Zwitterionic or Not? Fast and Reliable Structure Determination by Combining Crystal Structure Prediction and Solid-State NMR

When it comes to crystal structure determination, computational approaches such as Crystal Structure Prediction (CSP) have gained more and more attention since they offer some insight on how atoms and molecules are packed in the solid state, starting from only very basic information without diffraction data. Furthermore, it is well known that the coupling of CSP with solid-state NMR (SSNMR) greatly enhances the performance and the accuracy of the predictive method, leading to the so-called CSP-NMR crystallography (CSP-NMRX). In this paper, we present the successful application of CSP-NMRX to determine the crystal structure of three structural isomers of pyridine dicarboxylic acid, namely quinolinic, dipicolinic and dinicotinic acids, which can be in a zwitterionic form, or not, in the solid state. In a first step, mono- and bidimensional SSNMR spectra, i.e., ¹H Magic-Angle Spinning (MAS), ¹³C and ¹⁵N Cross Polarisation Magic-Angle Spinning (CPMAS), ¹H Double Quantum (DQ) MAS, ¹H-¹³C HETeronuclear CORrelation (HETCOR), were used to determine the correct molecular structure (i.e., zwitterionic or not) and the local molecular arrangement; at the end, the RMSEs between experimental and computed ¹H and ¹³C chemical shifts allowed the selection of the correct predicted structure for each system. Interestingly, while quinolinic and dipicolinic acids are zwitterionic and non-zwitterionic, respectively, in the solid state, dinicotinic acid exhibits in its crystal structure a "zwitterionic-non-zwitterionic continuum state" in which the proton is shared between the carboxylic moiety and the pyridinic nitrogen. Very refined SSNMR experiments were carried out, i.e., ¹⁴N-¹H Phase-Modulated (PM) pulse and Rotational-Echo Saturation-Pulse Double-Resonance (RESPDOR), to provide an accurate N-H distance value confirming the hybrid nature of the molecule. The CSP-NMRX method showed a remarkable match between the selected structures and the experimental ones. The correct molecular input provided by SSNMR reduced the number of CSP calculations to be performed, leading to different predicted structures, while RMSEs provided an independent parameter with respect to the computed energy for the selection of the best candidate.

The Relevance of Crystal Forms in the Pharmaceutical Field: Sword of Damocles or Innovation Tools?

This review is aimed to provide to an “educated but non-expert” readership and an overview of the scientific, commercial, and ethical importance of investigating the crystalline forms (polymorphs, hydrates, and co-crystals) of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API). The existence of multiple crystal forms of an API is relevant not only for the selection of the best solid material to carry through the various stages of drug development, including the choice of dosage and of excipients suitable for drug development and marketing, but also in terms of intellectual property protection and/or extension. This is because the physico-chemical properties, such as solubility, dissolution rate, thermal stability, processability, etc., of the solid API may depend, sometimes dramatically, on the crystal form, with important implications on the drug’s ultimate efficacy. This review will recount how the scientific community and the pharmaceutical industry learned from the catastrophic consequences of the appearance of new, more stable, and unsuspected crystal forms. The relevant aspects of hydrates, the most common pharmaceutical solid solvates, and of co-crystals, the association of two or more solid components in the same crystalline materials, will also be discussed. Examples will be provided of how to tackle multiple crystal forms with screening protocols and theoretical approaches, and ultimately how to turn into discovery and innovation the purposed preparation of new crystalline forms of an API.

Two Tautomers of Thiobarbituric Acid in One Crystal: The Experimental Charge Density Perspective

High-quality crystals of a certain polymorphic form of thiobarbituric acid containing both keto and enol tautomers in the asymmetric unit were obtained. High-resolution X-ray diffraction data up to sinθ/λ = 1.0 Å^-1 were collected and subsequently successfully used for the refining of the multipolar model of electron density distribution. The use of a crystal containing both ketone and enol forms allowed a direct comparison of the topological analysis results and a closer look at the differences between these two forms. The similarities and differences between the deformation densities, electrostatic potentials, Laplacian maps and bond characteristics of the tautomers were analysed. Additionally, the spectrum of the intermolecular interactions was identified and studied from classical, relatively strong N-H···O and O-H···O hydrogen bonds through weaker N-H···S hydrogen bonds to weak interactions (for instance, C-H···O, C-H···S and N···O). The results of these studies point toward the importance of including both the geometrical features and the details of the electron density distribution in the analysis of such weak interactions.

Solid-State NMR-Driven Crystal Structure Prediction of Molecular Crystals: The Case of Mebendazole

Among all possible NMR crystallography approaches for crystal-structure determination, crystal structure prediction - NMR crystallography (CSP-NMRX) has recently turned out to be a powerful method. In the latter, the original procedure exploited solid-state NMR (SSNMR) information during the final steps of the prediction. In particular, it used the comparison of computed and experimental chemical shifts for the selection of the correct crystal packing. Still, the prediction procedure, generally carried out with DFT methods, may require important computational resources and be quite time-consuming, especially if there are no available constraints to use at the initial stage. Herein, the successful application of this combined prediction method, which exploits NMR information also in the input step to reduce the search space of the predictive algorithm, is presented. Herein, this method was applied on mebendazole, which is characterized by desmotropism. The use of SSNMR data as constraints for the selection of the right tautomer and the determination of the number of independent molecules in the unit cell led to a considerably faster process, reducing the number of calculations to be performed. In this way, the crystal packing was successfully predicted for the three known phases of mebendazole. To evaluate the quality of the predicted structures, these were compared to the experimental ones. The crystal structure of phase B of mebendazole, in particular, was determined de novo by powder diffraction and is presented for the first time in this paper.

Mechanochemical Synthesis and Physicochemical Characterization of Previously Unreported Praziquantel Solvates with 2-Pyrrolidone and Acetic Acid

Two new solvates of the widely used anthelminthic Praziquantel (PZQ) were obtained through mechanochemical screening with different liquid additives. Specifically, 2-pyrrolidone and acetic acid gave solvates with 1:1 stoichiometry (PZQ-AA and PZQ-2P, respectively). A wide-ranging characterization of the new solid forms was carried out by means of powder X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, FT-IR, solid-state NMR and biopharmaceutical analyses (solubility and intrinsic dissolution studies). Besides, the crystal structures of the two new solvates were solved from their Synchrotron-PXRD pattern: the solvates are isostructural, with equivalent triclinic packing. In both structures acetic acid and 2-pyrrolidone showed a strong interaction with the PZQ molecule via hydrogen bond. Even though previous studies have shown that PZQ is conformationally flexible, the same syn conformation as the PZQ Form A of the C=O groups of the piperazinone-cyclohexylcarbonyl segment is involved in these two new solid forms. In terms of biopharmaceutical properties, PZQ-AA and PZQ-2P exhibited water solubility and intrinsic dissolution rate much greater than those of anhydrous Form A.

Sublimation – a green route to new solid-state forms

Sublimation is an effective and ‘green’ method to prepare and identify new polymorphs, cocrystals, ionic cocrystals and molecular salts.

Thiosquaramide-Based Supramolecular Polymers: Aromaticity Gain in a Switched Mode of Self-Assembly

Despite a growing understanding of factors that drive monomer self-assembly to form supramolecular polymers, the effects of aromaticity gain have been largely ignored. Herein, we document the aromaticity gain in two different self-assembly modes of squaramide-based bolaamphiphiles. Importantly, O → S substitution in squaramide synthons resulted in supramolecular polymers with increased fiber flexibility and lower degrees of polymerization. Computations and spectroscopic experiments suggest that the oxo- and thiosquaramide bolaamphiphiles self-assemble into "head-to-tail" versus "stacked" arrangements, respectively. Computed energetic and magnetic criteria of aromaticity reveal that both modes of self-assembly increase the aromatic character of the squaramide synthons, giving rise to stronger intermolecular interactions in the resultant supramolecular polymer structures. These examples suggest that both hydrogen-bonding and stacking interactions can result in increased aromaticity upon self-assembly, highlighting its relevance in monomer design.

Cortisone and cortisol break hydrogen-bonding rules to make a drug-prodrug solid solution

Multidrug products enable more effective therapies and simpler administration regimens, provided that a stable formulation is prepared, with the desired composition. In this view, solid solutions have the advantage of combining the stability of a single crystalline phase with the potential of stoichiometry variation of a mixture. Here a drug-prodrug solid solution of cortisone and cortisol (hydrocortisone) is described. Despite the structural differences of the two components, the new phase is obtained both from solution and by supercritical CO2 assisted spray drying. In particular, to enter the solid solution, hydrocortisone must violate Etter's rules for hydrogen bonding. As a result, its dissolution rate is almost doubled.

NMR crystallography of molecular organics

Developments of NMR methodology to characterise the structures of molecular organic structures are reviewed, concentrating on the previous decade of research in which density functional theory-based calculations of NMR parameters in periodic solids have become widespread. With a focus on demonstrating the new structural insights provided, it is shown how "NMR crystallography" has been used in a spectrum of applications from resolving ambiguities in diffraction-derived structures (such as hydrogen atom positioning) to deriving complete structures in the absence of diffraction data. As well as comprehensively reviewing applications, the different aspects of the experimental and computational techniques used in NMR crystallography are surveyed. NMR crystallography is seen to be a rapidly maturing subject area that is increasingly appreciated by the wider crystallographic community.

Application of 1-Hydroxy-4,5-Dimethyl-Imidazole 3-Oxide as Coformer in Formation of Pharmaceutical Cocrystals

Two, well defined binary crystals with 1-Hydroxy-4,5-Dimethyl-Imidazole 3-Oxide (HIMO) as coformer and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) as well barbituric acid (BA) as Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) were obtained by cocrystallization (from methanol) or mechanochemically by grinding. The progress of cocrystal formation in a ball mill was monitored by means of high-resolution, solid state NMR spectroscopy. The ¹³C CP/MAS, ¹⁵N CP/MAS and ¹H Very Fast (VF) MAS NMR procedures were employed to inspect the tautomeric forms of the APIs, structure elucidation of the coformer and the obtained cocrystals. Single crystal X-ray studies allowed us to define the molecular structure and crystal packing for the coformer as well as the TBA/HIMO and BA/HIMO cocrystals. The intermolecular hydrogen bonding, π-π interactions and CH-π contacts responsible for higher order organization of supramolecular structures were determined. Biological studies of HIMO and the obtained cocrystals suggest that these complexes are not cytotoxic and can potentially be considered as therapeutic materials.

Same or different – that is the question: identification of crystal forms from crystal structure data

An analysis of the CSD with structural comparison tools shows that differentiating between polymorphism and redeterminations is not always straight forward and requires of complementary tools at the hands of an expert practitioner.

2H-Indazole Tautomers Stabilized by Intra- and Intermolecular Hydrogen Bonds

2-[(2H-Indazol-3-yl)methylene]-1H-indene-1,3(2H)-dione 6 and (E)-2-[(2H-indazol-3-yl)methylene]-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-1-one 7 have been synthesized. In the crystal, the NH hydrogen atom of 6 is disordered between the N(1) and N(2) atoms with the population ratio of 0.69:0.31. Molecule 7 crystallizes in two tautomeric polymorphs: 7-1H tautomer (yellow) and 7-2H tautomer (red). Both 6 and 7 form centrosymmetric dimers in the crystal with the monomeric units linked by C═O···H···N bifurcated hydrogen bonds in 6 and N-H···N hydrogen bonds in 7. According to ¹H and ¹³C NMR data, in DMSO-d₆ solution, the 6-1H tautomer predominates, whereas in less polar CDCl₃ or CD₂Cl₂, the 6-2H tautomer is stabilized by a strong N-H···O═C intramolecular hydrogen bond. Compound 7 in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) or ethanol solutions exists in the form of 7-1H and 7-2H tautomers. On the example of the 7-2H tautomer, it was shown for the first time that the 2H tautomers of 3-substituted indazoles can be stabilized by an intermolecular hydrogen bond and may remain in aprotic solvents almost indefinitely. However, in the open air or in water, fast 2H → 1H tautomerization occurs. As follows from density functional theory calculations, the high stability of the 2H form in solution is due to the formation of centrosymmetric dimers, which are more stable than the corresponding dimers of the 1H tautomer.

Tautomeric photoswitches: anion-assisted azo/azine-to-hydrazone photochromism

The photoswitching behaviour of isatin 4-nitrophenylhydrazones in presence of anions was investigated.

Crystal structure, spectroscopic studies and theoretical studies of thiobarbituric acid derivatives: understanding the hydrogen-bonding patterns

In addition to their wide-ranging applications in the pharmaceutical industry, thiobarbituric acid (TBA) derivatives are also known to possess applications in engineering and materials science. 20 TBA derivatives, with diversity at the N and C-5 positions through acylation, Schiff base formation, Knoevenagel condensation, thioamide and enamine formation, were studied. The absolute configurations for six derivatives, namely 5-acetyl-1,3-diethyl-2-thioxodihydropyrimidine-4,6(1H,5H)-dione, C₁₀H₁₄N₂O₃S, A01, 1,3-diethyl-5-propionyl-2-thioxodihydropyrimidine-4,6(1H,5H)-dione, C₁₁H₁₆N₂O₃S, A02, tert-butyl [1-(1,3-diethyl-4,6-dioxo-2-thioxohexahydropyrimidin-5-yl)-3-methyl-1-oxobutan-2-yl]carbamate, C₁₈H₂₉N₃O₅S, A06, 1,3-diethyl-4,6-dioxo-2-thioxo-N-(p-tolyl)hexahydropyrimidine-5-carbothioamide, C₁₆H₁₉N₃O₂S₂, A13, 5-(1-aminoethylidene)-1,3-diethyl-2-thioxodihydropyrimidine-4,6(1H,5H)-dione, C₁₀H₁₅N₃O₂S, A17, and 5-(1-aminopropylidene)-1,3-diethyl-2-thioxodihydropyrimidine-4,6(1H,5H)-dione, C₁₁H₁₇N₃O₂S, A18, were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray crystallography, which indicates the formation of intramolecular hydrogen bonding in all six cases and intermolecular hydrogen bonding for A17. In A13, the presence of two intramolecular hydrogen bonds was observed. The stabilization of the enol form over the keto form was confirmed by computation. In order to convert the keto form to the enol form, an energy barrier of 55.05 kcal mol^-1 needs to be overcome, as confirmed by transition-state calculations.

Investigation into tautomeric polymorphism of 2-thiobarbituric acid using experimental vibrational spectroscopy combined with DFT theoretical simulation

Vibrational modes of 2-thiobarbituric acid (TBA) tautomeric polymorphs (form I, II and IV) were characterized by terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) and Raman spectral techniques. The experimental results indicate that both vibrational spectroscopy techniques could be used to recognize the above TBA three tautomeric forms clearly. Experimental THz spectral results show that each of TBA tautomeric polymorphs has distinctive fingerprint peaks in the terahertz region. Raman spectra also show similar results about differences of TBA tautomeric polymorphs, but not significant as that of terahertz spectra since Raman-active vibrational modes are mostly from intra-molecular interaction of various functional groups within the specific molecule while that of terahertz region is more sensitive to inter-molecular interaction within crystalline unit cells. In addition, density functional theory (DFT) was used to simulate the optimized structures and vibrational modes of these three TBA tautomeric forms above. The characteristic vibrational modes of TBA polymorphs are assigned comparing the simulated DFT results with experimental vibrational spectra. The results provide fundamental benchmark for the study of pharmaceutical polymorphism based on both Raman and terahertz vibrational spectroscopic techniques combined with theoretical simulations.

A quantitative reactivity scale for electrophilic fluorinating reagents

Through kinetic studies we provide a quantitative reactivity scale for ten electrophilic fluorination reagents.

Electrophilic N–F fluorination agents underpin the introduction of fluorine in aliphatic systems across drug and academic research. The choice of N–F reagent is currently determined through empirical experimentation in the absence of quantitative values for electrophilicities. Here we report an experimentally-determined kinetic reactivity scale for ten N–F fluorinating reagents, including Selectfluor™, NFSI, Synfluor™ and several N-fluoropyridinium salts, in CH₃CN. The reactivity scale, which covers eight orders of magnitude, employs para-substituted 1,3-diaryl-1,3-dicarbonyl derivatives to measure relative and absolute rate constants. The para-substituted 1,3-diaryl-1,3-dicarbonyl scaffold delivers a convenient, sensitive spectrophotometric reporter of reactivity that also led to the discovery of a unique form of tautomeric polymorphism.

Spectroscopic investigation on structure and pH dependent Cocrystal formation between gamma-aminobutyric acid and benzoic acid

Vibrational spectroscopic methods, including terahertz absorption and Raman scattering spectroscopy, were utilized for the characterization and analysis of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), benzoic acid (BA), and the corresponding GABA-BA cocrystal formation under various pH values of aqueous solution. Vibrational spectroscopic results demonstrated that the solvent GABA-BA cocrystal, similar as grinding counterpart, possessed unique characteristic features compared with that of starting parent compounds. The change of vibrational modes for GABA-BA cocrystal comparing with starting components indicates there is strong inter-molecular interaction between GABA and BA molecules during its cocrystallization process. Formation of GABA-BA cocrystal under slow solvent evaporation is impacted by the pH value of aqueous solution. Vibrational spectra indicate that the GABA-BA cocrystal could be stably formed with the solvent condition of 2.00≤pH≤7.00. In contrast, such cocrystallization did not occur and the cocrystal would dissociate into its parent components when the pH value of solvent is lower than 2.00. This study provides experimental benchmark to discriminate and identify the structure of cocrystal and also pH-dependent cocrystallization effect with vibrational spectroscopic techniques in solid-state pharmaceutical fields.

Towards medicinal mechanochemistry: evolution of milling from pharmaceutical solid form screening to the synthesis of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs)

This overview highlights the emergent area of mechanochemical reactions for making active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), and covers the latest advances in the recently established area of mechanochemical screening and synthesis of pharmaceutical solid forms, specifically polymorphs, cocrystals, salts and salt cocrystals. We also provide an overview of the most recent developments in pharmaceutical uses of mechanochemistry, including real-time reaction monitoring, techniques for polymorph control and approaches for continuous manufacture using twin screw extrusion, and more. Most importantly, we show how the overlap of previously unrelated areas of mechanochemical screening for API solid forms, organic synthesis by milling, and mechanochemical screening for molecular recognition, enables the emergence of a new research discipline in which different aspects of pharmaceutical and medicinal chemistry are addressed through mechanochemistry rather than through conventional solution-based routes. The emergence of such medicinal mechanochemistry is likely to have a strong impact on future pharmaceutical and medicinal chemistry, as it offers not only access to materials and reactivity that are sometimes difficult or even impossible to access from solution, but can also provide a general answer to the demands of the pharmaceutical industry for cleaner, safer and efficient synthetic solutions.

Alloying barbituric and thiobarbituric acids: from solid solutions to a highly stable keto co-crystal form

Alloying isomorphous crystals of barbituric acid (BA) and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) yields solid solutions of general formula BA_xTBA_1-x (x < 0.8); for x = 0.5 the stable co-crystal BA_0.5TBA_0.5, isomorphous with the parent keto forms, is observed, which melts at 265 °C, i.e. ca. 10 and 20 °C higher than the melting points of BA and TBA, respectively. While the BA_xTBA_1-x solid solutions with x > 0.5 are stable, those with x < 0.5 convert, with time or temperature, to the BA_0.5TBA_0.5 co-crystal.

A rough guide to molecular solid solutions: design, synthesis and characterization of mixed crystals

Recent literature on molecular solid solutions is reviewed and general empirical rules to help synthesize mixed crystals are summarised.

Buthalital and methitural - 5,5-substituted derivatives of 2-thio-barbituric acid forming the same type of hydrogen-bonded chain

The mol-ecule of buthalital, (I) [systematic name: 5-(2-methyl-prop-yl)-5-(prop-2-en-1-yl)-2-sulfanyl-idene-1,3-diazinane-4,6-dione], C11H16N2O2S, exhibits a planar pyrimidine ring, whereas the pyrimidine ring of methitural, (II) [systematic name: 5-(1-methyl-but-yl)-5-[2-(methyl-sulfan-yl)eth-yl]-2-sulfanyl-idene-1,3-diazinane-4,6-dione], C12H20N2O2S2, is slightly puckered. (I) and (II) contain the same hydrogen-bonded chain structure in which each mol-ecule is connected, via four N-H⋯O=C hydrogen bonds, to two other mol-ecules, resulting in a hydrogen-bonded chain displaying a sequence of R22(8) rings. The same type of N-H⋯O=C hydrogen-bonded chain has previously been found in several 5,5-disubstituted derivatives of barbituric acid which are chemically closely related to (I) and (II).

Proton in a Confined Space: Structural Studies of H+ ⊂Crypt-111 Iodide and Some Halogen-Bonded Derivatives

Experimental observations and modeling data are reported on the solid-state structural features of crypt- 111⋅HI (1) and the three-component co-crystals that 1 forms with α,ω-diiodoperfluoroalkanes 2 a-d. X-ray analyses indicate that, in all five systems and at low temperature, the caged proton is covalently bonded to a single nitrogen atom and is involved in a network of intramolecular hydrogen bonds. In contrast, room-temperature, solid-state ¹⁵ N NMR spectroscopy suggests magnetic equivalency of the two N atoms of crypt-111 in both 1 and co-crystals of 1 with diiodoperfluoroalkanes. Computational modelling confirms that the acidic hydrogen inside the cavity preferentially sits along the internitrogen axis and is covalently bonded to one nitrogen. The computed energy barriers suggest that the hopping of the encapsulated proton between the two N atoms of the cage can occur in the halogen-bonded co-crystals of 1⋅2, but it is hardly possible in the pure H⁺ ⊂crypt-111 iodide 1. These different pictures of the proton position and dynamics obtained by using different techniques and conditions confirm the unique characteristics of the confined space within the cavity of crypr-111 and the distinctive features of processes occurring therein.

Halogen-Bond Effects on the Thermo- and Photochromic Behaviour of Anil-Based Molecular Co-crystals

N-Salicilideneanilines are among the most studied thermo- and photochromic systems in the solid state. Although thermochromism is a general property of crystalline N-salicilideneanilines, photochromism is known in a limited number of cases. As a method for the construction of thermo- and photo-responsive molecular architectures, the co-crystallisation of 1,2,4,5-tetrafluoro-3,6-diiodobenzene (I2F4) with three selected imines of o-vanillin, named 1, 2 and 3, obtained through a condensation reaction with 3-aminopyridine, 4-bromoaniline and 4-iodoaniline, respectively, is reported herein. All crystals and co-crystals have been characterised by means of solid-state complementary techniques (X-ray diffraction, solid-state NMR spectroscopy, absorption and emission spectroscopy). The role of halogen bonding and crystal packing in the optical and chromic properties of all solid materials is discussed. All solids exhibit thermochromic behaviour, and three of them (2, 2₂ ⋅I2F4 and 3₂ ⋅I2F4) are also photochromic. Imine derivative 3 crystallises in two different polymorphic forms (3 A and 3 B) and a solvate (3_Solv ). The bromo and iodo derivatives, 2 and 3 B, are isomorphous and form isomorphous co-crystals with I2F4, but behave differently when exposed to UV light because only crystalline 2 is photochromic. Interestingly, the replacement of bromine with iodine seems to turn off the photochromism because crystalline 3 A and 3_Solv , and even the 2_0.7 3_0.3 solid solution, do not manifest photochromic behaviour.

Structural basis of DNA gyrase inhibition by antibacterial QPT-1, anticancer drug etoposide and moxifloxacin

New antibacterials are needed to tackle antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Type IIA topoisomerases (topo2As), the targets of fluoroquinolones, regulate DNA topology by creating transient double-strand DNA breaks. Here we report the first co-crystal structures of the antibacterial QPT-1 and the anticancer drug etoposide with Staphylococcus aureus DNA gyrase, showing binding at the same sites in the cleaved DNA as the fluoroquinolone moxifloxacin. Unlike moxifloxacin, QPT-1 and etoposide interact with conserved GyrB TOPRIM residues rationalizing why QPT-1 can overcome fluoroquinolone resistance. Our data show etoposide's antibacterial activity is due to DNA gyrase inhibition and suggests other anticancer agents act similarly. Analysis of multiple DNA gyrase co-crystal structures, including asymmetric cleavage complexes, led to a ‘pair of swing-doors' hypothesis in which the movement of one DNA segment regulates cleavage and religation of the second DNA duplex. This mechanism can explain QPT-1's bacterial specificity. Structure-based strategies for developing topo2A antibacterials are suggested.

Type IIA topoisomerases (topo2As) create transient double-strand DNA breaks. Here, the authors report structures showing how QPT-1 binds in the DNA/topo2A complex at the same site as the fluoroquinolone moxifloxacin, and discuss the potential for developing new classes of antibiotics.

Hydrogen bonding patterns in salts of derivatives of aminopyrimidine and thiobarbituric acid

Three salts, namely 2-amino-4,6-dimethylpyrimidin-1-ium thiobarbiturate trihydrate (I), 2-amino-4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-1-ium thiobarbiturate dihydrate (II) and 2,4-diamino-5-(3',4',5'-trimethoxybenzyl)pyrimidin-1-ium thiobarbiturate (III), were synthesized and characterized by IR and X-ray diffraction techniques. The primary interaction between the acid and base happens via N-H...O hydrogen bonds in (II) and (III), and via water-mediated N-H...OW and OW-HW...S in (I). The water molecules present in compound (I) form a (H2O)12 water cluster via water-water interactions. In all three compounds (I)-(III), thiobarbiturate anions form self-complementary pairs with a robust R2(2)(8) motif via a pair of N-H...O/N-H...S hydrogen bonds. They mimic the nucleobase base pairs by utilizing the same groups (thymine/uracil uses N3-H and C4=O8 groups during the formation of Watson-Crick and Hoogsteen base pairs with adenine). Compound (I) forms a water-mediated base pair through N-H...OW hydrogen bonds and forms an R4(2)(12) motif. The formation of N-H...S hydrogen bonds, water-mediated base pairs and water-water interactions in these crystal systems offers scope for these systems to be considered as a model in the study of hydration of nucleobases and water-mediated nucleobase base pairs in macromolecules.

Solid-state NMR studies of nucleic acid components

Recent applications of solid-state NMR spectroscopy to studies of nucleic acids and their components.

Polymorphism control in the mechanochemical and solution-based synthesis of a thermochromic Schiff base

Three crystal forms of a thermochromic Schiff base derived fromo-vanillin and 3-aminoacetophenone were obtained by conventional solution-based methods. Two polymorphs out of three were synthesized by mechanochemical syntheses, under solvent-free conditions.