Is there any point in making co-crystals?

Modulating Thermal Properties of Polymers through Crystal Engineering

Crystal engineering has exclusively focused on the development of advanced materials based on small organic molecules. We now demonstrate how the cocrystallization of a polymer yields a material with significantly enhanced thermal stability but equivalent mechanical flexibility. Isomorphous replacement of one of the cocrystal components enables the formation of solid solutions with melting points that can be readily fine-tuned over a usefully wide temperature range. The results of this study credibly extend the scope of crystal engineering and cocrystallization from small molecules to polymers.

Critical Analysis and Optimization of Stoichiometric Ratio of Drug-Coformer on Cocrystal Design: Molecular Docking, In Vitro and In Vivo Assessment

In this present research, an attempt has been made to address the influence of drug-coformer stoichiometric ratio on cocrystal design and its impact on improvement of solubility and dissolution, as well as bioavailability of poorly soluble telmisartan. The chemistry behind cocrystallization and the optimization of drug-coformer molar ratio were explored by the molecular docking approach, and theoretical were implemented practically to solve the solubility as well as bioavailability related issues of telmisartan. A new multicomponent solid form, i.e., cocrystal, was fabricated using different molar ratios of telmisartan and maleic acid, and characterized by SEM, DSC and XRD studies. The molecular docking study suggested that specific molar ratios of drug-coformer can successfully cluster with each other and form a specific geometry with favourable energy conformation to form cocrystals. Synthesized telmisartan-maleic acid cocrystals showed remarkable improvement in solubility and dissolution of telmisartan by 9.08-fold and 3.11-fold, respectively. A SEM study revealed the formation of cocrystals of telmisartan when treated with maleic acid. DSC and XRD studies also confirmed the conversion of crystalline telmisartan into its cocrystal state upon treating with maleic acid. Preclinical investigation revealed significant improvement in the efficacy of optimized cocrystals in terms of plasma drug concentration, indicating enhanced bioavailability through improved solubility as well as dissolution of telmisartan cocrystals. The present research concluded that molecular docking is an important path in selecting an appropriate stoichiometric ratio of telmisartan: maleic acid to form cocrystals and improve the solubility, dissolution, and bioavailability of poorly soluble telmisartan.

Tuning the dielectric response by co-crystallisation of sumanene and its fluorinated derivative

A series of co-crystals of 1,1-difluorosumanene (F2-Sum) and sumanene (Sum) were obtained. The co-crystallization successfully tuned their structural and physical properties, especially the dielectric response, without any chemical modifications. X-ray analyses and theoretical calculations revealed the reduction of intermolecular interaction energy due to the presence of F2-Sum.

On the Mechanism of Cocrystal Mechanochemical Reaction via Low Melting Eutectic: A Time-Resolved In Situ Monitoring Investigation

Mechanochemistry has become a sustainable and attractive cost-effective synthetic technique, largely used within the frame of crystal engineering. Cocrystals, namely, crystalline compounds made of different chemical entities within the same crystal structure, are typically synthesized in bulk via mechanochemistry; however, whereas the macroscopic aspects of grinding are becoming clear, the fundamental principles that underlie mechanochemical cocrystallization at the microscopic level remain poorly understood. Time-resolved in situ (TRIS) monitoring approaches have opened the door to exceptional detail regarding mechanochemical reactions. We here report a clear example of cocrystallization between two solid coformers that proceeds through the formation of a metastable low melting binary eutectic phase. The overall cocrystallization process has been monitored by time-resolved in situ (TRIS) synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction with a customized ball milling setup, currently available at μSpot beamline at BESSY-II, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin. The binary system and the low melting eutectic phase were further characterized via DSC, HSM, and VT-XRPD.

A Hybrid Machine Learning Approach for Structure Stability Prediction in Molecular Co-crystal Screenings

Co-crystals are a highly interesting material class as varying their components and stoichiometry in principle allows tuning supramolecular assemblies toward desired physical properties. The in silico prediction of co-crystal structures represents a daunting task, however, as they span a vast search space and usually feature large unit cells. This requires theoretical models that are accurate and fast to evaluate, a combination that can in principle be accomplished by modern machine-learned (ML) potentials trained on first-principles data. Crucially, these ML potentials need to account for the description of long-range interactions, which are essential for the stability and structure of molecular crystals. In this contribution, we present a strategy for developing Δ-ML potentials for co-crystals, which use a physical baseline model to describe long-range interactions. The applicability of this approach is demonstrated for co-crystals of variable composition consisting of an active pharmaceutical ingredient and various co-formers. We find that the Δ-ML approach offers a strong and consistent improvement over the density functional tight binding baseline. Importantly, this even holds true when extrapolating beyond the scope of the training set, for instance in molecular dynamics simulations under ambient conditions.

Very close I⋯As and I⋯Sb interactions in trimethylpnictogen-pentafluoroiodobenzene cocrystals

The unusually short, for any experimentally characterized molecular (co)crystal, directional C–I⋯As and C–I⋯Sb halogen bonds have been engineered in the supramolecular reactions of the in situ cocrystallized (CH3)3E (E = As or Sb) with C6F5I.

Energetic Co-Crystal of a Primary Metal-Free Explosive with BTF. Ideal Pair for Co-Crystallization

Co-crystallization is an elegant technique to tune the physical properties of crystalline solids. In the field of energetic materials, co-crystallization is currently playing an important role in the engineering of crystals with improved performance. Here, based on an analysis of the structural features of the green primary explosive, tetramethylammonium salt of 7-oxo-5-(trinitromethyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrotetrazolo[1,5-a][1,3,5]triazin-5-ide (1), a co-former such as the powerful secondary explosive, benzotrifuroxan (BTF, 2), has been proposed to improve it. Compared to the original 1, its co-crystal with BTF has a higher detonation pressure and velocity, as well as an initiating ability, while the impact sensitivity and thermal stability remained at about the same level. Both co-formers, 1 and 2, and co-crystal 3 were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and their crystal packing was analyzed in detail by the set of approaches, including periodic calculations. In the co-crystal 3, all intermolecular interactions were significantly redistributed. However, no new types of intermolecular interactions were formed during co-crystallization. Moreover, the interaction energies of structural units in crystals before and after co-crystallization were approximately the same. A similar trend was observed for the volumes occupied by structural units and their densifications. The similar nature of the organization of the crystals of the co-formers and the co-crystal gives grounds to assert that the selected co-formers are an ideal pair for co-crystallization, and the invariability of the organization of the crystals was probably responsible for the preservation of some of their properties.

Mechanochemical Preparation of Dipyridyl-Naphthalenediimide Cocrystals: Relative Role of Halogen-Bond and π-π Interactions

Naphthalenediimide derivates are a class of π-conjugated molecules largely investigated in the literature and used as building blocks for metal-organic frameworks or coformers for hydrogen-bond-based cocrystals. However, their tendency to establish halogen-bond interactions remains unexplored. By using a crystalline engineering approach, we report here four new cocrystals with N,N'-di(4-pyrydyl)-naphthalene-1,4,5,8-tetracarboxidiimide and diiodo-substituted coformers, easily obtained via a mechanochemical protocol. Cocrystals were characterized via NMR, electron ionization mass spectrometry, thermogravimetric analysis, powder X-ray diffraction, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Crystallographic structures were then finely examined and correlated with energy framework calculations to understand the relative contribution of halogen-bond and π-π interactions toward framework stabilization.

Enhancing Dissolution Rate and Antibacterial Efficiency of Azithromycin through Drug-Drug Cocrystals with Paracetamol

Cocrystallization is a promising approach to alter physicochemical properties of active pharmaceutical ingredients (hereafter abbreviated as APIs) bearing poor profile. Nowadays pharmaceutical industries are focused on preparing drug-drug cocrystals of APIs that are often prescribed in combination therapies by physicians. Physicians normally prescribe antibiotic with an analgesic/antipyretic drug to combat several ailments in a better and more efficient way. In this work, azithromycin (AZT) and paracetamol (PCM) cocrystals were prepared in 1:1 molar ratio using slow solvent evaporation method. The cocrystals were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Vibrational spectroscopy and DSC confirmed that both APIs interact physically and showed chemical compatibility, while PXRD pattern of the starting material and products revealed that cocrystal have in a unique crystalline phase. The degree of hydration was confirmed by TGA analysis and result indicates monohydrate cocrystal formation. The HPLC analysis confirmed equimolar ratio of AZT:PCM in the cocrystal. The in vitro dissolution rate, saturation solubility, and antimicrobial activity were evaluated for AZT dihydrate and the resulting cocrystals. The cocrystals exhibited better dissolution rate, solubility and enhanced biological activities.

A Review of Pharmaceutical Nano-Cocrystals: A Novel Strategy to Improve the Chemical and Physical Properties for Poorly Soluble Drugs

Nowadays, many commercial drugs have poor solubility and bioavailability. Cocrystals are formulated to modulate active pharmaceutical ingredients’ properties with improved solubility, dissolution, and bioavailability compared to their pristine individual components in the pharmaceutical industry. Nano-cocrystals, crystals in the nano range, can further enhance these properties because of not only the cocrystal structure, but also the large surface to volume ratio of nanocrystals. Even though there are many studies on cocrystals, the research of pharmaceutical nano-cocrystals is still in the initial stage. Thus, it is necessary to conduct a systematic study on pharmaceutical nano-cocrystals. In this review, the possible preparation approaches of nano-cocrystals have been reported. To have a comprehensive understanding of nano-cocrystals, some analytical techniques and characterizations will be discussed in detail. In addition, the feasible therapeutic application of nano-cocrystals will be presented. This work is expected to provide guidance to develop new nano-cocrystals with commercial value in the pharmaceutical industry.

Solution Cocrystallization: A Scalable Approach for Cocrystal Production

With an increasing interest in cocrystals due to various advantages, demand for large-scale cocrystallization techniques is rising. Solution cocrystallization is a solvent-based approach that utilizes several single-component crystallization concepts as well as equipment for generating cocrystals. Solution-based techniques can produce cocrystals with reasonable control on purity, size distribution, morphology, and polymorphic form. Many of them also offer a scalable solution for the industrial production of cocrystals. However, the complexity of the thermodynamic landscape and the kinetics of cocrystallization offers fresh challenges which are not encountered in single component crystallization. This review focuses on the recent developments in different solution cocrystallization techniques for the production of pharmaceutically relevant cocrystals. The review consists of two sections. The first section describes the various solution cocrystallization methods, highlighting their benefits and limitations. The second section emphasizes the challenges in developing these techniques to an industrial scale and identifies the major thrust areas where further research is required.

Stabilization of liquid active guests via nanoconfinement into a flexible microporous metal–organic framework

The nanoconfinement of the three liquid guests within a MOF has been fully investigated in terms of host–guest interactions and framework rearrangement.

Binding of anionic Pt(ii) complexes in a dedicated organic matrix: towards new binary crystalline composites

Square-planar [PtL₄]²⁻ (L = CN⁻, Cl⁻, Br⁻) anions are bound by π-acidic HAT(CN)₆ in solution and in the solid state to provide the basis for the first epitaxially grown anion–π crystalline composites.

No regioselectivity for the steroid α-face in cocrystallization of exemestane with aromatic cocrystal formers based on phenanthrene and pyrene

The anti-cancer steroidal drug exemestane presents significantly different behavior in cocrystallization with arenes compared with the previously explored steroid progesterone. Mechanochemical and solution-based cocrystallization of exemestane with hydroxy derivatives of phenanthrene and pyrene leads to the formation of cocrystals exhibiting clear O–H···O type arene-steroid hydrogen bonds. So far, exemestane and 1-hydroxypyrene have been observed to form only one type of cocrystal, with the 1:1 stoichiometric ratio of the two components. However, there are two stoichiometric variations of the cocrystal of 9-hydroxyphenanthrene and exemestane, with the arene:steroid stoichiometric ratio of either 1:1 or 1:2. Importantly, although cocrystallization of progesterone with the same arene cocrystal formers was previously reported to take place regioselectively through α···π contacts between the α-face of the steroid and the π-electron surface of the arene, the herein explored cocrystals of exemestane reveal α···π and β···π contacts, as well as sidewise interactions involving the arene π-system and different edges of the steroid molecule. The loss of regioselectivity for the steroid α-face in cocrystallization with the two monohydroxylated arenes is tentatively explained by the highly positive electrostatic surface potential of the steroid β-face and a diminished number of C–H groups on the α-face of exemestane compared with progesterone.

Crystal structures, thermal stabilities, and dissolution behaviours of tinidazole and the tinidazole-vanillic acid cocrystal: insights from energy frameworks

The crystal structures of the antimicrobial drug tinidazole [TNZ; systematic name: 1-(2-ethylsulfonylethyl)-2-methyl-5-nitroimidazole, C₈H₁₃N₃O₄S] and the 1:1 cocrystal of TNZ with the naturally occurring compound vanillic acid (VA; systematic name: 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid, C₈H₈O₄), namely, the TNZ-VA cocrystal, were determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis at 100 K. The supramolecular structure of the TNZ-VA cocrystal is composed of a carboxylic acid dimer and an O-H...N(heterocycle) synthon in the form of layers made up of O-H...N and O-H...O hydrogen bonds. The layers are joined via C-H...O hydrogen bonds, π-π stacking and C-H...π interactions. The energy framework analysis, together with interaction energy calculations using the DLPNO-CCSD(T) method, indicates that the TNZ-VA cocrystal inherits strong interactions from the TNZ and VA crystals, which accounts for the enhanced thermal stability and reduced dissolution rate. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of a cocrystal containing TNZ.

Systematic coformer contribution to cocrystal stabilization: energy and packing trends

CSD data mining and energy calculations show that coformer self-interactions might significantly contribute to the packing energy stabilization of cocrystals.

A three-in-one crystal of mixed sized cucurbit[n]uril homologues

Crystallization-driven self-assembly of three macrocyclic members of the cucurbit[n]uril family is explained by the cumulative effect of multiple C–H⋯O hydrogen bonds.

A user-friendly application for predicting the outcome of co-crystallizations

An automated application, CoForm, was used for predicting the outcomes of attempted co-crystallizations between two active pharmaceutical ingredients, loratadine and desloratadine, and 41 potential co-formers from the general interest (OGI) list.

A concerted evolution of supramolecular interactions in a {cation; metal complex; π-acid; solvent} anion-π system

Comprehensive studies on a concerted evolution of supramolecular interactions with multicomponent synthon reproduction provide a new tool to describe the trapping of flat [M(L)₄]²⁻ complexes within π-acidic cavities.

Crystallisation of organic salts by sublimation: salt formation from the gas phase

Co-sublimation of two neutral components yields crystals of salts and co-crystals. Experiments show that during sublimation of salts, proton transfer occurs after molecules enter the gas phase.

Structural similarity in chiral-achiral multi-component crystals

Understanding the structural similarities between co-crystals formed with racemic mixture and enantiopure chiral components with an achiral co-former.

Cocrystal trimorphism as a consequence of the orthogonality of halogen- and hydrogen-bonds synthons

True trimorphic cocrystals, i.e. multi-component molecular crystals of identical composition that exhibit three polymorphic structures, are exceedingly rare and so far no halogen-bonded cocrystal system has been reported to exhibit trimorphism. Here we describe a unique example of a trimorphic cocrystal exhibiting both hydrogen and halogen bonds in which the differences between polymorphs reveal their orthogonality, evident by the apparently independent variation of well-defined hydrogen- and halogen-bonded motifs.

Systematic investigation of hydrogen-bond propensities for informing co-crystal design and assembly

Structure-informatics methods can provide important guidelines for defining the experimental space that needs to be explored in the efficient pursuit of new co-crystals.

Unipolar to ambipolar semiconductivity switching in charge transfer cocrystals of 2,7-di-tert-butylpyrene

Charge transfer cocrystals of 2,7-di-tert-butylpyrene donor and tetracyanoquinodimethane, tetracyanobenzene and 1,3-dinitrobenzene acceptor exhibited switchable semi-conductivity.

Co-crystal synthesis: fact, fancy, and great expectations

Some strategies for driving co-crystal synthesis using a variety of competing non-covalent interactions are presented.

Mechanochemical syntheses and 35Cl solid-state NMR characterization of fluoxetine HCl cocrystals

Novel mechanochemical syntheses of cocrystals of fluoxetine HCl are presented, along with characterization of the molecular-level structures by ³⁵Cl solid-state NMR and DFT calculations.

Hygroscopicity of lithium coordination polymers and their solid solutions

Lithium-based coordination polymers and their solid solutions are synthesised and investigated from a pharmaceutical perspective. In particular, the hygroscopicity is measured as a function of composition showing two different behaviours.

Tandem In Situ Monitoring for Quantitative Assessment of Mechanochemical Reactions Involving Structurally Unknown Phases

We report herein quantitative in situ monitoring by simultaneous PXRD and Raman spectroscopy of the mechanochemical reaction between benzoic acid and nicotinamide, affording a rich polymorphic system with four new cocrystal polymorphs, multiple phase transformations, and a variety of reaction pathways. After observing polymorphs by in situ monitoring, we were able to isolate and characterize three of the four polymorphs, most of which are not accessible from solution. Relative stabilities among the isolated polymorphs at ambient conditions were established by slurry experiments. Using two complementary methods for in situ monitoring enabled quantitative assessment and kinetic analysis of each studied mechanochemical reaction, even when involving unknown crystal structures, and short-lived intermediates. In situ Raman monitoring was introduced here also as a standalone laboratory technique for quantitative assessment of mechanochemical reactions and understanding of mechanochemical reactivity. Our results provide an important step toward a complete and high-throughput quantitative approach to mechanochemical reaction kinetics and mechanisms, necessary for the development of the mechanistic framework of milling reactions.

Pharmaceutical aspects of salt and cocrystal forms of APIs and characterization challenges

In recent years many efforts have been devoted to the screening and the study of new solid-state forms of old active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) with salification or co-crystallization processes, thus modulating final properties without changing the pharmacological nature. Salts, hydrates/solvates, and cocrystals are the common solid-state forms employed. They offer the intriguing possibility of exploring different pharmaceutical properties for a single API in the quest of enhancing the final drug product. New synthetic strategies and advanced characterization techniques have been recently proposed in this hot topic for pharmaceutical companies. This paper reviews the recent progresses in the field particularly focusing on the characterization challenges encountered when the nature of the solid-state form must be determined. The aim of this article is to offer the state-of-the-art on this subject in order to develop new insights and to promote cooperative efforts in the fascinating field of API salt and cocrystal forms.

The 1:1 co-crystal of 2-bromo-naphthalene-1,4-dione and 1,8-di-hydroxy-anthracene-9,10-dione: crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis

The asymmetric unit of the title co-crystal, C10H5BrO2·C14H8O4 [systematic name: 2-bromo-1,4-di-hydro-naphthalene-1,4-dione-1,8-dihy-droxy-9,10-di-hydro-anthracene-9,10-dione (1/1)], features one mol-ecule of each coformer. The 2-bromo-naphtho-quinone mol-ecule is almost planar [r.m.s deviation of the 13 non-H atoms = 0.060 Å, with the maximum deviations of 0.093 (1) and 0.099 (1) Å being for the Br atom and a carbonyl-O atom, respectively]. The 1,8-di-hydroxy-anthra-quinone mol-ecule is planar (r.m.s. deviation for the 18 non-H atoms is 0.022 Å) and features two intra-molecular hy-droxy-O-H⋯O(carbon-yl) hydrogen bonds. Dimeric aggregates of 1,8-di-hydroxy-anthra-quinone mol-ecules assemble through weak inter-molecular hy-droxy-O-H⋯O(carbon-yl) hydrogen bonds. The mol-ecular packing comprises stacks of mol-ecules of 2-bromo-naphtho-quinone and dimeric assembles of 1,8-di-hydroxy-anthra-quinone with the shortest π-π contact within a stack of 3.5760 (9) Å occurring between the different rings of 2-bromo-naphtho-quinone mol-ecules. The analysis of the Hirshfeld surface reveals the importance of the inter-actions just indicated but, also the contribution of additional C-H⋯O contacts as well as C=O⋯π inter-actions to the mol-ecular packing.

Exploring binding preferences in co-crystals of conformationally flexible multitopic ligands

A series of conformationally flexible, bipyridine-based ligands were co-crystallized with nine aliphatic dicarboxylic acids of varying carbon chain lengths.

One barbiturate and two solvated thiobarbiturates containing the triply hydrogen-bonded ADA/DAD synthon, plus one ansolvate and three solvates of their coformer 2,4-diaminopyrimidine

A path to new synthons for application in crystal engineering is the replacement of a strong hydrogen-bond acceptor, like a C=O group, with a weaker acceptor, like a C=S group, in doubly or triply hydrogen-bonded synthons. For instance, if the C=O group at the 2-position of barbituric acid is changed into a C=S group, 2-thiobarbituric acid is obtained. Each of the compounds comprises two ADA hydrogen-bonding sites (D = donor and A = acceptor). We report the results of cocrystallization experiments of barbituric acid and 2-thiobarbituric acid, respectively, with 2,4-diaminopyrimidine, which contains a complementary DAD hydrogen-bonding site and is therefore capable of forming an ADA/DAD synthon with barbituric acid and 2-thiobarbituric acid. In addition, pure 2,4-diaminopyrimidine was crystallized in order to study its preferred hydrogen-bonding motifs. The experiments yielded one ansolvate of 2,4-diaminopyrimidine (pyrimidine-2,4-diamine, DAPY), C4H6N4, (I), three solvates of DAPY, namely 2,4-diaminopyrimidine-1,4-dioxane (2/1), 2C4H6N4·C4H8O2, (II), 2,4-diaminopyrimidine-N,N-dimethylacetamide (1/1), C4H6N4·C4H9NO, (III), and 2,4-diaminopyrimidine-1-methylpyrrolidin-2-one (1/1), C4H6N4·C5H9NO, (IV), one salt of barbituric acid, viz. 2,4-diaminopyrimidinium barbiturate (barbiturate is 2,4,6-trioxopyrimidin-5-ide), C4H7N4(+)·C4H3N2O3(-), (V), and two solvated salts of 2-thiobarbituric acid, viz. 2,4-diaminopyrimidinium 2-thiobarbiturate-N,N-dimethylformamide (1/2) (2-thiobarbiturate is 4,6-dioxo-2-sulfanylidenepyrimidin-5-ide), C4H7N4(+)·C4H3N2O2S(-)·2C3H7NO, (VI), and 2,4-diaminopyrimidinium 2-thiobarbiturate-N,N-dimethylacetamide (1/2), C4H7N4(+)·C4H3N2O2S(-)·2C4H9NO, (VII). The ADA/DAD synthon was succesfully formed in the salt of barbituric acid, i.e. (V), as well as in the salts of 2-thiobarbituric acid, i.e. (VI) and (VII). In the crystal structures of 2,4-diaminopyrimidine, i.e. (I)-(IV), R2(2)(8) N-H...N hydrogen-bond motifs are preferred and, in two structures, additional R3(2)(8) patterns were observed.

6-Propyl-2-thiouracil versus 6-methoxymethyl-2-thiouracil: enhancing the hydrogen-bonded synthon motif by replacement of a methylene group with an O atom

The understanding of intermolecular interactions is a key objective of crystal engineering in order to exploit the derived knowledge for the rational design of new molecular solids with tailored physical and chemical properties. The tools and theories of crystal engineering are indispensable for the rational design of (pharmaceutical) cocrystals. The results of cocrystallization experiments of the antithyroid drug 6-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU) with 2,4-diaminopyrimidine (DAPY), and of 6-methoxymethyl-2-thiouracil (MOMTU) with DAPY and 2,4,6-triaminopyrimidine (TAPY), respectively, are reported. PTU and MOMTU show a high structural similarity and differ only in the replacement of a methylene group (-CH2-) with an O atom in the side chain, thus introducing an additional hydrogen-bond acceptor in MOMTU. Both molecules contain an ADA hydrogen-bonding site (A = acceptor and D = donor), while the coformers DAPY and TAPY both show complementary DAD sites and therefore should be capable of forming a mixed ADA/DAD synthon with each other, i.e. N-H...O, N-H...N and N-H...S hydrogen bonds. The experiments yielded one solvated cocrystal salt of PTU with DAPY, four different solvates of MOMTU, one ionic cocrystal of MOMTU with DAPY and one cocrystal salt of MOMTU with TAPY, namely 2,4-diaminopyrimidinium 6-propyl-2-thiouracilate-2,4-diaminopyrimidine-N,N-dimethylacetamide-water (1/1/1/1) (the systematic name for 6-propyl-2-thiouracilate is 6-oxo-4-propyl-2-sulfanylidene-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyrimidin-1-ide), C4H7N4(+)·C7H9N2OS(-)·C4H6N4·C4H9NO·H2O, (I), 6-methoxymethyl-2-thiouracil-N,N-dimethylformamide (1/1), C6H8N2O2S·C3H7NO, (II), 6-methoxymethyl-2-thiouracil-N,N-dimethylacetamide (1/1), C6H8N2O2S·C4H9NO, (III), 6-methoxymethyl-2-thiouracil-dimethyl sulfoxide (1/1), C6H8N2O2S·C2H6OS, (IV), 6-methoxymethyl-2-thiouracil-1-methylpyrrolidin-2-one (1/1), C6H8N2O2S·C5H9NO, (V), 2,4-diaminopyrimidinium 6-methoxymethyl-2-thiouracilate (the systematic name for 6-methoxymethyl-2-thiouracilate is 4-methoxymethyl-6-oxo-2-sulfanylidene-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyrimidin-1-ide), C4H7N4(+)·C6H7N2O2S(-), (VI), and 2,4,6-triaminopyrimidinium 6-methoxymethyl-2-thiouracilate-6-methoxymethyl-2-thiouracil (1/1), C4H8N5(+)·C6H7N2O2S(-)·C6H8N2O2S, (VII). Whereas in (I) only an AA/DD hydrogen-bonding interaction was formed, the structures of (VI) and (VII) both display the desired ADA/DAD synthon. Conformational studies on the side chains of PTU and MOMTU also revealed a significant deviation for cocrystals (VI) and (VII), leading to the desired enhancement of the hydrogen-bond pattern within the crystal.

Hydrogen bonding in 2,6-bis(4-fluorophenyl)-3,5-dimethylpiperidin-4-one methanol solvate

The crystal structure analysis of a 2,6-diaryl 4-piperidone derivative, isolated as a mono-methanol solvate, reveals that both the piperidone and the methanol molecule lie on a crystallographic mirror plane. A chair conformation is found for the piperidone ring with the aryl and methyl groups in equatorial positions. The most prominent feature of the molecular packing is the formation of supramolecular zigzag chains mediated by amine-N–H···O(methanol) and hydroxyl-O–H···N(amine) hydrogen bonds, i.e. the methanol molecule serves as a bridge between piperidone molecules. The molecular structure is compared with that determined in an unsolvated form and the gas-phase equilibrium structure, obtained using density-functional theory (DFT); differences relate, in the main, to the relative dispositions of the aryl rings. An analysis of the Hirshfeld surfaces of the experimental structures indicates very similar relative contributions with the notable exception being the contribution by O···H/H···O which at 13.7% in the methanol solvate is >8.5% in the unsolvated form.

A 2:1 co-crystal of 2-methyl-benzoic acid and N,N'-bis-(pyridin-4-ylmeth-yl)ethanedi-amide: crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis

The asymmetric unit of the title 2:1 co-crystal, 2C8H8O2·C14H14N4O2, comprises an acid mol-ecule in a general position and half a di-amide mol-ecule, the latter being located about a centre of inversion. In the acid, the carb-oxy-lic acid group is twisted out of the plane of the benzene ring to which it is attached [dihedral angle = 28.51 (8)°] and the carbonyl O atom and methyl group lie approximately to the same side of the mol-ecule [hy-droxy-O-C-C-C(H) torsion angle = -27.92 (17)°]. In the di-amide, the central C4N2O2 core is almost planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.031 Å), and the pyridyl rings are perpendicular, lying to either side of the central plane [central residue/pyridyl dihedral angle = 88.60 (5)°]. In the mol-ecular packing, three-mol-ecule aggregates are formed via hy-droxy-O-H⋯N(pyrid-yl) hydrogen bonds. These are connected into a supra-molecular layer parallel to (12[Formula: see text]) via amide-N-H⋯O(carbon-yl) hydrogen bonds, as well as methyl-ene-C-H⋯O(amide) inter-actions. Significant π-π inter-actions occur between benzene/benzene, pyrid-yl/benzene and pyrid-yl/pyridyl rings within and between layers to consolidate the three-dimensional packing.

On the predictability of supramolecular interactions in molecular cocrystals – the view from the bench

A series of cocrystals involving theophylline and fluorobenzoic acids highlights the difficulty of predicting supramolecular interactions in molecular crystals.

A 2:1 co-crystal of p-nitro-benzoic acid and N,N'-bis-(pyridin-3-ylmeth-yl)ethanedi-amide: crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis

The title 2:1 co-crystal, 2C7H5NO4·C14H14N4O2, in which the complete di-amide mol-ecule is generated by crystallographic inversion symmetry, features a three-mol-ecule aggregate sustained by hydroxyl-O-H⋯N(pyrid-yl) hydrogen bonds. The p-nitro-benzoic acid mol-ecule is non-planar, exhibiting twists of both the carb-oxy-lic acid and nitro groups, which form dihedral angles of 10.16 (9) and 4.24 (4)°, respectively, with the benzene ring. The di-amide mol-ecule has a conformation approximating to a Z shape, with the pyridyl rings lying to either side of the central, almost planar di-amide residue (r.m.s. deviation of the eight atoms being 0.025 Å), and forming dihedral angles of 77.22 (6)° with it. In the crystal, three-mol-ecule aggregates are linked into a linear supra-molecular ladder sustained by amide-N-H⋯O(nitro) hydrogen bonds and orientated along [10-4]. The ladders are connected into a double layer via pyridyl- and benzene-C-H⋯O(amide) inter-actions, which, in turn, are connected into a three-dimensional architecture via π-π stacking inter-actions between pyridyl and benzene rings [inter-centroid distance = 3.6947 (8) Å]. An evaluation of the Hirshfeld surfaces confirm the importance of inter-molecular inter-actions involving oxygen atoms as well as the π-π inter-actions.