Prediction of Photochromism of Salicylideneaniline Crystals Using a Data Mining Approach

Salicylideneanilines (SAs) are photochromic compounds that undergo enol-keto photoisomerization in the solid state. Research over the past 60 years has revealed empirically that SAs with steric and planar conformations tend to be photochromic and nonphotochromic, respectively. However, increasing counterexamples in the recent literature raise questions about the nature of the relationship between structure and photochromism in SA crystals and whether the photochromism of SA crystals is predictable. This study is the first to construct a data set on SA crystals and conduct a comprehensive analysis to investigate the relationship between molecular and crystal structures and photochromism. A data mining approach revealed that the dihedral angle is the most dominant structural parameter for photochromism, followed by the Hirshfeld surface volume. SAs with neutral bulky hydrocarbon groups, such as the tert-butyl group, tend to be photochromic because such SAs have steric conformation and a loosely packed structure. In contrast, SAs with fluorine, pyridine, and pyrazine are less likely to be photochromic due to their planar conformation and densely packed structures. The photochromism of the SA crystals in our data set was predicted with high accuracy (>85%) using machine learning. The results of this study provide a useful reference for designing SA crystals with desired photochromic properties.

Photo-and thermoresponsive N-salicylideneaniline derivatives: solid-state studies and structural aspects

Eight photo-and/or thermoresponsive salicylideneanilines were obtained by mechanosynthesis under solvent-free conditions and stabilized by external stimuli for their isolations in solid-state. Switching properties of these materials were investigated by various analytical techniques and spectroscopic data.

Mechanochemistry: A Green Approach in the Preparation of Pharmaceutical Cocrystals

Mechanochemistry is considered an alternative attractive greener approach to prepare diverse molecular compounds and has become an important synthetic tool in different fields (e.g., physics, chemistry, and material science) since is considered an ecofriendly procedure that can be carried out under solvent free conditions or in the presence of minimal quantities of solvent (catalytic amounts). Being able to substitute, in many cases, classical solution reactions often requiring significant amounts of solvents. These sustainable methods have had an enormous impact on a great variety of chemistry fields, including catalysis, organic synthesis, metal complexes formation, preparation of multicomponent pharmaceutical solid forms, etc. In this sense, we are interested in highlighting the advantages of mechanochemical methods on the obtaining of pharmaceutical cocrystals. Hence, in this review, we describe and discuss the relevance of mechanochemical procedures in the formation of multicomponent solid forms focusing on pharmaceutical cocrystals. Additionally, at the end of this paper, we collect a chronological survey of the most representative scientific papers reporting the mechanochemical synthesis of cocrystals.

Metastability and Seeding Effects in the Mechanochemical Hybrid Lead(II) Iodide Formation

The mechanism for the mechanochemical synthesis of (C(NH₂ )₃ )₃ PbI₅ 3 and (C(NH₂ )₃ )₄ PbI₆ 4 and their conversion into each other is presented. We investigated the synthesis of 3 at different frequencies and energies using in situ powder X-ray diffraction. By splitting the reaction into single parts we could prove that the formation of 3 is simply dependent on the energy and mixing speed. The nucleation of 4 instead is slightly negative dependent on the energy but dependent on the mixing speed, while its growth is mostly independent of any influence. We were able to influence the reaction pathways by seeding the mixture with a small amount of powdery 4. The formation of 4 is very likely an auto-catalytic process. 3 instead is metastable. It can be stabilized by energy, which beside mechanochemistry can also be achieved by temperature. The results showcases the complex nature of mechanochemical reactions.

Catalytic Room-Temperature C-N Coupling of Amides and Isocyanates by Using Mechanochemistry

A mechanochemical route is developed for room-temperature and solvent-free derivatization of different types of amides into carbamoyl isatins (up to 96 % conversion or yield), benzamides (up to 81 % yield), and imides (up to 92 % yield). In solution, this copper-catalyzed coupling either does not take place or requires high temperatures at which it may also be competing with alternative thermal reactivity, highlighting the beneficial role of mechanochemistry for this reaction. Such behavior resembles the previously investigated coupling with sulfonamide substrates, suggesting that this type of C-N coupling is an example of a mechanochemically favored reaction, for which mechanochemistry appears to be a favored environment over solution.

Crystal Growth in Gels from the Mechanisms of Crystal Growth to Control of Polymorphism: New Trends on Theoretical and Experimental Aspects

A gel can be considered to be a two-phase (liquid and solid) system, which lacks flow once it reaches a stationary state. The solid phase is usually a tridimensional polymeric mesh, while the liquid phase is usually found in three forms: contained in great cavities, retained in the capillary pores between micelles, or adsorbed on the surface of a micelle. The influence of the use of gels in crystal growth is diverse and depends on the type of gel being used. A decrease in solubility of any solute in the liquid may occur if the solvent interacts extensively with the polymeric section, hence, the nucleation in gels in these cases apparently occurs at relatively low supersaturations. However, if the pore size is small enough, there is a possibility that a higher supersaturation is needed, due to the compartmentalization of solvents. Finally, this may also represent an effect in the diffusion of substances. This review is divided into three main parts; the first evaluates the theory and practice used for the obtainment of polymorphs. The second part describes the use of gels into crystallogenesis of different substances. The last part is related to the particularities of protein crystal polymorphism, as well as modern trends in gel growth for high-resolution X-ray crystallography.

Towards medicinal mechanochemistry: evolution of milling from pharmaceutical solid form screening to the synthesis of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs)

This overview highlights the emergent area of mechanochemical reactions for making active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), and covers the latest advances in the recently established area of mechanochemical screening and synthesis of pharmaceutical solid forms, specifically polymorphs, cocrystals, salts and salt cocrystals. We also provide an overview of the most recent developments in pharmaceutical uses of mechanochemistry, including real-time reaction monitoring, techniques for polymorph control and approaches for continuous manufacture using twin screw extrusion, and more. Most importantly, we show how the overlap of previously unrelated areas of mechanochemical screening for API solid forms, organic synthesis by milling, and mechanochemical screening for molecular recognition, enables the emergence of a new research discipline in which different aspects of pharmaceutical and medicinal chemistry are addressed through mechanochemistry rather than through conventional solution-based routes. The emergence of such medicinal mechanochemistry is likely to have a strong impact on future pharmaceutical and medicinal chemistry, as it offers not only access to materials and reactivity that are sometimes difficult or even impossible to access from solution, but can also provide a general answer to the demands of the pharmaceutical industry for cleaner, safer and efficient synthetic solutions.

A novel carbazole derivative containing fluorobenzene unit: aggregation-induced fluorescence emission, polymorphism, mechanochromism and non-reversible thermo-stimulus fluorescence

Different conformations and packing modes induce the compound with unique stimuli-responsive properties.

Crystal structures of (E)-1-{3-[(5-fluoro-2-hy-droxy-benzyl-idene)amino]-phen-yl}ethanone and of a fourth polymorph of (E)-1-{3-[(2-hy-droxy-3-meth-oxy-benzyl-idene)amino]-phen-yl}ethanone

In the mol-ecules of both (E)-1-{3-[(5-fluoro-2-hy-droxy-benzyl-idene)amino]-phen-yl}ethanone, C15H12FNO2, (I), and (E)-1-{3-[(2-hy-droxy-3-meth-oxy-benzyl-idene)amino]-phen-yl}ethanone, C16H15NO3, (II), which crystallizes with Z' = 2 in space group Pca21, there are intra-molecular O-H⋯N hydrogen bonds, and the non-H atoms in each mol-ecule are essentially coplanar. In the crystal of (I), mol-ecules are linked by a single C-H⋯O hydrogen bond to form a C(8) chain, whereas in the crystal of (II), mol-ecules are linked by three C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds to form sheets within which orthogonal C22(16) and C22(17) chains can be identified. Comparisons are made with some related structures.

Halogen and Hydrogen Bonding between (N-Halogeno)-succinimides and Pyridine Derivatives in Solution, the Solid State and In Silico

A study of strong halogen bonding within three series of halogen-bonded complexes, derived from seven para-substituted pyridine derivatives and three N-halosuccinimides (iodo, bromo and chloro), has been undertaken with the aid of single-crystal diffraction, solution complexation and computational methods. The halogen bond was compared with the hydrogen bond in an equivalent series based on succinimide. The halogen-bond energies are in the range -60 to -20 kJ mol^-1 and change regularly with pyridine basicity and the Lewis acidity of the halogen. The halogen-bond energies correlate linearly with the product of charges on the contact atoms, which indicates a predominantly electrostatic interaction. The binding enthalpies in solution are around 19 kJ mol^-1 less negative due to solvation effects. The optimised geometries of the complexes in the gas phase are comparable to those of the solid-state structures, and the effects of the supramolecular surroundings in the latter are discussed. The bond energies for the hydrogen-bonded series are intermediate between the halogen-bond energies of iodine and bromine, although there are specific differences in the geometries of the halogen- and hydrogen-bonded complexes.

Enhanced fluorescence with nanosecond dynamics in the solid state of metal ion complexes of alkoxy salophens

Incorporation of an alkoxy moiety dramatically alters the photophysics and molecular packing of aluminum complexes of salophen leading to enhanced emission in the solid state.

The halogen bonding proclivity of the ortho-methoxy–hydroxy group in cocrystals of o-vanillin imines and diiodotetrafluoro-benzenes

Novel halogen bondedo-hydroxy imine cocrystals with 1,2-, 1,3- and 1,4-diiodotetrafluorobenzene have been synthesized. We present an insight into the halogen bond acceptor potential of theortho-methoxy–hydroxy group of theo-vanillin moiety.

Halogen bonding ofN-bromosuccinimide by grinding

Two halogen bonded cocrystals ofN-bromosuccinimide and 4,4′-bipyridine, with stoichiometric ratios 1 : 1 and 2 : 1, have been synthesized and characterized. We present the first mechanochemical cocrystallization ofN-bromosuccinimide.