Hydrogen Bonds in Cocrystals and Salts of 2-Amino-4,6-dimethylpyrimidine and Carboxylic Acids Studied by Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance

Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance (NQR)—A Useful Spectroscopic Tool in Pharmacy for the Study of Polymorphism

Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance (NQR) spectroscopy has been known for 70 years. It is suitable for the study of measured (poly)crystalline chemical compounds containing quadrupole nuclei (nuclei with spin I ≥ 1) where the characteristic NQR frequencies represent the fingerprints of these compounds. In several cases, 14N NQR can distinguish between the polymorphic crystalline phases of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). In order to further stimulate 14N NQR studies, we review here several results of API polymorphism studies obtained in Ljubljana laboratories: (a) In sulfanilamide, a clear distinction between three known polymorphs (α, β, γ) was demonstrated. (b) In famotidine, the full spectra of all seven different nitrogen positions were measured; two polymorphs were distinguished. (c) In piroxicam, the 14N NQR data helped in confirming the new polymorphic form V. (d) The compaction pressure in the tablet production of paracetamol, which is connected with linewidth change, can be used to distinguish between producers of paracetamol. We established that paracetamol in the tablets of six different manufacturers can be identified by 14N NQR linewidth. (e) Finally, in order to get an extremely sensitive 14N NQR spectrometer, the optical detection of the 14N NQR signal is mentioned.

Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance Spectroscopy: Tautomerism and Structure of Functional Azoles

The Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance spectroscopy data of functionalized azoles (imidazoles, triazoles and corresponding benzazoles) are reviewed and critically discussed. The possibility of studying the tautomerism of azoles by the NQR method is considered.

Hydrogen bonding and proton transfer in cocrystals of 4,4'-bipyridyl and organic acids studied using nuclear quadrupole resonance

Cocrystals of 4,4'-bipyridyl and several carboxylic acids were grown from the methanol solution of the cocrystal formers. Complete (14)N NQR spectra of these cocrystals have been measured using (1)H-(14)N nuclear quadrupole double resonance. The principal values of the quadrupole coupling tensor are calculated from the (14)N NQR frequencies. A large variation in the (14)N quadrupole coupling constant between 1.3 MHz and 4.7 MHz is observed. A very low (14)N quadrupole coupling constant, characteristic for proton transfer O-H···N → O(-)···H-N(+), is observed in 4,4'-bipyridyl-oxalic acid (1 : 1). In 4,4'-bipyridyl-5-chlorosalycilic acid (1 : 1) the (14)N NQR data show the presence of a short, strong N···H···O hydrogen bond. A correlation of the principal values of the (14)N quadrupole coupling tensor is observed. The correlation is analyzed in the model, where the deformation of the lone pair electron orbital and the change of the population of the π-electron orbital produce the variation of the (14)N quadrupole coupling tensor in the hydrogen bonded 4,4'-bipyridyl. The temperature variation of the (14)N quadrupole coupling tensor in 4,4'-bipyridyl-5-chlorosalycilic acid (1 : 1) is analyzed. Proton displacement within the N···H···O hydrogen bond and the change of the population of the π-electron orbital at the two nitrogen positions in a 4,4'-bipyridyl molecule in the temperature interval between 157 K and 323 K are determined.