Polymorphism and phase transition behavior of 6,6′‐bis(chloromethyl)‐1,1′,4,4′‐tetramethyl‐3,3′‐(p‐phenylenedimethylene)bis(piperazine‐2,5‐dione)

A crystallographic investigation of the title compound, C₂₂H₂₈Cl₂N₄O₄, using crystals obtained under different crystallization conditions, revealed the presence of two distinct polymorphic forms. The molecular conformation in the two polymorphs is very different: one adopts a `C' shape, whereas the other adopts an `S' shape. In the latter, the molecule lies across a crystallographic twofold axis. The `S'‐shaped polymorph undergoes a reversible orthorhombic‐to‐monoclinic phase transition on cooling, whereas the structure of the `C'‐shaped polymorph is temperature insensitive.