Backbone flexibility on conjugated polymer's crystallization behavior and thin film mechanical stability

Extensive efforts have been made to develop flexible electronics with conjugated polymers that are intrinsically stretchable and soft. We recently systematically investigated the influence of conjugation break spacers (CBS) on the thermomechanical properties of a series n-type naphthalene diimide-based conjugated polymer and found that CBS can significantly reduce chain rigidity, melting point, as well as glass transition temperature. In the current work, we further examined the influence of CBS on the crystallization behaviors of PNDI-C3 to C6, including isothermal crystallization kinetics, crystal polymorphism and subsequently time-dependent modulus, in a holistic approach using differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray scattering, polarized optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and pseudo-free-standing tensile test. Results demonstrate that increasing the length of CBS increases the crystallization half-time by 1 order of magnitude from PNDI-C3 to PNDI-C6 from approximately 10³ to 10⁴ s. The crystallization rate shows a bimodal dependence on the temperature due to the presence of different polymorphs. In addition, crystallization significantly affects the mechanical response, a stiffening in the modulus of nearly three times is observed for PNDI-C5 when annealed at room temperature for 12 h. Crystallization kinetic is also influenced by molecular weight (MW). Higher MW PNDI-C3 crystallizes slower. In addition, an odd–even effect was observed below 50°C, odd-number PNDI-Cxs (C3 and C5) crystallize slower than the adjacent even-numbered PNDI-Cxs (C4 and C6). Our work provides an insight to design flexible electronics by systematically tuning the mechanical properties through control of polymer crystallization by tuning backbone rigidity.     

Chlorido(2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18‐octaethylporphyrinato)iron(III): a new triclinic polymorph of Fe(OEP)Cl

The previous structure determination of the title compound, [Fe(C₃₆H₄₄N₄)Cl], was of a monoclinic polymorph [Senge (2005). Acta Cryst. E 61 , m399–m400]. The crystal structure of a new triclinic polymorph has been determined based on single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction data collected at 100 K. The asymmetric unit contains one molecule of the high‐spin square‐pyramidal iron(III) porphyrinate. The structure exhibits distinct nonstatistical alternative positions for most atoms and was consequently modeled as a whole‐molecule disorder. The compound is characterized by an average Fe—N bond length of 2.065 (2) Å, an Fe—Cl bond length of 2.225 (4) Å, and the iron(III) cation displaced by 0.494 (4) Å from the plane of the 24‐atom porphyrinate core, essentially the same as in the previously determined polymorph. Common features of the porphyrin plane–plane stacking involve two types of synthons, each of which can be further stabilized with additional H...Cl interactions to the axial chloride ligand, exhibiting concerted interactions of H atoms from the ethyl groups with the π‐cloud electron density of adjacent molecules; the shortest methylene H‐atom contacts are in the range 2.75–2.91 Å, resulting in plane–plane separations of 3.407 (4) and 3.416 (4) Å, and the shortest methyl H‐atom contacts are 2.56–2.95 Å, resulting in plane–plane separations of 4.900 (5) and 4.909 (5) Å in the monoclinic polymorph. The plane‐to‐plane stacking synthons in the triclinic polymorph are similar, but at greater distances; the shortest methylene H‐atom contacts are 2.86–2.94 Å, resulting in plane–plane separations of 3.45 (2) and 3.45 (3) Å, and the shortest methyl H‐atom contacts are 2.89–3.20 Å, resulting in plane–plane separations of 5.081 (13) and 5.134 (13) Å, consistent with the density of the triclinic polymorph being 1.5% lower, suggesting lesser packing efficiency and lower stability in the triclinic polymorph. The major molecular differences found in the polymorphs is in three different orientations of the ethyl‐group side chains on the periphery of the porphyrin core.     

Theoretical study on charge transport of quinacridone polymorphs

The charge carrier transporting ability in the polymorphism of quinacridone (QA) has been studied using density‐functional theory and Marcus charge transport theory. The theoretical results indicated quinacridone has good electron transport ability and electron mobilities of all the polymorphism are at 10^?2 magnitude. But its hole mobility, which varied with the different molecular packing, is at range of 10^?1–10^?3 magnitude. The difference of charge carrier mobilities among the polymorphism is originated from the different packing mode. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

Two polymorphs of 2,5‐dichloro‐3,6‐bis(dibenzylamino)‐p‐hydroquinone with flexible dibenzylamino groups

We obtained two conformational polymorphs of 2,5‐dichloro‐3,6‐bis(dibenzylamino)‐p‐hydroquinone, C₃₄H₃₀Cl₂N₂O₂. Both polymorphs have an inversion centre at the centre of the hydroquinone ring (Z′ = ), and there are no significant differences between their bond lengths and angles. The most significant structural difference in the molecular conformations was found in the rotation of the phenyl rings of the two crystallographically independent benzyl groups. The crystal structures of the polymorphs were distinguishable with respect to the arrangement of the hydroquinone rings and the packing motif of the phenyl rings that form part of the benzyl groups. The phenyl groups of one polymorph are arranged in a face‐to‐edge motif between adjacent molecules, with intermolecular C—H…π interactions, whereas the phenyl rings in the other polymorph form a lamellar stacking pattern with no significant intermolecular interactions. We suggest that this partial conformational difference in the molecular structures leads to the significant structural differences observed in their molecular arrangements.     

Polymorphic transformation of indomethacin in precirol solid dispersion system

The polymorphic transformation of indomethacin (IMC) in the presence of Precirol during heating was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), infrared (IR) spectroscopy, microscopic Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR)/DSC system, and powder X-ray diffractometry with heating. The results indicate that in the presence of Precirol the original γ form of IMC was first transformed to a transition state, and then to a new polymorph by heating or exposure to IR radiation. The transition state of the melted sample gave three endothermic peaks, at 34, 48 and 127°C, and one exothermic peak, at 54°C. The stable melted sample exhibited two endothermic peaks, at 58 and 127°C, which were due to the fusion of Precirol and the new polymorph of IMC, respectively. This new polymorph of IMC also exhibited two specific IR absorption peaks, at 1693 and 1675 cm^?1. Microscopic FT-IR/DSC was used to examine the correlation between the structural transformation and its thermal response, and demonstrated the existence of the transition state of the melted sample. X-ray diffractometry with heating confirmed the appearance of the new polymorph of IMC in the presence of Precirol after heating.     

Exploring concomitant/conformational dimorphism in a difluoro‐substituted phosphoramidate derivative

The concomitant occurrence of dimorphs of diphenyl (3,4‐difluorophenyl)phosphoramidate, C₁₈H₁₄F₂NO₃P, was observed via a solution‐mediated crystallization process with variation in the symmetry‐free molecules (Z′). The existence of two forms, i.e. Form I (block, Z′ = 1) and Form II (needle, Z′ = 2), was characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry and powder X‐ray diffraction. Furthermore, a quantitative analysis of the energetics of the different intermolecular interactions was carried out via the energy decomposition method (PIXEL), which corroborates with inputs from the energy framework and looks at the topology of the various intermolecular interactions present in both forms. The unequivocally distinguished contribution of strong N—H…O hydrogen bonds along with other interactions, such as C—H…O, C—H…F, π–π and C—H…π, mapped on the Hirshfeld surface is depicted by two‐dimensional fingerprint plots. Apart from the major electrostatic contribution from N—H…O hydrogen bonds, the crystal structures are stabilized by contributions from the dispersion energy. The closely related melting points and opposite trends in the calculated lattice energies are interesting to investigate with respect to the thermodynamic stability of the observed dimorphs. The significant variation in the torsion angles in both forms helps in classifying them in the category of conformational polymorphs.     

尼群地平晶型转变条件及其影响因素的确定

根据熔化数据推算相变稳定性理论计算了尼群地平不同晶型之间的相变温度, 并分别考察了高温、高温和高湿及高压条件下的晶型转变. 理论推导尼群地平I与II, 尼群地平I与III, 尼群地平II与III的转化温度分别为158.88, 160.50和158.65 ℃, 三者均为单变关系, 且在高温条件下尼群地平II, III都转变为尼群地平I, 在高压条件下, II易转变为I. 试验结果表明室温下尼群地平I为稳定型, II和III为亚稳定型, 3种晶型稳定性顺序为尼群地平I＞II＞III.     

DFT calculations as a powerful technique to probe the crystal structure of Al(acac)3

(27)Al, (17)O and (13)C chemical shieldings of aluminum acetylacetonate complex, Al(acac)(3), were calculated at some Density Functional Theory (DFT) levels of theory. In these calculations the X-ray structures of its different polymorphs were used. Using these calculated data observed discrepancies between the X-ray crystallography and solid state NMR experiment were explained in terms of the quality of the NMR data. In this survey we resorted to the simulated spectra using our calculated chemical shifts. In order to confirm our conclusions, electric field gradient (EFG) tensors of the (27)Al and (17)O nuclei were calculated at the same levels of theory as used in the chemical shielding calculations. On the other hand, these calculated chemical shifts and nuclear quadrupole coupling constants (NQCCs) made a correlation between X-ray crystallography and solid state NMR experiments.     

Polymorphic Characterization,Pharmacokinetics, and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Ginsenoside Compound K Polymorphs

Polymorphism exhibits different physicochemical properties, which can impact the bioavailability and bioactivity of solid drugs. This study focused on identifying the polymorphs of ginsenoside compound K (CK) and studying their different behaviors in pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD). Four CK polymorphs (form I, II, III, and IV) from organic solvents were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD). A feasible LC-MS/MS method was exploited to determine the PK parameters. Form II displayed the most exposure, followed by form I, III, and IV. Notably, all forms showed sex dimorphism, and the bioavailability in the female group was about two-fold higher than in the male group. The PD properties were investigated in carrageenan-induced acute paw inflammation, and form II at 20 mg/kg showed significant inhibition of edema by 42.7%. This study clarified the polymorphic, PK, and PD characters of four crystal forms of CK, and the data suggested that form II had the best efficacy for drug development.     

Crystal and Molecular Structure of N‐methyl‐N‐3‐(sulfonato)propyl‐3‐[tris(trimethylsiloxanyl)3‐silyl]pyrrolinium Sulfobetaine Hydrate at Room Temperature and 163 K

2 (C₁₇H₄₁NO₆SSi₄) . H₂O. M_r=1017.88, triclinic, space group P‐1. The molecules are arranged in bilayers. The molecules in each bilayer are held together by electrostatic forces, i.e., O‐N⁺ contacts, and hydrogen bonds. The asymmetric unit consists of two partly disordered siloxane molecules and one water molecule. The structure of the bilayers is virtually the same at 163 K and room temperature, but the stacking of the bilayers is different. The Si‐O‐Si bond angles at low temperature are significiantly smaller than at room temperature.