3D electron diffraction shows structural flexibility in rare Zn(II) paddlewheel-based metal-organic polyhedra

Matthew P.  Snelgrove; Beatriz Doñagueda Suso; Calum  S. Sangster; Megan  G. Wilkinson; Emma Regincos Marti; Jeremiah P. Tidey; Alan R. Kennedy; Simon Parsons; Ashleigh J. Fletcher; Gavin A. Craig

doi:10.1039/D6CC04492A

3D electron diffraction shows structural flexibility in rare Zn(II) paddlewheel-based metal-organic polyhedra

Matthew P. Snelgrove
, Beatriz Doñagueda Suso
, Calum S. Sangster
, Megan G. Wilkinson
, Emma Regincos Marti
, Jeremiah P. Tidey
, Alan R. Kennedy
, Simon Parsons
, Ashleigh J. Fletcher
, Gavin A. Craig^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

Zinc paddlewheels are widely found in metal–organic frameworks, but found more sparingly in porous molecules. Here we report some of the first examples of metal–organic polyhedra containing zinc paddlewheels, where structural adaptations in the cages have been observable thanks to the use of 3D electron diffraction.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	17898-17902
Number of pages	5
Journal	Chemical Communications
Volume	62
Issue number	72
Early online date	12 Aug 2026
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1039/D6CC04492A
Publication status	Published - 15 Sept 2026

Funding

MPS, AJF, and GAC thank the Leverhulme Trust for the award of the Leverhulme Trust Research Project Grant RPG-2022-004. ERM, MGW, AJF, and GAC thank the Leverhulme Trust for the award of the Leverhulme Trust Research Project Grant RPG-2022-173. CSS and SP thank the Leverhulme Trust for the award of Leverhulme Trust Research Project Grant RPG-2021-176, and EPSRC for studentship funding. The authors acknowledge that the powder X-ray diffraction data were collected in the CMAC National Facility, within the University of Strathclyde's Technology and Innovation Centre, funded with a UKRPIF (UK Research Partnership Institute Fund) capital award, SFC ref. H13054, from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). The authors thank the NCS for granting rapid access to the National Electron Diffraction Facility under EPSRC funding (EP/X014606/1 & EP/X014444/1, A National Electron Diffraction Facility for Nanomaterial Structural Studies), as well as the University of Warwick X-ray Research Technology Platform for provision of further analysis facilities.

Keywords

porous materials
electron diffraction
supramolecular chemistry
coordination chemistry

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10.1039/D6CC04492ALicence: CC BY 4.0

Snelgrove-etal-CC-2026-3D-electron-diffraction-shows-structural-flexibilityFinal published version, 1.97 MBLicence: CC BY 4.0

Cite this

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title = "3D electron diffraction shows structural flexibility in rare Zn(II) paddlewheel-based metal-organic polyhedra",

abstract = "Zinc paddlewheels are widely found in metal–organic frameworks, but found more sparingly in porous molecules. Here we report some of the first examples of metal–organic polyhedra containing zinc paddlewheels, where structural adaptations in the cages have been observable thanks to the use of 3D electron diffraction.",

keywords = "porous materials, electron diffraction, supramolecular chemistry, coordination chemistry",

author = "Snelgrove, \{Matthew P.\} and \{Do{\~n}agueda Suso\}, Beatriz and Sangster, \{Calum S.\} and Wilkinson, \{Megan G.\} and \{Regincos Marti\}, Emma and Tidey, \{Jeremiah P.\} and Kennedy, \{Alan R.\} and Simon Parsons and Fletcher, \{Ashleigh J.\} and Craig, \{Gavin A.\}",

year = "2026",

month = sep,

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doi = "10.1039/D6CC04492A",

language = "English",

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T1 - 3D electron diffraction shows structural flexibility in rare Zn(II) paddlewheel-based metal-organic polyhedra

AU - Snelgrove, Matthew P.

AU - Doñagueda Suso, Beatriz

AU - Sangster, Calum S.

AU - Wilkinson, Megan G.

AU - Regincos Marti, Emma

AU - Tidey, Jeremiah P.

AU - Kennedy, Alan R.

AU - Parsons, Simon

AU - Fletcher, Ashleigh J.

AU - Craig, Gavin A.

PY - 2026/9/15

Y1 - 2026/9/15

N2 - Zinc paddlewheels are widely found in metal–organic frameworks, but found more sparingly in porous molecules. Here we report some of the first examples of metal–organic polyhedra containing zinc paddlewheels, where structural adaptations in the cages have been observable thanks to the use of 3D electron diffraction.

AB - Zinc paddlewheels are widely found in metal–organic frameworks, but found more sparingly in porous molecules. Here we report some of the first examples of metal–organic polyhedra containing zinc paddlewheels, where structural adaptations in the cages have been observable thanks to the use of 3D electron diffraction.

KW - porous materials

KW - electron diffraction

KW - supramolecular chemistry

KW - coordination chemistry

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105048416191

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DO - 10.1039/D6CC04492A

M3 - Article

SN - 1359-7345

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SP - 17898

EP - 17902

JO - Chemical Communications

JF - Chemical Communications

IS - 72

ER -

3D electron diffraction shows structural flexibility in rare Zn(II) paddlewheel-based metal-organic polyhedra

Abstract

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Sustainable routes to membranes containing porous metal-organic materials

Understanding cooperative gas uptake in adaptable cage molecules

Data for "3D electron diffraction shows structural flexibility in rare Zn(II) paddlewheel-based metal-organic polyhedra"

Synthetic approaches to tune gas sorption properties in new lantern-type metal-organic polyhedral

Cite this

3D electron diffraction shows structural flexibility in rare Zn(II) paddlewheel-based metal-organic polyhedra

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Projects

Sustainable routes to membranes containing porous metal-organic materials

Understanding cooperative gas uptake in adaptable cage molecules

Datasets

Data for "3D electron diffraction shows structural flexibility in rare Zn(II) paddlewheel-based metal-organic polyhedra"

Student theses

Synthetic approaches to tune gas sorption properties in new lantern-type metal-organic polyhedral

Cite this