Nucleation in the p-toluenesulfonamide/triphenylphosphine oxide co-crystal system

Nucleation has been studied in pure co-crystal and mixed co-crystal phase regions of the ternary phase diagram (TPD) in acetonitrile at 20 C using cooling crystallization experiments. Direct nucleation of each of the co-crystal phases in this system was independently observed in regions of the TPD where each is stable. In mixed regions, regions where either a co-crystal and a coformer, or both co-crystals, are stable, the phase that initially nucleated was a function of the mass composition in that region. The relative amount of each phase nucleating could be controlled by adjusting the relative mass fraction of each component. The kinetic return to equilibrium was also observed as the systems were held over time, with the selected mass fractions always returning to the equilibrium dictated by the TPD after 24 h.