A large anisotropic plasticity of L-leucinium hydrogen maleate preserved at cryogenic temperatures

Acta Crystallogr B Struct Sci Cryst Eng Mater. 2019 Apr 1;75(Pt 2):143-151. doi: 10.1107/S2052520619000441. Epub 2019 Mar 13.

Abstract

L-Leucinium hydrogen maleate crystals are very plastic at ambient conditions. Here it is shown that this plasticity is preserved at least down to 77 K. The structural changes in the temperature range 293-100 K were followed in order to rationalize the large anisotropic plasticity in this compound. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported example of an organic compound remaining so plastic at cryogenic conditions.

Keywords: hydrogen bonds; intermolecular interactions; low temperature; plastic crystals.

MeSH terms

  • Anisotropy
  • Crystallization
  • Leucine / chemistry*
  • Maleates / chemistry*
  • Molecular Structure
  • Temperature*

Substances

  • Maleates
  • maleic acid
  • Leucine