Volume 64, Issue 28 e202502524
Communication

Comparative Study of Solvatomorphs of Stryker's Reagent Using MicroED and Quantum Mechanics

Dr. Kunal K. Jha

Corresponding Author

Dr. Kunal K. Jha

Division of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125 USA

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]

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Dr. Jacob O. Rothbaum

Dr. Jacob O. Rothbaum

Division of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125 USA

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Vignesh C. Bhethanabotla

Vignesh C. Bhethanabotla

Division of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125 USA

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Charles B. Musgrave III

Charles B. Musgrave III

Division of Applied Physics and Material Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125 USA

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Dr. Christopher G. Jones

Dr. Christopher G. Jones

Division of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125 USA

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Dr. Sergey I. Morozov

Dr. Sergey I. Morozov

Department of Physics of Nanoscale Systems, South Ural State University, Chelyabinsk, 454080 Russia

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Prof. William A. Goddard III

Corresponding Author

Prof. William A. Goddard III

Division of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125 USA

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]

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Prof. Hosea M. Nelson

Corresponding Author

Prof. Hosea M. Nelson

Division of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125 USA

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]

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First published: 05 May 2025

Graphical Abstract

A new solvate form of Stryker's reagent was crystallized from benzene which has regular octahedra with equivalent Cu–Cu interatomic distances. Quantum crystallography approach HAR led to reliable position of hydrides in both the forms. The reported THF solvate form has edge bridging hydrides while the newly discovered form may have both edge and face bridging hydrides supported by structural and topological analysis.

Abstract

The atomic position of hydrogen atoms in metal hydrides has been a long-standing structural question in inorganic chemistry given that hydride delivery is integral to diverse chemical reactions. Microcrystal electron diffraction (microED), with it's increased sensitivity toward hydrogen atoms relative to X-ray diffraction, offers a potential path to addressing this challenge. Herein, the first microED study of Stryker's reagent is reported, resulting in the structure of a new benzene solvate. Improved accuracy for hydrogen atom positions was obtained via a quantum crystallography (QCr) approach, Hirshfeld atom refinement (HAR). Structural and topological analysis supports edge bridging hydrides in the microED structure of a THF solvate form, consistent with previous diffraction studies. Interestingly, analysis of a new benzene solvate, discovered in this study, is consistent with mixed edge- and face-bridging hydrides.

Conflict of Interests

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Data Availability Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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