The current discussion on whether scandium, yttrium and lanthanum should represent Group 3 in the Periodic Table or whether lutetium should replace lanthanum in the group has prompted us to further explore the structural chemistry of the Group 3 elements and compare the coordination numbers and coordination geometries adopted. The steric and electronic properties of the coordinated ligands have a major influence on the structures adopted. We report the synthesis and crystal structure determination of an unusual dinuclear scandium complex [(bipy)(NO₃)₂Sc(µ-OH)₂Sc(NO₃)₂(bipy)] obtained by the reaction of hydrated scandium nitrate with 2,2'-bipyridyl (bipy) in either ethanol or nitromethane. The crystal structure of the complex shows that the scandium centers are eight coordinate, and the structure obtained contrasts with related complexes found in the lanthanide series [Ln(bipy)₂(NO₃)₃] and [Ln(phen)₂(NO₃)₃] (phen = phenanthroline) and in [M(terpy)(NO₃)₃] (M = Sc, Er-Lu), where these complexes are all mononuclear.

Here, a new tripodal tricarboxylic acid ligand, 4,4′-(4′-(4′-carboxy-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)-[2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine]-5,5′′-diyl)-dibenzoic acid (H3cbt), was synthesised using a three-step convergent strategy. Subsequent reactions with zinc(ii) nitrate hexahydrate yielded three metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). The three MOFs, [Zn(Hcbt)]·4DMF (1), [Zn(Hcbt)]·4DMSO·1.5H2O·DMF (2), and [Zn(Hcbt)]·2DMF·3H2O (3), each adopt flexible interdigitated 2D net topologies. Framework 1 has DMF-filled channels that retain porosity upon desolvation, with a measured BET surface area of 248 m2 g-1. Framework 2 possesses larger DMSO-containing channels that collapse upon desolvation, resulting in near-equivalent porosity values to framework 1. In silico calculations and topological considerations determined using the geometric simulation software GASP dictate that framework 2 can feasibly alter conformation to approximate 1, but cannot perfectly replicate the interdigitated motif. Framework 3 formed when wet solvents were used to synthesise 1. Interestingly, the interdigitated structure of 3 contains a unique carboxylate binding mode that precludes its subsequent adoption by either 1 or 2 upon their exposure to water. This diverse array of structural considerations recommends this MOF family for modelling using GASP. Interrogating frameworks 1-3 using this software provided insights that justified experimentally observed conformational trends, as well as barriers to interconversion between members of this MOF family. In a broader sense, this work demonstrates the wider applicability of GASP software to modelling structural changes within flexible MOF materials.

The Mannich reaction of the zirconium MOF [Zr₆ O₄ (OH)₄ (bdc-NH₂ )₆ ] (UiO-66-NH₂ , bdc-NH₂ =2-amino-1,4-benzenedicarboxylate) with paraformaldehyde and pyrazole, imidazole or 2-mercaptoimidazole led to post-synthetic modification (PSM) through C-N bond formation. The reaction with imidazole (Him) goes to completion whereas those with pyrazole (Hpyz) and 2-mercaptoimidazole (HimSH) give up to 41 and 36 % conversion, respectively. The BET surface areas for the Mannich products are reduced from that of UiO-66-NH₂ , but the compounds show enhanced selectivity for adsorption of CO₂ over N₂ at 273 K. The thiol-containing MOFs adsorb mercury(II) ions from aqueous solution, removing up to 99 %. The Mannich reaction with pyrazole succeeds on [Zn₄ O(bdc-NH₂ )₃ ] (IRMOF-3), but a similar reaction on [Zn₂ (bdc-NH₂ )₂ (dabco)] (dabco=1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane) gave [Zn₃ (bdc-NH₂ )_1.32 (bdc-NHCH₂ pyz)_1.68 (dabco)]⋅2 C₇ H₈ 5, whereas the reaction with imidazole gave the expected PSM product. Compound 5 forms via a dissolution-recrystallisation process that is triggered by the "free" pyrazolate nitrogen atom competing with dabco for coordination to the zinc(II) centre. In contrast, the "free" nitrogen atom on the imidazolate is too far away to compete in this way. Mannich reactions on [In(OH)(bdc-NH₂ )] (MIL-68(In)-NH₂ ) stop after the first step, and the product was identified as [In(OH)(bdc-NH₂ )_0.41 (bdc-NHCH₂ OCH₃ )_0.30 (bdc-N=CH₂ )_0.29 ], with addition of the heterocycle prevented by steric interactions.

Seven multi-component molecular crystals containing O-H⋯O/O+-H⋯O- and N+-H⋯O- short strong hydrogen bonds (SSHBs) have been engineered by combining substituted organic acids with hydrogen bond acceptor molecules N,N-dimethylurea and isonicotinamide. In these materials, the shortest of the SSHBs are formed in the N,N-dimethylurea set for the ortho/para nitro-substituted organic acids whilst a twisted molecular approach favours the shorter SSHBs N+-H⋯O- in the isonicotinamide set. Temperature dependent proton migration behaviour has been explored in these systems using single crystal synchrotron X-ray diffraction (SCSXRD). By using a protocol which considers a combination of structural information when assessing the hydrogen atom (H-atom) behaviour, including refined H-atom positions alongside heavy atom geometry and Fourier difference maps, temperature dependent proton migration is indicated in two complexes (2: N,N-dimethylurea 2,4-dinitrobenzoic acid 1 : 1 and 5: isonicotinamide phthalic acid 2 : 1). We also implement Hirshfeld atom refinement for further confidence in this observation; this highlights the importance of having corroborating trends when applying the SCSXRD technique in these studies. Further insights into the SSHB donor-acceptor distance limit for temperature dependent proton migration are also revealed. For the O-H⋯O/O+-H⋯O- SSHBs, the systems here support the previously proposed maximum limit of 2.45 Å whilst for the charge assisted N+-H⋯O- SSHBs, a limit in the region of 2.55 Å may be suggested.

Nine new molecular complexes of the proton sponge 1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene (DMAN) with substituted benzoic acid co-formers have been engineered with varying component stoichiometries (1:1, 1:2 or 1:3). These complexes are all ionic in nature, following proton transfer between the acid co-former and DMAN; the extracted proton is held by DMAN in all instances in an intramolecular [N-H⋯N]+ hydrogen bond. A number of structural features are common to all complexes and are found to be tunable in a predictable way using systematic acid co-former substitution. These features include charge-assisted hydrogen bonds formed between acid co-formers in hydrogen bonding motifs consistent with complex stoichiometry, and weak hydrogen bonds which facilitate the crystal packing of DMAN and acid co-former components into a regular motif. Possible crystal structure tuning by co-former substitution can aid the rational design of such materials, offering the potential to target solid-state properties that may be influenced by these interactions.

We report a molecular crystal that exhibits four successive phase transitions under hydro-static pressure, driven by aurophilic interactions, with the ground-state structure re-emerging at high pressure. The effect of pressure on two polytypes of tris(μ₂-3,5-diiso-propyl-1,2,4-triazolato-κ²N¹:N²)trigold(I) (denoted Form-I and Form-II) has been analysed using luminescence spectroscopy, single-crystal X-ray diffraction and first-principles computation. A unique phase behaviour was observed in Form-I, with a complex sequence of phase transitions between 1 and 3.5 GPa. The ambient C2/c mother cell transforms to a P2₁/n phase above 1 GPa, followed by a P2₁/a phase above 2 GPa and a large-volume C2/c supercell at 2.70 GPa, with the previously observed P2₁/n phase then reappearing at higher pressure. The observation of crystallographically identical low- and high-pressure P2₁/n phases makes this a rare example of a re-entrant phase transformation. The phase behaviour has been characterized using detailed crystallographic theory and modelling, and rationalized in terms of molecular structural distortions. The dramatic changes in conformation are correlated with shifts of the luminescence maxima, from a band maximum at 14040 cm^-1 at 2.40 GPa, decreasing steeply to 13550 cm^-1 at 3 GPa. A similar study of Form-II displays more conventional crystallographic behaviour, indicating that the complex behaviour observed in Form-I is likely to be a direct consequence of the differences in crystal packing between the two polytypes.