Phase transitions in 3,5-dichloropyridine

Abstract

Structural phase transitions in 3,5-dichloropyridine crystal have been studied by calorimetry (150–300 K), X-ray diffraction (300 K), ³⁵Cland ¹⁴N nuclear quadrupole resonance (75–300 K) and vibrational spectroscopy (20–300K). Three phases have been shown to exist: phase I, between 338 and 287.5 K, phase 11, between 287.5 and 167.5 K, and phase 111, below 167.5 K. Phase I is characterised by the space group P 2,/m and Z = 2 whereas phases I1 and 111 remain centrosymmetric but double the unit cell. All the phases are ordered and contain crystallo- graphically equivalent molecules. The I ? I1 transition is of first order and probably of the reconstructive type while the II ? III transition is believed to be displacive. Both transitions are monitored by predominantly R′_x and R′_z librational motions.