Originalversjon
Acta Crystallographica Section E: Structure Reports Online. 2014, E70, 337-340, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1107/S1600536814022211
Sammendrag
Two forms, α and β, are known for the racemic amino acid DL-methionine, C5H11NO2S. The phase transition between them, taking place around 326 K, is associated with sliding at the central interfaces of the hydrophobic regions in the crystal, leaving the hydrogen-bonding pattern unperturbed. For the high-temperature [alpha] phase, only a structure of rather low quality has been available [R factor = 0.118, no H-atom coordinates; Taniguchi et al. (1980). Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn, 53, 803-804]. We here present accurate structural data for this polymorph [R(F) = 0.049], which are compared with other related amino acid structures with similar properties. We report for the first time that the side chain of this phase has a minor disorder component [occupancy 0.0491 (18)] with a gauche+ rather than a gauche- conformation for the N-C-C-C group. In the crystal of the title compound, N-H...O hydrogen bonds link the molecules into (100) sheets.