β‐Turn Analogues in Model αβ‐Hybrid Peptides: Structural Characterization of Peptides Containing β2,2Ac6c and β3,3Ac6c Residues

The effect of gem‐dialkyl substituents on the backbone conformations of β‐amino acid residues in peptides has been investigated by using four model peptides: Boc‐Xxx‐β^2,2Ac₆c(1‐aminomethylcyclohexanecarboxylic acid)‐NHMe (Xxx=Leu ( 1 ), Phe ( 2 ); Boc=tert‐butyloxycarbonyl) and Boc‐Xxx‐β^3,3Ac₆c(1‐aminocyclohexaneacetic acid)‐NHMe (Xxx=Leu ( 3 ), Phe ( 4 )). Tetrasubstituted carbon atoms restrict the ranges of stereochemically allowed conformations about flanking single bonds. The crystal structure of Boc‐Leu‐β^2,2Ac₆c‐NHMe ( 1 ) established a C₁₁ hydrogen‐bonded turn in the αβ‐hybrid sequence. The observed torsion angles (α(?≈?60°, ψ≈?30°), β(?≈?90°, θ≈60°, ψ≈?90°)) corresponded to a C₁₁ helical turn, which was a backbone‐expanded analogue of the type III β turn in αα sequences. The crystal structure of the peptide Boc‐Phe‐β^3,3Ac₆c‐NHMe ( 4 ) established a C₁₁ hydrogen‐bonded turn with distinctly different backbone torsion angles (α(?≈?60°, ψ≈120°), β(?≈60°, θ≈60°, ψ≈?60°)), which corresponded to a backbone‐expanded analogue of the type II β turn observed in αα sequences. In peptide 4 , the two molecules in the asymmetric unit adopted backbone torsion angles of opposite signs. In one of the molecules, the Phe residue adopted an unfavorable backbone conformation, with the energetic penalty being offset by a favorable aromatic interaction between proximal molecules in the crystal. NMR spectroscopy studies provided evidence for the maintenance of folded structures in solution in these αβ‐hybrid sequences.     

Inclusion complex of β‐cyclodextrin with coffee chlorogenic acid: new insights from a combined crystallographic and theoretical study

This work reports the elusive structural evidence for the [4]pseudorotaxane of β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) with coffee chlorogenic acid (CGA), a conjugate of caffeic acid (CFA) and quinic acid (QNA). A single‐crystal X‐ray structure analysis of the inclusion complex β‐cyclodextrin–chlorogenic acid–water (2/2/17), 2C₄₂H₇₀O₃₅·2C₁₆H₁₈O₉·17H₂O, reveals that CGA threads through β‐CD and assembles via O—H…O hydrogen bonds and parallel‐displaced π–π interactions in the twofold symmetry‐related dimer yielding a [4]pseudorotaxane, which is crystallographically observed for the first time in CD inclusion complexes. The encapsulation of the aromatic ring and C=C—C(=O)O chain in the β‐CD dimeric cavity indicates that the CFA moiety plays a determinant role in complexation. This is in agreement with the DFT‐derived relative thermodynamic stabilities of the trimodal β‐CD–CGA inclusion complexes, that is, β‐CD complexed with different CGA components: C=C—C(=O)O chain > cyclohexane ring > aromatic ring. The complexation stability is further enhanced in the dimeric β‐CD–CGA complex, with the CFA moiety totally enclosed in the β‐CD dimeric cavity.     

Supramolecular architectures in two 1:1 cocrystals of 5‐fluorouracil with 5‐bromothiophene‐2‐carboxylic acid and thiophene‐2‐carboxylic acid

In solid‐state engineering, cocrystallization is a strategy actively pursued for pharmaceuticals. Two 1:1 cocrystals of 5‐fluorouracil (5FU; systematic name: 5‐fluoro‐1,3‐dihydropyrimidine‐2,4‐dione), namely 5‐fluorouracil–5‐bromothiophene‐2‐carboxylic acid (1/1), C₅H₃BrO₂S·C₄H₃FN₂O₂, (I), and 5‐fluorouracil–thiophene‐2‐carboxylic acid (1/1), C₄H₃FN₂O₂·C₅H₄O₂S, (II), have been synthesized and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction studies. In both cocrystals, carboxylic acid molecules are linked through an acid–acid R ₂²(8) homosynthon (O—H…O) to form a carboxylic acid dimer and 5FU molecules are connected through two types of base pairs [homosynthon, R ₂²(8) motif] via a pair of N—H…O hydrogen bonds. The crystal structures are further stabilized by C—H…O interactions in (II) and C—Br…O interactions in (I). In both crystal structures, π–π stacking and C—F…π interactions are also observed.     

The effect of amino acid backbone length on molecular packing: crystalline tartrates of glycine, β‐alanine, γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) and dl‐α‐aminobutyric acid (AABA)

We report a novel 1:1 cocrystal of β‐alanine with dl ‐tartaric acid, C₃H₇NO₂·C₄H₆O₆, (II), and three new molecular salts of dl ‐tartaric acid with β‐alanine {3‐azaniumylpropanoic acid–3‐azaniumylpropanoate dl ‐tartaric acid–dl ‐tartrate, [H(C₃H₇NO₂)₂]⁺·[H(C₄H₅O₆)₂]⁻, (III)}, γ‐aminobutyric acid [3‐carboxypropanaminium dl ‐tartrate, C₄H₁₀NO₂⁺·C₄H₅O₆⁻, (IV)] and dl ‐α‐aminobutyric acid {dl ‐2‐azaniumylbutanoic acid–dl ‐2‐azaniumylbutanoate dl ‐tartaric acid–dl ‐tartrate, [H(C₄H₉NO₂)₂]⁺·[H(C₄H₅O₆)₂]⁻, (V)}. The crystal structures of binary crystals of dl ‐tartaric acid with glycine, (I), β‐alanine, (II) and (III), GABA, (IV), and dl ‐AABA, (V), have similar molecular packing and crystallographic motifs. The shortest amino acid (i.e. glycine) forms a cocrystal, (I), with dl ‐tartaric acid, whereas the larger amino acids form molecular salts, viz. (IV) and (V). β‐Alanine is the only amino acid capable of forming both a cocrystal [i.e. (II)] and a molecular salt [i.e. (III)] with dl ‐tartaric acid. The cocrystals of glycine and β‐alanine with dl ‐tartaric acid, i.e. (I) and (II), respectively, contain chains of amino acid zwitterions, similar to the structure of pure glycine. In the structures of the molecular salts of amino acids, the amino acid cations form isolated dimers [of β‐alanine in (III), GABA in (IV) and dl ‐AABA in (V)], which are linked by strong O—H…O hydrogen bonds. Moreover, the three crystal structures comprise different types of dimeric cations, i.e. (A…A)⁺ in (III) and (V), and A⁺…A⁺ in (IV). Molecular salts (IV) and (V) are the first examples of molecular salts of GABA and dl ‐AABA that contain dimers of amino acid cations. The geometry of each investigated amino acid (except dl ‐AABA) correlates with the melting point of its mixed crystal.     

L‐Leucylglycine 0.67‐hydrate and [(4S)‐2,2‐dimethyl‐4‐(2‐methylpropyl)‐5‐oxoimidazolidin‐3‐ium‐1‐yl]acetate

Crystals of L‐leucylglycine (L‐Leu–Gly) 0.67‐hydrate, C₈H₁₆N₂O₃·0.67H₂O, (I), were obtained from an aqueous solution. There are three symmetrically independent dipeptide zwitterionic molecules in (I) and they are parallel to one another. The hydrogen‐bond network composed of carboxylate and amino groups and water molecules extends parallel to the ab plane. Hydrophilic regions composed of main chains and hydrophobic regions composed of the isobutyl groups of the leucyl residues are aligned alternately along the c axis. An imidazolidinone derivative was obtained from L‐Leu–Gly and acetone, viz. [(4S)‐2,2‐dimethyl‐4‐(2‐methylpropyl)‐5‐oxoimidazolidin‐3‐ium‐1‐yl]acetate, C₁₁H₂₀N₂O₃, (II), and was crystallized from a methanol–acetone solution of L‐Leu–Gly. The unit‐cell parameters coincide with those reported previously for L‐Leu–Gly dihydrate revealing that the previously reported values should be assigned to the structure of (II). One of the imidazolidine N atoms is protonated and the ring is nearly planar, except for the protonated N atom. Protonated N atoms and deprotonated carboxy groups of neighbouring molecules form hydrogen‐bonded chains. The ring carbonyl group is not involved in hydrogen bonding.     

β‐Hairpins Generated from Hybrid Peptide Sequences Containing both α‐ and β‐Amino Acids

The incorporation of the β‐amino acid residues into specific positions in the strands and β‐turn segments of peptide hairpins is being systematically explored. The presence of an additional torsion variable about the C(α) C(β) bond (θ) enhances the conformational repertoire in β‐residues. The conformational analysis of three designed peptide hairpins composed of α/β‐hybrid segments is described: Boc‐Leu‐Val‐Val‐^DPro‐β Phe ‐Leu‐Val‐Val‐OMe ( 1 ), Boc‐Leu‐Val‐β Val ‐^DPro‐Gly‐β Leu ‐Val‐Val‐OMe ( 2 ), and Boc‐Leu‐Val‐β Phe ‐Val‐^DPro‐Gly‐Leu‐β Phe ‐Val‐Val‐OMe ( 3 ). 500‐MHz ¹H‐NMR Analysis supports a preponderance of β‐hairpin conformation in solution for all three peptides, with critical cross‐strand NOEs providing evidence for the proposed structures. The crystal structure of peptide 2 reveals a β‐hairpin conformation with two β‐residues occupying facing, non‐H‐bonded positions in antiparallel β‐strands. Notably, βVal(3) adopts a gauche conformation about the C(α) C(β) bond (θ=+65°) without disturbing cross‐strand H‐bonding. The crystal structure of 2 , together with previously published crystal structures of peptides 3 and Boc‐β Phe ‐β Phe ‐^DPro‐Gly‐β Phe ‐β Phe ‐OMe, provide an opportunity to visualize the packing of peptide sheets with local ‘polar segments' formed as a consequence of reversal peptide‐bond orientation. The available structural evidence for hairpins suggests that β‐residues can be accommodated into nucleating turn segments and into both the H‐bonding and non‐H‐bonding positions on the strands.     

Cocrystals of 1,4‐diethynylbenzene with 1,3‐diacetylbenzene and benzene‐1,4‐dicarbaldehyde exhibiting strong nonconventional alkyne–carbonyl C—H…O hydrogen bonds between the components

Weak interactions between organic molecules are important in solid‐state structures where the sum of the weaker interactions support the overall three‐dimensional crystal structure. The sp‐C—H…N hydrogen‐bonding interaction is strong enough to promote the deliberate cocrystallization of a series of diynes with a series of dipyridines. It is also possible that a similar series of cocrystals could be formed between molecules containing a terminal alkyne and molecules which contain carbonyl O atoms as the potential hydrogen‐bond acceptor. I now report the crystal structure of two cocrystals that support this hypothesis. The 1:1 cocrystal of 1,4‐diethynylbenzene with 1,3‐diacetylbenzene, C₁₀H₆·C₁₀H₁₀O₂, (1), and the 1:1 cocrystal of 1,4‐diethynylbenzene with benzene‐1,4‐dicarbaldehyde, C₁₀H₆·C₈H₆O₂, (2), are presented. In both cocrystals, a strong nonconventional ethynyl–carbonyl sp‐C—H…O hydrogen bond is observed between the components. In cocrystal (1), the C—H…O hydrogen‐bond angle is 171.8 (16)° and the H…O and C…O hydrogen‐bond distances are 2.200 (19) and 3.139 (2) Å, respectively. In cocrystal (2), the C—H…O hydrogen‐bond angle is 172.5 (16)° and the H…O and C…O hydrogen‐bond distances are 2.25 (2) and 3.203 (2) Å, respectively.     

6‐Propyl‐2‐thiouracil versus 6‐methoxymethyl‐2‐thiouracil: enhancing the hydrogen‐bonded synthon motif by replacement of a methylene group with an O atom

The understanding of intermolecular interactions is a key objective of crystal engineering in order to exploit the derived knowledge for the rational design of new molecular solids with tailored physical and chemical properties. The tools and theories of crystal engineering are indispensable for the rational design of (pharmaceutical) cocrystals. The results of cocrystallization experiments of the antithyroid drug 6‐propyl‐2‐thiouracil (PTU) with 2,4‐diaminopyrimidine (DAPY), and of 6‐methoxymethyl‐2‐thiouracil (MOMTU) with DAPY and 2,4,6‐triaminopyrimidine (TAPY), respectively, are reported. PTU and MOMTU show a high structural similarity and differ only in the replacement of a methylene group (–CH₂–) with an O atom in the side chain, thus introducing an additional hydrogen‐bond acceptor in MOMTU. Both molecules contain an ADA hydrogen‐bonding site (A = acceptor and D = donor), while the coformers DAPY and TAPY both show complementary DAD sites and therefore should be capable of forming a mixed ADA/DAD synthon with each other, i.e. N—H…O, N—H…N and N—H…S hydrogen bonds. The experiments yielded one solvated cocrystal salt of PTU with DAPY, four different solvates of MOMTU, one ionic cocrystal of MOMTU with DAPY and one cocrystal salt of MOMTU with TAPY, namely 2,4‐diaminopyrimidinium 6‐propyl‐2‐thiouracilate–2,4‐diaminopyrimidine–N,N‐dimethylacetamide–water (1/1/1/1) (the systematic name for 6‐propyl‐2‐thiouracilate is 6‐oxo‐4‐propyl‐2‐sulfanylidene‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyrimidin‐1‐ide), C₄H₇N₄⁺·C₇H₉N₂OS⁻·C₄H₆N₄·C₄H₉NO·H₂O, (I), 6‐methoxymethyl‐2‐thiouracil–N,N‐dimethylformamide (1/1), C₆H₈N₂O₂S·C₃H₇NO, (II), 6‐methoxymethyl‐2‐thiouracil–N,N‐dimethylacetamide (1/1), C₆H₈N₂O₂S·C₄H₉NO, (III), 6‐methoxymethyl‐2‐thiouracil–dimethyl sulfoxide (1/1), C₆H₈N₂O₂S·C₂H₆OS, (IV), 6‐methoxymethyl‐2‐thiouracil–1‐methylpyrrolidin‐2‐one (1/1), C₆H₈N₂O₂S·C₅H₉NO, (V), 2,4‐diaminopyrimidinium 6‐methoxymethyl‐2‐thiouracilate (the systematic name for 6‐methoxymethyl‐2‐thiouracilate is 4‐methoxymethyl‐6‐oxo‐2‐sulfanylidene‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyrimidin‐1‐ide), C₄H₇N₄⁺·C₆H₇N₂O₂S⁻, (VI), and 2,4,6‐triaminopyrimidinium 6‐methoxymethyl‐2‐thiouracilate–6‐methoxymethyl‐2‐thiouracil (1/1), C₄H₈N₅⁺·C₆H₇N₂O₂S⁻·C₆H₈N₂O₂S, (VII). Whereas in (I) only an AA/DD hydrogen‐bonding interaction was formed, the structures of (VI) and (VII) both display the desired ADA/DAD synthon. Conformational studies on the side chains of PTU and MOMTU also revealed a significant deviation for cocrystals (VI) and (VII), leading to the desired enhancement of the hydrogen‐bond pattern within the crystal.     

Pseudophomins A and B,a class of cyclic lipodepsipeptides isolated from a Pseudomonas species

The crystal structures of pseudophomins A and B, with primary structures β‐hydroxy­decanoyl–l ‐Leu–d ‐Glu–d ‐allo‐Thr–d ‐Ile–d ‐Leu–d ‐Ser–l ‐Leu–d ‐Ser–l ‐Ile monohydrate, C₅₅H₉₇N₉O₁₆·H₂O, and β‐hydroxy­dodecanoyl–l ‐Leu–d ‐Glu–d ‐allo‐Thr–d ‐Ile–d ‐Leu–d ‐Ser–l ‐Leu–d ‐Ser–l ‐Ile monohydrate, C₅₇H₁₀₁N₉O₁₆·H₂O, new cyclic lipodepsipeptides isolated from Pseudomonas fluorescens strain BRG100, have been solved. The absolute configuration of pseudophomin A has been determined from anomalous dispersion and the stereochemistry of the β‐hydroxy acid group is R.     

Synthon preference in a hydrated β‐resorcylic acid structure and its cocrystal with thymine

Multicomponent crystals or cocrystals play a significant role in crystal engineering, the main objective of which is to understand the role of intermolecular interactions and to utilize such understanding in the design of novel crystal structures. Molecules possessing carboxylic acid and amide functional groups are good candidates for forming cocrystals. β‐Resorcylic acid monohydrate, C₇H₆O₄·H₂O, (I), crystallizes in the triclinic space group P with one β‐resorcylic acid molecule and one water molecule in the asymmetric unit. The cocrystal thymine–β‐resorcylic acid–water (1/1/1), C₅H₆N₂O₂·C₇H₆O₄·H₂O, (II), crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pca2₁, with one molecule each of thymine, β‐resorcylic acid and water in the asymmetric unit. All available donor and acceptor atoms in (I) and (II) are utilized for hydrogen bonding. The acid and amide functional groups are well known for the formation of self‐complementary acid–acid and amide–amide homosynthons. In (I), an acid–acid homosynthon is observed, while in (II), an amide–acid heterosynthon is present. In (I), the β‐resorcylic acid molecule exhibits the expected intramolecular S(6) motif between the hydroxy and carbonyl O atoms, and an intermolecular R₂²(8) dimer motif between the carboxylic acid groups; only the former motif is observed in (II). The water solvent molecule in (I) propagates the discrete dimers into two‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded sheets. In (II), thymine and β‐resorcylic acid molecules do not form self‐complementary amide–amide and acid–acid homosynthons; instead, a thymine–β‐resorcylic acid heterosynthon is observed. With the help of the water molecule, this heterosynthon is aggregated into a three‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded network. The absence of thymine base pairing in (II) might be linked to the availability of additional functional groups and the preference of the donor and acceptor hydrogen‐bond combinations.     

Supramolecular hydrogen‐bonding patterns in the organic–inorganic hybrid compound bis(4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidinium) tetrathiocyanatozinc(II)–4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine–water (1/2/2)

Zinc thiocyanate complexes have been found to be biologically active compounds. Zinc is also an essential element for the normal function of most organisms and is the main constituent in a number of metalloenzyme proteins. Pyrimidine and aminopyrimidine derivatives are biologically very important as they are components of nucleic acids. Thiocyanate ions can bridge metal ions by employing both their N and S atoms for coordination. They can play an important role in assembling different coordination structures and yield an interesting variety of one‐, two‐ and three‐dimensional polymeric metal–thiocyanate supramolecular frameworks. The structure of a new zinc thiocyanate–aminopyrimidine organic–inorganic compound, (C₆H₉ClN₃)₂[Zn(NCS)₄]·2C₆H₈ClN₃·2H₂O, is reported. The asymmetric unit consist of half a tetrathiocyanatozinc(II) dianion, an uncoordinated 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidinium cation, a 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine molecule and a water molecule. The Zn^II atom adopts a distorted tetrahedral coordination geometry and is coordinated by four N atoms from the thiocyanate anions. The Zn^II atom is located on a special position (twofold axis of symmetry). The pyrimidinium cation and the pyrimidine molecule are not coordinated to the Zn^II atom, but are hydrogen bonded to the uncoordinated water molecules and the metal‐coordinated thiocyanate ligands. The pyrimidine molecules and pyrimidinium cations also form base‐pair‐like structures with an R₂²(8) ring motif via N—H…N hydrogen bonds. The crystal structure is further stabilized by intermolecular N—H…O, O—H…S, N—H…S and O—H…N hydrogen bonds, by intramolecular N—H…Cl and C—H…Cl hydrogen bonds, and also by π–π stacking interactions.     

The solid‐state structure of the β‐blocker metoprolol: a combined experimental and in silico investigation

Metoprolol {systematic name: (RS)‐1‐isopropylamino‐3‐[4‐(2‐methoxyethyl)phenoxy]propan‐2‐ol}, C₁₅H₂₅NO₃, is a cardioselective β₁‐adrenergic blocking agent that shares part of its molecular skeleton with a large number of other β‐blockers. Results from its solid‐state characterization by single‐crystal and variable‐temperature powder X‐ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry are presented. Its molecular and crystal arrangements have been further investigated by molecular modelling, by a Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) survey and by Hirshfeld surface analysis. In the crystal, the side arm bearing the isopropyl group, which is common to other β‐blockers, adopts an all‐trans conformation, which is the most stable arrangement from modelling data. The crystal packing of metoprolol is dominated by an O—H…N/N…H—O pair of hydrogen bonds (as also confirmed by a Hirshfeld surface analysis), which gives rise to chains containing alternating R and S metoprolol molecules extending along the b axis, supplemented by a weaker O…H—N/N—H…O pair of interactions. In addition, within the same stack of molecules, a C—H…O contact, partially oriented along the b and c axes, links homochiral molecules. Amongst the solid‐state structures of molecules structurally related to metoprolol deposited in the CSD, the β‐blocker drug betaxolol shows the closest analogy in terms of three‐dimensional arrangement and interactions. Notwithstanding their close similarity, the crystal lattices of the two drugs respond differently on increasing temperature: metoprolol expands anisotropically, while for betaxolol, an isotropic thermal expansion is observed.     

Solid‐state conformations of linear depsipeptide amides with an alternating sequence of α,α‐disubstituted α‐amino acid and α‐hydroxy acid

Depsipeptides and cyclodepsipeptides are analogues of the corresponding peptides in which one or more amide groups are replaced by ester functions. Reports of crystal structures of linear depsipeptides are rare. The crystal structures and conformational analyses of four depsipeptides with an alternating sequence of an α,α‐disubstituted α‐amino acid and an α‐hydroxy acid are reported. The molecules in the linear hexadepsipeptide amide in (S)‐Pms‐Acp‐(S)‐Pms‐Acp‐(S)‐Pms‐Acp‐NMe₂ acetonitrile solvate, C₄₇H₅₈N₄O₉·C₂H₃N, ( 3b ), as well as in the related linear tetradepsipeptide amide (S)‐Pms‐Aib‐(S)‐Pms‐Aib‐NMe₂, C₂₈H₃₇N₃O₆, ( 5a ), the diastereoisomeric mixture (S,R)‐Pms‐Acp‐(R,S)‐Pms‐Acp‐NMe₂/(R,S)‐Pms‐Acp‐(R,S)‐Pms‐Acp‐NMe₂ (1:1), C₃₂H₄₁N₃O₆, ( 5b ), and (R,S)‐Mns‐Acp‐(S,R)‐Mns‐Acp‐NMe₂, C₃₀H₃₇N₃O₆, ( 5c ) (Pms is phenyllactic acid, Acp is 1‐aminocyclopentanecarboxylic acid and Mns is mandelic acid), generally adopt a β‐turn conformation in the solid state, which is stabilized by intramolecular N—H…O hydrogen bonds. Whereas β‐turns of type I (or I′) are formed in the cases of ( 3b ), ( 5a ) and ( 5b ), which contain phenyllactic acid, the torsion angles for ( 5c ), which incorporates mandelic acid, indicate a β‐turn in between type I and type III. Intermolecular N—H…O and O—H…O hydrogen bonds link the molecules of ( 3a ) and ( 5b ) into extended chains, and those of ( 5a ) and ( 5c ) into two‐dimensional networks.     

Crystal structures of the anhydrous and two solvated forms of methyl 4‐(4‐fluorophenyl)‐6‐methyl‐2‐oxo‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydropyrimidine‐5‐carboxylate

Methyl 4‐(4‐fluorophenyl)‐6‐methyl‐2‐oxo‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydropyrimidine‐5‐carboxylate, ( I ), was found to exhibit solvatomorphism. The compound was prepared using a classic Biginelli reaction under mild conditions, without using catalysts and in a solvent‐free environment. Single crystals of two solvatomorphs and one anhydrous form of ( I ) were obtained through various crystallization methods. The anhydrous form, C₁₃H₁₃FN₂O₃, was found to crystallize in the monoclinic space group C2/c. It showed one molecule in the asymmetric unit. The solvatomorph with included carbon tetrachloride, C₁₃H₁₃FN₂O₃·0.25CCl₄, was found to crystallize in the monoclinic space group P2/n. The asymmetric unit revealed two molecules of ( I ) and one disordered carbon tetrachloride solvent molecule that lies on a twofold axis. A solvatomorph including ethyl acetate, C₁₃H₁₃FN₂O₃·0.5C₄H₈O₂, was found to crystallize in the triclinic space group P with one molecule of ( I ) and one solvent molecule on an inversion centre in the asymmetric unit. The solvent molecules in the solvatomorphs were found to be disordered, with a unique case of crystallographically induced disorder in ( I ) crystallized with ethyl acetate. Hydrogen‐bonding interactions, for example, N—H…O=C, C—H…O=C, C—H…F and C—H…π, contribute to the crystal packing with the formation of a characteristic dimer through N—H…O=C interactions in all three forms. The solvatomorphs display additional interactions, such as C—F…N and C—Cl…π, which are responsible for their molecular arrangement. The thermal properties of the forms were analysed through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), hot stage microscopy (HSM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) experiments.     

π–π stacking motifs in dialkylbis{5‐[(E)‐2‐aryldiazen‐1‐yl]‐2‐hydroxybenzoato}tin(IV) complexes

The diorganotin(IV) complexes of 5‐[(E)‐2‐aryldiazen‐1‐yl]‐2‐hydroxybenzoic acid are of interest because of their structural diversity in the crystalline state and their interesting biological activity. The structures of dimethylbis{2‐hydroxy‐5‐[(E)‐2‐(4‐methylphenyl)diazen‐1‐yl]benzoato}tin(IV), [Sn(CH₃)₂(C₁₄H₁₁N₂O₃)₂], and di‐n‐butylbis{2‐hydroxy‐5‐[(E)‐2‐(4‐methylphenyl)diazen‐1‐yl]benzoato}tin(IV) benzene hemisolvate, [Sn(C₄H₉)₂(C₁₄H₁₁N₂O₃)₂]·0.5C₆H₆, exhibit the usual skew‐trapezoidal bipyramidal coordination geometry observed for related complexes of this class. Each structure has two independent molecules of the Sn^IV complex in the asymmetric unit. In the dimethyltin structure, intermolecular O—H…O hydrogen bonds and a very weak Sn…O interaction link the independent molecules into dimers. The planar carboxylate ligands lend themselves to π–π stacking interactions and the diversity of supramolecular structural motifs formed by these interactions has been examined in detail for these two structures and four closely related analogues. While there are some recurring basic motifs amongst the observed stacking arrangements, such as dimers and step‐like chains, variations through longitudinal slipping and inversion of the direction of the overlay add complexity. The π–π stacking motifs in the two title complexes are combinations of some of those observed in the other structures and are the most complex of the structures examined.     

Sulfur as hydrogen‐bond acceptor in cocrystals of 2‐thio‐modified thymine

Doubly and triply hydrogen‐bonded supramolecular synthons are of particular interest for the rational design of crystal and cocrystal structures in crystal engineering since they show a high robustness due to their high stability and good reliability. The compound 5‐methyl‐2‐thiouracil (2‐thiothymine) contains an ADA hydrogen‐bonding site (A = acceptor and D = donor) if the S atom is considered as an acceptor. We report herein the results of cocrystallization experiments with the coformers 2,4‐diaminopyrimidine, 2,4‐diamino‐6‐phenyl‐1,3,5‐triazine, 6‐amino‐3H‐isocytosine and melamine, which contain complementary DAD hydrogen‐bonding sites and, therefore, should be capable of forming a mixed ADA–DAD N—H…S/N—H…N/N—H…O synthon (denoted synthon 3s_{N·S;N·N;N·O}), consisting of three different hydrogen bonds with 5‐methyl‐2‐thiouracil. The experiments yielded one cocrystal and five solvated cocrystals, namely 5‐methyl‐2‐thiouracil–2,4‐diaminopyrimidine (1/2), C₅H₆N₂OS·2C₄H₆N₄, (I), 5‐methyl‐2‐thiouracil–2,4‐diaminopyrimidine–N,N‐dimethylformamide (2/2/1), 2C₅H₆N₂OS·2C₄H₆N₄·C₃H₇NO, (II), 5‐methyl‐2‐thiouracil–2,4‐diamino‐6‐phenyl‐1,3,5‐triazine–N,N‐dimethylformamide (2/2/1), 2C₅H₆N₂OS·2C₉H₉N₅·C₃H₇NO, (III), 5‐methyl‐2‐thiouracil–6‐amino‐3H‐isocytosine–N,N‐dimethylformamide (2/2/1), (IV), 2C₅H₆N₂OS·2C₄H₆N₄O·C₃H₇NO, (IV), 5‐methyl‐2‐thiouracil–6‐amino‐3H‐isocytosine–N,N‐dimethylacetamide (2/2/1), 2C₅H₆N₂OS·2C₄H₆N₄O·C₄H₉NO, (V), and 5‐methyl‐2‐thiouracil–melamine (3/2), 3C₅H₆N₂OS·2C₃H₆N₆, (VI). Synthon 3s_{N·S;N·N;N·O} was formed in three structures in which two‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded networks are observed, while doubly hydrogen‐bonded interactions were formed instead in the remaining three cocrystals whereby three‐dimensional networks are preferred. As desired, the S atoms are involved in hydrogen‐bonding interactions in all six structures, thus illustrating the ability of sulfur to act as a hydrogen‐bond acceptor and, therefore, its value for application in crystal engineering.     

Optical properties of (Z)‐2‐(2‐phenylhydrazinylidene)acenaphthen‐1(2H)‐one: a potential electron donor in organic solar cells

Electron‐donating molecules play an important role in the development of organic solar cells. (Z )‐2‐(2‐Phenylhydrazinylidene)acenaphthen‐1(2H )‐one (PDAK), C₁₈H₁₂N₂O, was synthesized by a Schiff base reaction. The crystal structure shows that the molecules are planar and are linked together forming `face‐to‐face' assemblies held together by intermolecular C—H…O, π–π and C—H…π interactions. PDAK exhibits a broadband UV–Vis absorption (200–648 nm) and a low HOMO–LUMO energy gap (1.91 eV; HOMO is the highest occupied molecular orbital and LUMO is the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital), while fluorescence quenching experiments provide evidence for electron transfer from the excited state of PDAK to C₆₀. This suggests that the title molecule may be a suitable donor for use in organic solar cells.     

Methyl β‐allolactoside [methyl β‐d‐galactopyranosyl‐(1→6)‐β‐d‐glucopyranoside] monohydrate

Methyl β‐allolactoside [methyl β‐d ‐galactopyranosyl‐(1→6)‐β‐d ‐glucopyranoside], (II), was crystallized from water as a monohydrate, C₁₃H₂₄O₁₁·H₂O. The βGalp and βGlcp residues in (II) assume distorted ⁴C₁ chair conformations, with the former more distorted than the latter. Linkage conformation is characterized by ϕ′ (C2_Gal—C1_Gal—O1_Gal—C6_Glc), ψ′ (C1_Gal—O1_Gal—C6_Glc—C5_Glc) and ω (C4_Glc—C5_Glc—C6_Glc—O1_Gal) torsion angles of 172.9 (2), −117.9 (3) and −176.2 (2)°, respectively. The ψ′ and ω values differ significantly from those found in the crystal structure of β‐gentiobiose, (III) [Rohrer et al. (1980). Acta Cryst. B 36 , 650–654]. Structural comparisons of (II) with related disaccharides bound to a mutant β‐galactosidase reveal significant differences in hydroxymethyl conformation and in the degree of ring distortion of the βGlcp residue. Structural comparisons of (II) with a DFT‐optimized structure, (II_C), suggest a link between hydrogen bonding, pyranosyl ring deformation and linkage conformation.     

Two pentadehydropeptides with different configurations of the ΔPhe residues

Comparison of the crystal structures of two pentadehydropeptides containing ΔPhe residues, namely (Z,Z)‐N‐(tert‐butoxycarbonyl)glycyl‐α,β‐phenylalanylglycyl‐α,β‐phenylalanylglycine (or Boc⁰–Gly¹–Δ^ZPhe²–Gly³–Δ^ZPhe⁴–Gly⁵–OH) methanol solvate, C₂₉H₃₃N₅O₈·CH₄O, (I), and (E,E)‐N‐(tert‐butoxycarbonyl)glycyl‐α,β‐phenylalanylglycyl‐α,β‐phenylalanylglycine (or Boc⁰–Gly¹–Δ^EPhe²–Gly³–Δ^EPhe⁴–Gly⁵–OH), C₂₉H₃₃N₅O₈, (II), indicates that the Δ^ZPhe residue is a more effective inducer of folded structures than the Δ^EPhe residue. The values of the torsion angles ϕ and ψ show the presence of two type‐III′β‐turns at the Δ^ZPhe residues and one type‐II β‐turn at the Δ^EPhe residue. All amino acids are linked trans to each other in both peptides. β‐Turns present in the peptides are stabilized by intramolecular 4→1 hydrogen bonds. Molecules in both structures form two‐dimensional hydrogen‐bond networks parallel to the (100) plane.     

Crystal structure and photoreactivity of a halogen‐bonded cocrystal based upon 1,2‐diiodoperchlorobenzene and 1,2‐bis(pyridin‐4‐yl)ethylene

The formation of a photoreactive cocrystal based upon 1,2‐diiodoperchlorobenzene ( 1,2‐C₆I₂Cl₄ ) and trans‐1,2‐bis(pyridin‐4‐yl)ethylene ( BPE ) has been achieved. The resulting cocrystal, 2( 1,2‐C₆I₂Cl₄ )·( BPE ) or C₆Cl₄I₂·0.5C₁₂H₁₀N₂, comprises planar sheets of the components held together by the combination of I…N halogen bonds and halogen–halogen contacts. Notably, the 1,2‐C₆I₂Cl₄ molecules π‐stack in a homogeneous and face‐to‐face orientation that results in an infinite column of the halogen‐bond donor. As a consequence of this stacking arrangement and I…N halogen bonds, molecules of BPE also stack in this type of pattern. In particular, neighbouring ethylene groups in BPE are found to be parallel and within the accepted distance for a photoreaction. Upon exposure to ultraviolet light, the cocrystal undergoes a solid‐state [2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction that produces rctt‐tetrakis(pyridin‐4‐yl)cyclobutane ( TPCB ) with an overall yield of 89%. A solvent‐free approach utilizing dry vortex grinding of the components also resulted in a photoreactive material with a similar yield.