September 26, 2003

Novel Methods for the Study and Control
of Nucleation and Polymorphism
in Organic Molecular Crystals.

Allan S. Meyerson

The understanding and control of nucleation is the key aspect of controlling crystal size, shape and polymorph. Novel methods such as non-photochemical laser-induced nucleation, nucleation on self-assembled monolayers and the use of electrodynamic levitation for the study of nucleation will be presented.

Bio Sketch
Allan S. Myerson is Professor of Chemical Engineering, and Provost and Senior Vice President at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. Prior to his position at IIT Professor Myerson served on the faculty at Polytechnic University (NY), Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Dayton. Professor Myerson was educated at Columbia University (BS) and the University of Virginia (MS and PhD). Professor Myerson is a world recognized authority in the area of crystallization from solution and has published 5 books, 125 papers and 20 patents on crystallization and related areas. Professor Myerson's research focuses on the areas of nucleation, metastable solution structure, polymorphism and impurity crystal interactions. Professor Myerson consults for the chemical and pharmaceutical industry worldwide.

SMSI Minutes
Novel Methods for the Study and Control of Nucleation and Polymorphism in Organic Molecular Crystals. by Allan S. Meyerson. 26 Sept. 03

Meyerson started with McCrone's Law : Every compound has different polymorphic forms and in general, the number of forms known for a given compound is proportional to the time and money spent on it.

Achieving the correct polymorph for medical or industrial purposes is a major problem which is influenced by purity, size, distribution, density, and many other factors. Non-photochemical laser induced nucleation works for crystals in the laser beam with induction time ranging from 6 hours to 4 days. Laser energy hinders nucleation; therefore, low energy beams work the best. Templated nucleation includes cleaved crystal surfaces to SAM, Self Assembled Monolayers.

Respectfully submitted, Stan Schmidt, Recording Secretary.