A polymorph of tetrakis(acetonitrile‐κN)copper(I) tetrafluoridoborate

A P2₁2₁2₁ polymorph of the title compound, [Cu(CH₃CN)₄]BF₄, is reported. The crystal structure is very similar to the structure of the Pna2₁ polymorph reported by Jones & Crespo [Acta Cryst. (1998), C 54 , 18–20]. The anions and one of the three independent cations occupy similar positions in both polymorphs. Two of the four symmetry‐related positions of the other two cations are also identical in the two polymorphs, and the other two positions are related by mirror symmetry. The crystal used for the structure determination contained a volume fraction of 0.088 (7) of the Pna2₁ polymorph.     

Pr4S3[Si2O7] und Pr3Cl3[Si2O7]: Durch weiche Fremdanionen modifizierte Derivate von Praseodymdisilicat

Pr₄S₃[Si₂O₇] and Pr₃Cl₃[Si₂O₇]: Derivatives of Praseodymium Disilicate Modified by Soft Foreign Anions For synthesizing both the disilicate derivatives Pr₄S₃[Si₂O₇] and Pr₃Cl₃[Si₂O₇], Pr, Pr₆O₁₁ and SiO₂ are brought to reaction with S and PrCl₃, respectively, in suitable molar ratios (850 °C, 7 d) in evacuated silica tubes. By using NaCl as a flux, Pr₄S₃[Si₂O₇] crystallizes as pale green, transparent single crystals (tetragonal, I4₁/amd, a = 1201.6(1), c = 1412.0(2) pm, Z = 8) with the appearance of slightly compressed octahedra. On the other hand, Pr₃Cl₃[Si₂O₇] emerges as pale green, transparent platelets and crystallizes monoclinically (space group: P2₁, a = 530.96(6), b = 1200.2(1), c = 783.11(8) pm, β = 109.07(1)°, Z = 2). In both crystal structures ecliptically conformed [Si₂O₇]^6– units of two corner‐linked [SiO₄] tetrahedra with Si–O–Si bridging angles of 131° in the sulfide and 148° in the chloride disilicate are present. In Pr₄S₃[Si₂O₇] both crystallographically independent Pr³⁺ cations show coordination numbers of 8 + 1 (5 S^2– and 3 + 1 O^2–) and 9 (3 S^2– and 6 O^2–). For Pr1, Pr2 and Pr3 in Pr₃Cl₃[Si₂O₇] coordination numbers of 10 (5 Cl^– and 5 O^2–) and 9 (2 ×; 4 Cl^– and 5 O^2– or 3 Cl^– and 6 O^2–, respectively) occur.     

A comparative study of two polymorphs of bis(1‐hydroxy‐2‐methylpropan‐2‐aminium) carbonate

Alkanolamines have been known for their high CO₂ absorption for over 60 years and are used widely in the natural gas industry for reversible CO₂ capture. In an attempt to crystallize a salt of (RS)‐2‐(3‐benzoylphenyl)propionic acid with 2‐amino‐2‐methylpropan‐1‐ol, we obtained instead a polymorph (denoted polymorph II) of bis(1‐hydroxy‐2‐methylpropan‐2‐aminium) carbonate, 2C₄H₁₂NO⁺·CO₃²⁻, (I), suggesting that the amine group of the former compound captured CO₂ from the atmosphere forming the aminium carbonate salt. This new polymorph was characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis at low temperature (100 K). The salt crystallizes in the monoclinic system (space group C2/c, Z = 4), while a previously reported form of the same salt (denoted polymorph I) crystallizes in the triclinic system (space group P, Z = 2) [Barzagli et al. (2012). ChemSusChem, 5 , 1724–1731]. The asymmetric unit of polymorph II contains one 1‐hydroxy‐2‐methylpropan‐2‐aminium cation and half a carbonate anion, located on a twofold axis, while the asymmetric unit of polymorph I contains two cations and one anion. These polymorphs exhibit similar structural features in their three‐dimensional packing. Indeed, similar layers of an alternating cation–anion–cation neutral structure are observed in their molecular arrangements. Within each layer, carbonate anions and 1‐hydroxy‐2‐methylpropan‐2‐aminium cations form planes bound to each other through N—H…O and O—H…O hydrogen bonds. In both polymorphs, the layers are linked to each other via van der Waals interactions and C—H…O contacts. In polymorph II, a highly directional C—H…O contact (C—H…O = 156°) shows as a hydrogen‐bonding interaction. Periodic theoretical density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that both polymorphs present very similar stabilities.     

ϵ‐RbCuCl3, a new polymorph of rubidium copper trichloride: synthesis,structure and structural complexity

A novel polymorph of RbCuCl₃ (rubidium copper trichloride), denoted ϵ‐RbCuCl₃, has been prepared by chemical vapour transport (CVT) from a mixture of CuO, CuCl₂, SeO₂ and RbCl. The new polymorph crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group C222₁. The crystal structure is based on an octahedral framework of the 4H perovskite type. The Rb⁺ and Cl⁻ ions form a four‐layer closest‐packing array with an ABCB sequence. The Cu²⁺ cations reside in octahedral cavities with a typical [4 + 2]‐Jahn–Teller‐distorted coordination, forming four short and two long Cu—Cl bonds. ϵ‐RbCuCl₃ is the most structurally complex and most dense among all currently known RbCuCl₃ polymorphs, which allows us to suggest that it is a high‐pressure phase, which is unstable under ambient conditions.     

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.     

Synthese und Kristallstruktur von Bi2ErO4I

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of Bi₂ErO₄I Bi₂ErO₄I was prepared by solid‐state reaction of stoichiometric mixture of BiOI, Bi₂O₃ and Er₂O₃. Bi₂ErO₄I is a new compound and the first bismuth rare earth oxide iodide. The crystal structure was determined by the Rietveldmethod (P4/mmm, a = 3,8896(6) Å, c = 9,554(2) Å, Z = 1). In this structure [M₃O₄]⁺‐layers are interleaved by single I^–‐layers. Er and Bi atoms of Bi₂ErO₄I are 8‐coordinated. The structure can be derived from the LiBi₃O₄Cl₂‐structure type.     

A comparative study of two polymorphs of L‐aspartic acid hydrochloride

Two polymorphs of L‐aspartic acid hydrochloride, C₄H₈NO₄⁺·Cl⁻, were obtained from the same aqueous solution. Their crystal structures have been determined from single‐crystal data collected at 100 K. The crystal structures revealed three‐ and two‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonding networks for the triclinic and orthorhombic polymorphs, respectively. The cations and anions are connected to one another via N—H...Cl and O—H...Cl interactions and form alternating cation–anion layer‐like structures. The two polymorphs share common structural features; however, the conformations of the L‐aspartate cations and the crystal packings are different. Furthermore, the molecular packing of the orthorhombic polymorph contains more interesting interactions which seems to be a favourable factor for more efficient charge transfer within the crystal.     

Zur Dimorphie von Nd3Cl[SiO4]2

On the Dimorphism of Nd₃Cl[SiO₄]₂ On reacting NdCl₃, Nd₂O₃, and SiO₂ (molar ratio: 1 : 4 : 6) at 850 °C in evacuated silica tubes, pale violet, hydrolysis resistant neodymium(III) chloride ortho‐silicate Nd₃Cl[SiO₄]₂ can be obtained within seven days. If equimolar amounts of NaCl are added as flux, rod‐ or platelet‐shaped, transparent single crystals of two modifications accumulate simultaneously. The one with the higher density (A‐Nd₃Cl[SiO₄]₂) crystallizes monoclinically (C2/c, no. 15; a = 1416.6(1), b = 638.79(6), c = 872.21(9) pm, β = 98.403(7)°; V_m = 117.55 cm³/mol, Z = 4), whereas the one with the lower density (B‐Nd₃Cl[SiO₄]₂) exhibits orthorhombic symmetry (Pnma, no. 62; a = 709.36(7), b = 1815.7(2), c = 631.48(6) pm; V_m = 122.45 cm³/mol, Z = 4). Two crystallographically independent Nd³⁺ cations exist in each of both crystal structures, which in the A type are surrounded by nine (1 Cl^– + 8 O^2–) and ten (2 Cl^– + 8 O^2–), whilst those in the B type by only two times eight (1 Cl^– + 7 O^2– and 2 Cl^– + 6 O^2–) anions, respectively. Thereby all oxygen atoms of both forms represent members of discrete ortho‐silicate tetrahedra ([SiO₄]^4–). Although both crystal structures are built of alternating anionic double layers {(Nd1)₂[SiO₄]₂}^2– and cationic single layers {(Nd2)Cl}²⁺, there is a higher cross‐linkage of the building units in the A‐type lattice, where the cations are coordinated by three and four tetrahedra edges of ortho‐silicate anions, compared to only two times two of them in the B type. From this an about 4% higher density of Nd₃Cl[SiO₄]₂ results for the A‐type structure (D_x = 5.55 g/cm³) in comparison with B‐type Nd₃Cl[SiO₄]₂ (D_x = 5.33 g/cm³).     

Two novel polymorphic forms of iron‐chelating agent deferiprone

Thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder requiring life‐long blood transfusions. This process often results in iron overload and can be treated by an iron‐chelating agent, like deferiprone (3‐hydroxy‐1,2‐dimethylpyridin‐4‐one), C₇H₉NO₂, in an oral formulation. The first crystal structure of deferiprone, (Ia), was reported in 1988 [Nelson et al. (1988). Can. J. Chem. 66 , 123–131]. In the present study, two novel polymorphic forms, (Ib) and (Ic), of deferiprone were identified concomitantly with polymorph (Ia) during the crystallization experiments. Polymorph (Ia) was redetermined at low temperature for comparison of the structural features and lattice energy values with polymorphs (Ib) and (Ic). Polymorph (Ia) crystallized in the orthorhombic space group Pbca, whereas both polymorphs (Ib) and (Ic) crystallized in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c. The asymmetric units of (Ia) and (Ib) contain one deferiprone molecule, while polymorph (Ic) has three crystallographically independent molecules (A, B and C). All three polymorphs have similar hydrogen‐bonding features, such as an R₂²(10) dimer formed by O—H…O hydrogen bonds, an R₄³(20) tetramer formed by C—H…O hydrogen bonds and π–π interactions, but the polymorphs differ in their molecular arrangements in the solid state and are classified as packing polymorphs. O—H…O and C—H…O hydrogen bonds lead to the formation of two‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded parallel sheets which are interlinked by π–π stacking interactions. In the three‐dimensional crystal packing, the deferiprone molecules were aggregated as corrugated sheets in polymorphs (Ia) and (Ic), whereas in polymorph (Ib), they were aggregated as a square‐grid network. The characteristic crystalline peaks of polymorphs (Ia), (Ib) and (Ic) were established through powder X‐ray diffraction analysis. The Rietveld analysis was also performed to estimate the contribution of the polymorphs to the bulk material.     

Crystal structures of two isostructural compounds: a second polymorph of dipotassium hydrogen citrate,K2HC6H5O7, and potassium rubidium hydrogen citrate,KRbHC6H5O7

The crystal structures of a new polymorph of dipotassium hydrogen citrate, 2K⁺·HC₆H₅O₇^2?, and potassium rubidium hydrogen citrate, K⁺·Rb⁺·HC₆H₅O₇^2?, have been solved and refined using laboratory powder X‐ray diffraction and optimized using density functional techniques. In the new polymorph of the dipotassium salt, KO₇ and KO₈ coordination polyhedra share corners and edges to form a three‐dimensional framework with channels parallel to the a axis and [111]. The hydrophobic methylene groups face each other in the channels. The un‐ionized carboxylic acid group forms a strong charge‐assisted hydrogen bond to the central ionized carboxylate group. The hydroxy group forms an intermolecular hydrogen bond to a different central carboxylate group. In the potassium rubidium salt, the K⁺ and Rb⁺ cations are disordered over two sites, in approximately 0.72:0.28 and 0.28:0.72 ratios. KO₈ and RbO₉ coordination polyhedra share corners and edges to form a three‐dimensional framework with channels parallel to the a axis. The un‐ionized carboxylic acid group forms a strong charge‐assisted hydrogen bond to an ionized carboxylate group. The hydroxy group forms an intermolecular hydrogen bond to the central carboxylate group. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations on the ordered cation structures suggest that interchange of K⁺ and Rb⁺ at the two cation sites changes the energy insignificantly.     

Two polymorphs of 2‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐4‐methylchromenium perchlorate

Crystallization (from ethyl acetate solution) of 2‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐4‐methylchromenium perchlorate, C₁₆H₁₂ClO⁺·;ClO₄⁻, (I), yields two monoclinic polymorphs with the space groups P2₁/n [polymorph (Ia)] and P2₁/c [polymorph (Ib)]; in both cases, Z = 4. Cations and anions, disordered in polymorph (Ib), form ion pairs in both polymorphs as a result of Cl—O...π interactions. Related by a centre of symmetry, neighbouring ion pairs in polymorph (Ia) are linked viaπ–π interactions between cationic fragments, and the resulting dimers are linked through a network of C—H...O(perchlorate) interactions between adjacent cations and anions. The ion pairs in polymorph (Ib), arranged in pairs of columns along the a axis, are linked through a network of C—H...O(perchlorate), C—Cl...π, π–π and C—Cl...O(perchlorate) interactions. The aromatic skeletons in polymorph (Ia) are parallel in the cationic fragments involved in dimers, but nonparallel in adjacent ion pairs not constituting dimers. In polymorph (Ib), these skeletons are parallel in pairs of columns, but nonparallel in adjacent pairs of columns; this is visible as a herring‐bone pattern. Differences in the crystal structures of the polymorphs are most probably the cause of their different colours.     

A new polymorph of the gastrokinetic drug cisapride monohydrate

Cisapride monohydrate (systematic name: 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐N‐{(3RS,4SR)‐1‐[3‐(4‐fluorophenoxy)propyl]‐3‐methoxypiperidin‐4‐yl}‐2‐methoxybenzamide monohydrate), C₂₃H₂₉ClFN₃O₄·H₂O, is a nondopamine‐blocking gastrokinetic drug. A new polymorph of cisapride monohydrate has been reported nearly three decades after the report of its first known crystal structure [Collin et al. (1989). J. Mol. Struct. 214 , 159–175]. The second polymorph is also monoclinic, but with different unit‐cell parameters. A comparison of both polymorphic forms shows that the difference is thus not in the molecular conformation but in the arrangements of molecules in the crystal packing. The crystal morphology of two forms was predicted with the BFDH model in Materials Studio and inferred that the powder of the new polymorph has better flowability than the original polymorph. The results of DSC (differential scanning calorimetry) analysis and slurry experiments show that both polymorphs are stable at room temperature.     

Two polymorphs of potassium trichloro­[diethyl (methyl­sulfinyl­methyl)phosphonate‐κS]platinum(II) with Z′ = 1 and 3 in the space group P212121

Two new polymorphs of the title compound, K[PtCl₃(C₆H₁₅O₄PS)], already known in the monoclinic form, were obtained by crystallization from acetone–n‐pentane solutions of different composition. Both polymorphs are ortho­rhom­bic in the space group P2₁2₁2₁, with Z′ = 1 (solvent ratio 1:4) and 3 (solvent ratio 1:9). In both polymorphs, electrostatic inter­actions link K⁺ cations and [PtCl₃(SMP)]⁻ anions [SMP is diethyl (methyl­sulfinyl­methyl)phosphonate] in infinite chains, while adjacent chains are held together by weak C—H⋯Cl and C—H⋯O hydrogen‐bond inter­actions.     

Polymorphism in Alkali Metal Uranyl Nitrates: Synthesis and Crystal Structure of γ‐K(UO2)(NO3)3

Single crystals of γ‐K(UO₂)(NO₃)₃ were prepared from aqueous solutions by evaporation. The crystal structure [orthorhombic, Pbca (61), a = 9.2559(3) Å, b = 12.1753(3) Å, c = 15.8076(5) Å, V = 1781.41(9) Å³, Z = 8] was determined by direct methods and refined to R₁ = 0.0267 on the basis of 3657 unique observed reflections. The structure is composed of isolated anionic uranyl trinitrate units, [(UO₂)(NO₃)₃]^–, that are linked through eleven‐coordinated K⁺ cations. Both known polymorphs of K(UO₂)(NO₃)₃ (α‐ and γ‐phases) can be considered as based upon sheets of isolated complex [(UO₂)(NO₃)₃]^– ions separated by K⁺ cations. The existence of polymorphism in the two K[UO₂(NO₃)₃] polymorphs is due to the different packing modes of uranyl trinitrate clusters that adopt the same two‐dimensional but different three‐dimensional arrangements.     

Two polymorphs of anhydrous 4‐pyridone at 100 K

Two polymorphs of the title compound, C₅H₅NO, (I), have been obtained from ethanol. One polymorph crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c [henceforth (I)‐M], while the other crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pbca [henceforth (I)‐O]. In the two forms, the lattice parameters, cell volume and packing motifs are very similar. There are also two independent molecules of 4‐pyridone in each asymmetric unit. The molecules are linked by N—H...O hydrogen bonds into one‐dimensional zigzag chains extending along the b axis in the (I)‐M polymorph and along the a axis in the (I)‐O polymorph, with the graph set C₂²(12). The structures are stabilized by weak C—H...O hydrogen bonds linking adjacent chains, thus forming a ring with the graph set R₆⁵(28). The significance of this study lies in the analysis of the hydrogen‐bond interactions occurring in these structures. Analyses of the crystal structures of the two polymorphs of 4‐pyridone are helpful in elucidating the mechanism of the generation of spectroscopic effects observed in the IR spectra of these polymorphs in the frequency range of the N—H stretching vibration band.     

Reaction with SO3 in Ionic Liquids: The Example of K2(S2O7)­(H2SO4)

The ionic liquid 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium hydrogensulfate, [bmim]HSO₄, turned out to be resistant even to strong oxidizers like SO₃. Thus, it should be a suitable solvent for the preparation of polysulfates at low temperatures. As a proof of principle we here present the synthesis and crystal structure of K₂(S₂O₇)(H₂SO₄), which has been obtained from the reaction of K₂SO₄ and SO₃ in [bmim]HSO₄. In the crystal structure of K₂(S₂O₇)(H₂SO₄) (orthorhombic, Pbca, Z = 8, a = 810.64(2) pm, b = 1047.90(2) pm, c = 2328.86(6) pm, V = 1978.30(8) ų) two crystallographically unique potassium cations are coordinated by a different number of monodentate and bidentate‐chelating disulfate anions as well as by sulfuric acid molecules. The crystal structure consists of alternating layers of [K₂(S₂O₇)] slabs and H₂SO₄ molecules. Hydrogen bonds between hydrogen atoms of sulfuric acid molecules and oxygen atoms of the neighboring disulfate anions are observed.     

Structural and Raman Spectroscopic Investigations of K4BaSi3O9 and K4CaSi3O9

The crystal structures of K₄BaSi₃O₉ and K₄CaSi₃O₉ have been characterized by X‐ray diffraction techniques as well as Raman spectroscopy. The structure of K₄CaSi₃O₉ has been refined from powder diffraction data via the Rietveld method using polycrystalline material prepared from solid state reactions. The compound is isostructural with form I of K₄SrSi₃O₉. It crystallizes with 16 formula units in a cubic primitive cell (a = 15.94014(3) Å, V = 4050.20(1) ų) and adopts space group . K₄CaSi₃O₉ belongs to the group of cyclosilicates and contains highly puckered twelve‐membered [Si₁₂O₃₆]‐rings centered on the . Five of the seven crystallographically independent alkaline and alkaline earth cations are surrounded by six oxygen ligands in the form of distorted octahedra, which share opposite triangular faces and form non‐intersecting columns parallel to the body diagonals of the cubic unit cell. This arrangement corresponds to one of the cubic cylinder or rod packings. The two remaining sites have more irregular coordination environments with eight next oxygen neighbors. High temperature X‐ray powder diffraction data have been collected to determine the thermal expansion of this material: between room temperature and 700 °C the coefficient of thermal expansion has a value of α = 12.9(2) × 10^?6 [°C^?1]. Single crystals of K₄BaSi₃O₉ have been obtained from the devitrification of a glass with the same composition. The structure was determined from a single crystal diffraction data set collected at ?100 °C and refined to a final R index of 0.0298 for 1288 observed reflections (I > 2σ(>I)). The compound is isostructural with modification II of K₄SrSi₃O₉. Basic crystallographic data are as follows: space group Ama2, a = 11.0695(15) Å, b = 8.0708(10) Å, c = 11.905(2) Å, V = 1063.6(3) ų, Z = 4. With respect to the silicate anions the material can be classified as a sechser single chain silicate. The crankshaft‐like chains run parallel to [100] and are linked by K and Ba cations, which are distributed among five crystallographically independent sites. The coordination polyhedra of two of the non‐tetrahedral cations can be described by distorted octahedra sharing opposite triangular faces. They build non‐intersecting columns parallel to [011] and [0‐11], respectively. The other sites exhibit more irregular coordination spheres with 7‐9 neighbours.     

Inversion twinning in a second polymorph of the hydrochloride salt of the recreational drug ethylone

A second polymorph of the hydrochloride salt of the recreational drug ethylone, C₁₂H₁₆NO₃⁺·Cl⁻, is reported [systematic name: (±)‐2‐ethylammonio‐1‐(3,4‐methylenedioxyphenyl)propane‐1‐one chloride]. This polymorph, denoted form (A), appears in crystallizations performed above 308 K. The originally reported form (B) [Wood et al. (2015). Acta Cryst. C 71 , 32–38] crystallizes preferentially at room temperature. The conformations of the cations in the two forms differ by a 180° rotation about the C—C bond linking the side chain to the aromatic ring. Hydrogen bonding links the cations and anions in both forms into similar extended chains in which any one chain contains only a single enantiomer of the chiral cation, but the packing of the ions is different. In form (A), the aromatic rings of adjacent chains interleave, but pack equally well if neighbouring chains contain the same or opposite enantiomorph of the cation. The consequence of this is then near perfect inversion twinning in the structure. In form (B), neighbouring chains are always inverted, leading to a centrosymmetric space group. The question as to why the polymorphs crystallize at slightly different temperatures has been examined by density functional theory (DFT) and lattice energy calculations and a consideration of packing compactness. The free energy (ΔG) of the crystal lattice for polymorph (A) lies some 52 kJ mol⁻¹ above that of polymorph (B).     

Polymorphs of gabapentin

Gabapentin [or 1‐(aminomethyl)cyclohexaneacetic acid], C₉H₁₇NO₂, exists as a zwitterion [1‐(ammoniomethyl)cyclohexaneacetate] in the solid state. The crystal structures and bonding networks of two new monoclinic polymorphs (β‐gabapentin and γ‐gabapentin) are studied and compared with a previously reported gabapentin polymorph [α‐gabapentin: Ibers (2001). Acta Cryst. C 57 , 641–643]. All three polymorphs have extensive networks of hydrogen bonds between the NH₃⁺ and COO⁻ groups of neighbouring molecules. In β‐gabapentin, there is an additional weak intramolecular hydrogen bond.     

A low‐temperature polymorph of m‐quinquephenyl

A low‐temperature polymorph of 1,1′:3′,1′′:3′′,1′′′:3′′′,1′′′′‐quinquephenyl (m‐quinquephenyl), C₃₀H₂₂, crystallizes in the space group P2₁/c with two molecules in the asymmetric unit. The crystal is a three‐component nonmerohedral twin. A previously reported room‐temperature polymorph [Rabideau, Sygula, Dhar & Fronczek (1993). Chem. Commun. pp. 1795–1797] also crystallizes with two molecules in the asymmetric unit in the space group P. The unit‐cell volume for the low‐temperature polymorph is 4120.5 (4) ų, almost twice that of the room‐temperature polymorph which is 2102.3 (6) ų. The molecules in both structures adopt a U‐shaped conformation with similar geometric parameters. The structural packing is similar in both compounds, with the molecules lying in layers which stack perpendicular to the longest unit‐cell axis. The molecules pack alternately in the layers and in the stacked columns. In both polymorphs, the only interactions between the molecules which can stabilize the packing are very weak C—H...π interactions.