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\u2009:\u20091 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