In-situ X-ray diffraction snapshotting: Determination of the kinetics of a photodimerization within a single crystal

Abstract

In a single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SCSC) transformation, a preformed three-dimensional coordination polymer,[Ni3(oba)2(bpe)2(SO4)(H2O)4]· H2O (H2oba = 4,4'-oxydibenzoic acid; bpe = (E)-1,2-di(pyridin-4-yl)ethane) (1), was shown to undergo a [2+2] cycloaddition reaction upon exposure to UV irradiation. The kinetics of this reaction were followed by taking "snapshots" of the solid state transformation using in situ single crystal X-ray crystallography; a first order process was indicated. The reaction rate was influenced by many factors such as the separation of the sample from the UV light source, the heat produced by the UV irradiation, the light flux of the UV lamp used, the size of the..