Direct detection of the crystal form of an active pharmaceutical ingredient in tablets by X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy

Different crystal forms of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) may display variations in physicochemical properties. During the drug development process, the definitive purpose is to maintain homogeneous quality in a single crystalline form. Hence, it is important to evaluate and understand the properties of each crystal form of APIs in pharmaceutics. In this study, forms 0, Ⅰ, Ⅱ, III of bromhexine hydrochloride, and form S of bromhexine were characterized by the commonly used methods X-ray powder diffraction, thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis, and single crystal structure X-ray diffraction. Additionally, X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (XAFS), a seldom used method in the pharmaceutics discipline was also applied to explore the chemical environment of bromine atoms in forms 0, Ⅰ, Ⅱ and S as well as chloride ions in forms 0 to Ⅱ. The XAFS spectra of each form were different from each of the other forms which indicated the chemical environment around target elements in the crystal polymorphs were distinct. Then, we measured the commercial bromhexine hydrochloride tablets with XAFS measurement and found that XAFS could distinguish the crystal form in the tablets. Hence, we demonstrated that XAFS measurements would be applicable as one of the methods for the direct detection of APIs in the tablets.

Halogen and Hydrogen Bonding Interplay in the Crystal Packing of Halometallocenes

This paper focuses in the influence of halogen atoms in the design and structural control of the crystal packing of Group VIII halogenated metallocenes. The study is based on the present knowledge on new types of intermolecular contacts such as halogen (X⋯X, C-X⋯H, C-X⋯π), π⋯π, and C-H⋯π interactions. The presence of novel C-H⋯M interactions is also discussed. Crystal packings are analysed after database search on this family of compounds. Results are supported by ab initio calculations on electrostatic charge distributions; Hirshfeld analysis is also used to predict the types of contacts to be expected in the molecules. Special attention is given to the competition among hydrogen and halogen interactions, mainly its influence on the nature and geometric orientations of the different supramolecular motifs. Supramolecular arrangements of halogenated metallocenes and Group IV di-halogenated bent metallocenes are also compared and discussed. Analysis supports halogen bonds as the predominant interactions in defining the crystal packing of bromine and iodine 1,1′-halometallocenes.

Crystal structures and Hirshfeld surface analyses of halogen substituted azine derivatives, 1,4-bis(halophenyl)-2,3-diazabuta-1,3-dienes

The crystal structures and Hirshfeld surface analyses are reported, from data collected at 100 K, of six 1,4-bis(X,Y-phenyl)-2,3-diazabuta-1,3-dienes (1–6), namely (1: X, Y=H, 4-Cl; 2: X, Y=3,4-Cl2; 3: X, Y=2,4-Cl2; 4: X, Y=H, 2-Br, H; 5: X, Y=H, 3-Br; 6: X, Y=H, 4-Br. The six halogen derivatives crystallise in the monoclinic group P21/c. In each case, the asymmetric unit is one half of the molecule, with the molecules lying across inversion centres, midway between the N–N bonds, with the central C–C=N–N=C–C fragments having all transoid conformations. Each of the six molecules deviates a little from overall planarity. The π···π stacking interactions are the most important intermolecular interactions in each of the six compounds. In the cases of 3 and 4, the π···π stacks are augmented by additional C–X···π (X=Cl or Br) interactions, while in 4, the π···π stacks are linked by weak Br···Br interactions, and in 3, weak Cl···Cl contacts are considered to be also involved in cementing the supra molecular arrangements. The short separations of the layers within the stacks and the extent of the overlaps of the π systems point to significant strengths of the π···π interactions. Comparisons with published structures of related chloro and fluoro compounds indicated similar results: related iodo derivatives, IC6H4CH=N–N=CHC6H4I do not possess as strong π···π interactions. The Hirshfeld analysis indicated further intermolecular contacts which fell outside the normal PLATON cutoff values.

Effect of substituents in the molecular and supramolecular architectures of 1-ferrocenyl-2-(aryl)thioethanones

Relative positioning of substituents in a molecule is determinant in crystal packing of 1-ferrocenyl-2-(aryl)thioethanone derivatives displaying weak hydrogen bonding ability.