New applications of electron diffraction in the pharmaceutical industry: polymorph determination by using a combination of electron diffraction and synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction techniques.

Electron diffraction has been recently used in the pharmaceutical industry to study the polymorphism in crystalline drug substances. While conventional X-ray diffraction patterns could not be used to determine the cell parameters of two forms of the microcrystalline GP IIb/IIIa receptor antagonist roxifiban, a combination of electron single-crystal and synchrotron powder diffraction techniques were able to clearly distinguish the two polymorphs. The unit-cell parameters of the two polymorphs were ultimately determined using new software routines designed to take advantage of each technique's unique capabilities. The combined use of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and synchrotron patterns appears to be a good general approach for characterizing complex (low-symmetry, large-unit-cell, micron-sized) polymorphic pharmaceutical compounds.     

Analysis of urinary stone constituents using powder X-ray diffraction and FT-IR

Constituents of urinary stones obtained from various patients from western part of India, which is a highly urinary stone disease-prone area, have been analysed. Eight stones from four patients were collected through urologists and have been analysed using powder X-ray diffraction and FT-IR. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) image of selected samples were also carried out. The analysis revealed that calcium oxalate monohydrate, which is also known as whewellite, is the common constituent of all of the stones, particularly at the initial stage of stone formation. However, multi phases viz. whewellite phase, and hydroxyl and carbonate apatite phases are also detected in the case of third and fourth patients, from where multiple stones were obtained. Interestingly, in these mixed phase stones the concentration of whewellite decreases with increasing the concentration of apatite phases. Thermal behaviour of the whewellite phase was studied by TGA and variable temperature XRD analysis. Morphology of the whewellite and apatite phases, examined by SEM image, has also been reported.     

Complete structural characterization of metallacyclic complexes in solution-phase using simultaneously X-ray diffraction and molecular dynamics simulation

Wide-angle X-ray diffraction and molecular dynamics simulation has been used to perform complete structural characterization of nitromethane solution of a 16-membered gold(I) ring. The joint application of these two methods was an adequate tool to describe not only the structure of the complex but also the solvation properties of the complex in nitromethane and the effect of the solvation on the bulk structure. It has been found that a relatively diffuse slightly distorted solvation shell is formed around the complex, following the shape of the molecule. Nitromethane molecules in the solvation sphere are distributed randomly; no special orientation can be detected. The interaction energy of the complex with nitromethane molecules is attractive. In bulk, besides the antiparallel orientation of the nitromethane molecules, T-shape orientation and long-range order in antidipole orientation can also be detected.     

Testing the limits of sensitivity in a solid-state structural investigation by combined X-ray powder diffraction, solid-state NMR, and molecular modelling

A solid state structural investigation of ethoxzolamide is performed on microcrystalline powder by using a multi-technique approach that combines X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) data analysis based on direct space methods with information from (13)C((15)N) solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (SS-NMR) and molecular modeling. Quantum chemical computations of the crystal were employed for geometry optimization and chemical shift calculations based on the Gauge Including Projector Augmented-Wave (GIPAW) method, whereas a systematic search in the conformational space was performed on the isolated molecule using a molecular mechanics (MM) approach. The applied methodology proved useful for: (i) removing ambiguities in the XRPD crystal structure determination process and further refining the derived structure solutions, and (ii) getting important insights into the relationship between the complex network of non-covalent interactions and the induced supra-molecular architectures/crystal packing patterns. It was found that ethoxzolamide provides an ideal case study for testing the accuracy with which this methodology allows to distinguish between various structural features emerging from the analysis of the powder diffraction data.     

X-ray diffraction and molecular simulation study of the crystalline and liquid states of succinic anhydride

The crystal structure of succinic anhydride was studied at five temperatures between 100 K and the melting point by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The temperature dependence of molecular libration tensors was determined. Intermolecular interactions, in particular through unusually close molecule-molecule contacts, are discussed, with a detailed calculation of electrostatic energies. A method for the adaptation of existing crystal force fields to molecular dynamics has been developed; the adapted force field was used to study molecular motion and rotational diffusion with increasing temperature. Equilibration of the crystalline system becomes impossible at a temperature very close to the experimental melting temperature, where a sudden transition to the liquid state occurs, and a partial kinetic picture of the melting process is obtained. After validation of the force field against experimental crystal data, the state equation of the liquid was predicted. Enthalpies of sublimation, melting, and vaporization were calculated. The dynamics of a solution of succinic anhydride in a nonpolar solvent was simulated, for a discussion of the aggregation process leading to demixing and to crystal nucleation.     

Revelation of the molecular assembly of the nanoporous metal organic framework ZIF-8

Crystalline nanoporous materials are one of the most important families of complex functional material. Many questions pertaining to the molecular assembly mechanism of the framework of these materials remain unanswered. Only recently has it become possible to answer definitively some of these questions by observation of growing nanoscopic surface features on metal organic frameworks (MOFs) through use of in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM). Here we reveal that a growth process of a MOF, zeolitic imidazolate framework ZIF-8, occurs through the nucleation and spreading of successive metastable unenclosed substeps to eventually form stable surface steps of the enclosed framework structure and that this process is reliant on the presence of nonframework species to bridge the developing pores during growth. The experiments also enable identification of some of the fundamental units in the growth process and the stable crystal surface plane. The former findings will be applicable to numerous nanoporous materials and support efforts to synthesize and design new frameworks and to control the crystal properties of these materials.     

In situ single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies of desorption and sorption in a flexible nanoporous molecular framework material

The subtle flexibility of the framework material Co(bpy)1.5(NO3)2.(guest) (bpy = 4,4'-bipyridine) (1.(guest)) is demonstrated quantitatively through in situ single-crystal X-ray diffraction measurements of guest desorption and sorption processes. Variable temperature unit cell determinations were employed to monitor the uptake and release of guest species, and full structural determinations have been carried out for the as-grown ethanol-loaded framework (1.(EtOH)), for the empty host framework, and for each of the five introduced guests (methanol: 1.(MeOH), acetone: 1.(ACN), acetonitrile: 1.(MeCN), tetrahydrofuran:1.(THF), dichloromethane: 1.(DCM)). The framework consists of interdigitated two-dimensional bilayers of cobalt(II) centers bridged by bpy ligands, with one-dimensional pores that account for approximately 20% of the total volume. The sorption of guest species of varying size and shape has revealed the framework's ability to adapt to different guests through a range of different framework flexibilities.     

Quantitative determination of binary and tertiary calcium carbonate mixtures using powder X-ray diffraction

The ability to determine the calcium carbonate polymorphic ratio of calcite, aragonite and vaterite in a mixture is important for a variety of applications, particularly the fields of biomineralisation and crystal engineering. Raman spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction were used to quantitatively determine the polymorphic composition of both binary and tertiary mixtures of calcium carbonate. It was found that the quantitative detection limits of powder X-ray diffraction were superior to both Raman and infrared spectroscopy.     

Combined diagnostics of the structure of complex oxide materials and metal catalysts by synchrotron X-ray diffraction

The combined use of different synchrotron radiation (SR) X-ray diffraction techniques is shown to be effective in collecting the most complete structural information about an object being studied. The high intensity of SR and its spectral-angular distribution enable researchers to conduct experiments with high angular resolution, experiments using resonance effects, time-resolved experiments, and experiments where the sample is exposed to the effects of temperature and reaction medium. Results are presented of two studies where the distinctive features of SR play the key role.     

X-ray diffraction and morphology of crystalline,hard, elastic materials

Summary X-ray diffraction and electron microscopic results on several crystalline polymers which demonstrate elastic properties (polypropylene, Celcon^®, poly-4-methyl-pentene) are reported. Photographic small angle X-ray diffraction techniques provided considerable qualitative information, concerning the morphological features of these elastic materials both as extruded, annealed and during extension. Lamellar thickness, thickness distribution and perfection of lamellae could be estimated. Lateral order features and orientation of the lamellar structures were obtainable from the sharpness and length of the equatorial wide angle diffraction arcs. Electron microscopic results essentially confirm the morphological features postulated on the basis of the X-ray results. These morphological features are discussed in terms of a general structural model which appears consistent with the mechanical properties of these materials.

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Zusammenfassung Röntgenbeugung und elektronenmikroskopische Daten von einigen kristallinen Polymerprodukten mit elastischen Eigenschaften (Polypropylen, Celcon, Poly-4-methylpenten) werden berichtet. Die photographische Röntgen-Kleinwinkelmethode liefert wichtige qualitative Messungen der morphologischen Struktur dieser elastischen Materialien in den Zuständen sowohl wie hergestellt als auch nach Tempern und während des Dehnungsprozesses. Die Dicke der Lamellen, ihre Dikkenverteilung und die Güte der Lamellen konnten abgeschätzt werden. Die laterale Ordnung und die Orientierung der Lamellen kann aus Weitwinkelbeugungsdaten abgeleitet werden. Die Elektronenmikroskopie bestätigt die Morphologie, die aus Röntgendaten folgt. Ein allgemeines Strukturmodel dieser Morphologie, das im Einklang mit den mechanischen Eigenschaften dieser Produkte steht, wird diskutiert.

     

Charge distribution in metal organic framework materials: transferability to a preliminary molecular simulation study of the CO(2) adsorption in the MIL-53 (Al) system

Density functional theory calculations have been performed in order to extract the charge distribution in the aluminium-containing MIL-53 structure, to allow further computational studies of adsorption in these materials. Both cluster and periodic methods have been used and the charges calculated for each atom constituting the organic and inorganic part of the material, were discussed. Preliminary grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations, based on a consistent set of potential parameters and this newly derived charge distribution, predicted for enthalpies of adsorption for CO(2) at low coverage in the "large" and "narrow" pore versions of MIL-53 (Al) to be significantly different. These calculated enthalpies reproduced the two distinct ranges of values observed by microcalorimetry on either side of 6 bars quite well. This agreement between experiment and simulation validated our previous assumption, suggesting a structural switching of the hybrid material during the adsorption process. The microscopic mode of interaction between the hybrid porous framework and the CO(2) adsorption was then carefully analysed in both of the MIL-53 (Al) structures.     

Structure solution of a novel aluminium methylphosphonate using a new simulated annealing program and powder X-ray diffraction data

The structure of a novel layered aluminium methylphosphonate, formula Al2(CH3PO3)3, has been solved from laboratory X-ray powder diffraction data by simulated annealing of five independent structural sub-units, revealing a combination of four- and five-fold coordinated aluminiums within the inorganic lamellae that is unique for this kind of solid.     

Moisture-triggered 1,3,5-triazine-based Cu(II) molecular switch: a combined X-ray single-crystal and powder diffraction study

A solvothermal synthetic procedure has been exploited to prepare the new [Cu(3)L(NO(3))(6)](n) coordination polymer (1) by reaction of the polydentate N,N'-{2,4-di-[(di-pyridin-2-yl)amine]-1,3,5-triazine}ethylenediamine ligand (opytrizediam L) with copper(II) nitrate. 1 has been structurally characterized by means of the conventional X-ray single-crystal diffraction technique. It crystallizes in the monoclinic C2/c space group with a = 16.830(3), b = 20.701(4), c = 18.170(4) Angstroms, beta = 113.26(3) degrees, V = 5816(2) Angstroms(3), Z = 4. 1 consists of trinuclear Cu(3)L(NO(3))(5) units connected by means of a nitrato-O,O' bridge. The resulting chains are involved in weak interchain head-to-tail pi-pi stacking interactions. In the presence of moisture, 1 is readily converted into the hydrated [Cu(3)L(NO(3))(5)](NO(3)).H(2)O form (2). This second phase, monoclinic P2(1)/c, consists of isolated [Cu(3)L(NO(3))(5)](+) and (NO(3))(-) ions which accommodate water molecules in the crystal lattice. These subtle chemical and structural modifications accompanying the moisture-triggered 1-to-2 transformation have been demonstrated through a X-ray powder diffraction study. A thermodiffractometric analysis has evidenced that this solid-to-solid transformation is fully reversible, i.e., thermally induced dehydration of 2 restores 1. The analysis of the temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility for 2 has revealed very weak ferromagnetic interactions, consistent with the large Cu...Cu separation (ca. 7.5 Angstroms) in the trinuclear units.     

X-ray powder diffraction patterns for certain beta-lactam, tetracycline and macrolide antibiotic drugs.

X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) data for eight beta-lactam viz., ampicillin sodium, ampicillin trihydrate, penicillin G procaine, benzathine penicillin, benzyl penicillin sodium, cefalexin, cefotaxime sodium and ceftriaxone sodium; three tetracyclines viz., doxycycline hydrochloride, oxytetracycline dihydrate and tetracycline hydrochloride; and two macrolide viz., azithromycin and erythromycin estolate antibiotic drugs were obtained using a powder diffractometer. The drugs were scanned from Bragg angles (2theta) of 10 degrees to 70 degrees. The obtained data were tabulated in terms of the lattice spacing (A) and relative line intensities (I/I(I)). This new information may be useful for identifying these drugs from confiscated materials, which has been frequently encountered in forensic laboratories.     

X-ray powder diffraction and electron microscopic studies of the ZnTe-CdSe system

Substitutional solid solutions in the ZnTe-CdSe system were synthesized by isothermal diffusion. Within the composition range 100-68 mol % ZnTe, they crystallize in the cubic sphalerite structure; and at ZnTe contents below 26 mol %, in the wurtzite hexagonal structure. The cubic-to-hexagonal structure transition occurs within the composition range 26–68 mol % ZnTe. The atomic concentrations of chemical elements on the oxidized surface of grains of the solid solutions and in their bulk differ. X-ray powder diffraction and electron microscopic studies showed that, with decreasing specific geometric surface area of grains, the average sizes of coherent scattering regions increase.     

How to determine structures when single crystals cannot be grown: opportunities for structure determination of molecular materials using powder diffraction data

Many crystalline solids cannot be prepared as single crystals of sufficient size and/or quality for structure determination to be carried out using single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. In such cases, when only polycrystalline powders of a material are available, it is necessary instead to tackle structure determination using powder X-ray diffraction. This article highlights recent developments in the opportunities for determining crystal structures directly from powder diffraction data, focusing on the case of molecular solids and giving particular attention to the most challenging stage of the structure determination process, namely the structure solution stage. In particular, the direct-space strategy for structure solution is highlighted, as this approach has opened up new opportunities for the structure determination of molecular solids. The article gives an overview of the current state-of-the-art in structure determination of molecular solids from powder diffraction data. Relevant fundamental aspects of the techniques in this field are described, and examples are given to highlight the application of these techniques to determine crystal structures of molecular materials.     

Synthesis, characterization, and application of metal organic framework nanostructures

The considerable number of important physical properties, including optical, electronic, and magnetic properties, of Prussian blue (PB) analogues have attracted fundamental and industrial interest. Nevertheless, the gas sorption properties of PB coordination compounds were only investigated very recently. In this work, we report the synthesis and gas sorption properties of PB nanocomposites with different size and shape obtained by using poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), chitosan, and dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (AOT) as stabilizers and structure directing agents. All three porous nanocrystals show high and selective CO(2) adsorption over CH(4) or N(2). No distinct relationship was found between the size (or shape) of the nanosorbents and their gas uptake capacities. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the use of PB nanocomposites for CO(2) capture applications.     

The molecular structure of difluorophosphine selenide,determined using a combination of gas electron diffraction and liquid-crystal NMR data

The molecular structure of difluorophosphine selenide has been determined by a combined analysis of gas-phase electron diffraction data and dipolar couplings obtained for a solution in a nematic phase. Geometrical parameters (r_a) are: _r(PSe) 202.6(4), r(P-F) 155.7(3), r(P-H) 142.2(7) pm, ∠SePF 116.8(3), ∠FPF 98.1(7), ∠SePH 118.6(7)°.