Download MendeleyRoom Temperature Structures of Solvated Organic Molecules Enabled by Liquid Cell Electron Diffraction.
Vlahakis, N.W., Konieczny, K., Flowers, C.W., Garcia-Garibay, M.A., Rodriguez, J.A.(2026) ACS Cent Sci 12: 1592-1600
- PubMed: 42964980 Search on PubMedSearch on PubMed Central
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acscentsci.6c00603
- Primary Citation Related Structures:
11ZN, 9Q2V - PubMed Abstract:
Electron diffraction (MicroED/3DED) enables atomic structure determination from nano- or microcrystals, including dry crystalline powders or mixtures. However, radiation damage and instrument vacuum can limit the interrogation of molecular crystals in solution at room temperature. We now present a strategy for room-temperature MicroED of organic molecular microcrystals suspended in solution, using simple liquid cells: grid sandwiches comprised of two continuous carbon grids that when pressed retain a thin liquid layer between them. In this setting, we find that some room-temperature, hydrated microcrystals are particularly prone to electron beam radiation damage, requiring fast, low dose data collection schemes, direct electron detectors, and multi-crystal data collection. These approaches minimize damage of crystals in liquid cells and facilitate ab initio structures at sub-Ångstrom resolution. This tactic enables study of molecular conformations and crystalline phases that may only be accessible in a room-temperature solvated state.
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California 90095, United States.
Organizational Affiliation:
