Erythritol: crystal growth from the melt.

The structural changes occurring on erythritol as it is cooled from the melt to low temperature, and then heated up to the melting point have been investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarized light thermal microscopy (PLTM), X-ray powder diffraction (PXRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). By DSC, it was possible to set up the conditions to obtain an amorphous solid, a crystalline solid, or a mixture of both materials in different proportions. Two crystalline forms have been identified: a stable and a metastable one with melting points of 117 and 104 degrees C, respectively. The fusion curve decomposition of the stable form revealed the existence of three conformational structures. The main paths of the crystallization from the melt were followed by PLTM. The texture and colour changes allowed the characterization of the different phases and transitions in which they are involved on cooling as well as on heating processes. The type of crystallization front and its velocity were also followed by microscopic observation. These observations, together with the data provided by PXRD, allowed elucidating the transition of the metastable form into the stable one. The structural changes occurring upon the cooling and subsequent heating processes, namely those arising from intermolecular hydrogen bonds, were also accompanied by infrared spectroscopy. Particular attention was given to the spectral changes occurring in the OH stretching region.

Guanidinium 4-amino-benzoate.

In the title compound, CH(6)N(3) (+)·C(7)H(6)NO(2) (-), the cation and anion lie on crystallographic mirror planes. The 4-amino-benzoate anion is almost in a planar conformation with a maximum deviation of 0.024 (2) Šfor the N atom. The bond length in the deprotonated carboxyl group is inter-mediate between those of normal single and double Csp(2)=O bonds, indicating delocalization of the charge over both O atoms of the COO(-) group. In the crystal, N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds assemble the ions in layers propagating in the bc plane. This structure is very similar to that of guanidinium benzoate.

3ß-Hy-droxy-lup-20(29)-en-28-yl 1H-imidazole-1-carboxyl-ate.

The title triterpene, C(34)H(52)N(2)O(3), is a C-28 carbamate derivative of betulin prepared in a one-step reaction from the commercially available 1,1'-carbonyl-diimidazole (CDI). All rings are fused trans. The X-ray study shows the retention of the configuration of C-28 with respect to the known chiral centres of the molecule. In the crystal, the mol-ecules are O-H⋯O hydrogen bonded via the hy-droxy group and the carbonyl group of the carbamate function into chains running along the c axis. A quantum-mechanical ab initio Roothaan Hartree-Fock calculation of the equilibrium geometry of the isolated mol-ecule gives values for bond-lengths and valency angles close to the experimental values. The calculations also reproduce the mol-ecular conformation well, with calculated puckering parameters that agree well with the observed values.

3-Oxo-18α-olean-28,13ß-olide.

The title terpene, C(30)H(46)O(3), is a 28,13ß-lactone of oleanolic acid prepared with bis-muth trifluoro-methane-sulfonate (OTf), Bi(OTf)(3)·xH(2)O. All rings are trans-fused. The X-ray study shows the inversion of the orientation of 18-H in the lactonization reaction. A quantum chemical ab-initio Roothaan Hartree-Fock calculation of the equilibrium geometry of the isolated mol-ecule gives values for bond lengths and valency angles in close agreement with experimental values. The calculation also reproduces the observed mol-ecular conformation, with puckering parameters that agree well with those determined from the crystallographic study.

3ß-Acet-oxy-lup-20(29)-en-28-yl 1H-1,2,4-tri-azole-1-carboxyl-ate.

The title triterpene, C(35)H(53)N(3)O(4), is a C-28 carbamate derivative of 3ß-acet-oxy-betulin prepared in a one-step reaction from the commercially available 1,1'-carbonyl-di(1,2,4-triazole) (CDT), crystallized from acetone/n-hexane. All rings are trans fused. The carbamate and acetate substituents are in axial and equatorial positions, respectively. A quantum chemical ab initio Roothaan Hartree-Fock calculation of the equilibrium geometry of the isolated mol-ecule gives values for bond lengths and valency angles in close agreement with experimental values. The calculation also reproduces the observed mol-ecular conformation, with puckering parameters that agree well with those determined from the crystallographic study.

6beta-Hydroxy-5beta-methyl-20-oxo-19-norpregn-9(10)-en-3beta-yl acetate.

In the title compound, C(23)H(34)O(4), which is an intermediate in the synthesis of pregnane derivatives with a modified skeleton that show potent abortion-inducing activity, the conformation of ring B is close to half-chair due to the presence of both the C=C double bond and the axial 5beta-methyl group. Rings A and C have conformations close to chair, while ring D has a twisted conformation around the bridgehead C-C bond. Molecules are hydrogen bonded via the hydroxyl and acetoxy groups into infinite chains. Quantum-mechanical ab initio Roothan Hartree-Fock calculations show that crystal packing might be responsible for the low values of the angles between rings A and B, and between ring A and rings C and D, as well as for a different steric position of the methyl ketone side chain compared to the geometry of the free molecule.

19ß,28-Ep-oxy-18α-olean-3ß-ol.

The title triterpene, C(30)H(50)O(2), is an 18α-oleanane derivative prepared by the Wagner-Meerwein rearrangement of betulin with Bi(OTf)(3).xH(2)O (OTF is trifluoromethanesulfonate). There are two symmetry-independent mol-ecules in the asymmetric unit that show no significant differences concerning bond lengths and angles. The conformation of the six-membered rings is close to a chair form, while the five-membered epoxide rings adopt envelope conformations. All rings are trans-fused. In the crystal, mol-ecules are held together by O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds. A quantum-mechanical ab initio Roothan Hartree-Fock calculation on the isolated mol-ecule gives values for bond lengths and valency angles close to the experimental values. The calculations also reproduce well the mol-ecular conformation with calculated puckering parameters that match well the observed values.

1,5-Bis(2,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrrol-1-yl)naphthalene.

In the title compound, C(22)H(22)N(2), the asymmetric unit contains one half-mol-ecule. A crystallographic inversion centre is located at the mid-point of the bond common to both rings, in the central naphthalene unit. Quantum-mechanical ab initio calculations on the isolated mol-ecule showed that the minimum energy configuration occurs when the naphthalene ring system and the pyrrolyl groups deviate only slightly from perpendicularity. In the crystal, due to the effects of crystal packing, the mol-ecule deviates by approximately 4° from the a priori expected ideal value of 90° [C-C-N-C torsion angle = 86.11 (15)°].

16α,17α-Ep-oxy-5α-hydr-oxy-6ß-nitrooxy-20-oxopregnan-3ß-yl acetate.

The title steroid, C(23)H(33)NO(8), is a pregnane derivative obtained regio-, stereo- and chemoselectively from the ring opening of the corresponding 5α,6α;16α,17α-diepoxide with bis-muth(III) nitrate. There are two symmetry-independent mol-ecules in the asymmetric unit that show no significant differences concerning bond lengths and angles. All rings are trans-fused. The conformations of the six-membered rings are close to chair forms, while the five-membered ring adopts an envelope conformation. The mol-ecules are held together by an extensive O-H⋯O hydrogen-bonding network of chains runnning along the a axis.

N,N',N''-Triphenyl-guanidinium 5-nitro-2,4-dioxo-1,2,3,4-tetra-hydro-pyrimidin-1-ide.

In the title compound, C(19)H(18)N(3) (+.)C(4)H(2)N(3)O(4) (-), the dihedral angles between the phenyl rings and the plane defined by the central guanidinium fragment are in the range 41.3 (1)-66.6 (1)°. The pyrimidine ring of the anion is distorted towards a boat conformation and the nitro group is rotated 11.4 (2)° out of the uracil plane. Hydrogen bonds assemble the ions in infinite helical chains along the b axis.

A new polymorph of 5-nitro-uracil monohydrate.

In the title compound, C(4)H(3)N(3)O(4)·H(2)O, mol-ecules of 5-nitro--uracil are hydrogen bonded in pairs across crystallographic centers of symmetry. The resulting dimers are also hydrogen bonded to the water mol-ecules, forming a three-dimensional network. The pyrimidine ring is almost planar (with a maximum deviation of 0.0156 (9) Šfor the one of the N atoms) and the nitro group is rotated by 12.4 (1)° out of the uracil plane, while in the other polymorph the value for the same angle is 5°.

Bis(triphenyl-guanidinium) tetra-chlorido-cuprate(II).

The structure of the title compound, (C(19)H(18)N(3))(2)[CuCl(4)], consists of square-planar [CuCl(4)](2-) anions and triphenyl-guanidinium cations. The Cu(II) ion occupies a crystallographic inversion centre. In the cation, the dihedral angles between the phenyl rings and the plane defined by the central guanidinium fragment are in the range 51.9 (4)-64.4 (3)°. N-H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds assemble the ions into infinite chains running along the b axis.

6ß-Acetamido-5α-hydroxy-cholestan-3ß-yl acetate.

The title steroid, C(31)H(53)NO(4), was prepared from the corresponding 5α,6α-epoxy-cholestane. The conformation of the six-membered rings is close to a chair form, while the five-membered ring adopts a twist conformation. The hydroxyl and acetamide groups are in axial positions. The nucleophilic species bound to the steroid nucleus at position 6 by the ß-face, whereas the hydroxyl group at position 5 has α-orientation. All rings are trans-fused. The crystal packing shows that the mol-ecules related by twofold symmetry exist as O-H⋯O hydrogen-bonded dimers.

Glycinium trichloroacetate.

The title compound, C2H6NO2+.C2Cl3O2-, crystallizes in the P4(1) space group with two glycinium cations and two trichloroacetate anions in the asymmetric unit. The glycinium cations have nearly Cs point-group symmetry which is only broken by the H atoms of the amine group. The trichloroacetate anions show typical bond lengths and angles, one of the trichloromethyl groups being disordered. Chains of alternating anions and cations run along the c axis. Within these chains, consecutive anion-cation pairs are bound via strong hydrogen bonds involving the carboxylate anions and the carboxyl or amine groups of the cations. Weaker hydrogen bonds bind neighbouring chains together.

Weak antiferromagnetic interactions in hydronium diaqua-1kappaO,2kappaO-trichloro-1kappaCl,2kappa2Cl-mu-dimethylglycinato-1kappaO:2kappa2O',N-dimethylglycinato-1kappa2N,O-dicuprate(II).

The crystal structure of the title compound, (H3O)[Cu2(C4H8NO2)2Cl3(H2O)2], contains two Cu(II) ions bridged by the carboxylate group of a dimethylglycinate ion in an anti-anti configuration. The Cu(II) atoms both have an approximately square-pyramidal conformation geometry and are 5.977 (2) angstroms apart. The two dimethylglycinate ligands have similar conformations, although they play different roles in the structure. A weak antiferromagnetic interaction between the two copper ions could be inferred from the magnetic susceptibility measurements.

Di-mu-chloro-1:2kappa2Cl;3:4kappa2Cl-hexachloro-1kappa3Cl,4kappa3Cl-tetra-mu-dimethylglycine-2:3kappa8O:O'-tetracopper(II).

The title compound, [Cu(NO3)2(C6H10N4)2], crystallizes in the centrosymmetric space group P21/c with a unit cell containing two tetranuclear copper(II) complexes sited on crystallographic inversion centres. The coordination geometry around the central Cu atoms is square pyramidal, with four O atoms in the basal plane and a Cl atom in the apical position. The lateral CuCl4 groups are flattened tetrahedral. The bridging dimethylglycine molecules are present in the dipolar zwitterionic form. The tetranuclear copper complexes exist as isolated entities since only intramolecular hydrogen bonds are found.

Glycinium trifluoroacetate.

In the title compound, C(2)H(6)NO(2)(+).C(2)F(3)O(2)(-), the main N-C-COOH skeleton of the glycinium cation is almost perfectly planar. The trifluoroacetate anion has a staggered conformation with typical bond distances and angles. The CF(3) group is slightly disordered. The structure is stabilized by an extensive network of strong O-H.O hydrogen bonds and weaker N-H.O bonds.

Synthesis, structure, thermal and non-linear optical properties of L-argininium hydrogen selenite.

L-Argininium hydrogen selenite (C(6)H(15)N(4)O(2)HSeO(3)) is a new semiorganic compound of the hydrogen selenite family with non-linear optical properties. The crystal lattice is monoclinic with unit-cell parameters a = 22.493 (5), b = 5.1624 (13), c = 9.730 (4) A, beta = 95.68 (3) degrees, V = 1124.3 (6) A(3), Z = 4, space group C2. Second-harmonic generation measurements performed on powder samples, using a Q-switched Nd:Yag laser (lambda = 1064 nm), showed the second-harmonic power to be about twice that of urea. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements revealed the existence of a phase transition with onset at 289 K.

Strong hydrogen-bonded amino acid dimers in L-alanine alaninium nitrate.

The title compound, C3H7NO2*C3H8NO2+*NO3-, contains L-alanine-alaninium dimers bonded via the carboxyl groups by a strong asymmetric hydrogen bond with an O...O distance of 2.4547 (19) A. The neutral alanine molecule exists as a zwitterion, where the carboxyl group is dissociated and the amino group is protonated. The alaninium cation has both groups in their acidic form. The alanine molecule and the alaninium cation differ only slightly in their conformation, having an N-C(alpha)-C=O torsion angle close to -25 degrees. The dimers and the nitrate anion are joined through a three-dimensional hydrogen-bond network, in which the full hydrogen-bonding capabilities of the amino groups of the two alanine moieties are realised.

Betainium trifluoroacetate.

The title compound, C5H12NO2+*C2F3O2- or BET+*CF3COO- [BET is trimethylglycine (betaine); IUPAC: 1-carboxy-N,N,N-trimethylmethanaminium inner salt], contains pairs of betainium and trifluoroacetate ions forming a dimer bridged by a strong hydrogen bond between the carboxyl and carboxylate groups of the two ions. The molecular symmetry of the cation is close to Cs, with protonation occurring at the carboxy O atom positioned anti to the N atom. The trifluoroacetate anions are disordered over two positions. In one, the conformation of the CF3 group is staggered with respect to the carboxylate group, in the other, it is close to an eclipsed conformation. The sole hydrogen bond present in the structure is the strong O-H...O bond between the anion and the cation.