Polymorphism and Phase Transformation Behavior of Solid Forms of 4-Amino-3,5-dinitrobenzamide

We report the preparation, analysis, and phase transformation behavior of polymorphs and the hydrate of 4-amino-3,5-dinitrobenzamide. The compound crystallizes in four different polymorphic forms, Form I (monoclinic, P2(1)/n), Form II (orthorhombic, Pbca), Form III (monoclinic, P2(1)/c), and Form IV (monoclinic, P2(1)/c). Interestingly, a hydrate (triclinic, P (1) over bar) of the compound is also discovered during the systematic identification of the polymorphs. Analysis of the polymorphs has been investigated using hot stage microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, in situ variable-temperature powder X-ray diffraction, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. On heating, all of the solid forms convert into Form I irreversibly, and on further heating, melting is observed. In situ single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies revealed that Form II transforms to Form I above 175 degrees C via single-crystal-to-single-crystal transformation. The hydrate, on heating, undergoes a double phase transition, first to Form III upon losing water in a single-crystal-to-single-crystal fashion and then to a more stable polymorph Form I on further heating. Thermal analysis leads to the conclusion that Form II appears to be the most stable phase at ambient conditions, whereas Form I is more stable at higher temperature.