Joint Experimental and Computational Investigation of the Flexibility of a Diacetylene-Based Mixed-Linker MOF: Revealing the Existence of Two Low-Temperature Phase Transitions and the Presence of Colossal Positive and Giant Negative Thermal Expansions
Résumé
Solvothermal reaction in N,N-dimethylformamide
(DMF) between 1,6-bis(1-imidazolyl)-2,4-hexadiyne monohydrate
(L1·H2O), isophthalic acid (H2L2), and Zn(NO3)2·6H2O
gives the diacetylene-based mixed-ligand coordination polymer
{[Zn(L1)(L2)](DMF)2}n (UMON-44) in 38% yield. Combination
of DSC with variable-temperature single-crystal X-ray
diffraction revealed the occurrence of two phase transitions
spanning the ranges 129–144 K and 158–188 K. Furthermore,
the three structurally similar phases of UMON-44 show giant
negative and/or colossal positive thermal expansions. These
unusual phenomena exist without any change in the contents
of the unit cell. DFT calculations using the PBE+D3
dispersion scheme were able to distinguish between these
polymorphs by accurately reproducing their salient structural
features, although corrections in the size of the unit cell
turned out to be necessary for the high-temperature phase
to account for its large thermal expansion. In addition, the
infrared spectra (vibration frequencies and peak intensities)
of these theoretical models were calculated, allowing for
univocal identification of the corresponding polymorphs.
Last, the limits of our computational method were tested by
calculating the phase transition temperatures and their associated
enthalpies, and the derived figures compare favorably
with the values determined experimentally.