Solid-state structure of the crystalline 1:1 complex [C3H10N(18-crown-6)]+[I3−] (1) between 18-crown-6 and n-propylammonium triiodide has been determined at 293 and 93 K, respectively, showing a change from monoclinic P21/m to monoclinic P21/a. Crystal structural analysis shows that in addition to van der Waals’ forces, conventional N-H…O hydrogen bonds are the key
interactions. Measurements of unit cell parameters versus temperature show that the values of one of the three axes and the
crystal volume change abruptly and remarkably at 220 K, indicating a first-order phase transition. The lack of the mirror
plane in the low temperature structure is the most important differences between the two structural forms. Differential scanning
calorimetry (DSC) measurement confirms that 1 undergoes a reversible phase transition at about 220 K with a thermal hysteresis of 3.5 K. The relatively large latent heat
makes 1 a good candidate for phase change materials. The phase transition is accompanied by an anomaly of dielectric constant during
heating and cooling process near the phase transition temperature.
Keywords phase transition – dielectric constant – phase change material – crown ether – crystal structure