Influence of the guest molecule on the rotational potential for NH3 groups in Hofmann clathrates Original Research Article

Inelastic neutron scattering has been used to investigate the influence of different guest molecules, G, on the rotational hindering potential for NH3 in Hofmann clathrates Ni(NH3)2Ni(CN)4 · mG. Non-polar guests (benzene and biphenyl) lead to quasi-free rotor environments. For polar guests (water, aniline, phenol, dioxane), dipolar interactions give rise to an increase of the rotational barrier; most often, complex spectra result from statistical orientational disorder of the guest molecules.