Overcoming the solvation shell during the crystallisation of diatrizoic acid from dimethylsulfoxide.

We present three crystal structures of diatrizoic acid (DTA) DMSO solvates illustrating progressive desolvation of the DTA molecule and concomitant increasing degree of DTA self-association. Using these structures, plausible pathways for overcoming the solvation shell of DTA during its crystallisation from solution are discussed.