For decades, carbamazepine (CBZ) has served as a model compound for groups engaged in the study of crystal polymorphism. Despite considerable effort, crystal structures for only three of its four anhydrous forms have previously been determined. Herein, we report the first single crystal X-ray structure of the high temperature modification of CBZ (form I). Form I crystallizes in a triclinic cell (P-1) having four inequivalent molecules with the following lattice parameters: a = 5.1705(6), b = 20.574(2), c = 22.245(2) A, alpha = 84.12(4), beta = 88.01(4), and gamma = 85.19(4) degrees. Furthermore, we compare the physical properties of the four anhydrous polymorphs of CBZ, including the first comprehensive characterization of form IV. Substantial differences are seen among these forms by powder X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, thermomicroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. These data are correlated to their respective crystal structures for the first time. We have found that all polymorphs possess identical strong hydrogen bonding patterns, similar molecular conformations, and stabilities that are within 0.7 kcal/mol of each other.

A method for the production of crystalline polymorphs from solution is described which utilizes a diverse set of polymer heteronuclei. Application to crystalline polymorph selection for the important pharmaceuticals acetaminophen and carbamazepine is demonstrated. This method provides a new paradigm for polymorph selection, where solvent and temperature conditions can be chosen on the basis of process considerations and the polymer heteronucleus can be varied for specific polymorph production.

No abstract

Polymer-induced heteronucleation was utilized for the selective crystallization of the color polymorphic platinum complexes Pt(bpy)Cl2 and Pt(phen)Cl2. Crystal structures of two polymorphs of Pt(phen)Cl2 were determined and reveal that, as in the case of Pt(bpy)Cl2, this compound has one form with Pt...Pt interactions (orange crystals) and another lacking these contacts (yellow crystals). Free energy measurements reveal that the polymorphs of Pt(bpy)Cl2 and Pt(phen)Cl2 without Pt...Pt interactions are more stable in both cases by 0.67(2) and 0.53(1) kJ/mol, respectively, and this finding is consistent with the principle of close packing. Furthermore, a search of the Cambridge Structural Database reveals that, for polymorphic platinum complexes, shorter intermolecular Pt...Pt interactions generally result in less dense structures.

The selection and discovery of new crystalline forms is a longstanding issue in solid-state chemistry of critical importance because of the effect molecular packing arrangement exerts on materials properties. Polymer-induced heteronucleation has recently been developed as a powerful approach to discover and control the production of crystal modifications based on the insoluble polymer heteronucleant added to the crystallization solution. The selective nucleation and discovery of new crystal forms of the well-studied pharmaceuticals flurbiprofen (FBP) and sulindac (SUL) has been achieved utilizing this approach. For the first time, FBP form III was produced in bulk quantities and its crystal structure was also determined. Furthermore, a novel 3:2 FBP:H 2 O phase was discovered that nucleates selectively from only a few polymers. Crystallization of SUL in the presence of insoluble polymers facilitated the growth of form I single crystals suitable for structure determination. Additionally, a new SUL polymorph (form IV) was discovered by this method. The crystal forms of FBP and SUL are characterized by Raman and FTIR spectroscopies, X-ray diffraction, and differential scanning calorimetry.