Insights into the molecular mechanism underlying polymorph selection

We use molecular simulations to study polymorph selection during the crystallization of charge-stabilized colloidal suspension. By modifying the conditions of crystallization, we invert the stability of two polymorphs and induce the formation of crystallites whose structure is predominantly that of the stable polymorph. However, our simulations reveal that kinetics play a major role not only during the nucleation step but also in the growth mechanism. The growth of postcritical crystallites of the stable polymorph proceeds through a complex mechanism involving the cross-nucleation of a third metastable polymorph followed by the conversion of this third polymorph into the stable structure.     

Polymorph selectivity under nanoscopic confinement

Polymorph selectivity has been achieved during crystallization of anthranilic acid (AA) and 5-methyl-2-[(2-nitrophyenyl)amino]-3-thiophenecarbonitrile (ROY), both considered benchmarks of polymorphic behavior, within nanoporous glass beads and polymer monoliths. Whereas polymorph III of AA crystallizes from the melt on nonporous glass beads or within larger pores, the metastable polymorph II crystallizes in pores with diameters <23 nm, with the selectivity toward this form increasing with decreasing pore size. Of the six ROY polymorphs characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, the yellow form (Y) crystallizes during evaporation of pyridine solutions imbibed by the 30-nm cylindrical pores of porous polycyclohexylethylene (p-PCHE) monoliths. Although both R and ON grow from the melt on the external surfaces of PCHE, only the red form (R) crystallizes in the pores. Amorphous ROY also forms in p-PCHE pores during evaporation from pyridine solutions, subsequently crystallizing to the R nanocrystals upon heating. Although heterogeneous nucleation on the pore walls may play a role, these observations suggest that nucleation and polymorph selectivity is governed by critical size constraints imposed by the ultrasmall pores. The ability to achieve polymorph selectivity in both glass and polymer matrices suggests wide-ranging compatibility with various organic crystalline solids, promising a new approach to controlling polymorphism and searching for unknown polymorphs.     

Molecular mechanism for the cross-nucleation between polymorphs

We use molecular simulations to study the early stages of crystallization in a supercooled liquid of Lennard-Jones particles. We observe the onset of concomitant polymorphism and demonstrate that this phenomenon results from the cross-nucleation of a metastable polymorph on the stable polymorph. We also show that cross-nucleation is selective as it only takes place between polymorphs of almost equivalent free energy. Our simulations provide detailed insights into the molecular mechanism underlying concomitant polymorphism and cross-nucleation between polymorphs.     

Preferred Formation of Minority Concomitant Polymorphs in 2D Self‐Assembly under Lateral Nanoconfinement

Control over polymorph formation in the crystallization of organic molecules remains a huge scientific challenge. Now, preferential formation is presented of one polymorph, formed by chiral molecules, in controlled two‐dimensional (2D) nanoconfinement conditions at a liquid–solid interface. So‐called nanocorrals to control concomitant polymorph formation were created in situ via a nanoshaving protocol at the interface between 1‐phenyloctane and covalently modified highly‐oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG). The preferentially formed polymorphs, which were less stable in the large‐scale monolayers, could be selected simply by varying the orientation of the square nanocorrals with respect to the HOPG lattice.     

Polymorph selection during the crystallization of Yukawa systems

Using molecular-dynamics simulations, we study the crystallization of supercooled liquids of charge-stabilized colloidal suspensions, modeled by the Yukawa (screened-Coulomb) potential. By modifying the value of the screening parameter lambda, we are able to invert the stability of the body-centered cubic (bcc) and face-centered cubic (fcc) polymorphs and study the crystal nucleation and growth in the domain of stability of each polymorph. We show that the crystallization mechanism strongly depends on the value of lambda. When bcc is the stable polymorph (lambda=3), the crystallization mechanism is straightforward. Both kinetics and thermodynamics favor the formation of the bcc particles and polymorph selection takes place early during the nucleation step. When fcc is the stable polymorph (lambda=10), the molecular mechanism is much more complex. First, kinetics favor the formation of bcc particles during the nucleation step. The growth of the post-critical nucleus proceeds through the successive cross-nucleation of the stable fcc polymorph on the metastable hcp polymorph as well as of the hcp polymorph on the fcc polymorph. As a result, polymorph selection occurs much later, i.e., during the growth step, than for lambda=3. We then extend our findings established in the case of homogeneous crystal nucleation to a situation of practical interest, i.e., when a seed of the stable polymorph is used. We demonstrate that the growth from the (111) face of a perfect fcc crystal into the melt proceeds through the same mechanisms.     

Gel-induced selective crystallization of polymorphs

Although nanoporous materials have been explored for controlling crystallization of polymorphs in recent years, polymorphism in confined environments is still poorly understood, particularly from a kinetic perspective, and the role of the local structure of the substrate has largely been neglected. Herein, we report the use of a novel material, polymer microgels with tunable microstructure, for controlling polymorph crystallization from solution and for investigating systematically the effects of nanoconfinement and interfacial interactions on polymorphic outcomes. We show that the polymer microgels can improve polymorph selectivity significantly. The polymorphic outcomes correlate strongly with the gel-induced nucleation kinetics and are very sensitive to both the polymer microstructure and the chemical composition. Further mechanistic investigations suggest that the nucleation-templating effect and the spatial confinement imposed by the polymer network may be central to achieving polymorph selectivity. We demonstrate polymer microgels as promising materials for controlling crystal polymorphism. Moreover, our results help advance the fundamental understanding of polymorph crystallization at complex interfaces, particularly in confined environments.     

Cross-nucleation between ROY polymorphs

Cross-nucleation between polymorphs is a newly discovered phenomenon important for understanding and controlling crystal polymorphism. It contradicts Ostwald's law of stages and other theories of crystallization in polymorphic systems. We studied the phenomenon in the spontaneous and seeded melt crystallization of 5-methyl-2-[(2-nitrophenyl)amino]-3-thiophenecarbonitrile (ROY), currently the most polymorphic system of known structures. We observed extensive and sometimes selective cross-nucleation between ROY polymorphs. Certain polymorphs could not nucleate without the aid of others. The new polymorph was found to be more or less thermodynamically stable than the initial one but to always grow faster than or as fast as the initial one. The temperature and surface characteristics of the seed crystals affected the occurrence of cross-nucleation. Our results show that the pathway of crystallization in polymorphic systems is not determined solely by the initial nucleation, but also by cross-nucleation between polymorphs and the different growth rates of polymorphs. This study identified a new metastable polymorph of ROY, the 10th of the family.     

Crystalline polymorphism and molecular structure of sodium pravastatin

In this work different crystallization processes of sodium pravastatin are explored and a new polymorph is obtained. The analytical results of powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and thermal analysis for this new polymorph indicate that it is different from the polymorphs previously reported. This new crystal form shows different physical-chemical properties than the previous forms, such as crystallographic structure, thermal behavior, and melting point, 181.5 degrees C. Besides, all crystallization processes previously reported use an aprotic solvent as antisolvent. However, we propose a new crystallization process for sodium pravastatin that uses only protic solvents, overcoming industrial scaling and environmental problems. Variable-temperature PXRD experiments show a transformation between different crystal forms in the range of 80-120 degrees C. Solid-state 13C NMR, reported in this work for the first time, and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) studies of some polymorphs show some differences in intermolecular interactions, especially with carboxylate and hydroxyl groups. Quantum mechanical calculations of the pravastatin molecule are also presented for the first time, obtaining a molecular structure similar to the experimental structure existing within the crystal lattice of the tert-octylamonium salt of pravastatin.     

Crystallization and interconversions of vapor-sensitive, luminescent polymorphs of [(C6H11NC)2Au(I)](AsF6) and [(C6H11NC)2Au(I)](PF6)

The remarkable, vapor-induced transformation of the yellow polymorphs of [(C(6)H(11)NC)(2)Au(I)](AsF(6)) and [(C(6)H(11)NC)(2)Au(I)](PF(6)) into the colorless forms are reported along with related studies of the crystallization of these polymorphs. Although the interconversion of these polymorphs is produced by vapor exposure, molecules of the vapor are not incorporated into the crystals. Thus, our observations may have broad implications regarding the formation and persistence of other crystal polymorphs where issues of stability and reproducibility of formation exist. Crystallographic studies show that the colorless polymorphs, which display blue luminescence, are isostructural and consist of linear chains of gold(I) cations that self-associate through aurophilic interactions. Significantly, the yellow polymorph of [(C(6)H(11)NC)(2)Au(I)](AsF(6)) is not isostructural with the yellow polymorph of [(C(6)H(11)NC)(2)Au(I)](PF(6)). Both yellow polymorphs exhibit green emission and have the gold cations arranged into somewhat bent chains with significantly closer Au···Au separations than are seen in the colorless counterparts. Luminescence differences in these polymorphs clearly enhance the ability to detect and monitor their phase stability.     

Molecular simulation of cross-nucleation between polymorphs

Recent experiments report that an early nucleating crystalline structure (or polymorph) may nucleate another polymorph. We use molecular dynamics simulations to model this phenomenon known as cross-nucleation. We study the onset of crystallization in a liquid of Lennard-Jones particles cooled at a temperature 22% below the melting temperature. We show that growth proceeds through the successive cross-nucleation of the metastable hexagonal close-packed (hcp) polymorph on the stable face-centered cubic (fcc) polymorph and of the stable fcc polymorph on the metastable hcp polymorph. This finding is in agreement with the experimental results which demonstrated that the cross-nucleation of a stable polymorph on a metastable polymorph is just as likely as the cross-nucleation of a metastable polymorph on a stable polymorph. We then extend our findings established in the case of the homogeneous crystal nucleation to a situation of practical interest, i.e., when a seed of the stable polymorph is used. By studying the crystal growth from the (111) plane of a perfect fcc crystal, we show that, again, growth proceeds through the cross-nucleation of the hcp and fcc structures.     

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.     

Polymorphism in AB(13) nanoparticle superlattices: an example of semiconductor-metal metamaterials

Colloidal crystallization of nanoparticles with different functionalities into multicomponent assemblies provides a route to new classes of ordered nanocomposites with novel properties tunable by the choice of the constituent building blocks. While theories based on hard sphere approximation predict crystallization of only a few stable binary phases (NaCl-, AlB(2)- and NaZn(13)-type), we find that additional polymorphs of lower packing density are possible. We demonstrate that PbSe and Pd nanoparticles can be reproducibly crystallized into two polymorphs with AB(13) stoichiometry. One polymorph is isostructural with the intermetallic compound NaZn(13) and is consistent with dense packing of hard spheres driven by entropy. The second unanticipated polymorph is of lower packing density. This observation underscores the shortcomings of applying simple space-filling principles to the crystallization of organically passivated nanocrystals and further motivates the development of models that incorporate combinations of hard-sphere, van der Waals, dipolar, and hydrophobic forces. This work demonstrates that ordered periodic structures with lower packing density are achievable and provides the first example of a binary semiconductor-metal superlattice using a combination of PbSe-Pd nanocrystals.     

Luminescence Color‐Tuning through Polymorph Doping: Preparation of a White‐Emitting Solid from a Single Gold(I)–Isocyanide Complex by Simple Precipitation

We report the luminescent color tuning of a new complex, 2‐benzothiophenyl(4‐methoxyphenyl isocyanide)gold(I) ( 1 ), by using a new “polymorph doping” approach. The slow crystallization of the complex 1 afforded three different pure polymorphic crystals with blue, green, and orange emission under UV‐light irradiation. The crystal structures of pure polymorphs of 1 were investigated in detail by means of single‐crystal X‐ray analyses. Theoretical calculations based on the single‐crystal structures provided qualitative explanation of the difference in the excited energy‐levels of the three polymorphs of 1 . In sharp contrast, the rapid precipitation of 1 , with the optimized conditions reproducibly afforded homogeneous powder materials showing solid‐state white‐emission with Commission Internationale de l’Éclairage (CIE) 1931 chromaticity coordinates of (0.33, 0.35), which is similar to pure white. New “polymorphic doping” has been revealed to be critical to this white emission through spectroscopic and X‐ray diffraction analyses. The coexistence of the multiple polymorphs of 1 within the homogeneous powder materials and the ideal mixing of multiple luminescent colors gave its white emission accompanied with energy transfer from the predominant green‐emitting polymorph to the minor orange‐emitting polymorph.     

Aurophilic interactions in cationic gold complexes with two isocyanide ligands. Polymorphic yellow and colorless forms of [(cyclohexyl isocyanide)2AuI](PF6) with distinct luminescence

Crystallographic studies of yellow and colorless forms of [(C(6)H(11)NC)(2)Au(I)](PF(6)) show that they are polymorphs with differing, but close, contacts between the gold atoms which form extended chains. In the colorless polymorph the gold cations form linear chains with a short Au...Au contact (3.1822(3) A) indicative of an aurophilic attraction. The structure of the yellow polymorph is more complicated with four independent cations forming kinked, slightly helical chains with very short Au...Au contacts of 2.9803(6), 2.9790(6), 2.9651(6), and 2.9643(6) A. However, in the related compound, [(CH(3)NC)(2)Au(I)](PF(6)), each cation is surrounded by six hexafluorophosphate ions and there is no close Au...Au contact despite the fact that the isocyanide ligand has less steric bulk. The crystalline colorless and yellow polymorphs are both luminescent at 298 K, lambda(max): 424 nm (colorless) or 480 nm (yellow). Colorless solutions of the two polymorphs have identical absorption spectra and are nonluminescent at room temperature. Freezing solutions of [(C(6)H(11)NC)(2)Au(I)](PF(6)) produces intense luminescence which varies depending upon the solvent involved. Each polymorph melts to give a colorless but luminescent liquid which reverts to the yellow polymorph upon cooling.     

The use of polymer heteronuclei for crystalline polymorph selection

A method for the production of crystalline polymorphs from solution is described which utilizes a diverse set of polymer heteronuclei. Application to crystalline polymorph selection for the important pharmaceuticals acetaminophen and carbamazepine is demonstrated. This method provides a new paradigm for polymorph selection, where solvent and temperature conditions can be chosen on the basis of process considerations and the polymer heteronucleus can be varied for specific polymorph production.     

Application of self seeding technique in regulating polymorphic transformations during non-isothermal bulk crystallization of polymers

Non-isothermal melt crystallization of trans-1,4-polyisoprene (TPIP) has been studied with the help of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and wide-angle x-ray diffraction. Self-seeding has been used for the controlled growth of polymorphs. Thus, self-seeding below 55° and below 71°C has led to the exclusive crystallization of and polymorphs, respectively, upon non-isothermal cooling of the polymer melt. These temperatures may vary slightly with the previous thermal history and molecular characteristics of the original sample. It has been interpreted that during cooling the rate of growth (by secondary nucleation) of seeds of either polymorph remains much faster than the rate of primary nucleation of the other polymorph whose seeds are not present in the melt. As a result, the crystallizing melt becomes occupied by the spherulites of the seeded polymorph well before the other polymorph can nucleate.     

Nucleation of one polymorph by another

Nucleation of one polymorph by another has been observed directly in the melt crystallization of d-mannitol and d-sorbitol. The new polymorph nucleated on an existing one and grew to dominate the end product. This effect is relevant to controlling polymorphism in the manufacture of specialty chemicals and to developing theories of polymorphic nucleation and concomitant polymorphs, for which current efforts emphasize homogeneous nucleation of alternative polymorphs.     

Interface induced crystal structures of dioctyl-terthiophene thin films

Temperature dependent structural and morphological investigations on semiconducting dioctyl-terthiophene (DOTT) thin films prepared on silica surfaces reveals the coexistence of surface induce order and distinct crystalline/liquid crystalline bulk polymorphs. X-ray diffraction and scanning force microscopy measurements indicate that at room temperature two polymorphs are present: the surface induced phase grows directly on the silica interface and the bulk phase on top. At elevated temperatures the long-range order gradually decreases, and the crystal G (340 K), smectic F (348 K), and smectic C (360 K) phases are observed. Indexation of diffraction peaks reveals that an up-right standing conformation of DOTT molecules is present within all phases. A temperature stable interfacial layer close to the silica-DOTT interface acts as template for the formation of the different phases. Rapid cooling of the DOTT sample from the smectic C phase to room temperature results in freezing into a metastable crystalline state with an intermediated unit cell between the room temperature crystalline phase and the smectic C phase. The understanding of such interfacial induced phases in thin semiconducting liquid crystal films allows tuning of crystallographic and therefore physical properties within organic thin films.