A commercially available combined X-ray diffraction – differential scanning calorimetry (XRD-DSC) stage was adapted for studies of gas loading in microporous materials, including metal organic frameworks (MOFs). Insertion of a custom-built humid atmosphere swing chamber (HASC) between a humidity generator and the XRD-DSC stage facilitates both humid atmosphere and vacuum swing gas loading. The HASC is necessary to buffer between the humidity generator and the XRD-DSC stage, allowing the gas mixture to homogenize prior to sample exposure, so that both humid atmosphere and vacuum swings could be performed. The changes in XRD can be used to follow structural changes, including collapse, which is indicative of a lack of microporosity upon activation, and the flexibity of frameworks upon gas sorption–desorption cycles. Measurements of the area under the DSC curve allows for calculation of the isosteric heat of adsorption (Qst; kJ molGAS−1). Vacuum-atmosphere swing experiments performed at different pressure steps allow for the reconstruction of the enthalpy of gas adsorption before and after a phase transition. These modes of operation are illustrated in three case studies from a program of exploratory MOF synthesis used to discover novel materials for selective gas sorption from humid gas streams: (1) gas binding in Stony Brook metal organic framework-1, (2) zeolitic imidazolate framework-7 response to variable pressure vacuum-atmosphere swing, and (3) high throughput evaluation of the selectivity of novel MOFs synthesized from customized linkers.

Based on the experimentally determined framework structure of porous MnO2 octahedral molecular sieve (OMS)-5, we used density functional theory-based calculations to evaluate the effect of Na+ cation on pore dimensionality and structural stability, and the interaction between CO2 and OMS-5. We quantified the formation energy of one CO2/unit tunnel and two CO2/unit tunnel, and projected the electronic density of states on the OMS-5 framework, CO2 molecules, and Na+ cations to reveal their individual contributions and bonding nature. Partial charge densities were also calculated to investigate CO2 adsorption behavior in the OMS-5. Our studies predict the initial stage and driving force for the adsorption of CO2 in the OMS-5, guiding the OMS material design for carbon capture and storage applications.

The orthorhombic mineral moolooite, CuC2O4. nH2O, described by Clarke and Williams (1986) using Debye-Scherrer photographic data, has a fully-disordered stacking fault (FDSF) structure. Related monoclinic models have been reported for various synthesised samples based on Schmittler (1968). In the present study, synchrotron radiation diffraction data for moolooite and synthesised specimens have been examined with particular reference to crystallographic disorder. The moolooite data correspond to space group Pnnm, with a = 5.3064(2), b = 5.6804(2), c = 2.5630(1) Å; Vc = 77.26(1) Å3; and Z = 1; and the FDSF structure along the b-direction has been confirmed. The synthetic specimen data from the study indicate partial ordering, with space group P21/n; and the cell parameters for one specimen being a = 5.957(7), b = 5.611(5), c = 5.133(7) Å; β = 115.16(2)°; Vc = 155.27 Å3 and Z = 2. The level of zeolitic water in the materials has been considered using the approach of Schmittler based on thermogravimetry and pycnometry. The new data for natural topotype material correspond to CuC2O4.1.0H2O. It is postulated that the level of water for natural and synthetic specimens may be attributed to the conditions under which the material forms.

The crystal structures of (NH4)H2C6H5O7 and (NH4)3C6H5O7 have been determined using a combination of powder and single crystal techniques. The structure of (NH4)2HC6H5O7 has been determined previously by single crystal diffraction. All three structures were optimized using density functional techniques. The crystal structures are dominated by N-H⋅⋅⋅O hydrogen bonds, though O-H⋅⋅⋅O hydrogen bonds are also important. In (NH4)H2C6H5O7 very strong centrosymmetric charge-assisted O-H-O hydrogen bonds link one end of the citrate into chains along the b-axis. A more-normal O-H⋅⋅⋅O hydrogen bond links the other end of the citrate to the central ionized carboxyl group. In (NH4)2HC6H5O7, the very strong centrosymmetric O-H-O hydrogen bonds link the citrates into zig-zag chains along the b-axis. The citrates occupy layers parallel to the bc plane, and the ammonium ions link the layers through N-H⋅⋅⋅O hydrogen bonds. In (NH4)3C6H5O7, the hydroxyl group forms a hydrogen bond to a terminal carboxylate, and there is an extensive array of N-H⋅⋅⋅O hydrogen bonds. The energies of the density functional theory-optimized structures lead to a correlation between the energy of an N-H⋅⋅⋅O hydrogen bond and the Mulliken overlap population: E(N-H⋅⋅⋅O) (kcal/mole) = 23.1(overlap)½. Powder patterns of (NH4)H2C6H5O7 and (NH4)3C6H5O7 have been submitted to International Centre for Diffraction Data for inclusion in the powder diffraction file.

The crystal structure of MoO2(O2)(H2O)·H2O has been solved using parallel tempering with the FOX software package and refined using synchrotron powder diffraction data obtained from beamline 08B1-1 at the Canadian Light Source. Rietveld refinement, performed with the software package GSAS, yielded monoclinic lattice parameters of a = 17.3355(5) Å, b = 3.83342(10) Å, c = 6.55760(18) Å, and β = 91.2114(27)° (Z = 4, space group I2/m). The structure is composed of double zigzag molybdate chains running parallel to the b-axis. The Rietveld refined structure was compared with density functional theory (DFT) calculations performed with CRYSTAL14, and shows comparable agreement with two DFT optimized structures of similar energy, which differ by the location of the molybdate coordinated water molecule. The true structure is likely a disordered combination of the two DFT optimized structures.

The crystal structure of oxybutynin hydrochloride hemihydrate has been solved and refined using synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data, and optimized using density functional techniques. Oxybutynin hydrochloride hemihydrate crystallizes in space group I2/a (#15) with a = 14.57266(8), b = 8.18550(6), c = 37.16842(26) Å, β = 91.8708(4)°, V = 4421.25(7) Å3, and Z = 8. The compound exhibits X-ray-induced photoreduction of the triple bond. Prominent in the layered crystal structure is the N–H⋅⋅⋅Cl hydrogen bond between the cation and anion, as well as O–H⋅⋅⋅Cl hydrogen bonds from the water molecule and hydroxyl group of the oxybutynin cation. C–H⋅⋅⋅Cl hydrogen bonds also contribute to the crystal energy, and help determine the conformation of the cation. The powder pattern is included in the Powder Diffraction File™ as entry 00-068-1305.

The crystal structure of minocycline hydrochloride dihydrate has been solved and refined using synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data, and optimized using density functional techniques. Minocycline hydrochloride dihydrate crystallizes in space group P212121 (#19) with a = 7.40772(1), b = 14.44924(3), c = 22.33329(4) Å, V = 2390.465(12) Å3, and Z = 4. The minocycline cation is a zwitterion: both dimethylamino groups are protonated and one hydroxyl group is ionized. A potential ambiguity in the orientation of the amide group was resolved by considering Rietveld refinement residuals and displacement coefficients, as well as DFT energies. The crystal structure is dominated by hydrogen bonds. Both water molecules and a hydroxyl group act as donors to the chloride anion. Both protonated dimethyl amine groups act as donors to the ionized hydroxyl group. Several intramolecular O–H···O hydrogen groups help determine the conformation of the cation. The powder pattern is included in the Powder Diffraction File™ as entry 00-066-1606.

The crystal structure of hydroxyzine dihydrochloride has been solved and refined using synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data, and optimized using density functional techniques. Hydroxyzine dihydrochloride crystallizes in space group P21 (#4) with a = 11.48735(10), b = 7.41792(7), c = 14.99234(15) Å, β = 110.4383(10)°, V = 1197.107(13) Å3, and Z = 2. The hydroxyl-containing side chain of the cation is disordered over two conformations, with ~70/30% occupancy. The crystal structure consists of alternating polar (which includes the cation-anion interactions and hydrogen bonds) and nonpolar layers parallel to the ab-plane. The crystal structure is dominated by hydrogen bonds. Each of the protonated nitrogen atoms forms a very strong hydrogen bond to one of the chloride anions. The hydroxyl group forms a strong hydrogen bond to one of the chloride anions in both conformations, and there are subtle differences in the hydrogen bonding patterns between the conformations. The powder pattern is included in the Powder Diffraction File™ as entry 00-066-1603.

Bendamustine hydrochloride monohydrate (marketed as Treanda®) is a nitrogen mustard purine analog alkylator used in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Commercial bendamustine hydrochloride monohydrate crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/c (14), with a = 4.71348(4) Å, b = 47.5325(3) Å, c = 8.97458 (5) Å, β = 96.6515(8)°, V = 1997.161(23) Å3, and Z = 4. A reduced cell search in the Cambridge Structural Database yielded a previously reported crystal structure (Allen, 2002), which did not include hydrogens (Reck, 2006). In this work, the sample was ordered from Santa Cruz Biotechnology, and analyzed as received. The room-temperature crystal structure was refined using synchrotron (λ = 0.413896 Å) powder diffraction data, density functional theory (DFT), and Rietveld refinement techniques. Hydrogen positions were included as part of the structure, and recalculated during the refinement. The diffraction data were collected on beamline BM-11 at the Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory. Figure 1 shows the powder X-ray diffraction pattern of the compound. The pattern is included in the Powder Diffraction File as entry 00-064-1508.