title: The solid state structures of the high and low temperature phases of dimethylcadmium.
abstract: The solid state structure of dimethylcadmium, a classic organometallic compound with a long history, has remained elusive for almost a century. X-ray crystallography and density functional theory reveal similar phase behaviour as in dimethylzinc. The high temperature tetragonal phase, α-Me2Cd, exhibits two-dimensional disorder, while the low temperature monoclinic phase, β-Me2Cd, is ordered. Both phases contain linearly coordinated cadmium atoms. While the methyl groups are staggered in the α-phase, they are eclipsed in the β-phase.
authors.affiliation: Dassault Systèmes BIOVIA, 334 Science Park, Cambridge CB4 0WN, UK.
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hanke
authors.affiliation: SAFC Hitech, Power Road, Bromborough, Wirral, CH62 3QF, UK.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hindley
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZD, UK. a.steiner@liv.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Anthony C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZD, UK. a.steiner@liv.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Steiner