Structure of the α-phase of solid methanol

Abstract

The crystal structure of α-methanol at 15K has been determined from neutron powder diffraction measurements. The structure is orthorhombic, space group P2₁2₁2₁. The molecular geometry is found to be very similar to that in the gas phase, but the methyl group no longer has ideal 3-fold symmetry. The crystal is formed by infinite hydrogen-bonded chains of molecules with adjacent chains ‘pointing’ in opposite directions. The O-H … O hydrogen bonds are almost linear. No phase intermediate between the low temperature α-phase and the high temperature β-phase was found, but a new, metastable phase was discovered.