A structural exploration of anisole accessed through extreme crystallisation conditions

Abstract

Single crystal X-ray diffraction has been used to uncover a new polymorph of anisole, C₇H₈O, at elevated pressure. Structural comparisons have been made to the known, low temperature form which has also been re-investigated. Both polymorphs crystallise in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c with the new high-pressure polymorph exhibiting a much greater packing efficiency than the low-temperature form, enabled by significantly different intermolecular interactions.