Polymorphic phase transitions and melting in (+)-decursinol crystals studied by differential scanning calorimetry

The powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) have been conducted both for structural characterization of polycrystalline (+)-decursinol (C14H14O4) and for detecting phase transformations. Using PXRD, the crystal system of decursinol was determined to be orthorhombic with a space group P212121, and the lattice parameters were derived. Upon heating in DSC, two polymorphic phase transitions were recog-nized as weak endothermic peaks around Tc2+approximate to 64 degrees C and Tc1+approximate to 68 degrees C. Further heating showed a large peak of melting with the extrapolated onset temperature Tm,o approximate to 177 degrees C.

Automated summary

The powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to characterize the structure and detect phase transformations of polycrystalline (+)-decursinol. The crystal system of decursinol was determined to be orthorhombic with a space group P212121 using PXRD. DSC analysis showed two polymorphic phase transitions at approximately 64°C and 68°C, and a melting peak at an extrapolated onset temperature of approximately 177°C.