Three conformational polymorphs and order-disorder phase transition in a calix

Acta Crystallogr B. 1999 Feb 1;55(Pt 1):95-103. doi: 10.1107/s0108768198009252.

Abstract

Three polymorphs of a calix[4]arene fixed in the 1,3-alternate conformation by two bridges, a crown-6 on one side and a crown-6 including a photoisomerizable azobenzene unit on the other, 8,11,14,28,31,34,37,40,43,57,60,63-dodecaoxa-2,3-diazanonacyclo[62.2.2.2(4,7).1(16,45).1(26,55).0(15,20).0(22,27).0(44,49).0(51,56)]doheptaconta-1(66),2,4,6,15,17,19,22,24,26,44,46,48,51,53,55,64,67,69-nonadecene, have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In all the polymorphs the azobenzene group is in the more stable trans conformation. The polymorphism arises from the high conformational flexibility of the bridges, which are arranged differently and are highly disordered in the two monoclinic forms (1) and (2a). Form (2a) presents a phase transition near 268 (2) K, leading to a triclinic form (2b), differing from the high-temperature form by some ordering of the chains and a subsequent reduction in crystallographic site multiplicity. The evolution of the cell parameters and peak width with temperature has been investigated down to 173 (2) K. Adiabatic calorimetry measurements indicate a smooth transition centered at 265.0 (1) K, with a heat capacity jump of 60 mJ g(-1) K(-1), suggesting a second-order nature for the transition.