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.

The results of three very different studies are presented. X-ray diffraction has been utilized for single-crystal structure determinations, fiber diffraction analyses, and in conjunction with molecular modeling of Cellulose IIII. Although each technique is different in its sampling, data acquisition, data treatment, and identification, the common denominator has been the use of x-rays. The single-crystal structure determination of ethylene glycol bis(tropane-3-carboxylate) is presented as an example of the use of modern single-crystal x-ray instrumentation including the use of coupled charged devices (CCDs) as detectors for accurate data collection and rapid elucidation of crystal structures. The structure determination of Cellulose IIII by x-ray diffraction and computer modeling is presented to show how the use of x-rays in weakly diffracting materials can generate a reliable structure and be a key component in model building. Finally, a study is presented in which x-ray fiber diffraction data is utilized to investigate possible correlations between the crystallite orientation, crystallinity, crystallize size and the strength properties of cotton fibers collected from various countries.

Abstract Layered inorganic-organic hybrid compounds have been widely studied as new potential sources of semiconductors and other optical devices. They simulate natural quantum well materials, where the inorganic part acts as semiconductors, separated by an organic part. This class of hybrid materials has no covalent bonds between the inorganic and organic parts; instead, weak hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces bind and stabilise the overall structure. The inorganic part is made up of layers of corner-sharing metal halide octahedra, MX6, where the metal must be in a divalent state and the halides are Cl, Br or I. The 2-D layers extend infinitely in two directions and are separated themselves by layers of primary ammonium cations, with only one ammonium group at one end of the chain, [(R-NH3)2MX4], or two ammonium groups at either of the chain, [(H3N-R-NH3)MX4]. Due to its similarity to the cubic perovskite structure, this inorganic motif is referred to as "layered perovskite-type". Depending on the choice of the organic ammonium cation, the materials can display phase transitions and / or have optical and electronic properties. Various investigations of inorganic-organic hybrids have concentrated on the phase transitions of the hybrids of general formula [(CnH2n+1NH3)2MX4] and [(NH3CnH2nNH3)MX4] (n = 1-18; X = Cl, Br, I; M = Cu2+, Mn2+, Cd2+) to elucidate their mechanism. There are two types of displasive transitions, a minor one were small conformational changes within the alkylammonium chain occurs, and a major one, when the entire alkylammonium chain becomes disordered along its long axis. The interlayer spacing between the inorganic layers increases with temperature and during the major phase transition. The methods used to identify the temperatures and the enthalpies of the phase transitions are Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC); and Single Crystal X-ray Diffraction (SC-XRD) as well as Powder X-Ray Diffraction (P-XRD) to follow the structural changes. In contrast, only a few reports on investigations of the lead iodide hybrids, [(CnH2n+1NH3)2PbI4] were found in the literature, with only two single crystal structures previously reported. Due to the difficulty in growing good quality crystals, the previous studies on the lead iodide hybrids have been only researched using DSC and P-XRD. The phase transition behaviour has been found to show the same trends as the previous hybrids. The primary aim of this study was to follow the same phase transitions via SC-XRD, ideally single-crystal to single-crystal, and to determine the detailed structural changes with the hopes of elucidating their detailed phase transition mechanism. A secondary aim was to synthesize as many inorganic-organic hybrids as possible using a variety of primary ammonium cations to find different inorganic motifs apart from the layered perovskite-type. Other inorganic motifs can have purely corner-, edge or face-sharing octahedra or combinations thereof to give 2-D net-type networks or 1-D extended chains. The effect that the identity of the ammonium cation has on the type of inorganic motif and the effect on the detailed structural geometry within the inorganic motif are investigated. Examples of structural geometries within the layered perovskite-type inorganic motif that can differ from compound to compound are the relative positions of the inorganic and organic moieties; the N---H….X hydrogen bonding geometry between the halides and the ammonium group; and the relative positions of successive inorganic layers.

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)

One of the degradation processes of zirconium-based nuclear fuel assemblies is irradiation-induced growth, an anisotropic, stress-independent, macroscopic deformation mechanism that elongates fuel cladding tubes axially. Irradiation-induced growth is driven by the irradiation-induced formation of dislocation loops, where the evolution of the loop structure can be complex, with the initial formation of loop generating transient growth, while the later formation of component dislocation loops, or loops, leads to accelerated growth. A full mechanistic understanding of loop nucleation is as yet unforthcoming. This thesis utilizes the diffraction peak broadening analysis software, named extended Convolutional Multiple Whole Profile, to study the dislocation structure evolution of neutron- and proton-irradiated zirconium alloys in order to validate proton-irradiation as a effective tool for the study of irradiation damage in relation to irradiation-induced growth. The diffraction profiles obtained exhibit unexpected features present in the tails of the Bragg peaks, tentatively attributed here to either strained regions of matrix, or diffuse scattering from severely distorted regions around nucleating precipitates, both originating from an increased solute concentration. The diffraction results indicate that the proton-irradiated samples exhibit qualitatively similar behaviours as seen from neutron-irradiation, such as a threshold irradiation dose before the formation of loops, however, a continued increase of loop dislocation density determined from peak broadening analysis is not observed by transmission electron microscopy. It is also shown that the Nb-containing Low-Sn ZIRLO® alloy has a lower dislocation density than the Nb-free Zircaloy-2 after the formation of loops correlating well with the relative irradiation-induced growth behaviours observed in- reactor. A correlation between a reduction in the loop dislocation density and the formation of loops is observed in Low-Sn ZIRLO® and Zr-1.60Sn-0.033Fe, providing support for the hypothesis that vacancy loops transform into loops. Zr- 0.61Sn-0.024Fe and Zr-1.60Sn-0.033Fe alloys show a rapid increase in the loop dislocation density in the initial stages of proton-irradiation, likely due to the low irradiation-resistance of the precipitates present in these alloys.

Este trabalho consta de uma introdução teórica tratando, do conceito de cristal, da interação entre o raio-X e o meio cristalino e dos fundamentos dos métodos de determinação de estruturas moleculares de pequeno porte aplicados na solução das estruturas cristalinas dos complexos: Praseodímio, Neodímio e Európio com Perrenato e Trans-l, 4-ditiano-l, 4-dióxido,(TDTD), tendo fórmula geral [Ln(H2O)4(&#951 TDTD) (&#951 &#8217 ReO4) (&#956-&#9512-TDTD)]n (ReO4)2n &#8226 nTDTD onde, Ln= Eu, Pr, Nd e Metil-2,6-anhidro-3-azido-4-0-benzoil-3-deoxi-&#945-D-iodopiranosideo, um novo derivado de 2,5-dioxabiciclo [2,2,2] octano. Determinou-se que os complexos envolvendo íons latanídeos, tem estruturas isomorfas, que refinaram para os valores finais: R(eu)=0.067, R(Pr)= 0.074, R(Nd)= 0.061. As características principais das estruturas são as seguintes: a) sistema cristalino ortorrômbico; b) o íon Ln3+ é coordenado por nove átomos de oxigênio dos grupos TDTD, perrenato e H2O. Os átomos de oxigênio que coordenam o cátion formam formam uma configuração antiprisma quadrado de Arquimedes com chapéu; c) o íon de terra rara se encontra em posição especial de simetria C2; d) a estrutura possui uma desordem ocupacional com relação a três átomos de oxigênio descoordenados do perrenato que coordena o íon Ln3+ através de um oxigênio situado também em posição de simetria C2. Explica-se os resultados do espectro de emissão do Eu3+ à luz dos resultados estruturais obtidos, comparando estes resultados com outros descritos na literatura. A estrutura do complexo orgânico, com fórmula química C14H15N3O5, foi determinada utilizando métodos diretos. A conformação do anel de seis membros foi determinada como sendo aproximadamente um barco torcido. / This work consists of a theoretical introduction to the concept of a crystal, the interaction between X-ray and the crystalline medium and some aspects concerning the methods of structure determination, applied to the crystal structure of the complexes: Praseodymium, Neodymium and Europium Perrhenate with Trans-l,4-dithiane-l,4-dioxide (TDTD) of general formula: [Ln(H2O)4(&#951 TDTD) (&#951 &#8217 ReO4) (&#956-&#9512-TDTD)]n (ReO4)2n &#8226 nTDTD, where Ln= Eu, Pr, Nd and Methyl-2,6-anhydro-3-azido-4-0-benzoyl-3-deoxy-&#945-D-iodopyranoside, a new 2,5-Dioxabicycle [2,2,2] octane derivative. It was determined that the complexes involving lanthanide ions are structurally isomorphous, the structures refined to the final values of: R(Nd)=0.061, R(Pr)=0.074, R(Eu)=0.067. The principal characteristics of these structures are: a) the crystal system is orthorhombic; b) the ion Ln3+ is coordinated by nine oxygen atoms of TDTD, perrhenate and water molecules. The coordinated oxygen have an approximate Antiprismatic Arquimedian Capped Square conformation; c) the rare earth atom is located on a crystallographic C2 position; d) the structure has an occupational disorder, with relation to three uncoordinated oxygen atoms of the perrhenate group that coordinates the cation by the oxygen located on the special position with exact point symmetry C2. The emission spectra of the Eu3+ ion is explained based on the structure information obtained from x-ray analysis. Also a comparison is traced with other coordination compounds, with the lanthanide ion Ln3+, revealing some important aspects of these structures. The structure of the compound with chemical formula C14H15N3O5 was determined using direct methods. The six member ring C(1)-O(5)-C(4)-C(3)-C(2) is in an approximate twist-boat conformation.

Research to design and synthesise new porous materials is a rapidly growing field with thousands of new systems proposed every year due to their potential use in a multitude of application in a wide range of fields. Pressure is a powerful tool for the characterisation of structure-property relationships in these materials, the understanding of which is key to unlocking their full potential. In this thesis we investigate a range of porous materials at a range of pressures. Over time the chemical architecture and complexity of porous materials has increased. Although some systems display remarkable stability to high-pressures, which we generally think of as being above 1 GPa (10,000 bar), in general, the compressibility of porous materials have increased substantially over the last 10 years, rendering most unstable at GPa pressures. Here we present new methods for investigating porous materials at much more moderate pressures (100's of bar), alongside more traditional high-pressure methods (diamond anvil cell techniques), finishing with gas sorption studies in a molecular based porous material. Here, the design and development of a new moderate pressure sapphire capillary cell for the small molecule beamline I19 at the Diamond Light Source is described. This cell allowed access to pressures of more than 1000 bar regularly with a maximum operating pressure of 1500 bar with very precise pressure control (< 10 bar) on both increasing and decreasing pressure. This cell closes the gap between ambient pressure and the lowest pressures attainable using a diamond anvil cell (DAC), which is generally above 0.2 GPa (2000 bar). Along with the development of the sapphire capillary pressure cell, the compression to 1000 bar of the small organic sample molecule Hexamethylenetetramine (hexamine, C6H12N4) and its deuterated form (C6D12N4) was determined, demonstrating the precision possible using this cell. Solvent uptake into porous materials can induce large structural changes at 100's of bar. In the case of the Sc-based Metal-organic framework (MOF), Sc2BDC3 (BDC = 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate), we used the sapphire capillary pressure cell to study changes in the framework structure on the uptake of n-pentane and isopentane. This work shows how the shape and smaller size of n-pentane facilitated the swelling of the framework that could be used to explain the increase in stability of the MOF to applied pressure. The effect of pressure on the previously unreported Cu-framework bis[1-(4- pyridyl)butane-1,3-dione]copper(II) (CuPyr-I) was investigated using high-pressure single-crystal diffraction techniques (DAC). CuPyr-I was found to exhibit high-pressure and low-temperature phase transitions, a pressure induced Jahn- Teller switch (which was hydrostatic medium dependent), piezochromism, and negative linear compressibility. Although each of these phenomena has been reported numerous times in a range of materials, this is to the best of our knowledge the first example to have been observed within the same material. The final two chapters investigate the exceptional thermal, chemical, and mechanical stability of a porous molecular crystal system (PMC) prepared by the co-crystallisation of a cobalt phthalocyanine derivative and a fullerene (C 60 or C70). The stabilising fullerene is captured in the cavity between two phthalocyanines in a ball and socket arrangement. These PMCs retain their porous structure: on the evacuation of solvent of crystalisation; on heating to over 500 K; on prolonged immersion in boiling aqueous acid, base, and water; and at extreme pressures of up to 5.85 GPa, the first reported high-pressure study of a PMC. the reactive cobalt cation is accessible via the massive interconnected voids, (8 nm3), as demonstrated by the adsorption and binding of CO and O2 to the empty metal site using in situ crystallographic methods available at beamline I19, Diamond Light Source.