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1. Ortho ‐Alkoxy‐benzamide Directed Formation of a Single Crystalline Hydrogen‐bonded Crosslinked Organic Framework and Its Boron Trifluoride Uptake and Catalysis

   https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202311601  

   Li, Fangzhou; Li, Errui; Samanta, Krishanu; Zheng, Zhaoxi; Wu, Lianqian; Chen, Albert D.; Farha, Omar K.; Staples, Richard J.; Niu, Jia; Schmidt‐Rohr, Klaus; et al (December 2023, Angewandte Chemie International Edition)

   Abstract Boron trifluoride (BF₃) is a highly corrosive gas widely used in industry. Confining BF₃in porous materials ensures safe and convenient handling and prevents its degradation. Hence, it is highly desired to develop porous materials with high adsorption capacity, high stability, and resistance to BF₃corrosion. Herein, we designed and synthesized a Lewis basic single‐crystalline hydrogen‐bond crosslinked organic framework (H_COF‐50) for BF₃storage and its application in catalysis. Specifically, we introduced self‐complementaryortho‐alkoxy‐benzamide hydrogen‐bonding moieties to direct the formation of highly organized hydrogen‐bonded networks, which were subsequently photo‐crosslinked to generate H_COFs. The H_COF‐50 features Lewis basic thioether linkages and electron‐rich pore surfaces for BF₃uptake. As a result, H_COF‐50 shows a record‐high 14.2 mmol/g BF₃uptake capacity. The BF₃uptake in H_COF‐50 is reversible, leading to the slow release of BF₃. We leveraged this property to reduce the undesirable chain transfer and termination in the cationic polymerization of vinyl ethers. Polymers with higher molecular weights and lower polydispersity were generated compared to those synthesized using BF₃ ⋅ Et₂O. The elucidation of the structure–property relationship, as provided by the single‐crystal X‐ray structures, combined with the high BF₃uptake capacity and controlled sorption, highlights the molecular understanding of framework‐guest interactions in addressing contemporary challenges. 

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2. Syntheses and crystal structures of three triphenylsulfonium salts of manganese(II), iron(III) and cobalt(II)

   https://doi.org/10.1107/S2056989025006668  

   Callaway, Waylan; Elterman, Matthew; Krasilnikov, Nikita; Roberts, Gavin; Rutan, Davis; Spencer, Ty; Padgett, Clifford W; Lynch, Will E (August 2025, Acta Crystallographica Section E Crystallographic Communications)

   Bis(triphenylsulfonium) tetrachloridomanganate(II), (C₁₈H₁₅S)₂[MnCl₄] (I), triphenylsulfonium tetrachloridoferrate(III), (C₁₈H₁₅S)[FeCl₄] (II), and bis(triphenylsulfonium) tetrachloridocobaltate(II), (C₁₈H₁₅S)₂[CoCl₄] (III), crystallize in the monoclinic space groupsP2₁/n[(I) and (III)] andP2₁/c[(II)]. Compounds (I) and (III) each contain two crystallographically independent triphenylsulfonium (TPS⁺) cations in the asymmetric unit, whereas (II) has one. In all three compounds, the sulfonium centers adopt distorted trigonal–pyramidal geometries, with S—C bond lengths falling roughly in the 1.78–1.79 Å range and C—S—C angles observed at about 101 to 106°. The [MCl₄]ⁿ⁻anions (M= Mn²⁺, Fe³⁺, Co²⁺;n= 2,1,2) adopt slightly distorted tetrahedral geometries, withM—Cl bond lengths in the 2.19–2.38 Å range and Cl—M—Cl angles of approximately 104–113°. Hirshfeld surface analyses shows that H...H and H...C contacts dominate the TPS⁺cation environments, whereas H...Cl and shortM—S interactions link each [MCl₄]ⁿ⁻anion to the surrounding cations. In (I) and (III), inversion-centered π–π stacking further consolidates the crystal packing, while in (II) no π–π interactions are observed. 

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3. Intra- and intermolecular C—H...F hydrogen bonds in the crystal structure of 1,2-bis[2-(2,3,4,5-tetrafluorophenyl)ethynyl]benzene

   https://doi.org/10.1107/S2056989024010995  

   Bosch, Eric; Bowling, Nathan P (December 2024, Acta Crystallographica Section E Crystallographic Communications)

   The title molecule, C₂₂H₆F₈, crystallizes in the monoclinic space groupP2₁/cwith two unique molecules in the asymmetric unit andZ= 8. Each molecule features a short intramolecularsp²-C—H...F hydrogen bond with H...F separations at 2.363 (14) and 2.270 (14) Å, corresponding to 91 and 87.5% of the sum of the van der Waals radii, and C—H...F angles of 158.3 (14) and 166.8 (14)°, respectively. Each molecule also forms an intermolecular bifurcated CH...(F)₂interaction with H...F distances ranging from 2.500 (16) to 2.597 (17) Å. 

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4. Crystal engineering of a 1:1 5-fluorocytosine–4-hydroxybenzaldehyde cocrystal: insights from X-ray crystallography and Hirshfeld analysis

   https://doi.org/10.1107/S2056989025004463  

   Sangavi, Marimuthu; Mohana, Marimuthu; Butcher, Ray J; McMillen, Colin D (June 2025, Acta Crystallographica Section E Crystallographic Communications)

   The 1:1 cocrystal of 5-fluorocytosine (5FC) and 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (4HB), C₄H₄FN₃O·C₇H₆O₂has been synthesized and its structure characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and Hirshfeld surface analysis. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinicP2₁/cspace group. A robust supramolecular architecture is stabilized by N—H...O, N—H...N, C—H...O and C—H...F hydrogen bonds, formingR₂²(8),R₄⁴(22),R₆⁶(32), andR₈⁸(34) ring motifs. The N—H...O and N—H...N hydrogen bonds form strong directional interactions, contributing to theR₂²(8) andR₈⁸(34) motifs through dimeric and extended ring structures. O—H...O interactions link 5FC and 4HB molecules, generating anR₆⁶(32) ring that enhances the packing. Weaker C—H...F bonds help form theR₄⁴(22) tetrameric motif, supporting the overall three-dimensional supramolecular framework. Additionally, C—F...π interactions between the fluorine atom and the aromatic ring add further to the crystal cohesion. Hirshfeld surface analysis and two-dimensional fingerprint plots confirm that O...H/H...O contacts are the most significant, highlighting the central role of hydrogen bonding in the stability and organization of the crystal structure. 

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5. Syntheses and crystal structures of three triphenylsulfonium halometallate salts of zinc, cadmium and mercury

   https://doi.org/10.1107/S2056989025002245  

   Artis, Rylan; Heyward, Elizabeth; Reyes, Naomi; Van_Ostenbridge, Kaitlyn; Lynch, Will E; Padgett, Clifford W (April 2025, Acta Crystallographica Section E Crystallographic Communications)

   Bis(triphenylsulfonium) tetrachloridozinc(II), (C₁₈H₁₅S)₂[ZnCl₄] (I), bis(triphenylsulfonium) tetrachloridocadmium(II), (C₁₈H₁₅S)₂[CdCl₄] (II), and bis(triphenylsulfonium) tetrachloridomercury(II) methanol monosolvate, (C₁₈H₁₅S)₂[HgCl₄]·CH₃OH (III), each crystallize in the monoclinic space groupP2₁/n. In all three structures, there are two crystallographically independent triphenylsulfonium (TPS) cations per asymmetric unit, each adopting a distorted trigonal–pyramidal geometry about the S atom (S—C bond lengths in the 1.77–1.80 Å range and C—S—C angles of 100–107°). The [MCl₄]^2–anions (M= Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Hg²⁺) are tetrahedral; their M—Cl bond lengths systematically increase from Zn²⁺to Hg²⁺, consistent with the larger ionic radius of the heavier metal. Hirshfeld surface analyses show that H...H and H...C contacts dominate the TPS cation environments, whereas H...Cl and S...Minteractions anchor each [MCl₄]^2–anion to two surrounding TPS cations. Weak C—H...Cl hydrogen bonds, as well as inversion-centered π–π stacking, generate layers in (I) and (II) and dimeric [(TPS)₂–HgCl₄]₂assemblies in (III). 

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