Structural chemistry by diffraction methods [ LCHM2251 ]

> https://www.ruppweb.org/Xray/101index.html - short interactive course with an emphasis on macromolecular crystallography.

Passing the course "Eléments de cristallographie et spectroscopie moléculaire", first part: "Cristallographie" [CHM1251B] or knowledge of basic crystallography obtained in daily experimental research.

1. Crystallisation. 2. X-ray diffraction, theory and experimental methods. 3. Crystalline and molecular structures determination methods. 4. Interpretation of results.

- theoretical and experimental methods of X-ray and neutron diffraction

- determination of crystal structure from single-crystal and powder data

- ability to interpret structural information in terms of bonding & structural chemistry knowledge

Examination involving one theoretical question, one computer exercise and an explanation/evaluation of a crystal structure report.

Lectures will be given using PowerPoint slides with an extensive use of web-based applications, crystallographic software, databases etc. A number of problems will be solved on a computer during the classes and as a part of exercises.

1.      Introduction. Refreshing the basic knowledge of crystallography: symmetry & principles of diffraction. Phase problem

2.      Single crystal diffraction experiment: geometries, diffractometers and detectors, resolution

3.      Powder diffraction experiment. Experimental geometries, instruments. Angular resolution. Complementarity of techniques. Powder vs single-crystal diffraction. Possibilities and limits of different diffraction techniques.

4.      Indexing - a challenge for powder diffraction. Reconstruction of reciprocal space sections from single crystal data. Systematic absences, space group determination

5.      Structure solution: Patterson and direct methods, molecular replacement, isomorphous replacement, use of the anomalous dispersion, MAD (multi-wavelength anomalous dispersion) and SAD (single-wavelength anomalous dispersion) methods

6.      Modern structure solution methods: charge flipping & direct space methods

7.      Structure refinement, constraints and restraints, absolute structure, validation of the results

8.      Problems: defects, twinning, disorder. Diffuse scattering

9.      Quality of the data, interpretation of results. Publishing the results in a thesis or a publication

10.  Description of a structure, structural chemistry. Databases, Pearson symbol, Wyckoff sequence, structure type. Identifying bonding schemes

11.  Going beyond a structure. Structural evolution and reactivity under non-ambient conditions: with time, temperature, hydrostatic or gas pressure. Sequential refinement. Large facilities, writing a proposal

1.     C. Giacovazzo, Ed.,Fundamentals of crystallography (IUCr Texts on Crystallography, Oxford University Press, 2002).

2.     Y. Pecharsky, P. Zavalij, Fundamentals of powder diffraction and structural   characterization of materials (Springer, second edition, 2009).

3.     W.-K. Li, G.-D. Zhou, T. Mak, Advanced structural inorganic chemistry (IUCr Texts on Crystallography, Oxford University Press, 2008).

4.     R. Tilley, Crystals and crystal structures (Wiley, 2006).

Exercises:

1.     Crystal structure models: NaCl, CsCl, diamond, graphite, CaCO₃. Working with International Tables for Crystallography volume A: space groups, special positions. Calculating a powder pattern (PowderCell, Mercury, Diamond)

2.     Indexing (CrysAlis, Dicvol), space group determination (CrysAlis, ChekCell), profile matching (Fullprof)

3.     Structure solution by charge flipping (Platon), global optimization (FOX)

4.     Structure solution by direct methods, refinement on single-crystal (Shelxs & Shelxl; WinGX) and powder (Fullprof) data