Solid-state structural properties of 2,4,6-trimethoxybenzene derivatives, determined directly from powder X-ray diffraction data in conjunction with other techniques

Structural properties of 2,4,6-trimethoxybenzaldehyde, 2,4,6-trimethoxybenzyl alcohol and 2,4,6-trimethoxyacetophenone have been determined directly from powder X-ray diffraction data, using the direct-space Genetic Algorithm (GA) technique for structure solution followed by Rietveld refinement. Structural similarities and contrasts within this family of materials are elucidated. The work illustrates the value of utilizing information from other sources, including spectroscopic data and computational techniques, as a means of augmenting the structural knowledge established from the powder X-ray diffraction data.     

Structure-reactivity correlations for solid-state enantioselective photochemical reactions established directly from powder X-ray diffraction

A prerequisite for the development of structure-reactivity correlations for photoreactive crystalline materials is to have detailed knowledge of the structural properties of the reactant crystalline phase. In some cases, however, the materials of interest can be prepared only as microcrystalline powders and are not amenable to structural characterization by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. This paper demonstrates the utility of modern powder X-ray diffraction techniques for obtaining structural understanding in such cases, leading to the development of structure-reactivity correlations. In particular, a series of three photoreactive organic salts are considered, which undergo the same photochemical asymmetric reaction but with high enantiomeric excess in two cases and low enantiomeric excess in the other case. The structural properties of the three salts determined from powder X-ray diffraction data are shown to provide a direct rationalization of these observations.     

An effective strategy to tune supramolecular interaction via a spiro-bridged spacer in oligothiophene-S,S-dioxides and their anomalous photoluminescent behavior

[structure: see text] We demonstrate that incorporating nonplanar spiro-bridged structures is an effective strategy for tuning supramolecular interactions of optoelectronic functional moieties. In the model compounds spiro-bridged oligothiophene-S,S-dioxides (BSiSDTFO), unusual dimers constructed by spiro-bridged spacers do not form excimers, which is confirmed by crystallographic data and fluorescent emission spectra.     

Understanding the structural properties of a dendrimeric material directly from powder X-ray diffraction data

Complete structure determination of an early-generation dendrimeric material has been carried out directly from powder X-ray diffraction data, using the direct-space genetic algorithm technique for structure solution followed by Rietveld refinement. This work represents the first application of modern direct-space techniques for structure determination from powder X-ray diffraction data in the case of a dendrimeric material and paves the way for the future application of this approach to enable complete structure determination of other dendrimeric materials that cannot be prepared as single crystal samples suitable for single crystal X-ray diffraction studies.     

Ezetimibe anhydrate,determined from laboratory powder diffraction data

Ezetimibe {systematic name: (3R,4S)‐1‐(4‐fluorophenyl)‐3‐[(3S)‐3‐(4‐fluorophenyl)‐3‐hydroxypropyl]‐4‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)azetidin‐2‐one}, C₂₄H₂₁F₂NO₃, is used to lower cholesterol levels by inhibiting cholesterol resorption in the human intestine. The crystal structure of ezetimibe anhydrate was solved from laboratory powder diffraction data by means of real‐space methods using the program DASH [David et al. (2006). J. Appl. Cryst. 39 , 910–915]. Subsequent Rietveld refinement with TOPAS Academic [Coelho (2007). TOPAS Academic User Manual. Version 4.1. Coelho Software, Brisbane, Australia] led to a final R_wp value of 8.19% at 1.75 Å resolution. The compound crystallizes in the space group P2₁2₁2₁ with one molecule in the asymmetric unit. The molecules are closely packed and two intermolecular hydrogen bonds form an extended hydrogen‐bond architecture.     

Two polymorphs of afobazole from powder diffraction data

Afobazole {systematic name: 2‐[2‐(morpholin‐4‐yl)ethylsulfanyl]‐1H‐benzimidazole} is a new anxiolytic drug and Actins, Auzins & Petkune [(2012). Eur. Patent EP10163962] described four polymorphic modifications. In the present study, the crystal structures of two monoclinic polymorphs, 5‐ethoxy‐2‐[2‐(morpholin‐4‐ium‐4‐yl)ethylsulfanyl]‐1H‐benzimidazol‐3‐ium dichloride, C₁₅H₂₃N₃O₂S²⁺·2Cl⁻, (II) and (IV), have been established from laboratory powder diffraction data. The crystal packing and conformation of the dications in (II) and (IV) are different. In (II), there are channels in the [001] direction, which offer atmospheric water molecules an easy way of penetrating into the crystal structure, thus explaining the higher hygroscopicity of (II) compared with (IV).     

Enhanced efficiency of direct-space structure solution from powder X-ray diffraction data in the case of conformationally flexible molecules

A strategy is reported for assessing the feasibility of molecular conformations within direct-space structure-solution calculations of organic molecular crystal structures from powder X-ray diffraction data, focusing in particular on the genetic algorithm technique for structure solution in which fitness is defined as a function of the whole-profile figure-of-merit Rwp. The strategy employs a readily computed distance-based function to assess the feasibility of the molecular conformation in each trial structure generated in the genetic algorithm calculation, and structures considered to have low-feasibility conformations are penalized within the evolutionary process. The strategy is shown to lead to significant improvements in the success rate of structure-solution calculations in the case of flexible molecules with a significant number of conformational degrees of freedom.     

Zoledronic acid: monoclinic and triclinic polymorphs from powder diffraction data

The crystal structures of the monoclinic and triclinic polymorphs of zoledronic acid, C₅H₁₀N₂O₇P₂, have been established from laboratory powder X‐ray diffraction data. The molecules in both polymorphs are described as zwitterions, namely 1‐(2‐hydroxy‐2‐phosphonato‐2‐phosphonoethyl)‐1H‐imidazol‐3‐ium. Strong intermolecular hydrogen bonds (with donor–acceptor distances of 2.60 Å or less) link the molecules into layers, parallel to the (100) plane in the monoclinic polymorph and to the (10) plane in the triclinic polymorph. The phosphonic acid groups form the inner side of each layer, while the imidazolium groups lie to the outside of the layer, protruding in opposite directions. In both polymorphs, layers related by translation along [100] interact through weak hydrogen bonds (with donor–acceptor distances greater than 2.70 Å), forming three‐dimensional layered structures. In the monoclinic polymorph, there are hydrogen‐bonded centrosymmetric dimers linked by four strong O—H...O hydrogen bonds, which are not present in the triclinic polymorph.     

Lead tartrate from X‐ray powder diffraction data

The structure of lead tartrate, Pb²⁺·C₄H₄O₆^2?, has been solved from X‐ray powder diffraction data. The cation exhibits ninefold coordination and the tartrate groups are linked through Pb?O contacts to form a three‐dimensional network.     

Structural properties of a family of hydrogen-bonded co-crystals formed between gemfibrozil and hydroxy derivatives of t-butylamine, determined directly from powder X-ray diffraction data

We report the formation and structural properties of co-crystals containing gemfibrozil and hydroxy derivatives of t-butylamine H₂NC(CH₃)_3−n(CH₂OH)_n, with n=0, 1, 2 and 3. In each case, a 1:1 co-crystal is formed, with transfer of a proton from the carboxylic acid group of gemfibrozil to the amino group of the t-butylamine derivative. All of the co-crystal materials prepared are polycrystalline powders, and do not contain single crystals of suitable size and/or quality for single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Structure determination of these materials has been carried out directly from powder X-ray diffraction data, using the direct-space Genetic Algorithm technique for structure solution followed by Rietveld refinement. The structural chemistry of this series of co-crystal materials reveals well-defined structural trends within the first three members of the family (n=0, 1, 2), but significantly contrasting structural properties for the member with n=3.     

Crystal structure determination of AlVMoO7 from X-ray powder diffraction data

The structure of AlVMoO₇ was solved by direct methods from high resolution X-ray powder diffraction data and refined by the Rietveld method. The lattice constants are a=5.3763(3)Å, b=8.1644(3)Å and c=12.7312Å. Space group Pmcn followed from the systematic extinctions and was confirmed by the successful structure solution. Aluminum is octahedrally coordinated by oxygen, whereas vanadium possesses a distorted pyramidal coordination and molybdenum is tetrahedrally coordinated by oxygen atoms. A three dimensional framework structure results from corner and edge connection of the coordination polyhedra. VO₅ pyramids are edge linked to infinite (VO₂⁺)_∞ chains. Therefore, AlVMoO₇ can be classified as a polyvanadate.     

The structure of azomethine block copolymers from X-ray powder diffraction data

The crystal structure of a block copolymer, constituted by the periodic alternation of three thienyl- and two phenyl fragments separated by azomethine residues, has been determined and refined on powder X-ray diffraction data. Polymers of this kind are particularly interesting because of some evidences of electronic confinement, i. e. possible realization of multiple-quantum-dot sequences have been detected. Although the quality of the measured profile was poor, a molecular model is proposed giving a satisfactory agreement with the observed data.     

The crystal structure of 3-methyluracil from X-ray powder diffraction data

The crystal structure of 3-methyluracil has been determined ab initio by conventional monochromatic X-ray powder diffraction data. The crystal data are: orthorombic, a=6.6294(1), b=13.1816(3), c=6.53938(9) (Å), V=571.45(3) (ų), space group Pbnm, Z=8. The structure was solved by direct methods and the final Rietveld refinement converged to R_p=0.0398, R_wp=0.0528, R_Bragg=0.0294. The crystal structure exhibits endless chains of planar molecules, connected via head-to-tail N-H?O hydrogen bonds.     

On pattern matching of X-ray powder diffraction data

We introduce a novel pattern matching algorithm optimized for X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) data and useful for data from other types of analytical techniques (e.g., Raman, IR). The algorithm is based on hierarchical clustering with a similarity metric that compares peak positions using the full peak profile. It includes heuristics developed from years of experience manually matching XRPD data, and preprocessing algorithms that reduce the effects of common problems associated with XRPD (e.g., preferred orientation and poor particle statistics). This algorithm can find immediate application in automated polymorph screening and salt selection, common tasks in the development of pharmaceuticals.     

Structural analysis of a melaminium polyphosphate from X-ray powder diffraction and solid-state NMR data

The crystal structure of the environmentally friendly flame retardant melaminium polyphosphate (MPoly) (2,4,6-triamino-1,3,5-triazinium x PO(3))(n)was determined by a direct-space global optimization technique from X-ray powder diffraction data. Solid-state NMR was used to corroborate the proposed hydrogen-bonding model and to determine the average degree of polymerization (n > 100). An analysis of the crystal structure of MPoly reveals aspects of molecular geometry and packing that are characteristic for melamine-containing compounds and polyphosphate salts. A comparison of MPoly with the crystal structures of its precursors melaminium orthophosphate (MP) and melaminium dihydrogenpyrophosphate (MPy) provides insight in the mechanism of the endothermic dehydration processes that takes place in the reaction path MP --> MPy --> MPoly. Solid-state NMR characterization of various samples of the same batch showed inhomogeneities in the MPoly composition. Various quantities of orthophosphates were found, which cannot be assigned to be MP.     

Metergoline II: structure solution from powder diffraction data with preferred orientation and from microcrystal

Metergoline is a dopamine agonist and serotonin antagonist used both in human and veterinary medicine. In addition to the previously known crystalline form, a new polymorph, which crystallizes from aqueous solution, was found. Since it was initially impossible to prepare a single crystal of quality suitable for single crystal X-ray diffraction measurements using a conventional laboratory source, the structure was solved from the powder diffraction data using synchrotron radiation. The structure determination also included solving the effects of preferred orientation. Characterization was simultaneously done by solid-state NMR spectroscopy. Finally, a small single crystal suitable for synchrotron diffraction was found after numerous tries. Crystal structure determination using this single crystal confirmed the powder-based solution. Comparison of information obtained by different experimental methods (powder diffraction, ssNMR, single crystal diffraction) was made.     

Ab initio structure determination of BiPb2VO6 from powder diffraction data

The crystal structure of BiPb2VO6 has been determined from powder diffraction data using a combination of direct methods and the novel approach of applying simulated annealing methods simultaneously to X-ray and neutron data; BiPb2VO6 is a polar, noncentrosymmetric, second harmonic generation active material and its crystal structure is one of the more complex to be solved ab initio from powder diffraction data.