X-ray Direct Observation of Reactions and Labile Species on the Basis of Crystal Design

Abstract

This account reviews recent development of in situ crystallographic study of reactive intermediates using the cryo-trapping method. Starting from the basic concept of a reaction cavity in a crystal, we succeeded in not only observing photoinduced reactive species such as radical, carbene, and nitrene but also establishing a unique approach, crystalline molecular flask, to observe labile species in chemical reactions in a crystal. On the basis of such a crystalline reaction field design, we successfully observed irreversible reactive intermediates in a crystal.