Thermal properties of Zn2(C8H4O4)2•C6H12N2 metal-organic framework compound and mirror symmetry violation of dabco molecules

Abstract

Thermal properties of Zn2(C8H4O4)2•C6H12N2 metal-organic framework compound at 8-300 K suggest the possibility of subbarrier tunnelling transitions between left-twisted (S) and right-twisted (R) forms of C6H12N2 dabco molecules with D3 point symmetry. The data agree with those obtained for the temperature behavior of nuclear spin-lattice relaxation times. It is shown that there is a temperature range where the transitions are stopped. Therefore, Zn2(C8H4O4)2•C6H12N2 and related compounds are interesting objects to study the effect of spontaneous mirror-symmetry breaking and stabilization of chiral isomeric molecules in solids at low temperatures.