A temperature-dependent phase transformation of (E)-2-[(4-chloro-phen-yl)imino]-ace-naphthylen-1-one

The crystal structure determination based on 90 K data of the title imine ligand, C₁₈H₁₀ClNO, revealed non-merohedral twinning with three twin domains. In our experience, this is an indication of an ordering phase transition. Consequently, the structure was redetermined with higher temperature data, and a reversible phase transition was discovered. The higher temperature phase is indeed an ordered structure. At the higher temperature, the 4-chloro-phenyl group has rotated by ca 7° into a crystallographic mirror plane. Warming the crystal from 90 K to 250 K changes the space group from triclinic P-1, to monoclinic P2₁/m. Diverse non-classical inter-actions are present in the crystal packing, and these are described for the phase change reported in this work. The crystal structure of the title imine ligand, measured at 100 K, has been reported on previously [Kovach et al. (2011 ▸). J. Mol. Struct.992, 33-38].