COST is a unique platform where European researchers can jointly develop their own ideas and new initiatives across all scientific disciplines through trans-European networking of nationally funded research activities.  The COST mission seeks to develop a fundamental understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the nucleation and crystal growth processes from the molecular scale to the macroscopic scale, leading to materials with targeted functions and properties.

This COST Action facilitates development of a co-ordinated focus on the science and technology of crystallisation by creating synergy between the leading European groups in crystal growth science and crystal engineering.  It fosters collaborations and allows the development of European networks to access funding opportunities.

COST CM1402 is active through a range of networking tools, such as meetings, workshops, conferences, training schools, short-term scientific missions (STSMs) and dissemination activities.  It is open to reserach from University, Public adn Private Research Institutions as well as to NGOs, Industry and SMEs.

Project Overview

From Molecules to Crystals - how do Organic Molecules form Crystals?

Typically during chemical manufacturing, crystallization is employed as a purification step, or to isolate the final product.  Crystallization determines the quality of the product obtained but understanding the molecular mechanisms which occur during crystallization remains a scientific challenge, particularly for Organic compounds.

Developments in advanced analytical techniques, molecular recognition probes and computational methodologies are beginning to provide insight into how molecules interact in solution, aggregate and, ultimately, form crystals. Together with studies in different phases, in confined systems, on surfaces and with impurities, this will improve our understanding of Crystallization processes.  The EU plays host to recognised global leaders in different aspects of Crystallization which, when brought together, are in a unique position to drive the molecular understanding of the Crystallization process.

Crystal engineering has advanced so that there is understanding of the supramolecular interactions in molecular solids.  The next step is to fully understand structure/function relationships in order to custom design new materials for specific applications. European researchers need to embrace this new paradigm in materials design, combine it with the developing insights into the crystallization processes, and exploit both of these to control crystallization processes with increased product yield and purity, and also reduced environmental impact and cost.

Compounds of special interest to the Sction members include: Chiral Compounds, Diflusisal, Glycine, Host Guest Compounds, Hydroxyacetophenone, Isonicotinamide, Levetiracetam (Etiracetam), Norleucin, Peptides (in the solid state), Statins and Sulphonamidesindomethacin.

Meet The Project Team

Participating Countries

• Austria
• Belgium
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Czech Republic
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Israel
• Italy
• Macedonia
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Serbia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Turkey
• United Kingdom

Publications

Authors: Duane Choquesillo-Lazarte, Vinko Nemec and Dominik Cinčić
Title: Halogen bonded cocrystals of active pharmaceutical ingredients: pyrazinamide, lidocaine and pentoxifylline in combination with haloperfluorinated compounds.
Journal: CrystEngComm
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Authors: Yalçın Kılıç, Ibrahim Kani
Title: Selective catalytic oxidation of alkenes employing homobinuclear manganese(II) catalysts with TBHP.
Journal: Polyhedron
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Authors: Esra Su, Alaettin Guven, İbrahim Kani
Title: Oxygen Bridged Homobinuclear Mn(II) compounds with Anthranilic Acid: theoretical calculations, oxidation and catalase activity.
Journal: Applied Organometallic Chemistry
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Authors: Abhinav Joseph, Carlos E. S. Bernardes, Anna I. Druzhinina,‡ Raisa M. Varushchenko, Thi Yen Nguyen, Franziska Emmerling, Lina Yuan, Valérie Dupray, Gérard Coquerel, and Manuel E. Minas da Piedade
Title: Polymorphic Phase Transition in 4 Hydroxyacetophenone: Equilibrium Temperature, Kinetic Barrier, and the Relative Stability of Z = 1 and Z = 2 Forms.
Journal: Cryst. Growth Des. 2017, 17, 1918−1932
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Authors: Christo N. Nanev, Emmanuel Saridakis & Naomi E. Chayen
Title: Protein crystal nucleation in pores.
Journal: Scientific Reports 7, Article number: 35821 (2017)
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Authors: C. Brandel, Y. Cartigny, G. Coquerel, J. H. ter Horst, & S. Petit
Title: Prenucleation Self-Assembly and Chiral Discrimination Mechanisms during Solution Crystallisation of Racemic Diprophylline.
Journal: Chem. Eur. J. 2016, 22, 16103 – 16112
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Authors: R. K. Hylton, G. J. Tizzard, T. L. Threlfall, A. L. Ellis, S. J. Coles, C. C. Seaton, E. Schulze, H. Lorenz, A. Seidel-Morgenstern, M. Stein & S. L. Price
Title: Are the Crystal Structures of Enantiopure and Racemic Mandelic Acids Determined by Kinetics or Thermodynamics?
Journal: J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2015, 137, 11095–11104
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Authors: António O. L. Évora, Ricardo A. E. Castro, Teresa M. R. Maria, M. Ramos Silva, J. H. ter Horst, João Canotilhob and M. Ermelinda S. Eusébioa
Title: Co-crystals of diflunisal and isomeric pyridinecarboxamides – a thermodynamics and crystal engineering contribution.
Journal: CrystEngComm, 2016,18, 4749-4759
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Authors: U. B. Rao Khandavilli, M. Lusi; B. R. Bhogala, A. R. Maguire, M. Stein, S. E. Lawrence
Title: Diversity in a simple co-crystal: racemic and kryptoracemic behaviour.
Journal: Chemical Communications, 2016, 52, 8309-8312
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Authors: Martina Piccinno, A. Angulo-Pach, Pablo Ballester, Beatriu Escuder and Antonella Dalla Cort
Title: Rational design of a supramolecular gel based on a Zn(II)–salophen bis-dipeptide derivative.
Journal: RSC Advances
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Authors: Ibrahim Kani, Serkan Bolat
Title: Effective catalytic oxidation of alcohols and alkenes with monomeric versus dimeric manganese(II) catalysts and t-BuOOH.
Journal: Applied Organometallic Chemistry
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Authors: Christo Nanev and Vesselin Tonchev
Title: Sigmoid kinetics of protein crystalnucleation.
Journal: Journal of Crystal Growth
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