How similar is similar? Exploring the binary and ternary solid solution landscapes of p-methyl/chloro/bromo-benzyl alcohols

New binary and ternary solid solutions formed by p-chlorobenzyl alcohol (p-ClBA), p-bromobenzyl alcohol (p-BrBA) and their quasi-isostructural compound p-methylbenzyl alcohol (p-MeBA) have been prepared and characterized by DSC and powder X-ray diffraction. The binary and ternary solid solutions were synthesized by co-melting of p-MeBA/p-ClBA, p-MeBA/p-BrBA and p-ClBA/p-BrBA and by co-melting of p-MeBA/p-ClBA/p-BrBA in various molar ratios. By varying the relative concentrations, it has been possible to observe the consequent variations of the melting points of the solid solutions. For the binary 1 : 1 p-MeBA/p-BrBA and p-ClBA/p-BrBA compounds, single crystals were grown from solution and their structures were investigated by X-ray diffraction.