Room Temperature Structures of Solvated Organic Molecules Enabled by Liquid Cell Electron Diffraction
Niko W. Vlahakis; Krzysztof Konieczny; Cameron W. Flowers; Miguel A. Garcia-Garibay; Jose A. Rodriguez
ACS Central Science · DOI 10.1021/acscentsci.6c00603
Liquid cells made from paired carbon grids retained a thin solution layer around microcrystals for room-temperature MicroED. The study obtained atomic structures from solvated organic molecules and pharmaceutical hydrates while using low-dose, rapid, multi-crystal acquisition to limit beam damage. It extends access to hydrated or solvated states, but sample-specific radiation sensitivity and preparation remain important constraints.
Why it is included: Addresses a central pharmaceutical concern: vacuum and drying can alter solvated crystal states, so room-temperature liquid-cell measurements may reveal otherwise inaccessible forms.