Solvation and surface effects on polymorph stabilities at the nanoscale

Going beyond the Ordered Bulk: A Perspective on the Use of the Cambridge Structural Database for Predictive Materials Design

When Olga Kennard founded the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre in 1965, the Cambridge Structural Database was a pioneering attempt to collect scientific data in a standard format. Since then, it has evolved into an indispensable resource in contemporary molecular materials science, with over 1.25 million structures and comprehensive software tools for searching, visualizing and analyzing the data. In this perspective, we discuss the use of the CSD and CCDC tools to address the multiscale challenge of predictive materials design. We provide an overview of the core capabilities of the CSD and CCDC software and demonstrate their application to a range of materials design problems with recent case studies drawn from topical research areas, focusing in particular on the use of data mining and machine learning techniques. We also identify several challenges that can be addressed with existing capabilities or through new capabilities with varying levels of development effort.

Advances in hybridized nanoarchitectures for improved oro-dental health

On a global note, oral health plays a critical role in improving the overall human health. In this vein, dental-related issues with dentin exposure often facilitate the risk of developing various oral-related diseases in gums and teeth. Several oral-based ailments include gums-associated (gingivitis or periodontitis), tooth-based (dental caries, root infection, enamel erosion, and edentulous or total tooth loss), as well as miscellaneous diseases in the buccal or oral cavity (bad breath, mouth sores, and oral cancer). Although established conventional treatment modalities have been available to improve oral health, these therapeutic options suffer from several limitations, such as fail to eradicate bacterial biofilms, deprived regeneration of dental pulp cells, and poor remineralization of teeth, resulting in dental emergencies. To this end, the advent of nanotechnology has resulted in the development of various innovative nanoarchitectured composites from diverse sources. This review presents a comprehensive overview of different nanoarchitectured composites for improving overall oral health. Initially, we emphasize various oral-related diseases, providing detailed pathological circumstances and their effects on human health along with deficiencies of the conventional therapeutic modalities. Further, the importance of various nanostructured components is emphasized, highlighting their predominant actions in solving crucial dental issues, such as anti-bacterial, remineralization, and tissue regeneration abilities. In addition to an emphasis on the synthesis of different nanostructures, various nano-therapeutic solutions from diverse sources are discussed, including natural (plant, animal, and marine)-based components and other synthetic (organic- and inorganic-) architectures, as well as their composites for improving oral health. Finally, we summarize the article with an interesting outlook on overcoming the challenges of translating these innovative platforms to clinics.

Solvent-free sample preparation for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry of polymer blends

RATIONALE

Solvent-free sample preparation offers some advantages over solvent-based techniques, such as improved accuracy, reproducibility and sensitivity, for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) analysis. However, little or no information is available on the application of solvent-free techniques for the MALDI analysis of polymer blends.

METHODS

Solvent-free sample preparation by ball milling was applied with varying sample-to-matrix ratios for MALDI time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis of various polymers, including polystyrenes, poly(methyl methacrylate)s and poly(ethylene glycol)s. The peak intensity ratios were compared with those obtained after using the conventional dried droplet sample preparation method. In addition, solvent-assisted milling was also applied to improve sample homogeneities.

RESULTS

Depending on the sample preparation method used, different peak intensity ratios were found, showing varying degrees of suppression of the signal intensities of higher mass polymers. Ball milling for up to 30 min was required to achieve constant intensity ratios indicating homogeneous mixtures. The use of wet-assisted grinding to improve the homogeneity of the blends was found to be disadvantageous as it caused partial degradation and mass-dependent segregation of the polymers in the vials.

CONCLUSIONS

The results clearly show that solvent-free sample preparation must be carefully considered when applied to synthetic polymer blends, as it may cause additional problems with regard to homogeneity and stability of the blends.

Crystal size, shape, and conformational changes drive both the disappearance and reappearance of ritonavir polymorphs in the mill

Organic compounds can crystallize in different forms known as polymorphs. Discovery and control of polymorphism is crucial to the pharmaceutical industry since different polymorphs can have significantly different physical properties which impacts their utilization in drug delivery. Certain polymorphs have been reported to 'disappear' from the physical world, irreversibly converting to new ones. These unwanted polymorph conversions, initially prevented by slow nucleation kinetics, are eventually observed driven by significant gains in thermodynamic stabilities. The most infamous of these cases is that of the HIV drug ritonavir (RVR): Once its reluctant form was unwillingly nucleated for the first time, its desired form could no longer be produced with the same manufacturing process. Here we show that RVR's extraordinary disappearing polymorph as well as its reluctant form can be consistently produced by ball-milling under different environmental conditions. We demonstrate that the significant difference in stability between its polymorphs can be changed and reversed in the mill-a process we show is driven by crystal size as well as crystal shape and conformational effects. We also show that those effects can be controlled through careful design of milling conditions since they dictate the kinetics of crystal breakage, dissolution, and growth processes that eventually lead to steady-state crystal sizes and shapes in the mill. This work highlights the huge potential of mechanochemistry in polymorph discovery of forms initially difficult to nucleate, recovery of disappearing polymorphs, and polymorph control of complex flexible drug compounds such as RVR.

Liquid reagents are not enough for liquid assisted grinding in the synthesis of [(AgBr)(n-pica)]n

This study investigates the mechanochemical reactions between AgBr 3-picolylamine and 4-picolylamine. The use of different stoichiometry ratios of the reagents allows [(AgBr)(n-pica)]n and [(AgBr)2(n-pica)]n to be obtained, and we report the new structures of [(AgBr)2(3-pica)]n and [(AgBr)2(4-pica)]n which are characterized by the presence of the following: (a) infinite inorganic chains, (b) silver atom coordinated only by bromide atoms and (c) argentophilic interactions. Furthermore, we studied the interconversion of [(AgBr)(n-pica)]n/[(AgBr)2(n-pica)]n by mechanochemical and thermal properties. The in situ experiments suggest that [(AgBr)(3-pica)]n is kinetically favoured while [(AgBr)2(3-pica)]n is converted into [(AgBr)(3-pica)]n only with a high excess of the ligand. Finally, the liquid nature of the ligands is not sufficient to assist the grinding process, and the complete reaction is observed with the addition of a small quantity of acetonitrile.

The Origin of Delayed Polymorphism in Molecular Crystals Under Mechanochemical Conditions

We show that mechanochemically driven polymorphic transformations can require extremely long induction periods, which can be tuned from hours to days by changing ball milling energy. The robust design and interpretation of ball milling experiments must account for this unexpected kinetics that arises from energetic phenomena unique to the solid state. Detailed thermal analysis, combined with DFT simulations, indicates that these marked induction periods are associated with processes of mechanical activation. Correspondingly, we show that the pre-activation of reagents can also lead to marked changes in the length of induction periods. Our findings demonstrate a new dimension for exerting control over polymorphic transformations in organic crystals. We expect mechanical activation to have a much broader implication across organic solid-state mechanochemistry.

Application of resonant acoustic mixing in the synthesis of vitamin C-nicotinamide variable stoichiometry cocrystals

The use of resonant acoustic mixing (RAM) to synthesize variable stoichiometry cocrystals of nicotinamide and vitamin C was investigated. Liquid assisted RAM (LA-RAM) was used to generate two polymorphs, Form I and II, of the 1 : 1 cocrystal of nicotinamide and vitamin C at a 700 mg scale using ethanol and methanol respectively as the liquid additives. LA-RAM was used to scale up polymorphs I and II of the 1 : 1 cocrystal to 20 grams. Finally, LA-RAM used was to produce a high purity 3 : 1 cocrystal of nicotinamide and vitamin C when either methanol or ethanol was used as the liquid additive. LA-RAM is demonstrated to be a scalable, environmentally friendly, ball-free method to make variable stoichiometry cocrystals.

Spiers Memorial Lecture: Mechanochemistry, tribochemistry, mechanical alloying - retrospect, achievements and challenges

The paper presents a view on the achievements, challenges and prospects of mechanochemistry. The extensive reference list can serve as a good entry point to a plethora of mechanochemical literature.

Controlling polymorphism in molecular cocrystals by variable temperature ball milling

Mechanochemistry offers a unique opportunity to modify and manipulate crystal forms, often providing new products as compared with conventional solution methods. While promising, there is little known about how to control the solid form through mechanochemical means, demanding dedicated investigations. Using a model organic cocrystal system (isonicotinamide:glutaric acid), we here demonstrate that with mechanochemistry, polymorphism can be induced in molecular solids under conditions seemingly different to their conventional thermodynamic (thermal) transition point. Whereas Form II converts to Form I upon heating to 363 K, the same transition can be initiated under ball milling conditions at markedly lower temperatures (348 K). Our results indicate that mechanochemical techniques can help to reduce the energy barriers to solid form transitions, offering new insights into controlling polymorphic forms. Moreover, our results suggest that the nature of mechanochemical transformations could make it difficult to interpret mechanochemical solid form landscapes using conventional equilibrium-based tools.

Azilsartan-nicotinamide cocrystal: Preparation, characterization and in vitro / vivo evaluation

Azilsartan (AZL) is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist, which is mainly used for the treatment of hypertension. AZL has the advantages of high selectivity, hypotensive effect, protection of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. In order to improve the water solubility of AZL and its bioavailability, AZL -nicotinamide (NA) cocrystal was prepared by mechanical ball milling, and the effect of ball milling conditions on cocrystal preparation were studied. AZL-NA cocrystal was identified and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. The results showed that AZL-NA cocrystal with the molar ratio of 1:2 was successfully prepared. And the optimum ball milling condition was milling speed of 300 rpm, milling time of 50 min, the solvent was ethanol/acetonitrile (1:1, v/v), and the solvent dosage (η) was 0.8 μL/mg. The results of solubility tests showed that the solubility of AZL in the cocrystal was 3.39 times higher than the pure drug at 24 h. And the results of vitro dissolution tests showed that the cumulative dissolution of AZL in 2 h was about 10%. While distilled water, pH 1.2 and pH 4.5 acid or buffered solutions and pH 6.8 buffer phosphate salt solution was used as the dissolution medium, the cumulative dissolution of AZL in cocrystal reached 50%, 35%, 55% and 90%, respectively, showing obvious improvement of dissolution. In addition, the accelerated stability tests showed that the AZL-NA cocrystal had good chemical stability. And the pharmacokinetic results showed that AZL-NA cocrystal could significantly improve the bioavailability of AZL.

Analogy Powered by Prediction and Structural Invariants: Computationally Led Discovery of a Mesoporous Hydrogen-Bonded Organic Cage Crystal

Mesoporous molecular crystals have potential applications in separation and catalysis, but they are rare and hard to design because many weak interactions compete during crystallization, and most molecules have an energetic preference for close packing. Here, we combine crystal structure prediction (CSP) with structural invariants to continuously qualify the similarity between predicted crystal structures for related molecules. This allows isomorphous substitution strategies, which can be unreliable for molecular crystals, to be augmented by a priori prediction, thus leveraging the power of both approaches. We used this combined approach to discover a rare example of a low-density (0.54 g cm-3) mesoporous hydrogen-bonded framework (HOF), 3D-CageHOF-1. This structure comprises an organic cage (Cage-3-NH2) that was predicted to form kinetically trapped, low-density polymorphs via CSP. Pointwise distance distribution structural invariants revealed five predicted forms of Cage-3-NH2 that are analogous to experimentally realized porous crystals of a chemically different but geometrically similar molecule, T2. More broadly, this approach overcomes the difficulties in comparing predicted molecular crystals with varying lattice parameters, thus allowing for the systematic comparison of energy-structure landscapes for chemically dissimilar molecules.

Time-Resolved In Situ Monitoring of Mechanochemical Reactions

Mechanochemical transformations offer environmentally benign synthesis routes, whilst enhancing both the speed and selectivity of reactions. In this regard, mechanochemistry promises to transform the way in which chemistry is done in both academia and industry but is greatly hindered by a current lack of mechanistic understanding. The continued development and use of time-resolved in situ (TRIS) approaches to monitor mechanochemical reactions provides a new dimension to elucidate these fascinating transformations. We here discuss recent trends in method development that have pushed the boundaries of mechanochemical research. New features of mechanochemical reactions obtained by TRIS techniques are subsequently discussed, which sheds light on how different TRIS approaches have been used. Emphasis is placed on the strength of combining complementary techniques. Finally, we outline our views on the potential of TRIS methods in mechanochemical research, towards establishing a new, environmentally benign paradigm in the chemical sciences.

Growth direction dependent separate-channel charge transport in the organic weak charge-transfer co-crystal of anthracene-DTTCNQ

Co-crystallization is an efficient way of molecular crystal engineering to tune the electronic properties of organic semiconductors. In this work, we synthesized anthracene-4,8-bis(dicyanomethylene)4,8-dihydrobenzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']-dithiophene (DTTCNQ) single crystals as a template to study the crystal growth direction dependent charge transport properties and attempted to elucidate the mechanism by proposing a separate-channel charge transport model. Single-crystal anthracene-DTTCNQ field-effect transistors showed that ambipolar transport properties could be observed in all crystal growth directions. Furthermore, upon changing the measured crystal directions, the electronic properties experienced a weak change from n-type dominated ambipolar, balanced ambipolar, to p-type dominated ambipolar properties. The theoretical calculations at density functional theory (DFT) and higher theory levels suggested that the anthracene-DTTCNQ co-crystal motif was a weak charge-transfer complex, in line with the experiment. Furthermore, the detailed theoretical analysis also indicated that electron or hole transport properties originated from separated channels formed by DTTCNQ or anthracene molecules. We thus proposed a novel separate-channel transport mechanism to support additional theoretical analysis and calculations. The joint experimental and theoretical efforts in this work suggest that the engineering of co-crystallization of weak charge-transfer complexes can be a practical approach for achieving tuneable ambipolar charge transport properties by the rational choice of co-crystal formers.

Stabilization of Metastable Halide Perovskite Lattices in the 2D Limit

Metal halide perovskites constitute a new class of semiconductors that are structurally tailorable, exhibiting rich structural polymorphs. In this perspective, the polymorphism in lead halide perovskites is described-a material system currently used for high-performance photovoltaics and optoelectronics. Strategies for stabilizing the metastable perovskite polymorphs based on crystal size reduction and surface functionalization are critically reviewed. Focus is on an unprecedented stabilization of metastable perovskite lattices in the 2D limit (e.g., with a thickness down to a few unit cells) due to the dominance of surface effects. This stabilization allows the incorporation of various A-cations that deemed oversized for 3D perovskites into the 2D perovskite lattices, which bring new insights on the relationships between the crystal structures and optoelectronic properties and lead to emergent ferroelectricity in halide perovskites. A comprehensive understanding is provided on how the A-cations influence the structural, optoelectronic, and ferroelectric properties, with an emphasis on the second order Jahn-Teller distortion caused by the oversized A-cations. Finally, future perspectives on new structure exploration and studies of fundamental photophysical properties using stabilized perovskite lattices are provided.

Insoluble Salt of Memantine with a Unique Fluorescence Phenomenon

Alzheimer's disease is a chronic disease, and the long-term treatment of chronic diseases has always been a concern. Memantine (Mem) is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease. In this study, reactions of memantine (Mem) with pamoic acid (Pam) were carried out to form insoluble salts (Mem-Pam). Four polymorphic forms (Forms I-IV) of Mem-Pam were successfully obtained through polymorphic screening, which were systematically characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (PXRD), thermal analysis (TGA and DSC), single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SXRD), and solid-state fluorescence. Compared with the hydrochloride form, the dissolution and release rates of these four forms are lower. The presence of pamoic acid reduces the release rate of memantine and makes it possible to achieve a sustained release of the drug. Interestingly, because of the presence of memantine, each polymorphic solid crystal of Mem-Pam has unique fluorescence emission. Therefore, memantine and pamoic acid have a synergistic effect on the fluorescence performance and can be expected to be used for real-time monitoring in continuous and controlled release drug delivery systems. In addition, the polymorphic solid crystals also exhibit reversible mechanochromic luminescence under the fumigation of acetonitrile vapor, which has a guiding role in the fluorescence design and synthesis of Pam substances and is expected to be used for information security, visual inspection of organic substances, etc.

Using Solid Catalysts in Disulfide-Based Dynamic Combinatorial Solution- and Mechanochemistry

It was shown for the first time that solid amines can act as catalysts for disulfide-based dynamic combinatorial chemistry (DCC) by ball mill grinding. The mechanochemical equilibrium for the two disulfide reactions studied was reached within 1-3 h using ten different amine catalysts. This contrasts with the weeks to months to achieve solution equilibrium for most solid amine catalysts at 2 %mol mol^-1 concentration in a 2 mMolar disulfide dynamic combinatorial library in a suitable solvent. The final mechanochemical equilibrium was independent of the catalyst used but varied with other ball mill grinding factors such as the presence of traces of solvent. The different efficiencies of the amines tested were discussed.

Progress in understanding crystallisation: a personal perspective

After this discussion meeting, most participants felt that we do not understand crystallisation. However, in the 1980s I believe that most scientists would have considered that crystallisation was adequately understood....

Quantitative reversible one pot interconversion of three crystalline polymorphs by ball mill grinding

We demonstrate here using a disulfide system the first example of reversible, selective, and quantitative transformation between three crystalline polymorphs by ball mill grinding.

Stabilizing nonnative polymorphs at the nanoscale as surface energy is inversely correlated to bulk energies

Polymorphs with higher bulk energy have lower surface energy, which leads to their stabilization and preferential synthesis at smaller length scales.

Exploring the polymorphism of sofosbuvir via mechanochemistry: effect of milling jar geometry and material

In this work, the influence of polypropylene jar properties on the polymorphic transformations of sofosbuvir during milling experiments is investigated.

Changing the game of time resolved X-ray diffraction on the mechanochemistry playground by downsizing

Time resolved in situ (TRIS) monitoring has revolutionised the study of mechanochemical transformations but has been limited by available data quality. Here we report how a combination of miniaturised grinding jars together with innovations in X-ray powder diffraction data collection and state-of-the-art analysis strategies transform the power of TRIS synchrotron mechanochemical experiments. Accurate phase compositions, comparable to those obtained by ex situ measurements, can be obtained with small sample loadings. Moreover, microstructural parameters (crystal size and microstrain) can be also determined with high confidence. This strategy applies to all chemistries, is readily implemented, and yields high-quality diffraction data even using a low energy synchrotron source. This offers a direct avenue towards the mechanochemical investigation of reactions comprising scarce, expensive, or toxic compounds. Our strategy is applied to model systems, including inorganic, metal-organic, and organic mechanosyntheses, resolves previously misinterpreted mechanisms in mechanochemical syntheses, and promises broad, new directions for mechanochemical research.

Raman spectroscopy for real-time and in situ monitoring of mechanochemical milling reactions

Solid-state milling has emerged as an alternative, sustainable approach for preparing virtually all classes of compounds and materials. In situ reaction monitoring is essential to understanding the kinetics and mechanisms of these reactions, but it has proved difficult to use standard analytical techniques to analyze the contents of the closed, rapidly moving reaction chamber (jar). Monitoring by Raman spectroscopy is an attractive choice, because it allows uninterrupted data collection from the outside of a translucent milling jar. It complements the already established in situ monitoring based on powder X-ray diffraction, which has limited accessibility to the wider research community, because it requires a synchrotron X-ray source. The Raman spectroscopy monitoring setup used in this protocol consists of an affordable, small portable spectrometer, a laser source and a Raman probe. Translucent reaction jars, most commonly made from a plastic material, enable interaction of the laser beam with the solid sample residing inside the closed reaction jar and collection of Raman-scattered photons while the ball mill is in operation. Acquired Raman spectra are analyzed using commercial or open-source software for data analysis (e.g., MATLAB, Octave, Python, R). Plotting the Raman spectra versus time enables qualitative analysis of reaction paths. This is demonstrated for an example reaction: the formation in the solid state of a cocrystal between nicotinamide and salicylic acid. A more rigorous data analysis can be achieved using multivariate analysis.

Tribochemistry, Mechanical Alloying, Mechanochemistry: What is in a Name?

Over the decades, the application of mechanical force to influence chemical reactions has been called by various names: mechanochemistry, tribochemistry, mechanical alloying, to name but a few. The evolution of these terms has largely mirrored the understanding of the field. But what is meant by these terms, why have they evolved, and does it really matter how a process is called? Which parameters should be defined to describe unambiguously the experimental conditions such that others can reproduce the results, or to allow a meaningful comparison between processes explored under different conditions? Can the information on the process be encoded in a clear, concise, and self-explanatory way? We address these questions in this Opinion contribution, which we hope will spark timely and constructive discussion across the international mechanochemical community.

Effect of Manual Grinding on Diclofenac Acid Nanocrystals: A Chemico-Physical Investigation

X-ray Powder Diffraction, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Differential Scanning Calorimeter were used to study the effect of the manual grinding in an agate mortar of the diclofenac acid polymorphs HD1 and HD2. In particular, we have tried to highlight how the HD2 form is more sensitive than the HD1 to the grinding process to achieve a nanometric crystal size. HD1 shows no change, while in the case of the HD2, changes in the molecular conformation and the formation of a new metastable form of the polymorph are observed after grinding.

Switching polymorph stabilities with impurities provides a thermodynamic route to benzamide form III

Almost 200 years ago, benzamide was reported as polymorphic with two of its forms (II and III) found to be difficult to crystallise. In a recent study, it was shown that benzamide form I can easily convert into benzamide form III using mechanochemistry in the presence of nicotinamide. Here we show, experimentally and computationally, that this transformation is the result of a thermodynamic switch between these two polymorphic forms driven by the formation of solid solutions with small amounts of nicotinamide. The presence of nicotinamide in the crystallisation environment promotes the robust and exclusive crystallisation of the elusive form III. These results represent a promising route to the synthesis and utilisation of elusive polymorphs of pharmaceutical interest.

Mechanochemical reactivity inhibited, prohibited and reversed by liquid additives: examples from crystal-form screens

We demonstrate that liquid additives can exert inhibitive or prohibitive effects on the mechanochemical formation of multi-component molecular crystals, and report that certain additives unexpectedly prompt the dismantling of such solids into physical mixtures of their constituents. Computational methods were employed in an attempt to identify possible reasons for these previously unrecognised effects of liquid additives on mechanochemical transformations.

Size-dependent solution-mediated phase transformation of piroxicam monohydrate particles

The transformation from the piroxicam monohydrate to form I or form II could be achieved precisely by adjusting the particle size itself in the 99% acetone-1% H₂O solvent at 31 °C.

Chloride-promoted self-assembly and photoluminescence of naphthalene diimides tethered to polyacetylene

A novel polyacetylene containing naphthalene diimides (NDIs) in the side chains is sensitive to Cl̄ by structural transformation of the polymer backbone and the NDI aggregates along with turning fluorescence emission on.

Selectivity of hosts for guests by liquid-assisted grinding: differences between solution and mechanochemistry

Selectivity profiles obtained mechanochemically differ from those obtained in solution, both for selectivity during crystallisation and selectivity by guest exchange.

Polymorph control of 5-fluorouracil during a ball milling process

Polymorph control of 5-fluorouracil was achieved by ball milling. Forms II and III were prepared separately through ball milling with different amounts of ethanol as an additive at the same period without influencing each other.

Interplay between the crystal stability and the energy of the molecular conformation

The lattice energy is the main factor in determining the structure even if the molecules adopt a less energetically favorable conformation.

Challenging the Ostwald rule of stages in mechanochemical cocrystallisation

Mechanochemistry provides an efficient, but still poorly understood route to synthesize and screen for polymorphs of organic solids. We present a hitherto unexplored effect of the milling assembly on the polymorphic outcome of mechanochemical cocrystallisation, tentatively related to the efficiency of mechanical energy transfer to the milled sample. Previous work on mechanochemical cocrystallisation has established that introducing liquid or polymer additives to milling systems can be used to direct polymorphic behavior, leading to extensive studies how the amount and nature of grinding additive affect reaction outcome and polymorphism. Here, focusing on a model pharmaceutical cocrystal of nicotinamide and adipic acid, we demonstrate that changes to the choice of milling media (i.e. number and material of milling balls) and/or the choice of milling assembly (i.e. jar material) can be used to direct polymorphism of mechanochemical cocrystallisation, enabling the selective synthesis, and even reversible and repeatable interconversion of cocrystal polymorphs. While real-time mechanistic studies of mechanochemical transformations of metal–organic materials have previously suggested that reactions follow a path described by Ostwald's rule of stages, i.e. from metastable to increasingly more stable product structures, the herein presented systematic study presents an exception to that rule, revealing that modification of energy input in the mechanochemical system, combined with a small energy difference between polymorphs, permits the selective synthesis of either the more stable room temperature form, or the new metastable high-temperature form, of the target cocrystal.

The choice of milling assembly (jar and ball material, number and size of balls) can be used to direct polymorphism in mechanochemical cocrystallisation, enabling the selective synthesis, and even reversible interconversion of cocrystal polymorphs.

Structure and Morphology of Indole Analogue Crystals

Indole and six simple analogues were crystallized in different environments to study the crystal habit changes. All crystal structures were determined by X-ray diffraction experiments. Lattice energies based on DFT-D3 periodic calculations and framework analysis were used to define the most important intermolecular interactions in the crystal structures: N-H···π (-28 kJ/mol), hydrogen bonds (-34 kJ/mol), π···π stacking interactions (-18 kJ/mol), and dipole-dipole (-18 kJ/mol). As morphology is an important feature in many industrial applications, such as photovoltaic cells, electronic devices, and drug discovery, we predicted the crystal morphology of selected crystals using the BFDH and AE models. Facet character depends on the orientation of the molecules at the surface and is therefore sensitive to the variation of crystallization conditions such as solvent, method, and temperature. All indole derivatives tend to form plate crystals with the largest {002} facet. We showed that the morphological importance of the {002} facet increases, whereas the {011} facet decreases with solvent polarity for 5-nitroindole and 4-cyanindole crystals, resulting in a change of crystal habit from needle to plate and from plate to prism, respectively.

Interplay between packing, dimer interaction energy and morphology in a series of tricyclic imide crystals

Crystal morphology is a very important feature in many industrial applications. Tricyclic imides, derivatives of 10-oxa-4-azatricyclo[5.2.1.0^2,6]dec-8-ene-3,5-dione with differing small hydrophobic groups (Me, Et), were studied and grouped based on Etter's rule. Using experimental X-ray studies, dimer energy calculations, framework analysis and periodic DFT-D calculations, it is shown that knowledge of the hydrogen-bond pattern can be used to determine the final crystal shape. Molecules forming a ring hydrogen-bond motif crystallize as plate crystals with the {100} facet as the slowest growing, whereas those molecules forming an infinite hydrogen-bond motif in the crystal structure crystallize as needles with the {101} facet having the largest surface area.

Mechanochemical Formation of Racemic Praziquantel Hemihydrate with Improved Biopharmaceutical Properties

Praziquantel (PZQ) is the first-line drug used against schistosomiasis, one of the most common parasitic diseases in the world. A series of crystalline structures including two new polymorphs of the pure drug and a series of cocrystals of PZQ have been discovered and deposited in the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD). This work adds to the list of multicomponent forms of PZQ a relevant example of a racemic hemihydrate (PZQ-HH), obtainable from commercial PZQ (polymorphic Form A) through mechanochemistry. Noteworthy, the formation of the new hemihydrate strongly depends on the initial polymorphic form of PZQ and on the experimental conditions used. The new PZQ-HH has been fully characterized by means of HPLC, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Hot-Stage Microscopy (SEM), Powder X-Ray Diffraction (PXRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), FT-IR, polarimetry, solid-state NMR (SS-NMR), solubility and intrinsic dissolution rate (IDR), and in vitro tests on Schistosoma mansoni adults. The crystal structure was solved from the powder X-ray diffraction pattern and validated by periodic-DFT calculations. The new bioactive hemihydrate was physically stable for three months and showed peculiar biopharmaceutical features including enhanced solubility and a double intrinsic dissolution rate in water in comparison to the commercially available PZQ Form A.

Porous Molecular Capsules as Non-Polymeric Transducers of Mechanical Forces to Mechanophores

Mechanical grinding/milling can be regarded as historically the first technology for changing the properties of matter. Mechanically activated molecular units (mechanophores) can be present in various structures: polymers, macromolecules, or small molecules. However, only polymers have been reported to effectively transduce energy to mechanophores, which induces breakage of covalent bonds. In this paper, a second possibility is presented-molecular capsules as stress-sensitive units. Mechanochemical encapsulation of fullerenes in cystine-based covalent capsules indicates that complexation takes place in the solid state, despite the fact that the capsules do not possess large enough entrance portals. By using a set of solvent-free MALDI (sf-MALDI) and solid-state NMR (ss-NMR) experiments, it has been proven that encapsulation proceeds during milling and in this process hydrazones and disulfides get activated for breakage, exchange, and re-forming. The capsules are porous and therefore prone to collapse under solvent-free conditions and their conformational rigidity promotes the collapse by the breaking of covalent bonds.

Monitoring polymer-assisted mechanochemical cocrystallisation through in situ X-ray powder diffraction

Small amounts of specific polymers are sufficient for improving the rate of cocrystal formation through polymer-assisted grinding.

A new polymorph of strontium hexaferrite stabilized at the nanoscale

During hydrothermal synthesis the magnetoplumbite strontium-ferrite nanoplatelets form via the growth of primary discoid nanoplatelets with a new, incredibly complex hexagonal structure.

Fast and quantitative 2D and 3D orientation mapping using Raman microscopy

Non-destructive orientation mapping is an important characterization tool in materials science and geoscience for understanding and/or improving material properties based on their grain structure. Confocal Raman microscopy is a powerful non-destructive technique for chemical mapping of organic and inorganic materials. Here we demonstrate orientation mapping by means of Polarized Raman Microscopy (PRM). While the concept that PRM is sensitive to orientation changes is known, to our knowledge, an actual quantitative orientation mapping has never been presented before. Using a concept of ambiguity-free orientation determination analysis, we present fast and quantitative single-acquisition Raman-based orientation mapping by simultaneous registration of multiple Raman scattering spectra obtained at different polarizations. We demonstrate applications of this approach for two- and three-dimensional orientation mapping of a multigrain semiconductor, a pharmaceutical tablet formulation and a polycrystalline sapphire sample. This technique can potentially move traditional X-ray and electron diffraction type experiments into conventional optical laboratories.

Although polarized Raman microscopy is sensitive to orientation changes, quantitative information has been missing. Here, the authors use simultaneous registration of multiple Raman scattering spectra obtained at different polarizations and show quantitative orientation mapping