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The study of the magnetic and structural properties of matter under extreme conditions is a fast developing field. With the emergence of new techniques and innovative instruments for measuring physical properties, the need for compatible pressure generating devices is constantly growing. The work described in this thesis is focused on development, construction and testing of several high pressure (HP) cells of novel design. One of the cells is intended for single crystal X-ray diffraction (SXD) studies at low temperature (LT) and the other three HP devices are designed for a Magnetic Property Measurement System (MPMS), two of which are suitable for dc susceptibility studies and the other one is aimed at high frequency ac susceptibility measurements. HP crystallographic studies are routinely carried out in diamond anvil cells (DAC) at room temperature while ambient pressure SXD studies are often conducted at LT to reduce atomic vibrations and obtain more precise structural data as well as to study LT phases. Combining HP with LT gives access to a whole new area on the phase diagrams but due to the size of the existing DACs this is generally achieved by cooling down the cells inside a cryostat and it is mainly possible at synchrotrons where dedicated facilities exist. A miniature DAC which can be used with commercially available laboratory cry-flow cooling systems and achieves pressures in excess of 10 GPa has been developed. The design of the pressure cell is based on the turnbuckle principle and therefore it was called TX-DAC. Its dimensions have been minimised using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and the final version of the cell weighs only 2.4 g. The cell is built around a pair of 600 μm culet Boehler-Almax anvils which have large conical openings for the diffracted beam. The TX-DAC is made of beryllium copper (BeCu) alloy which has good thermal conductivity and allows quick thermal equilibration of the cell. The MPMS from Quantum Design is the most popular instrument for studies of magnetic properties of materials. It is designed to measure ac and dc magnetic susceptibility of sample with detectable signals as low as 10-8 emu. The MPMS has a sample chamber bore of 9 mm in diameter and this puts a constraint on the dimensions of the pressure cells. However, several types of clamp piston-cylinder cells and DACs have been designed for the MPMS. The former are used for measurements at pressure up to 2 GPa and the later can be used for studies at higher pressure. Taking advantage of the turnbuckle principle, a DAC (TM-DAC) and a piston-cylinder cell (TM-PCC) for dc magnetic studies were built. They allow HP measurements to be performed at the full sensitivity of MPMS. Both pressure cells are made of BeCu and their small dimensions combined with symmetrical design is the key to an ideal background signal correction. The TM-DAC is 7 mm long and 7 mm in diameter, it weighs 1.5 g and with 800 μm culet anvils it can generate a sample pressure of 10 GPa. Inherently the sample volume is limited to approximately 10-3 mm3 and the signal corresponding to this volume of some weakly magnetic material remains below the sensitivity of the MPMS. This constraint led us to the development of the TM-PCC – a piston-cylinder variant of the turnbuckle design. With a 4 mm3 sample volume it allows the study of weakly magnetic samples in the range 0-1.9 GPa. The TM-PCC uses two zirconia pistons of 2.5 mm in diameter; it is 10 mm long, 7 mm in diameter and weights 2.7 g. Conventional metallic pressure cells perform well in dc mode however in ac susceptibility measurements, the Eddy currents set in the cells’ body lead to a screening effect which can significantly obscure the signal from the sample. This problem was solved by designing a composite piston-cylinder cell made with Zylon fibre and epoxy resin. The sample is located in the middle of the cell in the 2.5 mm bore and the pressure is transmitted through zirconia pistons. Keeping the metallic parts away from the sample resolves any interference issue. The composite cell performs well in a pressure range of 0-1 GPa. The performance of the pressure cells developed within this project is illustrated by studies of various systems at high pressure.

The effect of pressure on a number of magnetically interesting compounds such as single-molecule magnets and dimeric copper and manganese molecules has been investigated to probe the validity of ambient magneto-structural correlations. The first chapter is an introduction to the equipment and methodologies that have been adopted to carry out the experimental high-pressure work. The second chapter reports the first combined high-pressure single crystal X-ray diffraction and high pressure magnetism study of four single-molecule magnets (SMMs). At 1.5 GPa the structures [Mn6O2(Et-sao)6(O2CPh(Me)2)2(EtOH)6] (1) – an SMM with a record effective anisotropy barrier of ~86 K – and [Mn6O2(Etsao) 6(O2C-naphth)2(EtOH)4(H2O)2] (2) both undergo significant structural distortions of their metallic skeletons which has a direct effect upon the observed magnetic response. Up to 1.5 GPa pressure the effect is to flatten the Mn-N-O-Mn torsion angles weakening the magnetic exchange between the metal centres. In both compounds one pairwise interaction switches from ferro- to antiferromagnetic, with the Jahn-Teller (JT) axes compressing (on average) and re-aligning differently with respect to the plane of the three metal centres. High pressure dc χMT plots display a gradual decrease in the low temperature peak value and slope, simulations showing a decrease in |J| with increasing pressure with a second antiferromagnetic J value required to simulate the data. The “ground states” change from S = 12 to S = 11 for 1 and to S = 10 for 2. Magnetisation data for both 1 and 2 suggest a small decrease in |D|, while out-of-phase (χM //) ac data show a large decrease in the effective energy barrier for magnetisation reversal. The third SMM is the complex [Mn3(Hcht)2(bpy)4](ClO4)3·Et2O·2MeCN (3·Et2O·2MeCN) that at 0.16 GPa loses all associated solvent in the crystal lattice, becoming 3. At higher pressures structural distortions occur changing the distances between the metal centres and the bridging oxygen atoms making |J| between the manganese ions weaker. No significant variations are observed in the JT axis of the only MnIII present in the structure. Highpressure dc χMT plots display a gradual decrease in the low temperature peak value and slope. Simulations show a decrease in J with increasing pressure although the ground state is preserved. Magnetisation data do not show any change in |D|. The fourth SMM, [(tacn)6Fe8O2(OH)12](ClO4)3.9Br4.1⋅6H2O, (4) is the largest inorganic compound ever studied at high-pressure. Up to 2.0 GPa the conformation of the complex remains largely unaffected, with the counter ions and water molecules moving around to accommodate a compression of the unit cell volume. High pressure magnetic susceptibility data collected up to 0.93 GPa confirm minimal changes in the intra-molecular exchange interactions. The third chapter focuses on three hydroxo-bridged CuII dimers: [Cu2(OH)2(H2O)2(tmen)2](ClO4)2 (5), [Cu2(OH)2(tben)2](ClO4)2 (6) and [Cu2(OH)2(bpy)2](BF4)2 (7) have been structurally determined up to 2.5, 0.9 and 4.7 GPa, respectively. 6 and 7 have never been reported before. Pressure imposes important distortions in the structures of all three complexes, particularly on the bond distances and angles between the metal centres and the bridging hydroxo groups. 5 undergoes a phase transition between 1.2 and 2.5 GPa caused by the loss of a coordinated water molecule. This leads to a loss of symmetry and dramatic changes in the molecular structure of the complex. The structural changes are manifested in different magnetic behaviours of the complexes as seen in dc susceptibility measurements up to ~0.9 GPa: J becomes less antiferromagnetic in 5 and 6 and more ferromagnetic in 7. The fourth chapter shows the compression of two oxo-bridged MnII/MnIII mixed valence dimers: [Mn2O2(bpy)4](ClO4)3⋅3CH3CN, (8) has been squeezed up to 2.0 GPa whilst [Mn2O2(bpy)4](PF6)3⋅2CH3CN⋅1H2O, (9) could be measured crystallographically up to 4.55 GPa. 9 has never been reported before, while 8 has been reported in a different crystallographic space group. The application of pressure imposes significant alterations in the structures of both complexes. In particular, in 8 the Mn-Mn separation is reduced by the contraction of some of the Mn-O bond distances, 9 shows essentially analogous behaviour: the Mn-Mn distance and nearly all the Mn-N bonds shrink significantly. The magnetic behaviour of the complexes has been measured up to 0.87 GPa for 8 and 0.84 GPa for 9, but neither display any significant differences with respect to their ambient data.

Nanomaterials (NMs) are materials in which the size of at least one dimension is less than 100 nm. Examples include quantum dots, nanoparticles, “Buckminsterfullerene (C60)”, carbon nanotubes, graphene and TiO2 thin films. Many research groups have investigated the properties of NMs, and they have reported that some of them are clearly different to those of the bulk materials, and depend on the size of the NMs. Examples include melting temperatures, phase transition pressures, fluorescence spectra, catalytic properties and magnetic properties. Recently, a high-pressure study of Te nano-cylinders revealed compressibility effects that are different to those observed in bulk-Te. Although this study reported an elevation of phase transition pressure compared to the bulk, the authors did not investigate the structures of the high-pressure phases, and it is unclear whether the incommensurate phase found at high pressures in bulk-Te was observed or not. Indeed, it is completely unknown whether the incommensurate phases observed in a number of elements at high pressure also exist in nanoparticle samples of the same materials. The search for, and study of, such phases forms the subject of this thesis. Initial studies of commercial selenium nanoparticles (nano-Se) revealed that the incommensurate phase of bulk selenium (Se-IV) is also found in nano-Se. The transition pressures in nano-Se are slightly higher than those of bulk-Se. However, the nano-Se samples were subsequently found not to have the sizes, shapes, and properties claimed by the vendor, which was confirmed by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Further commercial samples of nano-Se and nano-Bi were also found to be of extremely poor quality. It was clear, therefore, that a detailed study of incommensurate phases in NMs would require us to make our own samples. Bismuth nanoparticles (nano-Bi) with dimensions 51(6), 52(15), 92(13), 128(45), and 138(27) nm have been successfully synthesised by the author in collaboration with the Hybrid Nano Collods group at the University of St. Andrews. On compression, the nano-Bi samples were found to have the same order of phases Bi-I, Bi-II, Bi-III, and Bi-V and phase transitions as found in bulk-Bi, but were found to exhibit larger phase coexistence. The phase transition pressures on pressure increase were higher than those of the bulk materials, and the smaller the diameter of nano-Bi, the higher the phase-transition pressure. This behaviour is similar to, but more extreme than, that found in CdSe nanoparticles. The incommensurate Bi-III structure has been found in nano-Bi under increases in pressure. However, the di↵raction patterns from Bi-III contain additional unaccounted-for peaks, and this phase is referred to as complex Bi-III. The Debye- Scherrer rings from complex Bi-III are smooth, and do not exhibit the spottiness observed in the diffraction patterns of Bi-III obtained from bulk-Bi. This enables full Rietveld refinement of Bi-III in the nano-samples. Complex Bi-III exists from 3 GPa up to 30 GPa, compared to the stable range of only 2.7 to 7.7 GPa of Bi-III in the bulk material. While such a large range of pressure enables the structure of nano-Bi-III to be studied over a much wider pressure range than bulk-Bi-III, such studies were hampered by the existence of the unaccounted-for peaks. In order to get clean, single-phase patterns of Bi-III, samples of this phase were first prepared on pressure decrease from the higher-pressure Bi-V phase, before recompressing them. Single-phase samples of Bi-III were obtained and were found to be stable up to 14-18 GPa. However, because of phase coexistence, diffraction peaks from Bi-III were still visible at pressures as high as ~30 GPa, which is ~3 times larger than the upper limit pressure of existence of bulk-Bi-III. On pressure re-increase, nano-Bi-III has a higher bulk modulus than bulk-Bi-III. The bulk modulus was found to be size-dependent as it is higher when size decreases. Moreover, nano-Bi has a smaller value of the incommensurate wave vector, which is almost pressure independent, but is found to be particles size dependent. The incommensurate wave vector thus becomes another of the structural and physical properties of nanomaterials that is found to be sample-size dependent.

The optimization of powder x-ray diffraction (PXRD) for the study of cheese crystals was the focus of this study. A survey was conducted of various manifestations of calcium lactate crystals on the rindless surface and within mechanical openings of Cheddar cheese using PXRD. The diffraction reference card database contained a card that was entitled calcium lactate pentahydrate and corresponded to some of the crystalline material found on the cheeses. Diffractions patterns generated from other samples of crystalline material revealed the existence of an unknown crystal that resembled and behaved similarly to calcium lactate pentahydrate, but did not match the reference card. The existence of two enantiomeric variants of calcium lactate pentahydrate had been firmly established; an experiment was thus designed to determine if the unknown diffraction pattern represented one enantiomeric form, and if the ambiguously named reference card represented the other. This experiment demonstrated that the existing reference card corresponded to calcium DL-lactate pentahydrate and that the unknown diffraction pattern was generated from calcium L-lactate pentahydrate. This study resulted in the proposal of a new reference card for calcium L-lactate pentahydrate and the proposed renaming of the existing card to calcium DL-lactate pentahydrate. This discovery allows the rapid identification of both forms of calcium lactate that form in and on cheese. In order to conduct the survey and experiment that are described above, the PXRD method needed to be adjusted for use with cheese crystals. Samples of cheese crystals pose a particular challenge because they are often composed of high proportions of moisture, fat, protein, and other amorphous material; these all disrupt the efficient diffraction of crystals and thus needed to be removed or minimized. The removal of water from samples is a particular challenge because some cheese crystals contain water of hydration that may be driven off in the process, thereby destroying the crystals. A protocol for the preparation of cheese samples for PXRD was consequently developed.

A novel geometry for powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), termed ‘focal construct geometry’ (FCG) is introduced and developed with both non-ideal samples and non-ideal sample conditions. FCG utilises an annular beam that has the unique feature of ‘focusing’ scattering maxima at single loci along a primary axis, hence offering diffraction data of enhanced intensity. This main advantage of FCG can be used within fields in need of rapid material identification, such as security screening in airports. A theoretical comparison between FCG and conventional transmission mode XRD showed that even though FCG suffers from broader diffraction peaks, an alternative approach to FCG data interpretation has the potential to provide narrower scattering maxima than conventional XRD. However, in order to employ this approach, discrimination between converging and diverging FCG scattering maxima is essential. Peak broadening was investigated by altering various aspects of FCG instrumentation components by either pencil beam XRD or FCG, indicating broad diffraction peaks independent of the beam geometry employed. Development of FCG resulted in the successful analysis of non-ideal samples, such as non-crystalline liquid samples, samples exhibiting preferred orientation and samples with large grain size, demonstrating advantages over conventional XRD. Furthermore, ideal samples (in terms of crystallinity, preferred orientation and grain size) were analysed by FCG under non-ideal conditions. This involved randomly orientating a single planar sample with respect to the primary axis, contrary to previous research that present FCG with a single planar sample normal to the primary axis. Sample rotation resulted in FCG scattering maxima with different xyz coordinates depending on the degree, axis and direction of rotation. Moreover, FCG analysis of multiple samples (normal to the primary axis) showed that as with all XRD arrangements, a priori knowledge of the samples’ position along the primary axis is required for effective data analysis. Investigation into the ability of FCG’s annular beam to act as a pre-sample coded aperture demonstrated an alternative method to interpret FCG images by recovering conventional XRD data. Additionally, two novel post-sample encoders (linear wire and Archimedean spiral) were considered. This enabled spatial discrimination of unknown samples along a primary axis and material identification for conventional XRD techniques. Combination of FCG with an absorbing edge post-sample encoder indicated discrimination between converging and diverging FCG scattering maxima. This ability can enable interpretation of single FCG images, as well as depth information of unknown samples within an inspection volume (e.g. airport luggage), hence enabling material identification.

A estrutura da florencita foi refinada pelo método de mínimos quadrados, utilizando dados experimentais obtidos através do método de Debye-Scherrer. A coleta dos dados das intensidades integradas foi feita através da leitura do difratograma de pó por um microdensitômetro óptico automático, e empregando métodos de análise numérica para fazer a integração da função (2&#952,Y), tabelada a pontos eqüidistantes. Foram observados 14 picos de difração e as reflexões que se superpunham contribuindo para as intensidades dos picos foram identificadas e suas contribuições levadas em conta através de seus fatores de multiplicidade. O refinamento foi feito com o programa POWLS (Powder Least Squares) e inicialmente foram fornecidos os parâmetros posicionais dos átomos da Goyazita, que é isomorfa com a florencita. As intensidades observadas foram corrigidas pelos fatores de Lorentz-polarização e adsorção. O índice de discordância R atingido para os 14 picos de difração observados foi de 0.097. A fórmula molecular da florencita é CeAl3(PO4)2(OH)6. O composto cristaliza no sistema hexagonal com parâmetros de rede ao=6.96Å co=16.33Å &#945= &#946 = 90° &#947=120° V=685.07&#1973. O grupo espacial é R3m com Z=3 e densidade calculada igual a 3.67g.cm-3. / The crystal structure of the florencita was refined by least squares using experimental data obtained with the Debye-Scherrer method. An automatic optical microdensitometer was used for the data collection from powder difractogram and numerical analysis methods for the integration of the function (2&#952,Y) which is tabulated at equidistant points. 14 diffraction peaks were observed, reflections which superpose contributing to the same peak were identified and their contributions were taken in account using multiplicity factors. The program POWLS (Powder Least Squares) was used for the refinement and initially the positional parameters of the atoms of the Goyazite, which is isomorfous with the florencita were used. Intensities were corrected for the Lorentz, polarization and absorption factors. The final R factor for the 14 peaks was of 0.097. The molecular formula of the florencitais CeAl3(PO4)2(OH)6. It crystallizes in the hexagonal system, space group R3m with cell ao=6.96Å co=16.33Å &#945= &#946 = 90° &#947=120° V=685.07&#1973.

Thesis advisor: Daniel A. Kirschner / Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are implicated in a range of degenerative conditions, including aging, neurodegenerative diseases, and neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis. Myelin is a lipid-rich multilamellar assembly that facilitates rapid nerve conduction in higher animals, and may be intrinsically vulnerable to oxidative damage given the high energetic demands and low antioxidant capacity of myelinating cells. To determine whether ROS can cause structural damage to internodal myelin, whole mouse sciatic and optic nerves were incubated ex vivo with a previously-characterized copper (Cu)/hydrogen peroxide (HP)/o-phenanthroline (OP)-based hydroxyl radical-generating system followed by quantitative determination of myelin packing by x-ray diffraction. Exposure to Cu/OP/HP-mediated ROS caused irreversible myelin decompaction in both sciatic and optic nerves. The addition of the hydroxyl radical scavenger, sodium formate, to the ROS-producing incubation solution significantly prevented sciatic nerve myelin decompaction, implicating hydroxyl radical species in causing the damage. Furthermore, Cu/OP/HP-mediated decompaction could be prevented by the addition of EDTA, which can compete with OP for Cu binding and sequester the metal within the bulk solution. These findings suggest that Cu/OP/HP-dependent myelin decompaction is caused by OP-mediated membrane-targeted hydroxyl radical production. Myelin membranes are particularly enriched in plasmalogen phospholipids, which have been linked to antioxidant activity; this enrichment may constitute an endogenous ROS-defense mechanism that protects ROS-vulnerable myelin tissue from damage. Intriguingly, it was found that sciatic nerve myelin from plasmalogen deficient (Pex7 KO) mice was significantly more susceptible to ROS-mediated decompaction than that from WT mice, supporting the role of plasmalogens as endogenous antioxidants. / Thesis (MS) — Boston College, 2009. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Biology.

A presente dissertação consta de quatro capítulos, sendo que nos dois primeiros apresentamos alguns tópicos dos métodos diretos para determinação de estruturas e nos dois últimos, o desenvolvimento experimental e os resultados finais obtidos na determinação da estrutura cristalina e molecular de um produto natural extraído de E. Nitens, o (2R, 3S) - 2-hidroxi-3-(2&#8217 - hidroxi-isopropil) - 5-hidroximetil-8-metoximetil-1-ceto-1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahidronaftaleno, conhecido pelo nome vulgar Emotina B. A Emotina B, C16H22O5, cristaliza no sistema triclínico, grupo espacial P1. Os parâmetros da cela unitária encontrados foram: a=7,474(2), b=8,922(5), c=12,405(4)&#197, &#945=87,68(4), &#946=78,96(3), &#947=67,40(4)° V=715,042޵ dcalc=1,37g/cm3; Z=2 moléculas por cela unitária. Foram coletadas em 1667 reflexões únicas, utilizando o difratômetro automático CAD-4, com radiação monocromatizada de MoK&#945, das quais foram mantidas 1010 reflexões, consideradas observadas segundo o critério I&#62 2&#948(I). A estrutura foi resolvida por métodos diretos (MULTAN-80) e por síntese de Fourier-diferenças sucessivas e refinadas por mínimos quadrados (SHELX-76) até um índice de discordância, R=0,054 para apenas as reflexões observadas e 0,067 para todas as reflexões.As moléculas são aproximadamente planas com variações conformacionais significativas apenas na parte alifática. Relacionam-se através de um pseudo-centro de inversão parcial localizado em (0,0846; 0,0622; 0,4174). Os esquemas de ligação hidrogênio são diferentes nas moléculas A e B e consistem de ligações intra e intermoleculares. / This dissertation consists of four chapters. Chapters 1 and 2 present some theoretical aspects of direct methods for crystal structure determination. Chapters 3 and 4 present the description of the experimental work and the crystal structure determination of a natural product obtained from E. Nitens, the (2R, 3S)-2-hydroxy-3-(2&#8217-hydroxy-isopropyl)-5-hydroximethyl-8-methoxymethyl-1-ceto-1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydronapghtalen (Emmotin - B). Emmotin - B, C16H22O5, crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P1. Cell dimensioned are: a=7,474(2), b=8,922(5), c=12,405(4)&#197, &#945=87,68(4), &#946=78,96(3), &#947=67,40(4)° V=715,042޵ dcalc=1,37g/cm3; Z=2 molecules/unit cell. The intensities of 1667 unique reflexions were collected using a CAD-4 automatic diffractometer with monochromated MoK&#945 radiations of which only 1010 with I&#62 2&#948(I) were considered observed. The structure was solved by direct methods (MULTAN-80) and successive applications of difference-Fourier calculations. It was refined by least square methods (SHELX-76). The final agreement index was R=0.054, considering only the observed reflexions and 0.067, considering all reflexions. The two independent molecules are almost identical showing discrepancies only in conformation of the aliphatic side chains. They are mutually related by a partial pseudo center of symmetry located at (0.0846, 0.0622, 0.4174). The hydrogen bonding schemes are different in both A and B molecules and consist of intra and intermolecular bonds.

lantanídeos, visando a determinação da simetria de coordenação ao redor dos íons e sua comparação com prévias previsões espectroscópicas. As medidas de difração foram realizadas com um difratômetro de quatro círculos de geometria Kappa. Os dados cristalinos relevantes são: [Eu (TMU)6] (AsF6)3, TMU = C5H12N2O. Fórmula química: EuC30H72N12O6As3F18; cela unitária é cúbica, a = 18,000 (3)&#197e V = 5832 (3)޵ grupo espacial: F23 número - 196 da Internacional Tables For X-Ray Crystallography; número de moléculas por cela unitária: Z = 4; coeficiente de absorção de massa para radiação de molibdênio: µ (MoK&#945)=27,4 cm-1; densidade calculada: Dc = 1,60 g.cm-3 Para um cristal de tamanho aproximadamente 0,25 x 0,25 x 0,30mm foram medidas 2309 reflexões. A média das intensidades das reflexões equivalentes por simetria de Laue foi calculada obtendo-se um total de 841 independentes, das quais, apenas 277 resultaram maiores que três vezes o desvio padrão estimado de contagem estatística. A estrutura se mostrou altamente desordenada e o modelo proposto refinou a um fator-R final de 13.8%. Os átomos de európio e arsênio estão localizados em posições especiais de simetria pontual local 23 (T) O Eu3+ está hexacoordenado através dos oxigênios das moléculas de TMU formando um octaedro regular de simetria pontual Oh. A distância európio-oxigênio é de aproximadamente 2,28 &#197. [Ln (H2O)9] (CF3SO3)3, Ln=Nd or Ho. Fórmula química: LnC3H18O18F9S3; cela unitária hexagonal a=13,851 (4)&#197, c=7,460(3)&#197 e V=1240(1) &#1973 para Ln = Nd, e a=13,570 (2)&#197, c=7,577 (1)&#197 e V=1208,5 (9)&#1973 para Ln=Ho; grupo espacial: P63/m número 176 da Internacional Tables For X-Ray Crystalography; número de moléculas por cela unitária: Z=2; coeficiente de absorção de massa para radiação de molibdênio: µ (MoK&#945) = 23,2 cm-1(Nd) e 34,8 cm-1 (ho); densidade calculada: Dc=2,02 g.cm-3 e 2,13 g.cm-3 respectivamente para Ln = Nd e Ho. De um cristal de forma cilíndrica de diâmetro e altura aproximadamente de 0,20 mm foram medidas 2098 reflexões para o complexo de Nd e 2400 para o de Ho. Após o calculo de média das reflexões equivalentes de Laue, obteve-se para o caso de Nd 685 reflexoes independentes das quais 636 com I &#62 3&#963(I) e o fator-R final foi 2,64%. Para o complexo de holmio as figuras foram: 763 reflexões independentes, 676 com I &#62 3&#963(I) e fator-R de 2,18%. Em ambos os casos as estruturas foram resolvidas pelos métodos de Patterson e do átomo pesado. As estruturas se mostraram isomorfas com a única diferença significativa sendo a distância lantanídeo-oxigênio de 2,49 &#197 para Nd e 2,42 para Ho. O íon lantanídeo é nonacoordenado através dos oxigênios das moléculas de água formando um prisma trigonal triencapuçado de simetria pontual cristalografica D3h. Todas as distâncias interatômicas estão dentro da faixa esperada, com exceção das distâncias C-F em ambos os casos que são um pouco curtas (1,31 &#197) / We describe here the X-ray determination of the crystal and molecular structures of three lanthanide complexes. The work is a contribution to the study of the coordination chemistry of lanthanide ions with organic ligands and in particular, it-aims to compare the observed point symmetry of the ion environment with spectroscopic predictions. The diffraction measurements were all performed on a four circle diffractometer of kappa geometry. The relevant crystal data are: Chemical formula: [Eu (TMU)6] (AsF6)3, TMU = C5H12N2O; cubic unit cell a = 18,000 (3)&#197e V = 5832 (3)޵ space group: F23 number 196 from International Tables for X-ray Crystallography; number of molecules per unit cell: Z = 4; mass absorption coefficient for molybdenum radiation: (MoK&#945)=27,4 cm-1; calculated density: Dc = 1,60 g.cm-3. For a crystal of approximately 0.25 x 0.25 x 0.30 mm size, 2309 reflections were measured. After averaging the intensities of the Laue-equivalent reflection, 841 independent reflections were obtained, from which only 277 had intensities greater than three times the respective standard deviations estimated from counting statistics. The structure turn out to be highly disordered and the proposed model refined to a final R-factor of 13.8%. The europium and arsenic atoms are sited on special positions of local point symmetry 23 (T). The Eu3+ is hexacoordinated to six TMU oxygen atoms, forming a regular crystallographic octahedron of point symmetry Oh. The europium oxygen distance is 2.28&#197. [Ln (H2O)9] (CF3SO3)3, Ln=Nd or Ho. Chemical formula: LnC3H18O18F9S3 hexagonal unit a=13,851 (4)&#197, c=7,460(3)&#197 and V=1240(1) &#1973 for Ln = Nd, and a=13,570 (2)&#197, c=7,577 (1)&#197 e V=1208,5 (9)&#1973 for Ln=Ho; spacial group: P63/m number 176 from International Tables for X-ray Crystallography number of molecules per unit cell: Z=2; mass absorption coefficient for molybdenum radiation: &#1810 (MoK&#945) = 23,2 cm-1 for Ln=Nd and 34,8 cm-1 for Ln=Ho; calculated density: Dc=2,02 g.cm-3 e 2,13 g.cm-3 respectively for Nd and Ho. From a cylindrically shapped crystal of approximate diameter and height of 0.20 mm, 2098 reflections for the Nd and 2400 for the Ho complexes were measured. After averaging the intensi ties of the Laue-equivalent reflections we obtain for Nd 685 independent reflections of which 636 with I &#62 3&#963(I) and agreement factor of 2.64%. For the holmium complexes the figures were 763 independent reflections, 676 with I &#62 3&#963(I) and agreement factor equal to 2.18%. In both cases the structures were solved by the heavy-atom Patterson method. The structures turn out to be isomorphous with the only significant difference of the lanthanide oxygen distances which was 2.49&#197 for Nd and 2.42&#197 for Ho. The lanthanide ions are nine-coordinated to the oxygen atom of water molecules, which form a tricapped trigonal prism of crystallographic point symmetry D3h. All interatomic distances lie within the expected normal range except the C-F ones which are somewhat shorter (1,31 &#197)