Combining X-ray and NMR Crystallography to Explore the Crystallographic Disorder in Salbutamol Oxalate.

Salbutamol is an active pharmaceutical ingredient commonly used to treat respiratory distress and is listed by the World Health Organization as an essential medicine. Here, we establish the crystal structure of its oxalate form, salbutamol oxalate, and explore the nature of its crystallographic disorder by combined X-ray crystallography and 13C cross-polarization (CP) magic-angle spinning (MAS) solid-state NMR. The *C-OH chiral center of salbutamol (note that the crystal structures are a racemic mixture of the two enantiomers of salbutamol) is disordered over two positions, and the tert-butyl group is rotating rapidly, as revealed by 13C solid-state NMR. The impact of crystallization conditions on the disorder was investigated, finding variations in the occupancy ratio of the *C-OH chiral center between single crystals and a consistency across samples in the bulk powder. Overall, this work highlights the contrast between investigating crystallographic disorder by X-ray diffraction and solid-state NMR experiment, and gauge-including projector-augmented-wave (GIPAW) density functional theory (DFT) calculations, with their combined use, yielding an improved understanding of the nature of the crystallographic disorder between the local (i.e., as viewed by NMR) and longer-range periodic (i.e., as viewed by diffraction) scale.

LED-pump-X-ray-multiprobe crystallography for sub-second timescales.

The visualization of chemical processes that occur in the solid-state is key to the design of new functional materials. One of the challenges in these studies is to monitor the processes across a range of timescales in real-time. Here, we present a pump-multiprobe single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) technique for studying photoexcited solid-state species with millisecond-to-minute lifetimes. We excite using pulsed LEDs and synchronise to a gated X-ray detector to collect 3D structures with sub-second time resolution while maximising photo-conversion and minimising beam damage. Our implementation provides complete control of the pump-multiprobe sequencing and can access a range of timescales using the same setup. Using LEDs allows variation of the intensity and pulse width and ensures uniform illumination of the crystal, spreading the energy load in time and space. We demonstrate our method by studying the variable-temperature kinetics of photo-activated linkage isomerism in [Pd(Bu4dien)(NO2)][BPh4] single-crystals. We further show that our method extends to following indicative Bragg reflections with a continuous readout Timepix3 detector chip. Our approach is applicable to a range of physical and biological processes that occur on millisecond and slower timescales, which cannot be studied using existing techniques.

Dynamic Crystallization Pathways of Polymorphic Pharmaceuticals Revealed in Segmented Flow with Inline Powder X-ray Diffraction.

Understanding the transitions between polymorphs is essential in the development of strategies for manufacturing and maximizing the efficiency of pharmaceuticals. However, this can be extremely challenging: crystallization can be influenced by subtle changes in environment, such as temperature and mixing intensity or even imperfections in the crystallizer walls. Here, we highlight the importance of in situ measurements in understanding crystallization mechanisms, where a segmented flow crystallizer was used to study the crystallization of the pharmaceuticals urea: barbituric acid (UBA) and carbamazepine (CBZ). The reactor provides highly reproducible reaction conditions, while in situ synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) enables us to monitor the evolution of this system. UBA has two polymorphs of almost equivalent free-energy and so is typically obtained as a polymorphic mixture. In situ PXRD analysis uncovered a progression of polymorphs from UBA III to the thermodynamic polymorph UBA I, where different positions along the length of the tubular flow crystallizer correspond to different reaction times. Addition of UBA I seed crystals modified this pathway such that only UBA I was observed throughout, while transformation from UBA III into UBA I still occurred in the presence of UBA III seeds. Information regarding the mixing-dependent kinetics of the CBZ form II to III transformation was also uncovered in a series of seeded and unseeded flow crystallization runs, despite atypical habit expression. These results illustrate the importance of coupling controlled reaction environments with in situ XRD to study the phase relationships in polymorphic materials.

Habit Modification of the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Lovastatin Through a Predictive Solvent Selection Approach.

An analysis of the important intermolecular interactions of the active pharmaceutical ingredient lovastatin which contribute to the surface chemistry and attachment energy morphology is presented. The analysis is supported by a recent redetermination of the single-crystal structure (orthorhombic space group P212121) and targets the understanding and potential control of the morphology of lovastatin, which tends to crystallize in a needle-like morphology, where the aspect ratio varies depending on the nature of the solvent. The lattice energy was calculated to be -38.79 kcal mol-1 with a small contribution of -2.73 kcal mol-1 from electrostatic interactions. The lattice structure is significantly stabilized by the hexahydronaphthalene ring of the molecule, which contributes 43.39% of the lattice energy. Synthon analysis shows that the dominant intermolecular interaction within the lattice structure of lovastatin is found to be along the a crystallographic axis, associated with a dispersive stacking interaction due to the close packing of 2 hexahydronaphthalene rings resulting in a total interaction energy of -6.46 kcal mol-1. The attachment energy morphology correlates well with the observed crystal morphology which exhibits a needle-like habit dominated by {0 1 1}, {0 2 0}, {0 0 2}, and {1 0 1} crystal forms. The needle capping faces are found to contain the short stacks of hexahydronaphthalene rings where the strong intermolecular synthon is found to contribute positively to the attachment energy and hence growth at this surface. This dominant intermolecular synthon is concluded to be the major cause of enhanced growth along the crystallographic a axis leading to the formation of a needle-like morphology. A habit modification strategy is discussed which uses recrystallization from apolar solvents to reduce the effective growth rate at the needle-capping surfaces. This is supported through experimental data which shows that crystals obtained from crystallization in hexane and methyl-cyclohexane have significantly reduced aspect ratios in comparison to those grown from the more polar methanol and ethyl acetate solutions. Crystals obtained from nitromethane solutions were also found to have a very large reduction in aspect ratio to a prismatic morphology reflecting this solvent's propensity to interact with hydrophobic surfaces, critically with no polymorph change.

Investigation of the Evolution of Crystal Size and Shape during Temperature Cycling and in the Presence of a Polymeric Additive Using Combined Process Analytical Technologies.

Crystal size and shape can be manipulated to enhance the qualities of the final product. In this work the steady-state shape and size of succinic acid crystals, with and without a polymeric additive (Pluronic P123) at 350 mL, scale is reported. The effect of the amplitude of cycles as well as the heating/cooling rates is described, and convergent cycling (direct nucleation control) is compared to static cycling. The results show that the shape of succinic acid crystals changes from plate- to diamond-like after multiple cycling steps, and that the time required for this morphology change to occur is strongly related to the type of cycling. Addition of the polymer is shown to affect both the final shape of the crystals and the time needed to reach size and shape steady-state conditions. It is shown how this phenomenon can be used to improve the design of the crystallization step in order to achieve more efficient downstream operations and, in general, to help optimize the whole manufacturing process.

Magnetic coupling in a hybrid Mn(ii) acetylene dicarboxylate.

The design of ligands that mediate through-bond long range super-exchange in metal-organic hybrid materials would expand chemical space beyond the commonly observed short range, low temperature magnetic ordering. Here we examine acetylene dicarboxylate as a potential ligand that could install long range magnetic ordering due to its spatially continuous frontier orbitals. Using a known Mn(ii)-containing coordination polymer we compute and measure the electronic structure and magnetic ordering. In this case, the latter is weak owing to the sub-optimal ligand coordination geometry, with a critical temperature of 2.5 K.

An Iodine-Vapor-Induced Cyclization in a Crystalline Molecular Flask.

A vapor-induced cyclization has been observed in the host environment of a crystalline molecular flask (CMF), within which 1,8-bis(2-phenylethynyl)naphthalene (bpen), a diarenynyl system primed for cyclization, was exposed to iodine vapor to yield the corresponding indeno[2,1-α]phenalene species. The cyclization process, unique in its vapor-induced, solvent-free nature, was followed spectroscopically, and found to occur concurrently with the displacement of lattice solvent for molecular iodine in CMF⋅0.75 bpen⋅2.25 CHCl3 ⋅H2 O. The cyclization occurred under mild conditions and without the need to suspend the crystals in solvent. The ability of CMFs to host purely gas-induced reactions is further highlighted by the subsequent sequential oxidation reaction of cyclized 7-iodo-12-phenylindeno[2,1-α]phenalene (ipp) with molecular oxygen derived from air, yielding 12-hydroxy-7-iodo-2-phenylindeno[2,1-α]phenalen-1(12H)-one (hipp).

Selective preparation of elusive and alternative single component polymorphic solid forms through multi-component crystallisation routes.

A transferable, simple, method for producing previously elusive and novel polymorphic forms of important active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs; paracetamol (acetaminophen), piroxicam and piracetam) is demonstrated. Nitrogen heterocyclic co-molecules are employed to influence the self-assembly crystallisation process in a multi-component environment. Previously unknown solvates have also been synthesised by this method.

Controlled production of the elusive metastable form II of acetaminophen (paracetamol): a fully scalable templating approach in a cooling environment.

A scalable, transferable, cooling crystallisation route to the elusive, metastable, form II of the API acetaminophen (paracetamol) has been developed using a multicomponent "templating" approach, delivering 100% polymorphic phase pure form II at scales up to 120 g. Favourable solubility and stability properties are found for the form II samples.

Electron density, disorder and polymorphism: high-resolution diffraction studies of the highly polymorphic neuralgic drug carbamazepine.

Analysis of neutron and high-resolution X-ray diffraction data on form (III) of carbamazepine at 100 K using the atoms in molecules (AIM) topological approach afforded excellent agreement between the experimental results and theoretical densities from the optimized gas-phase structure and from multipole modelling of static theoretical structure factors. The charge density analysis provides experimental confirmation of the partially localized π-bonding suggested by the conventional structural formula, but the evidence for any significant C-N π bonding is not strong. Hirshfeld atom refinement (HAR) gives H atom positional and anisotropic displacement parameters that agree very well with the neutron parameters. X-ray and neutron diffraction data on the dihydrate of carbemazepine strongly indicate a disordered orthorhombic crystal structure in the space group Cmca, rather than a monoclinic crystal structure in space group P2(1)/c. This disorder in the dihydrate structure has implications for both experimental and theoretical studies of polymorphism.

Absorbate-induced piezochromism in a porous molecular crystal.

Atmospherically stable porous frameworks and materials are interesting for heterogeneous solid-gas applications. One motivation is the direct and selective uptake of pollutant/hazardous gases, where the material produces a measurable response in the presence of the analyte. In this report, we present a combined experimental and theoretical rationalization for the piezochromic response of a robust and porous molecular crystal built from an extensively fluorinated trispyrazole. The electronic response of the material is directly determined by analyte uptake, which provokes a subtle lattice contraction and an observable bathochromic shift in the optical absorption onset. Selectivity for fluorinated absorbates is demonstrated, and toluene is also found to crystallize within the pore. Furthermore, we demonstrate the application of electronic structure calculations to predict a physicochemical response, providing the foundations for the design of electronically tunable porous solids with the chemical properties required for development of novel gas-uptake media.

A facile single crystal to single crystal transition with significant structural contraction on desolvation.

5-Ethynyl-1,3-benzenedicarboxylic acid (H2ebdc) reacted with lead(II) acetate trihydrate yields a 1D ladder network, [Pb(ebdc)(MeOH)]2·H2O (1). Removing crystals of 1 from the mother liquor results in a facile single crystal to single crystal transition, yielding 2D [Pb(ebdc)] net (2) with a change in space group from I2/a to P1̄.

Solid-state interconversions: unique 100 % reversible transformations between the ground and metastable states in single-crystals of a series of nickel(II) nitro complexes.

The solid-state, low-temperature linkage isomerism in a series of five square planar group 10 phosphino nitro complexes have been investigated by a combination of photocrystallographic experiments, Raman spectroscopy and computer modelling. The factors influencing the reversible solid-state interconversion between the nitro and nitrito structural isomers have also been investigated, providing insight into the dynamics of this process. The cis-[Ni(dcpe)(NO2)2] (1) and cis-[Ni(dppe)(NO2)2] (2) complexes show reversible 100 % interconversion between the η(1)-NO2 nitro isomer and the η(1)-ONO nitrito form when single-crystals are irradiated with 400 nm light at 100 K. Variable temperature photocrystallographic studies for these complexes established that the metastable nitrito isomer reverted to the ground-state nitro isomer at temperatures above 180 K. By comparison, the related trans complex [Ni(PCy3)2(NO2)2] (3) showed 82 % conversion under the same experimental conditions at 100 K. The level of conversion to the metastable nitrito isomers is further reduced when the nickel centre is replaced by palladium or platinum. Prolonged irradiation of the trans-[Pd(PCy3)2(NO2)2] (4) and trans-[Pt(PCy3)2(NO2)2] (5) with 400 nm light gives reversible conversions of 44 and 27 %, respectively, consistent with the slower kinetics associated with the heavier members of group 10. The mechanism of the interconversion has been investigated by theoretical calculations based on the model complex [Ni(dmpe)Cl(NO2)].

Experimental Electron Density and Neutron Diffraction Studies on the Polymorphs of Sulfathiazole.

High resolution X-ray diffraction data on forms I-IV of sulfathiazole and neutron diffraction data on forms II-IV have been collected at 100 K and analyzed using the Atoms in Molecules topological approach. The molecular thermal motion as judged by the anisotropic displacement parameters (adp's) is very similar in all four forms. The adp of the thiazole sulfur atom had the greatest amplitude perpendicular to the five-membered ring, and analysis of the temperature dependence of the adps indicates that this is due to genuine thermal motion rather than a concealed disorder. A minor disorder (∼1-2%) is evident for forms I and II, but a statistical analysis reveals no deleterious effect on the derived multipole populations. The topological analysis reveals an intramolecular S-O···S interaction, which is consistently present in all experimental topologies. Analysis of the gas-phase conformation of the molecule indicates two low-energy theoretical conformers, one of which possesses the same intramolecular S-O···S interaction observed in the experimental studies and the other an S-O···H-N intermolecular interaction. These two interactions appear responsible for "locking" the molecular conformation. The lattice energies of the various polymorphs computed from the experimental multipole populations are highly dependent on the exact refinement model. They are similar in magnitude to theoretically derived lattice energies, but the relatively high estimated errors mean that this method is insufficiently accurate to allow a definitive stability order for the sulfathiazole polymorphs at 0 K to be determined.

Utilizing proton transfer to produce molecular salts in bromanilic acid substituted-pyridine molecular complexes - predictable synthons?

Controlled introduction of proton transfer into the design of a series of molecular complexes is described, delivering the systematic production of ionic molecular complexes (molecular salts). The controlled production of molecular salts has relevance as a potential strategy in the design of pharmaceutical materials. In nine molecular complexes consisting of bromanilic acid with the N-heterocyclic compounds 2-, 3- and 4-picoline [bis(2/3/4-methylpyridinium) 2,5-dibromo-3,6-dioxocyclohexa-1,4-diene-1,4-diolate, 2C6H8N(+)·C6Br2O4(2-)], 2,3-, 2,4-, 2,5- and 3,5-lutidine [2,3/2,4/2,5/3,5-dimethylpyridinium 2,5-dibromo-4-hydroxy-3,6-dioxocyclohexa-1,4-dien-1-olate, C7H10N(+)·C6HBr2O4(-)], and 3-bromo-4-methylpyridine [3-bromo-4-methylpyridinium 2,5-dibromo-4-hydroxy-3,6-dioxocyclohexa-1,4-dien-1-olate, C6H7BrN(+)·C6HBr2O4(-)] and 2-bromo-3-methylpyridine [2-bromo-3-methylpyridine-2,5-dibromo-3,6-dihydroxycyclohexa-2,5-diene-1,4-dione (1/1), C6H6BrN·C6H2Br2O4], proton transfer occurs readily between the bromanilic acid molecule and the N heteroatom of the pyridine ring, in all cases producing a charge-assisted bifurcated N-H...O hydrogen bond. This reinforces the value of this motif as a design tool in the crystal engineering of such complexes. The protonation state (and stoichiometry) significantly affect the supramolecular synthons obtained, but 1:2 stoichiometries reliably give rise to PBP synthons and 1:1 stoichiometries to PBBP synthons (where P indicates a methylpyridine co-molecule and B a bromanilic acid molecule). The influence of halogen interactions on the wider crystal packing is also discussed, with C-H...Br and Br...O interactions the most prevalent; only one Br...Br interaction is found.

Temperature dependent solid-state proton migration in dimethylurea-oxalic acid complexes.

The phenomenon of solid-state proton migration within molecular complexes containing short hydrogen bonds is investigated in two dimethylurea-oxalic acid complexes. Extensive characterisation by both X-ray and neutron diffraction shows that proton migration along the hydrogen bond can be induced in these complexes as a function of temperature. This emphasises the subtle features of the hydrogen bond potential well in such short hydrogen bonded complexes, both intrinsically and in the effect of the local crystalline environment. Based on these findings, the synthesis and analysis of a series of solid-state molecular complexes is shown to be a potential route to designing materials with tuneable proton migration effects.

Probing hydrogen positions in hydrous compounds: information from parametric neutron powder diffraction studies.

We demonstrate the extent to which modern detector technology, coupled with a high flux constant wavelength neutron source, can be used to obtain high quality diffraction data from short data collections, allowing the refinement of the full structures (including hydrogen positions) of hydrous compounds from in situ neutron powder diffraction measurements. The in situ thermodiffractometry and controlled humidity studies reported here reveal that important information on the reorientations of structural water molecules with changing conditions can be easily extracted, providing insight into the effects of hydrogen bonding on bulk physical properties. Using crystalline BaCl2·2H2O as an example system, we analyse the structural changes in the compound and its dehydration intermediates with changing temperature and humidity levels to demonstrate the quality of the dynamic structural information on the hydrogen atoms and associated hydrogen bonding that can be obtained without resorting to sample deuteration.

Structural isotope effects in metal hydrides and deuterides.

Historically the extraction of high-quality crystallographic information from inorganic samples having high hydrogen contents, such as metal hydrides, has involved preparing deuterated samples prior to study using neutron powder diffraction. We demonstrate, through direct comparison of the crystal structure refinements of the binary hydrides SrH(2) and BaH(2) with their deuteride analogues at 2 K and as a function of temperature, that precise and accurate structural information can be obtained from rapid data collections from samples containing in excess of 60 at.% hydrogen using modern high-flux, medium resolution, continuous wavelength neutron powder diffraction instruments. Furthermore, observed isotope-effects in the extracted lattice parameters and atomic positions illustrate the importance of investigating compounds in their natural hydrogenous form whenever possible.

Synthesis of a novel heptacoordinated Fe(III) dinuclear complex: experimental and theoretical study of the magnetic properties.

A new functionalized bis-pyrazol-pyridine ligand has been prepared by reaction with hydrazine of the corresponding bis-ß-diketone precursor, also unprecedented. The aerobic reaction of this ligand with ferrous thiocyanate in the presence of ascorbic or oxalic acid affords the dinuclear complex of seven-coordinate Fe(III), [Fe2(H4L2)2(ox)(NCS)4] (1), as revealed by single crystal X-ray diffraction. This may represent an entry into a new family of [Fe2] compounds with heptacoordinate metal centres. The capacity of this unusual chromophore to undergo magnetic super-exchange was investigated by means of bulk magnetization and DFT calculations. Both approaches confirmed the presence of antiferromagnetic interactions within the molecule. The theoretical investigation has served to describe the magnetic orbitals of Fe(III) in this unusual coordination geometry, as well as the exchange mechanism. A brief review of the scarce number of iron heptacoordinate complexes reported in the literature is also included and discussed.