Extremely low-frequency (LF) Raman spectroscopy that allows for fast access to lattice vibrations with little hindrance of immense Rayleigh scattering was used to track in situ thermally induced polymorphic transformation of crystalline 1,1′-binaphthyl (BN), a fundamental structural unit of specific chiral ligands. BN occurs in two conformational polymorphs, cisoid and transoid forms, with the former being a racemate and the latter being a conglomerate of chiral crystals. Observed LF Raman spectra (from 200 cm–1 down to ∼5 cm–1, equivalent to 0.15 THz), which arise predominantly from lattice vibrations, show markedly different features between the cisoid and transoid forms, making it possible to study their phase transition. A series of LF Raman spectra measured with slow heating of microcrystalline BN reveal that, in contrast to previous studies, the monoclinic cisoid form transforms directly to the tetragonal transoid form in the solid state without formation of any intermediate phase. The present approach is applicable to various phase transition systems, including pharmaceutical compounds, liquid crystals, and polymer films, which conventional X-ray diffraction analysis may not be able to investigate.

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