What is it about?
The paper describes the crystal structure of a molecule formed by reacting acetylacetone with 3‑aminophenol. A six-membered ring is formed via the strong internal hydrogen bond. The individual molecules then interact through additional hydrogen bonds between them, creating long helical chains in the crystal. We analyzed how the molecules stack in the structure and interact with each other in the solid state. We also calculated the lattice energy and performed analysis of non-bonding interactions between molecules.
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Why is it important?
Every new crystal structure enriches structural databases and deepens our understanding of the solid state. In this case, the work is additionally valuable since the structural data on this class of compounds remain relatively scarce. It also advances our understanding of aromaticity in resonance-assisted hydrogen bonds and how these interactions shape molecular conformation. Finally, the determination of lattice energy and analysis of non-bonding interactions provides insight into the interplay of hydrogen bonding and π-stacking in defining the final crystal structure.
Perspectives
Single-crystal X-ray crystallography is a remarkable technique. It truly provides "evidence of things unseen." This structure is a beautiful example of how a simple organic molecule can interact with itself to create a more complex architecture. A single well‑determined structure, and the analysis that follows, can explain solubility, stability, morphology, and many other properties of a material, and it can help us design new compounds of desired properties. As part of the broader crystallographic effort, this work becomes another carefully placed piece in the larger picture of how molecules organize and express their behavior in the solid state.
Alen Hadzovic
University of Toronto
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The crystal structure of (3
Z
)-4-[(3-hydroxyphenyl)amino]pent-3-en-2-one: helices and π-stacking interactions of hydrogen-bridged rings, Acta Crystallographica Section E Crystallographic Communications, May 2026, International Union of Crystallography,
DOI: 10.1107/s2056989026004068.
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