The crystal structures of two polymorphs of cis-perinone (bisbenzimidazo[2,1-b:1',2'-j]benzo[lmn][3,8]phenanthroline-6,9-dione, Pigment Red 194) were solved from single crystals obtained solvothermally from 1,2-dichlorobenzene or n-butanol at 220°C. Both crystal structures (space group P21/c) derive from stacking of flat molecules arranged due to π-π interaction. The melting points of these two polymorphs are 471°C and 468°C and their respective optical bandgaps are 1.94 eV and 1.71 eV. One of the polymorphs demonstrates drift and hopping mechanisms of electric conductivity, whereas the other one is dominated by the drift conductivity. The direct current (DC) electric conductivity of the samples are 4.77 × 10-13 S m-1 and 6.84 × 10-10 S m-1 at room temperature. The significant difference in DC conductivities can be explained by the dependence of the mobility and concentration of charge carriers on the structure of the samples.
Keywords: Pigment Red 194; crystal structure; electric conductivity; naphthalene bisbenzimidazole; perinone.