The hypothesis that H/D exchange affects the structural formation of organic compounds in the solid state is supported by a deeper understanding of the altering polymorphism of ROY (a substance striking for its high number of polymorphic forms) through deuteration. Therefore, ROY was deuterated at its amine function, which leads to a seemingly small yet effective modification of the hydrogen-bond strength. In contrast to the crystallization of the non-deuterated ROY in methanol or ethanol, which leads to the simultaneous formation of two forms (OP and Y polymorphs), so-called concomitant polymorphs, the crystallization of d1-ROY leads to the selective formation of the Y polymorph exclusively. The preferred aggregation behavior of the Y form of d1-ROY is assigned to the weakening of an intramolecular hydrogen bond and a consequently strengthened intermolecular hydrogen bond after deuteration.
Keywords: H/D exchange; ROY; concomitant polymorphs; crystal engineering; deuteration; hydrogen bonds.