Pressure as a tool in crystal engineering: inducing a phase transition in a high-Z′ structureCCDC reference numbers 745425, 745426, 752556-752562. For crystallographic data in CIF or other electronic format see DOI: 10.1039/b917290d

Methyl 2-(carbazol-9-yl)benzoate is unusual in crystallising with eight molecules in the crystallographic asymmetric unit ( Z ′ = 8). Under high pressure it transforms to a Z ′ = 2 structure. The molecules in the Z ′ = 2 phase have unfavourable conformations, but these are stabilised in the crystal by their efficient packing at high pressure. Methyl 2-(carbazol-9-yl)benzoate is unusual in crystallising with eight molecules in the crystallographic asymmetric unit ( Z ′ = 8). Under high pressure it transforms to a Z ′ = 2 structure. The molecules in the Z ′ = 2 phase have unfavourable conformations, but these are stabilised in the crystal by their efficient packing at high pressure.