A new chiral 6:7 open-framework uranyl molybdate, [C6H 16N]2[UO2)6(MoO4) 7(H2O)2)(H2O)2), has been synthesized by hydrothermal methods. The structure has been refined using single-crystal X-ray diffraction data collected at 20 and -127°C. The 20°C structure [orthorhombic, C2221; a = 11.3045(14), b = 19.962(6), c = 24.416(5)Å, V = 5510(2)Å3] has been refined to R1 = 0.046 on the basis of 6093 unique observed reflections. The -127°C structure [orthorhombic, P212 121, a = 11.211(4), b= 19.880(10), c = 24.421(8) Å, V= 5443(4)Å3] has been refined to R1 = 0.047 on the basis of 6951 unique observed reflections. The structures are based upon topologically identical frameworks of corner-sharing UO7 pentagonal bipyramids and MoO4 tetrahedra. The extra-framework H2O groups and protonated triethylamine molecules reside in the framework cavities. In the C2221 structure at 20°C, H2O and [C 6H16N]+ molecules filling the chiral channels along [001] are disordered, whereas, in the P21212 1 structure at -127°C, they are perfectly ordered. The symmetry difference between structures at 20°C and -127°C is the result of a C2221 → P212121 second order phase transition that involves ordering of extra-framework protonated amine molecules and H2O groups, and distortion of the flexible [(UO 2)6(MoO4)7(H2O) 2]2- uranyl molybdate framework. On the basis of measurements of intensities of reflections that violate absence conditions of C-centering cell, the temperature of the phase transition is estimated as -11°C.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)225-234
Number of pages10
JournalMicroporous and Mesoporous Materials
Volume78
Issue number2-3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Mar 2005

    Scopus subject areas

  • Chemistry(all)
  • Materials Science(all)
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Mechanics of Materials

    Research areas

  • Crystal structure, Open framework, Order-disorder, Phase transition, Uranyl molybdates

ID: 36550351