Crystallization of molecular layers produced under confinement onto a surface

It is well known that molecules confined very close to a surface arrange into molecular layers. Because solid-liquid interfaces are ubiquitous in the chemical, biological and physical sciences, it is crucial to develop methods to easily access molecular layers and exploit their distinct properties by producing molecular layered crystals. Here we report a method based on crystallization in ultra-thin puddles enabled by gas blowing, which allows to produce molecular layered crystals with thickness down to the monolayer onto a surface, making them directly accessible for characterization and further processing. By selecting four molecules with different types of polymorphs, we observed exclusive crystallization of polymorphs with Van der Waals interlayer interactions, which have not been observed with traditional confinement methods. In conclusion, the gas blowing approach unveils the opportunity to perform materials chemistry under confinement onto a surface, enabling the formation of distinct crystals with selected polymorphism.

Mechanism of Phase Transition in dl-Methionine: Determining Cooperative and Molecule-by-Molecule Transformations

The solid-state phase transition in dl-methionine has been extensively studied because of its atypical behavior. The transition occurs through changes in the molecular conformation and 3D packing of the molecules. Phase transitions in racemic aliphatic amino acid crystals are known to show different behaviors depending on whether conformational changes or packing changes are involved, where the former is thought to proceed through a nucleation-and-growth mechanism in a standard molecule-by-molecule picture, and the latter through a cooperative mechanism. The phase transition of dl-methionine resembles the thermodynamic, kinetic, and structural features of both categories: a conformational change and relative shifts between layers in two directions. The present paper presents molecular dynamics simulations of the phase transition to examine the underlying mechanism from two perspectives: (i) analysis of the scaling behavior of the free energy barriers involved in the phase transition and (ii) a structural inspection of the phase transition. Both methods can help to distinguish between a concerted phase change and a molecule-by-molecule or zip-like mechanism. The free energy predominantly scales with the system size, which suggests a cooperative mechanism. The structural changes draw, however, a slightly more complex picture. The conformational changes appear to occur in a molecule-by-molecule fashion, where the rotational movement is triggered by movement in the same layer. Conformational changes occur on a time scale nearly twice as long as the shifts between layers. Shifts in one direction appear to be less concerted than shifts in the perpendicular direction. We relate this to the edge-free energy involved in these shifts. We believe that the behavior observed in dl-methionine is likely applicable to phase transitions in other layered systems that interact through aliphatic chains as well.

Comparative Analysis of Physical and Chemical Properties of Differently Obtained Zn-Methionine Chelate with Proved Antibiofilm Properties (Part II)

The previously demonstrated activity of aqueous solutions of methionine and zinc salts against biofilms of uropathogenic bacteria prompted us to investigate the structure and properties of zinc methionine complex obtained from such solutions. The paper presents the analysis results of zinc coordination complexes with methionine obtained by synthesis (0.034 mol of L-methionine, 0.034 mol of NaOH, 40 mL of H₂O, 0.017 mol ZnSO₄, 60 °C) and simple crystallization from water solution (25 mL of a solution containing 134 mmol/L L-methionine, 67 mmol/L ZnSO₄, pH = 5.74, I = 0.37 mmol/L, crystallization at room temperature during more than two weeks). IR spectral analysis and X-ray diffraction showed the structural similarity of the substances to each other, in agreement with the data described in the literature. DSC confirmed the formation of a thermally stable (in the range from -30 °C to 180 °C) chelate compound in both cases and indicated the possible retention of the polymorphic two-dimensional structure inherent in L-methionine with the temperature of phase transition 320 K. The crystallized complex had better solubility in water (100 to 1000 mL per 1.0 g) contra the synthesized analog, which was practically insoluble (more than 10 000 mL per 1.0 g). The results of the solubility assessment, supplemented by the results of the dispersion analysis of solutions by the dynamic light scattering method indicated the formation of zinc-containing nanoparticles (80 nm) in a saturated water solution of a crystallized substance, suggesting the crystallized substance may have higher bioavailability. We predicted a possibility of the equivalent existence of optically active cis and trans isomers in methionine-zinc solutions by the close values of formation enthalpy (-655 kJ/mol and -657 kJ/mol for cis and trans forms, respectively) and also illustrated by the polarimetry measurement results (∆α = 0.4°, pH = 5.74, C(Met) = 134 mmol/L; the concentration of metal ion gradually increased from 0 to 134 mmol/L). The obtained results allowed us to conclude that the compound isolated from the solution is a zinc-methionine chelate with the presence of sulfate groups and underline the role of the synthesis route for the biopharmaceutical characteristics of the resulting substance. We provided some quality indicators that it may be possible to include in the pharmacopeia monographs.

You cannot fight the pressure: Structural rearrangements of active pharmaceutical ingredients under magic angle spinning

Although solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is a versatile analytical tool to study polymorphs and phase transitions of pharmaceutical molecules and products, this work summarizes examples of spontaneous and unexpected (and unwanted) structural rearrangements and phase transitions (amorphous-to-crystalline and crystalline-to-crystalline) under magic angle spinning (MAS) conditions, some of them clearly being due to the pressure experienced by the samples. It is widely known that such changes can often be detected by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD); here, the capability of solid-state NMR experiments with a special focus on ¹ H-¹³ C frequency-switched Lee-Goldburg heteronuclear correlation (FSLG HETCOR)/MAS NMR experiments to detect even subtle changes on a molecular level not observable by conventional 1D NMR experiments or XRPD is presented. Furthermore, it is shown that a polymorphic impurity combined with MAS can induce a crystalline-to-crystalline phase transition. This showcases that solid-state NMR is not always noninvasive and such changes upon MAS should be considered in particular when compounds are studied over longer time spans.

Distinct pathways of solid-to-solid phase transitions induced by defects: the case of dl-me-thio-nine

Understanding of solid-to-solid phase transition mechanisms in polymorphic systems is of critical importance for rigorous control over polymorph purity in the pharmaceutical industry to achieve the desired bioavailability and efficacy of drugs. Ubiquitous defects in crystals may play an important role in the pathways of phase transitions. However, such effects remain poorly understood. Here, the effects of crystal defects on the solid-to-solid phase transformations between dl-me-thio-nine polymorphs α and β are investigated by means of experimental and computational approaches. Thermal analyses of polycrystalline powders show two endothermic peaks in the α-to-β phase transition (and two exothermic peaks for the reverse transition), in contrast with one thermal event observed for single crystals. Variable-temperature 1D and 2D Raman spectra, as well as powder X-ray diffraction patterns, reveal the appearance of two peaks that can attributed to a two-step phase transition, and the extent of the second-step phase transition increases with milling time (or defect density). Quantification of transition kinetics unveils a remarkably higher energy barrier in the second-step phase transition than in the first, proceeding by the cooperative molecular motion pathway. The good linear fitting on the kinetic data by the Jeziorny model suggests that the second-step transition follows the nucleation and growth mechanism. Molecular dynamics simulations were also conducted to understand the role of crystal defects in the solid-state phase transition by tracking the atomic distribution and hydrogen bond lifetime during the transition. It was found that the increasing defect density hinders the propagation of cooperative molecular motion, leading to a combined transition mechanism involving both cooperative motion and nucleation and growth. This study highlights the significant impact of crystal defects on solid-state phase transitions, and the two-step transition mechanism postulated may be universal given the ubiquitous presence of defects in crystalline materials.

Amino acid hydrogen oxalate quasiracemates – sulfur containing side chains

A new family of quasiracemic materials constructed from sulfur-containing amino acid hydrogen oxalates form supramolecular assemblies that divert significantly from near centrosymmetric alignment.

On the mechanism of solid-state phase transitions in molecular crystals - the role of cooperative motion in (quasi)racemic linear amino acids

During single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SCSC) phase transitions, a polymorph of a compound can transform to a more stable form while remaining in the solid state. By understanding the mechanism of these transitions, strategies can be developed to control this phenomenon. This is particularly important in the pharmaceutical industry, but also relevant for other industries such as the food and agrochemical industries. Although extensive literature exists on SCSC phase transitions in inorganic crystals, it is unclear whether their classications and mechanisms translate to molecular crystals, with weaker interactions and more steric hindrance. A comparitive study of SCSC phase transitions in aliphatic linear-chain amino acid crystals, both racemates and quasi-racemates, is presented. A total of 34 transitions are considered and most are classified according to their structural change during the transition. Transitions without torsional changes show very different characteristics, such as transition temperature, enthalpy and free energy, compared with transitions that involve torsional changes. These differences can be rationalized using classical nucleation theory and in terms of a difference in mechanism; torsional changes occur in a molecule-by-molecule fashion, whereas transitions without torsional changes involve cooperative motion with multiple molecules at the same time.

A large anisotropic plasticity of L-leucinium hydrogen maleate preserved at cryogenic temperatures

L-Leucinium hydrogen maleate crystals are very plastic at ambient conditions. Here it is shown that this plasticity is preserved at least down to 77 K. The structural changes in the temperature range 293-100 K were followed in order to rationalize the large anisotropic plasticity in this compound. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported example of an organic compound remaining so plastic at cryogenic conditions.

Tuning crystallization and stability of the metastable polymorph of dl-methionine by a structurally similar additive

Polymorph formation, transformation and crystal morphology were simultaneously tuned through a tailor-made additive via theoretical simulations combined with experimental methods.

Triethylphosphine as a molecular gear - phase transitions in ferrocenyl-acetylide-gold(I)

A sequence of two discontinuous phase transitions, occurring just above 125 K and 148 K, has been observed for a ferrocenyl-acetylide-gold(I) complex with triethylphosphine, structure (1), by means of a multi-temperature single-crystal X-ray diffraction technique. Three distinct phases have been identified. The high-temperature α and low-temperature γ phases share the same space group Pbca, whereas the intermediate β phase is in the Pb2₁a subgroup of Pbca. In all phases molecules of (1) form well defined double layers, with PEt₃ groups interlocking in planes perpendicular to c. On the molecular level, both phase transitions involve almost uniquely a conformational change of triethylphosphine: a gear-like rotation around the P-Au axis and concerted flips of the ethyl moieties. The mechanism of these transitions may be imagined as initiated by a rotation of a single PEt₃ group in a double layer (a single gear movement), followed by adjacent phosphines adjusting their conformations as a result of steric strain. The structural changes underlying phase transitions are sequential, occurring layer-wise, the γ→β transition involving approximately every other layer in the crystal lattice, the β→α yielding a total conformation change. The sequence of phase transitions results in a noticeable contraction of the crystal cell volume.

The Rich Solid-State Phase Behavior of dl-Aminoheptanoic Acid: Five Polymorphic Forms and Their Phase Transitions

The rich landscape of enantiotropically related polymorphic forms and their solid-state phase transitions of dl-2-aminoheptanoic acid (dl-AHE) has been explored using a range of complementary characterization techniques, and is largely exemplary of the polymorphic behavior of linear aliphatic amino acids. As many as five new polymorphic forms were found, connected by four fully reversible solid-state phase transitions. Two low temperature forms were refined in a high Z' crystal structure, which is a new phenomenon for linear aliphatic amino acids. All five structures consist of two-dimensional hydrogen-bonded bilayers interconnected by weak van der Waals interactions. The single-crystal-to-single-crystal phase transitions involve shifts of bilayers and/or conformational changes in the aliphatic chain. Compared to two similar phase transitions of the related amino acid dl-norleucine, the enthalpies of transition and NMR chemical shift differences are notably smaller in dl-aminoheptanoic acid. This is explained to be a result of both the nature of the conformational changes and the increased chain length, weakening the interactions between the bilayers.

Polymorphism of the quasiracemate d-2-aminobutyric acid:l-norvaline

A new polymorphic quasiracemate d-2-aminobutyric acid:l-norvaline has been discovered and its reversible single-crystal-to-single-crystal phase transition has been studied using XRD, DSC and thermal microscopy. The low temperature form I is fully ordered, while form II shows two conformations for l-norvaline with a 50/50 occupancy.