Single crystals of 3-methyl-4-methoxy-4'-nitrostilben (MMONS) of large size (40 x 32 x 32 trim) and excellent quality were grown by the low-temperature solution growth method using methyl ethyl ketone as a solvent. Supersaturation was established by lowering the temperature at a rate of 0.07 degrees C/day at the initial stage and 0.3 degrees C/day at the final stage. MMONS crystals showed unidirectional growth along the polar axis, which can be explained by the molecular recognition concept. The overall morphology is represented by a truncated octahedron covered with {111}, {211}, {120}, {100} and (001) faces. Crystal perfection was characterized by using white beam synchrotron X-ray topography, which shows perfection of high degree. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.