Conformational Polymorphism: the missing phase of 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane (Cl2HC–CHCl2)

Halogenoethane derivatives are known to exhibit different polymorphs involving a different translational, orientational, and conformational order. The 1,1,2,2- tetrachloroethane (Cl2HC−CHCl2) exhibits a normal pressure orthorhombic phase β (space group P212121 with Z = 8 and Z′ = 2), formed by molecules with one of the two gauche conformations. At high pressure, the stable polymorph is known to be monoclinic (space group P21/c, with Z = 2 and Z′ = 0.5), phase α, in which only the trans conformer appears. In this work, we demonstrate the existence of a normal pressure metastable polymorph, phase γ, for which the two gauche conformers show up in the asymmetric unit of a monoclinic (space group P21/c with Z = 8 and Z′ = 2) structure. The new phase γ is obtained by recrystallization upon heating the glass obtained after quench of the melt. It displays shorter type II Cl···Cl contacts than the high-pressure phase α due to attractive and directional interactions.Fil: Negrier, Ph.. Universite de Bordeaux; FranciaFil: Barrio, M.. Universidad Politecnica de Catalunya; EspañaFil: Tamarit, J. L.. Universidad Politecnica de Catalunya; EspañaFil: Mondieig, D.. Universite de Bordeaux; FranciaFil: Zuriaga, Mariano Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Física Enrique Gaviola. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Física Enrique Gaviola; ArgentinaFil: Perez, Silvina Claudia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Física Enrique Gaviola. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Física Enrique Gaviola; Argentin