Themed collection CrystEngComm New Talent

Welcome to this themed issue of CrystEngComm entitled New Talent 2018.

High pressure offers insight into the mechanisms of a wide range of solid-state phenomena occurring under atmospheric pressure conditions.

MOFs as green materials – a highlight of the environmentally conscious or “green” applications of MOFs.

This paper highlights the current key progress on HOF-based materials, including their design, structural characteristics, and applications.

Rotational motion within molecular crystals is a prototypical concept to build future functional materials and solid-state molecular machines.

The structural, dynamic, elastic, and electronic properties of Li₄Ge were investigated by means of evolutionary crystal structure prediction in conjunction with first-principles calculations.

Three isostructural cocrystals of apremilast with nicotinamide, caffeine, and acetylsalicylic acid were successfully designed and synthesized on the basis of its solvated structures.

Lithium-based coordination polymers and their solid solutions are synthesised and investigated from a pharmaceutical perspective. In particular, the hygroscopicity is measured as a function of composition showing two different behaviours.

Biocompatible mixed metal YbNd metal–organic frameworks are demonstrated to be highly efficient emitters in the second NIR window.

A H-shaped heterometallic Sn₄Au₄ system displays guest-dependent optical properties and its stimuli-responsive methylred-rich crystals are sensitive towards pH variations.

We report the successful crystal growth of a previously unknown mixed-metal organic compound (CH₃NH₃)₂AgInBr₆.

Synthesis and activation of phase-pure and defect-free metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are essential for establishing accurate structure–property relationships.

Two homochiral zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (S- and R-ZIF-78h) of GME topology are synthesized via solvent-assisted linker exchange (SALE) of ZIF-78, which exhibit permanent porosity and enantioselective sensing and separation of proline.

Layered-pillared framework of the CO₂-loaded MOF developed using this mixed-metal mixed-ligand approach showing the multiple-adsorption sites within the MOF.

We examined the characterization data for Zn₂(NH₂BDC)₂DABCO to gain mechanistic insight into the crystal engineering of pillared paddlewheel MOFs.

A new porous coordination polymer (1) has been prepared by a hydrothermal method. The supramolecular framework of 1 is stable in aqueous solutions with pH ranging from 1 to 13 and boiling solvents, such as water, methanol and ethanol. The proton conductive properties of 1 are also studied.

Alteration of the number of carbon atoms on the alkoxyphenyl substituent in naphthalene diimides results in tunable thermo-salient behavior.

Two novel 3D metal–organic frameworks based on multifunctional pyridyl–tricarboxylate ligands as size-selective heterogeneous catalysts for the cyanosilylation of acetaldehydes.

The lifetime of colored species of spiropyran derivatives increased significantly after the 2-cyanoethyl group was photoisomerized to the 1-cyanoethyl group on exposure to visible light.

In this study, we report a deep red emissive organic crystal that displays high contrast fluorescence switching under mechanical and thermal stimulation.

A novel two-fold interpenetrated 3D framework can adsorb CO₂ and serve as an efficient and recyclable catalyst for the conversion of CO₂ with epoxides. Furthermore, it can also act as a sensitive and recyclable luminescent probe to detect CrO₄²⁻/Cr₂O₇²⁻ among many anions in aqueous solution.

Calculated structural descriptors for predicted anhydrate polymorphs are used to assess the risks of crystal hydration in carboxylic acids.

Structural tuning and selective gas adsorption of two interpenetrated metal–organic frameworks using a slim ethynyl-based ligand were achieved.

Single-crystal-to-single-crystal linkage isomerism is determined in a photoswitchable Re(I)-bpy crystal, shedding new light on the photoactive properties of potential Re(I)-photocatalysts.

Weak hydrogen bonds control initial molecular recognition modes, but the structure is determined by the interactions among larger supramolecular assemblies.

The dehydration of CuCl₂·2(H₂O) crystals is studied as an example of a fracture-assisted chemical reaction. The structure of the combined reaction–fracture front undergoes a spontaneous morphology transition, leading to spatial ordering and 8-fold acceleration of the reaction.

Bench-top stable cis-cyclodiphosph(V/V)azanes are demonstrated to form robust R²₁(8) bifurcated hydrogen-bonds and PSe⋯Br halogen bonds. This work highlights the potential of cyclodiphosph(V/V)azane building blocks in creating new supramolecular assemblies.

The halogen bonding proclivity of the chlorine atom coordinated to the Co(II) metal centre has been explored by synthesis and crystal structure analysis of a family of 12 novel metal-based halogen-bonded cocrystals with iodine-based donors.

An aliphatic amine functionalized MOF was directly synthesized for CO₂ adsorption and CH₄ purification.

The introduction of fluorine in salicylic acid yielded different polyoxo-titanium clusters with distinct photophysical properties.