axial Fe—NIm (NIm is an imidazole N atom) bond lengths are 1.962 (3) and 1.976 (3) Å. The two 1-ethyl­imidazole ligands are inclined to each other by a dihedral angle of 68.62 (16)°. The dihedral angles between the 1-ethyl­imidazole planes and the planes of the closest Fe—Np vector are 28.52 (18) and 43.57 (13)°. Inter­molecular C—H⋯Cl inter­actions are observed.




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Bis(μ2-benzoato-κ2O,O')bis­(benzoato-κO)bis(ethanol-κO)bis­(μ3-hydroxido)hexa­kis­(μ-pyrazol­ato-κ2N,N')hexa­copper(II) ethanol disolvate

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.




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1,4-Bis(2-nitro­benz­yl)piperazine

The title compound, C18H20N4O4, was synthesized via the base-assisted reaction of piperazine and 2-nitro­benyl bromide in toluene: the complete mol­ecule is generated by a crystallographic inversion centre in the solid state.




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Ethyl 5-[(eth­oxy­carbon­yl)­oxy]-5,5-di­phenyl­pent-2-ynoate

The title compound, C22H22O5, crystallizes with two mol­ecules in the asymmetric unit, one of which shows disorder of its ethyl acetate group over two sets of sites in a 0.880 (2):0.120 (2) ratio. The C≡C distances in the two mol­ecules are almost the same [1.1939 (16) and 1.199 (2) Å], but the Csp3—C≡C angles differ somewhat [175.92 (12) and 172.53 (16)°]. In the crystal, several weak C—H⋯O inter­actions are seen.




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Sodium [N,N'-ethyl­enebis(d-penicillaminato)]indate(III) tetra­hydrate

The asymmetric unit of the title compound {systematic name: sodium [2-({2-[(1-carboxyl­ato-2-methyl-2-sulfanidylprop­yl)amino]­eth­yl}amino)-3-methyl-3-sulf­an­idyl­butano­ato-κ4S,N,N',S']indate(III) tetra­hydrate}, Na[In(C12H20N2O4S2)]·4H2O, contains four indate(III) complex anions {[In(d-ebp)]−; d-H4ebp = N,N'-ethyelenebis(d-penicillamine)], four sodium(I) cations and sixteen water mol­ecules. The indate(III) anions and sodium cations are alternately connected through coordination bonds between Na+ ions and the carboxyl­ate groups of the complex anions, forming an infinite sixfold right-handed helix along the c-axis direction. In the crystal, the helices are linked by O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds between water mol­ecules bound to Na+ ions and carboxyl­ate groups. The crystal studied was twinned via a twofold axis about [001].




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μ2-Methanol-κ2O:O-bis­[(1,10-phenanthroline-κ2N,N')bis­(2,3,4,5-tetra­fluoro­benzoato)-κO;κ2O,O'-copper(II)]

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.




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(3S,5R,6S)-Di­phenyl­methyl 1-oxo-6-bromo­penicillanate

In the title compound, C21H20BrNO4S, a key inter­mediate in the synthesis of the widely used β-lactamase inhibitor tazobactam, the five-membered thia­zolidine ring adopts an envelope conformation and the four-membered azetidine ring is in a distorted planar conformation. The crystal structure features C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds and a weak C—H⋯π inter­action.




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Dicaesium tetra­magnesium penta­kis­(carbonate) deca­hydrate, Cs2Mg4(CO3)5·10H2O

The title carbonate hydrate, Cs2Mg4(CO3)5·10H2O, was crystallized at room temperature out of aqueous solutions containing caesium bicarbonate and magnesium nitrate. Its monoclinic crystal structure (P21/n) consists of double chains of composition 1∞[Mg(H2O)2/1(CO3)3/3], isolated [Mg(H2O)(CO3)2]2– units, two crystallographically distinct Cs+ ions and a free water mol­ecule. The crystal under investigation was twinned by reticular pseudomerohedry.




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[1–9-NαC]-Linusorb B3 (Cyclo­linopeptide A) dimethyl sulfoxide monosolvate

Crystals of the dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solvate of [1–9-NαC]-linusorb B3 (Cyclo­linopeptide A; CLP-A; C57H84N9O9·C2H6OS), a cyclic polypeptide were obtained following peptide extraction and purification from flaxseed oil. There are four intramolecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. In the crystal, the mol­ecules are linked in chains along the a axis by N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. Each DMSO O atom accepts a hydrogen bond from an NH group at the Phe6 location in the CLP-A mol­ecule.




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4-Amino-6-(piperidin-1-yl)pyrimidine-5-carbo­nitrile

In the title compound, C10H13N5, the piperidine ring adopts a chair conformation with the exocyclic N—C bond in an axial orientation, and the dihedral angle between the mean planes of piperidine and pyrimidine rings is 49.57 (11)°. A short intra­molecular C—H⋯N contact generates an S(7) ring. In the crystal, N—H⋯N hydrogen bonds link the mol­ecules into (100) sheets and a weak aromatic π-π stacking inter­action is observed [centroid–centroid separation = 3.5559 (11) Å] between inversion-related pyrimidine rings.




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Poly[(μ4-5,7-di­hydro-1H,3H-dithieno[3,4-b:3',4'-e]pyrazine-κ4N:N':S:S')tetra-μ3-iodido-tetra­copper]: a three-dimensional copper(I) coordination polymer

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.




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Crystal structure of the Al8Cr5-type inter­metallic Al7.85Cr5.16

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.




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Diaquatetra­kis(μ-3-meth­oxy­benzoato-κ2O1:O1')dicopper(II)

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.




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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)]: a two-dimensional copper(I) coordination polymer

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.




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2,6-Diphenyl-3-(prop-2-en-1-yl)piperidin-4-one

In the title compound, C20H21NO, the dihedral angle between the phenyl ring is 47.5 (1)° and the piperidine ring adopts a chair conformation. In the crystal, mol­ecules are linked by C—H⋯π inter­actions into dimers with the mol­ecules related by twofold symmetry.





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Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of a conformationally unsymmetrical bis­chalcone: (1E,4E)-1,5-bis­(4-bromo­phen­yl)penta-1,4-dien-3-one

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.




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Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of tris­(2,2'-bi­pyridine)­nickel(II) bis­(1,1,3,3-tetra­cyano-2-eth­oxy­propenide) dihydrate

The title compound, [Ni(C10H8N2)3](C9H5N4O)2·2H2O, crystallizes as a racemic mixture in the monoclinic space group C2/c. In the crystal, the 1,1,3,3-tetracyano-2-ethoxypropenide anions and the water molecules are linked by O—H⋯N hydrogen bonds, forming chains running along the [010] direction. The bpy ligands of the cation are linked to the chain via C—H⋯π(cation) inter­actions involving the CH3 group. The inter­molecular inter­actions were investigated by Hirshfeld surface analysis and two-dimensional fingerprint plots.




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Bis[μ-bis­(2,6-diiso­propyl­phen­yl) phosphato-κ2O:O']bis­[(2,2'-bi­pyridine-κ2N,N')lithium] toluene disolvate and its catalytic activity in ring-opening polymerization of ∊-caprolactone and l-dilactide

The solvated centrosymmmtric title compound, [Li2(C24H34O4P)2(C10H8N2)2]·2C7H8, was formed in the reaction between {Li[(2,6-iPr2C6H3-O)2POO](MeOH)3}(MeOH) and 2,2'-bi­pyridine (bipy) in toluene. The structure has monoclinic (P21/n) symmetry at 120 K and the asymmetric unit consists of half a complex mol­ecule and one mol­ecule of toluene solvent. The diaryl phosphate ligand demonstrates a μ-κO:κO'-bridging coordination mode and the 2,2'-bi­pyridine ligand is chelating to the Li+ cation, generating a distorted tetra­hedral LiN2O2 coordination polyhedron. The complex exhibits a unique dimeric Li2O4P2 core. One isopropyl group is disordered over two orientations in a 0.621 (4):0.379 (4) ratio. In the crystal, weak C—H⋯O and C—H⋯π inter­actions help to consolidate the packing. Catalytic systems based on the title complex and on the closely related complex {Li[(2,6-iPr2C6H3-O)2POO](MeOH)3}(MeOH) display activity in the ring-opening polymerization of ∊-caprolactone and l-dilactide.




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Crystal structure of 7,8,15,16,17-penta­thiadi­spiro­[5.2.59.36]hepta­deca­ne

The title compound, C12H20S5, crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/c with four mol­ecules in the unit cell. In the crystal, the asymmetric unit comprises the entire mol­ecule with the three cyclic moieties arranged in a line. The mol­ecules in the unit cell pack in a parallel fashion, with their longitudinal axes arranged along a uniform direction. The packing is stabilized by the one-dimensional propagation of non-classical hydrogen-bonding contacts between the central sulfur atom of the S3 fragment and the C—H of a cyclo­hexyl group from a glide-related mol­ecule [C⋯S = 3.787 (2) Å].




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Crystal structure, synthesis and thermal properties of tetra­kis­(4-benzoyl­pyridine-κN)bis­(iso­thio­cyanato-κN)iron(II)

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, [Fe(NCS)2(C12H9NO)4], consists of an FeII ion that is located on a centre of inversion, as well as two 4-benzoyl­pyridine ligands and one thio­cyanate anion in general positions. The FeII ions are coordinated by two N-terminal-bonded thio­cyanate anions and four 4-benzoyl­pyridine ligands into discrete complexes with a slightly distorted octa­hedral geometry. These complexes are further linked by weak C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds into chains running along the c-axis direction. Upon heating, this complex loses half of the 4-benzoyl­pyridine ligands and transforms into a compound with the composition Fe(NCS)2(4-benzoyl­pyridine)2, that might be isotypic to the corresponding MnII compound and for which the structure is unknown.




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Crystal structure and electrical resistance property of Rb0.21(H2O)yWS2

Rb0.21(H2O)yWS2, rubidium hydrate di­thio­tungstate, is a new quasi two-dimensional sulfide. Its crystal structure consists of ordered WS2 layers, separated by disordered Rb+ ions and water mol­ecules. All atomic sites are located on mirror planes. The WS2 layers are composed of edge-sharing [WS6] octa­hedra and extend parallel to (001). The presence of structural water was revealed by thermogravimetry, but the position and exact amount could not be determined in the present study. The temperature dependence of the electrical resistance indicates that Rb0.21(H2O)yWS2 is semiconducting between 80–300 K.




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Synthesis, characterization, and crystal structure of aqua­bis­(4,4'-dimeth­oxy-2,2'-bi­pyridine)[μ-(2R,3R)-tartrato(4−)]dicopper(II) octa­hydrate

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.




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Crystal structures and Hirshfeld surface analysis of [κ2-P,N-{(C6H5)2(C5H5N)P}Re(CO)3Br]·2CHCl3 and the product of its reaction with piperidine, [P-{(C6H5)2(C5H5N)P}(C5H11N)Re(CO)3Br]

The coordination of the ligands with respect to the central atom in the complex bromido­tricarbon­yl[diphen­yl(pyridin-2-yl)phosphane-κ2N,P]rhenium(I) chloro­form disolvate, [ReBr(C17H14NP)(CO)3]·2CHCl3 or [κ2-P,N-{(C6H5)2(C5H5N)P}Re(CO)3Br]·2CHCl3, (I·2CHCl3), is best described as a distorted octa­hedron with three carbonyls in a facial conformation, a bromide atom, and a biting P,N-di­phenyl­pyridyl­phosphine ligand. Hirshfeld surface analysis shows that C—Cl⋯H inter­actions contribute 26%, the distance of these inter­actions are between 2.895 and 3.213 Å. The reaction between I and piperidine (C5H11N) at 313 K in di­chloro­methane leads to the partial decoord­ination of the pyridyl­phosphine ligand, whose pyridyl group is replaced by a piperidine mol­ecule, and the complex bromido­tricarbon­yl[diphen­yl(pyridin-2-yl)phosphane-κP](piperidine-κN)rhenium(I), [ReBr(C5H11N)(C17H14NP)(CO)3] or [P-{(C6H5)2(C5H5N)P}(C5H11N)Re(CO)3Br] (II). The mol­ecule has an intra­molecular N—H⋯N hydrogen bond between the non-coordinated pyridyl nitro­gen atom and the amine hydrogen atom from piperidine with D⋯A = 2.992 (9) Å. Thermogravimetry shows that I·2CHCl3 losses 28% of its mass in a narrow range between 318 and 333 K, which is completely consistent with two solvating chloro­form mol­ecules very weakly bonded to I. The remaining I is stable at least to 573 K. In contrast, II seems to lose solvent and piperidine (12% of mass) between 427 and 463 K, while the additional 33% loss from this last temperature to 573 K corresponds to the release of 2-pyridyl­phosphine. The contribution to the scattering from highly disordered solvent mol­ecules in II was removed with the SQUEEZE routine [Spek (2015). Acta Cryst. C71, 9-18] in PLATON. The stated crystal data for Mr, μ etc. do not take this solvent into account.