Isomorphism and disorder in o-chlorohalobenzenes studied by NQR

In this work we present experimental results that allow to characterize different solid modifications found in o-chlorohalobenzenes. Three disordered phases have been found in o-chlorobromobenzene. The stable phase at high temperature (phase I) is also obtained by quenching the sample at 77K. Slow cooling allow to obtain the low temperature phase III which, on heating, transforms to phase II at 183K and this, in turns, transforms to phase I at T~210K. The disorder evidenced through the Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance spectra, is attributed to a random occupation of chlorine and bromine sites. In all phases there is evidence of molecular reorientations out of the benzene ring plane around the pseudo-symmetry axis between the atoms of Cl and Br. In o-chlorofluorobenzene two phases have been found depending on the cooling rate. One phase is disordered due to the random exchange of the occupation of Cl and F sites. In this case, there is also evidence of molecular reorientations out of the benzene ring plane, but in this case the reorientation is around the pseudo-symmetry axis that pass through the C–Cl bonds. Comparisons with the behavior of o-dichlorobenzene are also made. [Display omitted] •35Cl NQR characterization of different solid phases in o-chlorohalobenzenes.•Experimental evidence of orientational disorder.•Experimental evidence of out of plane molecular reorientations.•Isomorphism.