From Skeptic to Believer: Monitoring a Ring-Opening Isomerization of a CeIV Complex in the Solid-State Using a Home-Source Diffractometer

TL;DR

The paper describes the author's journey of studying a chemical transformation in a cerium complex crystal using a home-source diffractometer.

Contribution

The study presents empirical evidence of a ring-opening isomerization in a CeIV complex in the solid-state.

Findings

A cerium congener was found to undergo in crystallo ring-opening.

The transformation was monitored using a home-source diffractometer.

The research highlights challenges in identifying and analyzing such transformations.

Abstract

As a service crystallographer, we hear all types of explanations as to why a crystal isn't what the intended researcher is looking for. A chemical transformation occurring in crystallo with no crystal decomposition was one I was always skeptical of. And here we are, 3 years into the journey of studying an in crystallo ring-opening of a CeIV complex. A series of metal-cyclopropenyl complexes will be presented and the focus will be on the trials and tribulations to discovering and closely analyzing the cerium congener that performs an in crystallo ring-opening.