This work provides a short summary of techniques for formally-correct handling of statistical uncertainties in Poisson-statistics dominated data, with emphasis on X-ray powder diffraction patterns. Correct assignment of uncertainties for low counts is documented. Further, we describe a technique for adaptively rebinning such data sets to provide more uniform statistics across a pattern with a wide range of count rates, from a few (or no) counts in a background bin to on-peak regions with many counts. This permits better plotting of data and analysis of a smaller number of points in a fitting package, without significant degradation of the information content of the data set. Examples of the effect of this on a diffraction data set are given.

The pharmacy (spezieria) Santa Maria della Scala was founded in Rome by the Discalced Carmelites Order in the 17th century, and during the 18th and 19th centuries it became the official supplier of medicines for Vatican Popes. The laboratory and the cases of this spezieria still preserve glass jars with organic and inorganic materials, which were presumably used for medicine and artistic material preparation, whose composition is unknown to date. A research project was initiated with the aim to study the stored materials and the role that the pharmacy played in regional, national and international contexts. In this manuscript, the compounds were analysed through X-ray powder diffraction with the scope to derive the quantitative mineralogical composition of the inorganic fraction, their possible use in pharmacopoeias and as mineral pigments. Most of the analysed samples are salts (sulphates, chlorides, carbonates, phosphates, borates, sulphides), sulphates being the predominant class; oxides were also detected.

A series of double-perovskite oxides, Sr2RNbO6 (R = Sm, Gd, Dy, Ho, Y, Tm, and Lu) were prepared and their crystal structure and powder diffraction reference patterns were determined using the Rietveld analysis technique. The crystal structure of each of the Sr2RNbO6 phase is reported in this paper. The R = Gd, Ho, and Lu samples were studied using synchrotron radiation, while R = Sm, Dy, Y, and Tm samples were studied using laboratory X-ray diffraction. Members of Sr2RNbO6 are monoclinic with a space group of P21/n and are isostructural with each other. Following the trend of “lanthanide contraction”, from R = Sm to Lu, the lattice parameters “a” of these compounds decreases from 5.84672(10) to 5.78100(3) Å, b from 5.93192(13) to 5.80977(3) Å, c from 8.3142(2) to 8.18957(5) Å, and V decreases from 288.355(11) to 275.057(2) Å3. In this double-perovskite series, the R3+ and Nb5+ ions are structurally ordered. The average Nb–O bond length is nearly constant, while the average R–O bond length decreases with the decreasing ionic radius of R3+. Powder diffraction patterns for these compounds have been submitted to the Powder Diffraction File (PDF).

Synchrotron X-ray diffraction was used to monitor the hydrothermal precipitation of akaganeite (β-FeOOH) and its transformation to hematite (Fe2O3) in situ. Akaganeite was the first phase to form and hematite was the final phase in our experiments with temperatures between 150 and 200 °C. Akaganeite was the only phase that formed at 100 °C. Rietveld analyses revealed that the akaganeite unit-cell volume contracted until the onset of dissolution, and subsequently expanded. This reversal at the onset of dissolution was associated with a substantial and rapid increase in occupancy of the Cl site, perhaps by OH− or Fe3+. Rietveld analyses supported the incipient formation of an OH-rich, Fe-deficient hematite phase in experiments between 150 and 200 °C. The inferred H concentrations of the first crystals were consistent with “hydrohematite.” With continued crystal growth, the Fe occupancies increased. Contraction in both a- and c-axes signaled the loss of hydroxyl groups and formation of a nearly stoichiometric hematite.

The crystal structure of bretylium tosylate has been solved and refined using synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data, and optimized using density functional techniques. Bretylium tosylate crystallizes in space group C2/c (#15) with a = 32.6238(4), b = 12.40353(14), c = 9.93864(12) Å, β = 101.4676(10), V = 3941.39(5) Å3, and Z = 8. The sample exhibited visible decomposition in the X-ray beam. The unusual displacement ellipsoid of the Br atom probably indicates that the decomposition in the beam involves the Br atom. The crystal structure can be viewed as layered parallel to the bc plane. The layers are double, the center consisting of the cation/anion polar interactions and the outer surface of the double layers consists of hydrocarbon interactions. In the absence of normal hydrogen bond donors, the only hydrogen bonds in the bretylium tosylate structure are C–H…O hydrogen bonds. The powder pattern has been submitted to ICDD® for inclusion in the Powder Diffraction File™.

Polycrystalline Ca0.925Ce0.075Mn0.9Fe0.1O3 were prepared by sol-gel reaction at 1073 K. The compound was analyzed by a powder X-ray diffraction technique and found to be in single phase. The unit-cell parameters and atomic positions were refined using General Structure Analysis to an orthorhombic structure with space group Pnma (#62) a = 5.281 90 (33) Å, b = 7.4968 (45) Å, and c = 5.302 90 (32) Å.

X-ray powder diffraction data for (S)-methyl-2-hexanamido-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propanoate, C16H23NO4, are reported [a = 17.795(4) Å, b = 15.101(1) Å, c = 12.746(3) Å, unit-cell volume V = 3425.51 Å3, Z = 8, and space group P212121]. All measured lines were indexed and are consistent with the P212121 space group. No detectable impurities were observed. The single crystallographic data of the compound are also reported [a = 12.5998(3) Å, b = 17.6856(5) Å, c = 14.6711(5) Å, unit-cell volume V = 3269.25(16) Å3, Z = 8, and space group P212121]. Because of the single-crystal diffraction data were measured at low temperature (110 K), the cell parameters, volume, and calculated density of single-crystal experiment have slight differences with powder diffraction results.

The crystal structure of lubiprostone has been refined using synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data, and optimized using density functional techniques. Lubiprostone crystallizes in space group P1 (#1) with a = 9.02025(2), b = 10.72121(2), c = 12.32817(4) Å, α = 78.5566(2), β = 69.6858(2), γ = 77.3292(2)°, V = 1081.069(3) Å3, and Z = 2. The two independent molecules occur in an extended conformation, aligned approximately along the c-axis. The hydrophobic side chains are adjacent to each other, resulting in layers parallel to the ac plane. The two carboxylic acid groups form an eight-membered ring, resulting in dimers of the two independent molecules. Each hydroxyl group acts as a hydrogen bond donor to the ketone of the fused ring system. The powder pattern is included in the Powder Diffraction File™ as entry 00-066-1622.

A new trimetallic compound with formula (NH4)H2Co2O(OH)(MoO4)1.6(WO4)0.4•H2O and lamellar structure was prepared by hydrothermal synthesis. The solid was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric (TGA) and differential thermal (DTA) analyses, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT–IR), laser Raman spectroscopy (LRS), and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AA). Crystallographic studies showed that the solid crystallizes with hexagonal symmetry in space group R-3 m with a = 6.0807 and c = 21.7591 Å.

The crystal structure of vardenafil hydrochloride trihydrate has been solved and refined using synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data, and optimized using density functional techniques. Vardenafil hydrochloride trihydrate crystallizes in space group C2/c (#15) with a = 34.78347(16), b = 11.56752(4), c = 14.69308(5) Å, β = 93.3410(4), V = 5901.839(30) Å3, and Z = 8. The fused ring system and the phenyl ring are nearly co-planar; the interplanar angle between them is 6.0°. Two intramolecular hydrogen bonds help determine this conformation. These planes stack along the c-axis. The side chains of these ring systems have a large Uiso and are neighbors in the stacks. Along the a-axis, these stacks are separated by hydrophilic layers of chloride, water molecules, and the positively charged nitrogen atoms of the vardenafil cation. Hydrogen bonds are prominent in the crystal structure. The protonated nitrogen atom forms a strong hydrogen bond to the chloride anion. The water molecules form a hexagon, making hydrogen bonds with themselves, as well as the C1 and a ring nitrogen atom. These discrete hydrogen bonds form a cluster, and there is no extended hydrogen bond network. There are many C–H⋯Cl, C–H⋯O, and C–H⋯N hydrogen bonds, which (although individually weak) contribute significantly to the crystal energy. The powder pattern is included in the Powder Diffraction File™ as entry 00-066-1620.

X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) data, unit-cell parameters and space group for 7-ethyl-14-nitro-camptothecin, C22H19N3O6, are reported [a = 10.987(5) Å, b = 10.941 (9) Å, c = 8.438 (2) Å, α = 71.321(6)°, β = 96.145(0)°, γ = 95.139(3)°, unit-cell volume V = 953.87 Å3, Z = 2, ρcal = 1.467 g cm−3, and space group P-1]. All measured lines were indexed and are consistent with the P-1 space group. No detectable impurities were observed.