Analysis of a fast crystalline-state reaction by a new diffractometer designed for rapid data collection

A new diffractometer for rapid data collection has been designed and constructed. It is composed of an adjustable, rotating-anode X-ray generator, kappa-type, three-circle goniometer, and a multi-layer Weissenberg camera system with imaging plates instead of X-ray film. The quality of the three-dimensional intensity data collected within 2 h is comparable to that obtained by a conventional four-circle diffractometer. With this diffractometer, the mechanism of the ring cleavage of a tricyclooctane derivative, which occurs within several hours of X-ray exposure with retention of the single-crystal form, was clearly established.