Design of molecules and noncentrosymmetric crystals of 3-(4-nitrophenyl)-2-phenylacrylic acid derivatives

The derivatives of 3-(4-nitrophenyl)-2-phenylacrylic acid are synthesized. It is shown that the chemical modification of this acid results in a change in the symmetry of the supramolecular fragment formed by molecules in the crystal. In turn, this change leads to a change in the crystal symmetry and favors the formation of a noncentrosymmetric crystal structure. The crystal structures of 3-(4-nitrophenyl)-2-phenylacrylic acid (I), 3-(4-nitrophenyl)-2-phenyl-triethyl aminoacrylate (II), and 3-(4-nitrophenyl)-2-phenylacrylic acid (3-methoxy)phenyl ester (III) are investigated by X-ray diffraction.