Ab Initio Structure Analysis Using Laboratory Powder Diffraction Data

Abstract

Today, laboratory X-ray diffractometers are seeing increasingly wide use in the ab initio crystal structure analysis of organic powder samples. This is because optics and optical devices have been improved, making it possible to obtain precise integrated intensities of reflections in high 2-theta ranges. Another reason is that one can use direct-space methods, which do not require “high-resolution diffraction data”, much more easily than before. Described here are some key points to remember when performig ab initio crystal structure analysis using powder diffraction data from organic compounds.