Solid-state molecular organometallic chemistry (SMOM): a user guide to in crystallo single-crystal to single-crystal transformations using solid/gas methods.

In crystallo solid-state molecular organometallic chemistry (SMOM) offers unique opportunities in organometallic synthesis and catalysis. The methodology provides routes to synthesise complexes that are challenging to isolate and characterise in solution, with the confined lattice environment providing additional opportunities to control reaction pathways and selectivities in both synthesis and catalysis. The power of the method comes in its simplicity, combined with the variety of analytical techniques that can be used to characterise the products. This tutorial review is a user guide to SMOM, stepping though each aspect that needs to be considered for such solid/gas in crystallo reactivity, and encourages others to use the method in their own research.