A¹³C solid-state NMR study of the structure and the dynamics of the polymorphs of sulphanilamide

The 13C CPMAS NMR spectra of four crystalline forms of p-aminobenzenesulphonamide (sulphanilamide) were recorded at room temperature. Three of these forms (α, β, and γ) showed doublings in the resonances of the carbon atoms ortho to the amino group, but only a single signal was obtained from those ortho to the asymmetric sulphonamide group. A variabletemperature study allowed the interconversion of the α and β forms to the γ form to be monitored. Changes were also observed in the spectrum of the γ form as the temperature was increased, and were ascribed to the presence of 180° flips of the phenyl rings about their para axis. This interpretation was confirmed by analysis of the broadenings introduced by the assumed motion on the centreband and sidebands in the 13C CPMAS NMR spectrum of the exchanging nuclei. Variable-temperature spectra of the γ form were simulated in order to obtain information about the geometry, the rates and the activation parameters involved in the process. These calculations were in good agreement with the experimental data. The possible relevance that the observed doublings and ring motion may have for the mode of action of sulphonamides is also discussed.