New sarcosine–metal halide complexes related to ferroelectric TSCC

摘要: There are relatively few sarcosine metal halide complexes. Of these, tris calcium chloride (TSCC) ((C3NO2H7)3CaCl2) stands out as an unusual example of a molecular ferroelectric. Here we report the syntheses eight new related sarcosine–metal complexes by slow evaporation. The newly reported materials can be categorised into four different structure types, viz. 3 : 1 such (C3NO2H7)3CaBr2, hydrated (C3NO2H7)3MnI2·2H2O, 2 : 1 (C3NO2H7)2MgCl2·2H2O, and 4 : 1 complex (C3NO2H7)4CaI2·2H2O. crystal structures all examples have been determined at multiple temperatures but no evidence is found for any structural transitions to polar phases, either single X-ray diffraction or differential scanning calorimetry. specific compositional reasons behind apparently unique ferroelectric behaviour TSCC therefore remain ascertained.