Photoreactive salt cocrystal: N+–H⋯N hydrogen bond and cation–π interactions support a cascade-like photodimerization of a 4-stilbazole

Hydrogen bonds (i.e., N⁺–H⋯N) in combination with cation⋯π interactions enable a cascade-like [2 + 2] photodimerization of 4-stilbazole in a salt cocrystal.

Combining API in a dual-drug ternary cocrystal approach

A new strategy is developed to design multi-drug solid forms. Using an inorganic salt as the glue sticking together two different APIs in a "drug-bridge-drug" approach, we successfully created and characterized three different ternary ionic cocrystals (TICCs). The link between binary and ternary ICCs and the importance of reaction stoichiometry was investigated using ternary solid-state phase diagrams. In addition, we highlighted the crucial role of water for the stability of these systems, as well as the impact on solubility compared to the respective parent compounds. We expect the strategy presented here to be applicable to a large series of drug combinations, opening up a promising new way of building multi-drug systems.

Structural Characterization and Pharmaceutical Properties of Three Novel Cocrystals of Ethenzamide With Aliphatic Dicarboxylic Acids

Ethenzamide (ET) was screened in cocrystallization experiments with pharmaceutically acceptable coformer molecules to discover materials of improved physicochemical properties, that is, higher solubility and better stability. Three novel cocrystals of ET with glutaric, malonic, and maleic acids were obtained by neat grinding and slow evaporation from solution. The purpose of the study was to notice the changes in the geometry and interactions of ET molecule in crystalline phase introduced by different acid and relate them to physicochemical properties of pure ET. Therefore, the crystal structure of the cocrystals was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The powder samples were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and ¹³C and ¹⁵N solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Spectroscopic studies were supported by gauge including projector augmented wave calculations of chemical shielding constants. The high stability of cocrystals during direct compression was proved. The solubility in simulated gastric fluids for studied cocrystals appeared to be approximately 1.6 times-fold higher than ET. The dissolution rates of all ET cocrystals were not faster than the pure drug, but after 240 min, more drugs were released.

Engineering Cocrystals of PoorlyWater-Soluble Drugs to Enhance Dissolution in Aqueous Medium

Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) Class II and IV drugs suffer from poor aqueous solubility and hence low bioavailability. Most of these drugs are hydrophobic and cannot be developed into a pharmaceutical formulation due to their poor aqueous solubility. One of the ways to enhance the aqueous solubility of poorlywater-soluble drugs is to use the principles of crystal engineering to formulate cocrystals of these molecules with water-soluble molecules (which are generally called coformers). Many researchers have shown that the cocrystals significantly enhance the aqueous solubility of poorly water-soluble drugs. In this review, we present a consolidated account of reports available in the literature related to the cocrystallization of poorly water-soluble drugs. The current practice to formulate new drug cocrystals with enhanced solubility involves a lot of empiricism. Therefore, in this work, attempts have been made to understand a general framework involved in successful (and unsuccessful) cocrystallization events which can yield different solid forms such as cocrystals, cocrystal polymorphs, cocrystal hydrates/solvates, salts, coamorphous solids, eutectics and solid solutions. The rationale behind screening suitable coformers for cocrystallization has been explained based on the rules of five i.e., hydrogen bonding, halogen bonding (and in general non-covalent bonding), length of carbon chain, molecular recognition points and coformer aqueous solubility. Different techniques to screen coformers for effective cocrystallization and methods to synthesize cocrystals have been discussed. Recent advances in technologies for continuous and solvent-free production of cocrystals have also been discussed. Furthermore, mechanisms involved in solubilization of these solid forms and the parameters influencing dissolution and stability of specific solid forms have been discussed. Overall, this review provides a consolidated account of the rationale for design of cocrystals, past efforts, recent developments and future perspectives for cocrystallization research which will be extremely useful for researchers working in pharmaceutical formulation development.

A 3D metal–organic framework with dual-aerial-octahedral trinucleate building units: synthesis, structure and fluorescence sensing properties

JLNU-2 can be used to detect nitrobenzene with high selectivity, sensitivity, anti-interference ability and recyclability through tracing the fluorescence quenching behaviour.

Solid-State Versatility of the Molecular Salts/Cocrystals of 2-Chloro-4-nitrobenzoic Acid: A Case Study on Halogen Bonds

2-Chloro-4-nitrobenzoic acid (2c4n) is an antiviral agent used for the treatment of HIV infection and to boost the immune response in immune deficiency diseases. In the present study, a series of eight molecular salts of 2c4n with pyridyl and benzoic acid derivatives have been synthesized by a crystal engineering approach and were characterized structurally by various spectroscopic, thermal, and X-ray diffraction techniques. Crystal structures of all synthesized molecular salts were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. In all synthesized molecular salts, the charge-assisted acid···pyridine/amine heterosynthon was found to be the primary supramolecular synthon. The synthesized salts, namely, 2c4n.g and 2c4n.h salts were found to be isostructural. Further, in the current work, the occurrence of weak halogen bonds in the presence of strong hydrogen bonds in the synthesized and in the reported molecular salts/cocrystals of 2c4n has been investigated. A detailed inspection of the crystal structures of salts/cocrystals of 2c4n was carried out to demonstrate the importance of halogen bonds in these crystal structures. It was found that 4 out of 8 synthesized molecular salts and 12 out of 24 reported molecular adducts of 2c4n were found to exhibit halogen bonds in their crystal structures. A similar kind of conformational change was observed for molecular salts exhibiting halogen bonds in their crystal structures; however, the conformations were found to be slightly different in other molecular salts. It was observed that two-point primary supramolecular synthon and stronger intramolecular Cl···O halogen bonds in the molecular adducts of 2c4n are found to be more susceptible to exhibit halogen bonds in their crystal structures. Halogen bond interactions played a vital role in the crystal stabilization of these molecular adducts.

Structural landscape of multicomponent solids of 5-aminosalicylic acid

Crystallization of ten new multicomponent solids of 5-aminosalicylic acid with various inorganic and organic coformers has been achieved by mechanochemical and solvent evaporation techniques.

Supramolecular networks in molecular complexes of pyridine boronic acids and polycarboxylic acids: synthesis, structural characterization and fluorescence properties

3- and 4-pyridineboronic acids have been combined with trimesic and pyromellitic acids to give three molecular complexes.

The hierarchies of hydrogen bonds in salts/cocrystals of isoniazid and its Schiff base – a case study

A series of two salts of isoniazid and two cocrystals of its Schiff base have been synthesized and well characterized. Further, the hydrogen bonding patterns have been studied and the correlation between the bond distances and corresponding pK_a's have been deduced.

Pharmaceutical cocrystals: along the path to improved medicines

Cocrystals, a long known but understudied class of crystalline solids, have attracted interest from crystal engineers and pharmaceutical scientists in the past decade and are now an integral part of the preformulation stage of drug development.

Supramolecular assemblies of benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid and 3,5-substituted pyrazoles: formation and structural analysis

Reaction of benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid (H3BTC) with various 3,5-substituted pyrazoles resulted in different host guest assemblies. Theoretical calculations were used to calculate the interaction energy and their comparison with the experimental data obtained through thermogravimetric analysis.

Supramolecular open-framework architectures based on dicarboxylate H-bond acceptors and polytopic cations with three/four N–H+donor units

Supramolecular assemblages based on cationic H-donors and anionic H-acceptors have been envisioned to elaborate organic open frameworks.

Binary co-crystals of the active pharmaceutical ingredient 1,4-bis(4-pyridyl)-2,3-diaza-1,3-butadiene and camphoric acid

Co-crystals comprising the active pharmaceutical ingredient 1,4-bis(4-pyridyl)-2,3-diaza-1,3-butadiene, C12H10N4, and the chiral co-formers (+)-, (-)- and (rac)-camphoric acid (cam), C10H16O4, have been synthesized. Two different stoichiometries of the API and co-former are obtained, namely 1:1 and 3:2. Crystallization experiments suggest that the 3:2 co-crystal is kinetically favoured over the 1:1 co-crystal. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of the co-crystals reveals N-H...O hydrogen bonding as the primary driving force for crystallization of the supramolecular structures. The 1:1 co-crystal contains undulating hydrogen-bonded ribbons, in which the chiral cam molecules impart a helical twist. The 3:2 co-crystal contains discrete Z-shaped motifs comprising three molecules of the API and two molecules of cam. The 3:2 co-crystals with (+)-cam, (-)-cam (space group P21) and (rac)-cam (space group P21/n) are isostructural. The enantiomeric co-crystals contain pseudo-symmetry consistent with space group P21/n, and the co-crystal with (rac)-cam represents a solid solution between the co-crystals containing (+)-cam and (-)-cam.

Crystal engineering: from molecule to crystal

How do molecules aggregate in solution, and how do these aggregates consolidate themselves in crystals? What is the relationship between the structure of a molecule and the structure of the crystal it forms? Why do some molecules adopt more than one crystal structure? Why do some crystal structures contain solvent? How does one design a crystal structure with a specified topology of molecules, or a specified coordination of molecules and/or ions, or with a specified property? What are the relationships between crystal structures and properties for molecular crystals? These are some of the questions that are being addressed today by the crystal engineering community, a group that draws from the larger communities of organic, inorganic, and physical chemists, crystallographers, and solid state scientists. This Perspective provides a brief historical introduction to crystal engineering itself and an assessment of the importance and utility of the supramolecular synthon, which is one of the most important concepts in the practical use and implementation of crystal design. It also provides a look to the future from the viewpoint of the author, and indicates some directions in which this field might be moving.

4-[(E)-2-(Pyridin-2-yl)ethen-yl]pyridine-terephthalic acid (2/1)

The title 2:1 co-crystal, 2C₁₂H₁₀N₂·C₈H₆O₄, crystallizes with one mol­ecule of 4-[(E)-2-(pyridin-2-yl)ethen­yl]pyridine (A) and one half-mol­ecule of terephthalic acid (B) in the asymmetric unit. In the crystal, the components are linked through heterodimeric COOH⋯N_pyridine synthons, forming linear aggregates of composition –A–B–A–B–. Further linkage through weak C—H⋯O and C—H⋯π inter­actions gives two-dimensional hydrogen-bonded undulating sheets propagating in the [100] and [010] directions. These layers are connected through additional weak C—H⋯O contacts, forming a three-dimensional structure.

Crystal Engineering Studies on Ionic Crystals of Pyridine and Carboxylic Acid Derivatives Containing Amide Functional Groups

Seven crystal structures of pyromellitic acid or trimesic acid salts of molecules that contain pyridine and amide functionalities were determined and their structures were analyzed in detail in terms of various intermolecular interactions. The presence of multiple functionalities (acid, pyridine, amide, and hydroxy groups) in these structures resulted in diversified supramolecular architectures. Amide-to-amide hydrogen bonds are not observed in any of these structures because of interference by the anions, water molecules, or pyridinium cations. The symmetry of the components was found to be important in determining the resultant supramolecular synthon and, therefore, the overall architecture. The pyromellitate anions exhibited four types of geometries which, differ in valencies and intramolecular hydrogen bonding, and these anions also exhibit self stacks when they have planar geometries.