Structure determination from powder diffraction data.

Advances made over the past decade in structure determination from powder diffraction data are reviewed with particular emphasis on algorithmic developments and the successes and limitations of the technique. While global optimization methods have been successful in the solution of molecular crystal structures, new methods are required to make the solution of inorganic crystal structures more routine. The use of complementary techniques such as NMR to assist structure solution is discussed and the potential for the combined use of X-ray and neutron diffraction data for structure verification is explored. Structures that have proved difficult to solve from powder diffraction data are reviewed and the limitations of structure determination from powder diffraction data are discussed. Furthermore, the prospects of solving small protein crystal structures over the next decade are assessed.

Structural transformations in zopiclone.

A monoclinic centrosymmetric form of zopiclone dihydrate undergoes a sequential, two-step transformation in the solid-state upon heating which results in separation of the enantiomers into a racemic conglomerate or racemic twins.

A probabilistic approach to space-group determination from powder diffraction data.

An algorithm for the determination of the space-group symmetry of a crystal from powder diffraction data, based upon probability theory, is described. Specifically, the relative probabilities of different extinction symbols are assessed within a particular crystal system. In general, only a small number of extinction symbols are relatively highly probable and a single extinction symbol is often significantly more probable than any other. Several examples are presented to illustrate this approach.

Structural characterization of three crystalline modifications of telmisartan by single crystal and high-resolution X-ray powder diffraction.

Three crystalline modifications (A, B, and C) of 4'-[[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(1-methyl-benzimidazol-2-yl)benzi midazol-1-yl]methyl]biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (INN name, telmisartan) have been detected and their crystal structures have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (pseudopolymorph C) and the method of simulated annealing from high-resolution X-ray powder diffraction data (polymorphs A and B). The compound is of interest because of its use as an angiotensin II receptor antagonist. Polymorph A crystallizes in space group P2(I)/c, Z = 4, with unit cell parameters a = 18.7798(3), b = 18.1043(2), and c = 8.00578(7) A, beta = 97.066(1) degrees, and V = 2701.31 A(3). Polymorph B crystallizes in space group P2(I)/a, Z = 4, with unit cell parameters a = 16.0646(5), b = 13.0909(3), and c = 13.3231(3) A, beta = 99.402(1) degrees, and V = 2764.2(1) A(3). The solvated form C crystallizes in space group C2/c, Z = 8, with unit cell parameters a = 30.990(5), b = 13.130(3), and c = 16.381(3) A, beta = 95.02(2) degrees, and V = 6639(2) A(3). For the structure solutions of polymorphs A and B, 13 degrees of freedom (3 translational, 3 orientational, 7 torsion angles) were determined in approximately 2 h of computer time, demonstrating that the crystal packing and the molecular conformation of medium-sized (MW approximately 500) pharmaceutical compounds can now be solved quickly and routinely from high-resolution X-ray powder diffraction data.

Chiral metal-dithiolene/viologen ion pairs: synthesis and electrical conductivity.

Enantiomerically pure dithiolene complexes NBu4[Ni[(R,R)-diotte)2] and NBu4[Ni((S,S)-diotte]2] (diotte2- = a 1,3-dioxolane-tetrathiaethylene), were prepared from the corresponding enantiomers of a diotte2- precursor. The structure of the precursor was solved by single-crystal X-ray analysis; desulfurization afforded a novel tetrathiafulvalene derivative. Combination of the complex monoanion with the enantiomers of the viologen derivative bis(2-methyl-3-hydroxypropyl)-4,4'-dipyridinium (HiBV2+) afforded enantiomeric and diastereomeric ion-pair complexes of the type HiBV[Ni(diotte)2]2. For comparison, the analogous compounds A[Ni(diotte)2]2, (A2+ = methyl (MV2+), octyl (OV2-), stearyl (StV2+) viologen or two 2,2'-bipyridinium acceptors), HiBV-[Ni(diotte)L] [L = mnt2- (maleonitrile-1,2-dithiolate), dmit2- (2-thioxo-1,3-dithiol-4,5-dithiolate)], MV[Ni(dmit)2)]2, [Ni(diotte)2], and [Ni(diotte)(dmit)] were synthesized. An X-ray powder diffraction structural analysis of MV-[Ni(dmit)2)]2 revealed the presence of mixed stacks that contain the sequence anion-anion-cation. While no short contacts are observable within a stack, these are observed between the stacks for the dication-anion interaction by short S...H distances in the range of 2.77 to 2.86 A, and for the anion-anion interaction short S...S distances of 3.55 to 3.65 A. In agreement with the absence of intrastack interactions, no ion-pair charge-transfer band can be detected in this and the other complexes. ESR and UV/Vis data suggest that in [Ni(diotte)2]- electron delocalization is less pronounced than in the corresponding mnt2- and dmit2- complexes. The specific electrical conductivity (sigma) of pressed powder pellets ranges from 10(-2) to 10(-12) ohm(-1) cm(-1) and in all cases increases with increasing temperature (293 - 393 K) according to an Arrhenius law. Corresponding activation energies vary from 0.14 to 0.93 eV and increase linearly with log a for structurally similar ion pairs. Charge generation is postulated to occur by disproportionation of the monoanion as suggested by the almost linear increase of log(sigma) with decreasing disproportionation energy. The conductivity of diastereomers of ions with two unlike configurations like [(S,S)-HiBV]-[Ni[(R,R)-diotte]2]2 (1.1 x 10(-1) ohm(-1) cm(-1)) is one to two orders of magnitude higher as compared to the diastereomers with two like-configured ions.