Phase transition kinetics and reorientational dynamics of the plastic crystal meta-carborane studied by deuteron NMR

Meta-carborane shows an orientationally disordered, orthorhombic phase which transforms into an ordered monoclinic phase near 170 K and into a quasi-isotropic cubic phase near 280 K. From deuteron magnetization measurements both transitions are found to exhibit a thermal hysteresis and slow transformation kinetics. Furthermore, solid-echo NMR spectra and spin-lattice relaxation times are reported. These results indicate that in the orthorhombic phase the meta-carborane molecules perform a strongly anisotropic motion which is characterized by a temperature dependent amplitude.