Positional isomeric effect on the crystallization of chlorine‐substituted N‐phenyl‐2‐phthalimidoethanesulfonamide derivatives

The ortho‐, para‐ and meta‐chloro‐substituted N‐chlorophenyl‐2‐phthalimidoethanesulfonamide derivatives, C₁₆H₁₃ClN₂O₄S, have been structurally characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography. N‐(2‐Chlorophenyl)‐2‐phthalimidoethanesulfonamide, (I), has orthorhombic (P2₁2₁2₁) symmetry, N‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐2‐phthalimidoethanesulfonamide, (II), has triclinic (P) symmetry and N‐(3‐chlorophenyl)‐2‐phthalimidoethanesulfonamide, (III), has monoclinic (P2₁/c) symmetry. The molecules of (I)–(III) are regioisomers which have crystallized in different space groups as a result of the differing intra‐ and intermolecular hydrogen‐bond interactions which are present in each structure. Compounds (I) and (II) are stabilized by N—H...O and C—H...O hydrogen bonds, while (III) is stabilized by N—H...O, C—H...O and C—H...Cl hydrogen‐bond interactions. The structure of (II) also displays π–π stacking interactions between the isoindole and benzene rings. All three structures are of interest with respect to their biological activities and have been studied as part of a programme to develop anticonvulsant drugs for the treatment of epilepsy.