No abstract

We present an approach to understanding crystal packing via 'energy frameworks', that combines efficient calculation of accurate intermolecular interaction energies with a novel graphical representation of their magnitude. In this manner intriguing questions, such as why some crystals bend with an applied force while others break, and why one polymorph of a drug exhibits exceptional tabletability compared to others, can be addressed in terms of the anisotropy of the topology of pairwise intermolecular interaction energies. This approach is applied to a sample of organic molecular crystals with known bending, shearing and brittle behaviour, to illustrate its use in rationalising their mechanical behaviour at a molecular level.

Using four different benchmark sets of molecular crystals, we establish the level of confidence for lattice energies estimated using CE-B3LYP model energies and experimental crystal structures. [ IUCrJ 2017 , 4 , 575 - 587 10.1107/S205225251700848X .] We conclude that they compare very well with available benchmark estimates derived from sublimation enthalpies, and in many cases they are comparable with, and sometimes better than, more computationally demanding approaches, such as those based on periodic DFT plus dispersion methodologies. The performance over the complete set of 110 crystals indicates a mean absolute deviation from benchmark energies of only 6.6 kJ mol. Applications to polymorphic crystals and larger molecules are also presented and critically discussed. The results highlight the importance of recognizing the consequences of different sets of crystal/molecule geometries when different methodologies are compared, as well as the need for more extensive benchmark sets of crystal structures and associated lattice energies.

The validity of the newly proposed 'carbon bonding', an interaction where a carbon atom acts as an electrophilic site towards a variety of nucleophiles, has been investigated in the solid state. X-ray charge density analysis provides experimental evidence for this hitherto unexplored interaction and unravels its nature and strength.

Structural studies on the polymorphs of the organoselenium antioxidant ebselen and its derivative show the potential of organic selenium to form unusually short Se⋅⋅⋅O chalcogen bonds that lead to conserved supramolecular recognition units. Se⋅⋅⋅O interactions observed in these polymorphs are the shortest such chalcogen bonds known for organoselenium compounds. The FTIR spectral evolution characteristics of this interaction from solution state to solid crystalline state further validates the robustness of this class of supramolecular recognition units. The strength and electronic nature of the Se⋅⋅⋅O chalcogen bonds were explored using high-resolution X-ray charge density analysis and atons-in-molecules (AIM) theoretical analysis. A charge density study unravels the strong electrostatic nature of Se⋅⋅⋅O chalcogen bonding and soft-metal-like behavior of organoselenium. An analysis of the charge density around Se-N and Se-C covalent bonds in conjunction with the Se⋅⋅⋅O chalcogen bonding modes in ebselen and its analogues provides insights into the mechanism of drug action in this class of organoselenium antioxidants. The potential role of the intermolecular Se⋅⋅⋅O chalcogen bonding in forming the intermediate supramolecular assembly that leads to the bond cleavage mechanism has been proposed in terms of electron density topological parameters in a series of molecular complexes of ebselen with reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Bending in molecular crystals is typically associated with the anisotropyofintermolecular interactions.The intriguing observation is reported of plastic bending in dimethyl sulfone,w hiche xhibits nearly isotropic crystal packing and interaction topology,d efying the knowns tructural models of bending crystals.T he origin of the bending phenomenon has been explored in terms of intermolecular interaction energies, experimental X-ray charge density analysis,a nd variable temperature neutron diffraction studies.H ···H dihydrogen interactions and differences in electrostatic complementarity between molecular layers are found to facilitate the bending behavior.

Experimental charge density analysis combined with the quantum crystallographic technique of X-ray wavefunction refinement (XWR) provides quantitative insights into the intra- and intermolecular interactions formed by acetazolamide, a diuretic drug. Firstly, the analysis of charge density topology at the intermolecular level shows the presence of exceptionally strong interaction motifs such as a DDAA-AADD (D-donor, A-acceptor) type quadruple hydrogen bond motif and a sulfonamide dimer synthon. The nature and strength of intra-molecular S···O chalcogen bonding have been characterized using descriptors from the multipole model (MM) and XWR. Although pure geometrical criteria suggest the possibility of two intra-molecular S···O chalcogen bonded ring motifs, only one of them satisfies the "orbital geometry" so as to exhibit an interaction in terms of an electron density bond path and a bond critical point. The presence of 'σ-holes' on the sulfur atom leading to the S···O chalcogen bond has been visualized on the electrostatic potential surface and Laplacian isosurfaces close to the 'reactive surface'. The electron localizability indicator (ELI) and Roby bond orders derived from the 'experimental wave function' provide insights into the nature of S···O chalcogen bonding.

The polymorphs of (Z)-2-fluoro-N'-phenyl benzamidamide with multiple Z' produce quasi-isostructural supramolecular architectures, wherein C-H···F interaction plays a significant role. The energy framework analysis indicates 2D structural similarities in the interaction topologies of these crystalline forms. The results point to a unique class of 'quasi-isostructural polymorphs' which are nearly equi-energetic crystal structures exhibiting high degrees of similarity in physical properties.