Polymorphism in Molecular Crystals

Most people are familiar with the fact that diamond and graphite are both composed only of carbon; yet they have very different properties which result from the very different structures of the two solids - they are polymorphs of carbon. Understanding the relationship between the structures and the properties of materials is of fundamental importance in developing and producing new materials with improved or new properties. The existence of polymorphic systems allows the direct study of the connection between structures and properties. This book provides grounding on the fundamental structural and energetic basis for polymorphism, the preparation and characterization of polymorphic substances and its importance in the specific areas of pharmaceuticals, pigments and high energy (explosive) materials. The closing chapter describes the intellectual property implications and some of the precedent patent litigations in which polymorphism has played a central role. The book contains over 2500 references to provide a ready entry into the relevant literature.

Joel Bernstein, Professor Chemistry, Emeritus, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Joel Bernstein earned his Ph.D. in physical chemistry at Yale University for research on solid-state spectroscopy of organic compounds. Following postdoctoral stints at UCLA and the Weizmann Institute of Science, he joined the faculty of the newly established Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, where until 2010 he was the Carol and Barry Kaye Professor of Applied Science in the Chemistry Department. From 2010-2016, he was Global Distinguished Professor of Chemistry at New York University, both in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai. His research interests center on the organic solid state, with emphasis on understanding and utilizing polymorphism, structure-property relationships, hydrogen-bonding patterns and graph sets and organic conducting materials. He has published nearly 200 research and review articles and chapters on these subjects. He has served as a consultant to many multinational pharmaceutical companies and as a testifying witness in patent litigations on the solid-state chemistry of drugs.