Maleic hydrazide, a unique example
of polymorphic structures, was analyzed at pressure up to 5 GPa using in situ high-pressure Raman scattering and synchrotron X-ray
diffraction techniques. Changes in the Raman spectra at 2 GPa indicate
that a pressure-induced phase transition is occurring. The transition
was further analyzed with angle dispersive X-ray diffraction, which
demonstrated that maleic hydrazide underwent a polymorphic transformation
from the form III to the form II. Moreover, the observed transformation
was partially reversible when the system was brought back to ambient
pressure. This work suggests that the high-pressure polymorphic transformation
is caused by changes in the hydrogen-bonded ribbons which lead to
supramolecular rearrangements in the crystal structure.