Demetris Bates

Bio: Demetris Bates is an academic researcher from University of Liverpool. The author has contributed to research in topics: Radical & Paramagnetism. The author has an hindex of 2, co-authored 3 publications receiving 30 citations.

Magnetic Bistability in Naphtho-1,3,2-dithiazolyl: Solid State Interconversion of a Thiazyl π-Radical and Its N–N σ-Bonded Dimer

Abstract: Crystals of the heterocyclic radical naphtho-1,3,2-dithiazolyl NDTA display magnetic bistability with a well-defined hysteretic phase transition at Tc↓ = 128(2) K and Tc↑ = 188(2) K. The magnetic signature arises from a radical/dimer interconversion involving one of the two independent π-radicals in the P1 unit cell. Variable temperature X-ray crystallography has established that while all the radicals in HT-NDTA serve as paramagnetic (S = 1/2) centers, half of the radicals in LT-NDTA form closed-shell N–N σ-bonded dimers (S = 0) and half retain their S = 1/2 spin state. The wide window of bistability (60 K) may be attributed to the large structural changes that accompany the phase transition.

Folding a Single-Molecule Junction.

Abstract: Stimuli-responsive molecular junctions, where the conductance can be altered by an external perturbation, are an important class of nanoelectronic devices. These have recently attracted interest as large effects can be introduced through exploitation of quantum phenomena. We show here that significant changes in conductance can be attained as a molecule is repeatedly compressed and relaxed, resulting in molecular folding along a flexible fragment and cycling between an anti and a syn conformation. Power spectral density analysis and DFT transport calculations show that through-space tunneling between two phenyl fragments is responsible for the conductance increase as the molecule is mechanically folded to the syn conformation. This phenomenon represents a novel class of mechanoresistive molecular devices, where the functional moiety is embedded in the conductive backbone and exploits intramolecular nonbonding interactions, in contrast to most studies where mechanoresistivity arises from changes in the molecule-electrode interface.

Three-Dimensional Magnetic Exchange Networks in Trigonal Bisdithiazolyl Radicals.

Abstract: The N-methyl-4-phenyl-pyridine-bridged bisdithiazolyl radical PhBPMe is polymorphic, crystallizing from cold acetonitrile in a trigonal α-phase, space group P3121, and from hot dichloroethane in an orthorhombic β-phase, space group Pca21. The crystal structures of both phases consist of slipped π-stacks of undimerized radicals aligned laterally into herringbone arrays. In the β-phase, there are two independent radicals in the asymmetric unit, and the resulting π-stacks form corrugated layers interspersed by methyl and phenyl groups which block the approach of neighboring radicals. In the α-phase, the methyl/phenyl groups and the radical π-stacks separately form spirals about 31 axes, the latter giving rise to a 3D network of close radical/radical contacts. Variable temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements on the β-phase indicate strong antiferromagnetic coupling. Weaker but predominantly antiferromagnetic interactions (θ = -20.7 K) are observed in the α-phase. A high temperature series expansion analysis of the magnetic data for the α-phase affords antiferromagnetic exchange energies for the one- and two-step radical/radical interactions about the 31 spirals ( J1 = -1.2 K, J2 = -10.9 K, respectively), with weak ferromagnetic interactions along the π-stacks ( Jπ = +1.8 K). Despite the presence of a 3D network based on the dominant J2 interactions, which affords two independent bipartite sublattices, no evidence of bulk antiferromagnetic order has been observed above T = 2 K. The magnetic results are discussed in light of exchange energies calculated using density functional theory broken symmetry methods.

Magnetic Bistability in Crystalline Organic Radicals: The Interplay of H-bonding, Pancake Bonding, and Electrostatics in 4-(2'-Benzimidazolyl)-1,2,3,5-dithiadiazolyl.

Abstract: The neutral radical 4-(2'-benzimidazolyl)-1,2,3,5-dithiadiazolyl (HbimDTDA) exhibits a first order phase transition around 270 K without symmetry breaking, preserving its orthorhombic Pbca space group between 340 and 100 K. Associated with this reversible single-crystal-to-single-crystal phase transition, thermal hysteresis of the magnetic susceptibility is observed. The low temperature (LT) phase is diamagnetic owing to pancake bonding between the π-radicals. In the paramagnetic high temperature (HT) phase, the pancake bonds are broken, and new electrostatic contacts are apparent. As a result of the dense 3D network of supramolecular contacts, which includes H-bonds, the HbimDTDA system provides the first example of magnetic bistability for a DTDA radical.

Structural, Magnetic and Optical Studies of the Polymorphic 9′-Anthracenyl Dithiadiazolyl Radical

Abstract: The fluorescent 9′-anthracenyl-functionalized dithiadiazolyl radical (3) exhibits four structurally determined crystalline phases, all of which are monomeric in the solid state. Polymorph 3α (monoclinic P21/c, Z′ = 2) is isolated when the radical is condensed onto a cold substrate (enthalpically favored polymorph), whereas 3β (orthorhombic P212121, Z′ = 3) is collected on a warm substrate (entropically favored polymorph). The α and β polymorphs exhibit chemically distinct structures with 3α exhibiting face-to-face π–π interactions between anthracenyl groups, while 3β exhibits edge-to-face π–π interactions. 3α undergoes an irreversible conversion to 3β on warming to 120 °C (393 K). The β-phase undergoes a series of reversible solid-state transformations on cooling; below 300 K a phase transition occurs to form 3γ (monoclinic P21/c, Z′ = 1), and on further cooling below 165 K, a further transition is observed to 3δ (monoclinic P21/n, Z′ = 2). Both 3β → 3γ and 3γ → 3δ transitions are reversible (single-cryst...

Radical Dimerization in a Plastic Organic Crystal Leads to Structural and Magnetic Bistability with Wide Thermal Hysteresis.

Abstract: The nitroxyl radical 1-methyl-2-azaadamantane N-oxyl (Me-AZADO) exhibits magnetic bistability arising from a radical/dimer interconversion. The transition from the rotationally disordered paramagnetic plastic crystal, Me-AZADO, to the ordered diamagnetic crystalline phase, (Me-AZADO)2, has been conclusively demonstrated by crystal structure determination from high-resolution powder diffraction data and by solid-state NMR spectroscopy. The phase change is characterized by a wide thermal hysteresis with high sensitivity to even small applied pressures. The molecular dynamics of the phase transition from the plastic crystal to the conventional crystalline phase has been tracked by solid-state (1H and 13C) NMR and EPR spectroscopies.