Cocrystals of nicotinamide and (R)-mandelic acid in many ratios with anomalous formation properties.

We report a remarkable system of cocrystals containing nicotinamide (NIC) and (R)-mandelic acid (RMA) in numerous stoichiometric ratios (4:1, 1:1 in two polymorphs, and 1:2) with anomalous formation properties. The formation of these cocrystals decreases energy but expands volume, in contrast to most physical processes, but similar to water freezing. The decrease of energy upon cocrystallization agrees with the exothermic mixing of NIC and RMA liquids (a base and an acid). Volume expansion is general for the formation of all NIC cocrystals for which data exist (n = 40): +3.9 Å(3)/molecule or +17 cm(3)/kg on average, corresponding to a 2% expansion. This volume expansion correlates with the shortening and strengthening of hydrogen bonds upon cocrystallization, analogous to water freezing. The NIC-RMA binary phase diagram was constructed that contains the congruent and incongruent melting of six crystalline phases. These results are relevant for understanding the nature of cocrystallization and why some molecules are prolific cocrystal formers.