Polymorphism of Sildenafil: A New Metastable Desolvate

A new anhydrous polymorph of the free base of sildenafil and two solvates (acetonitrile and propanenitrile) have been discovered and fully characterized. The new polymorph can be considered a desolvate of the acetonitrile solvate and is related to the most stable form I by morphotropism. The new polymorph can only be obtained by desolvation of the acetonitrile solvate. Thus, this study is a new example of the importance of this multicomponent family of solid forms in the discovery of new polymorphs of active pharmaceutical ingredients

Morphotropism and 'Quasi-Isostructurality' in the Three High Z′ Concomitant Polymorphs of Efinaconazole

The crystal structures of the three efinaconazole anhydrous forms have been solved by single-crystal X-ray diffraction showing a very rare case of nearly isostructural polymorphism. The analysis of their crystal structures revealed that forms I and III are 'quasi-isostructural' polymorphs and are morphotropically related to form II. The identical conformational and supramolecular environment can explain the concomitant polymorphism phenomenon observed for this important active pharmaceutical ingredient

Cooperativity effects in a new pterostilbene/phenanthroline cocrystal

The SCXRD structure of the natural dietary compound pterostilbene (trans-3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxystilbene) and phenanthroline (1,10-phenanthroline) cocrystal is reported herein. In the solid state the cocrystal forms several H-bonded and Csingle bondH···π supramolecular synthons that have been analyzed by DFT calculations, with a particular focus on the parallel face-to-face stacking of the phenanthroline rings, a relevant and quite unusual feature (antiparallel displaced mode is more common). Cooperativity effects between H-bonding and aromatic interactions have been studied to rationalize the formation of this unusual π-stacking mode and the supramolecular assemblies have been further analyzed using several computational techniques, i.e., molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) surfaces and the quantum theory of 'atom-in-molecules' (QTAIM) combined with reduced density gradient (RDG) plots

Derisking Development by a Cocrystallization Screen of a Novel Selective Inhaled JAK-STAT inhibitor

The discovery and detailed characterization of several new solid forms of a novel selective inhaled JAK-STAT inhibitor are described. Using a holistic cocrystallization screen approach to explore its formulation landscape, we decrease the risk of future potential development failures due to a nonoptimal pharmacokinetic lung profile or undesired lung effects in humans

Hydrogen bonding versus π-interactions: their key competition in sildenafil solvates

Herein we report the X-ray characterization of four sildenafil solvates where the conformation of the pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine and phenyl rings depends on the solvent. It conditions the formation of an apparently innocent intramolecular H-bond that has a remarkable influence on the solid state architecture of the sildenafil solvates. DFT calculations indicate that a delicate balance between the energies of H-bonding and π-π (or lp-π) interactions are crucial

Crystal engineering of nutraceutical phytosterols: new cocrystal solid solutions?

A cocrystal screening conducted with solid solutions of three phytosterols (β-sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol) and a set of coformers with strong hydrogen bond donors reveals that multicomponent solid solutions are preferentially formed instead of pure cocrystals and are much enriched with β-sitosterol with respect to stigmasterol, a natural product with cytotoxicity concerns

Synthesis and characterization of a new norfloxacin/resorcinol cocrystal with enhanced solubility and dissolution profile

A new cocrystal of Norfloxacin, a poorly soluble fluoroquinolone antibiotic, has been synthetized by a solvent-mediated transformation experiment in toluene, using resorcinol as a coformer. The new cocrystal exists in both anhydrous and monohydrate forms with the same (1:1) Norfloxacin/resorcinol stoichiometry. The solubility of Norfloxacin and the hydrated cocrystal were determined by the shake-flask method. While Norfloxacin has a solubility of 0.32 ± 0.02 mg/mL, the cocrystal has a solubility of 2.64 ± 0.39 mg/mL, approximately 10-fold higher. The dissolution rate was tested at four biorelevant pH levels of the gastrointestinal tract: 2.0, 4.0, 5.5, and 7.4. In a first set of comparative tests, the dissolution rate of Norfloxacin and the cocrystal was determined separately at each pH value. Both solid forms showed the highest dissolution rate at pH 2.0, where Norfloxacin is totally protonated. Then, the dissolution rate decreases as pH increases. In a second set of experiments, the dissolution of the cocrystal was evaluated by a unique dissolution test, in which the pH dynamically changed from 2.0 to 7.4, stepping 30 min at each of the four biorelevant pH values. Results were quite different in this case, since dissolution at pH 2 affects the behavior of Norfloxacin at the rest of the pH values

Two New Polymorphic Cocrystals of Zafirlukast: Preparation, Crystal Structure, and Stability Relations

Two new cocrystals of zafirlukast with piperazine, existing in five different solid forms, have been discovered during a cocrystal screening. The crystal structure of one of these forms has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction, and the stability landscape of the crystalline forms of the new cocrystal has been studied. In the present article, we extend the knowledge about the solid state of this important pharmaceutical drug for the treatment of asthma by reporting the crystal structures of two new solvates (acetonitrile and butanol) and the elusive anhydrous Form X, which have been solved by single crystal X-ray diffraction

Solubility-pH profiles of a free base and its salt: sibutramine as a case study

In the present study the solubility-pH profiles of sibutramine free base and its hydrochloride salt were determined in the pH range between 2.0 and 9.5 by means of the recommended shake-flask method, and the solids collected were dried and studied by X-ray diffraction in order to elucidate their free base or salt structure. Above pHmax (or Gibbs pKa) the solid collected was always identified as free base, whatever the sibutramine species (free base or hydrochloride salt) initially solved. However, in the pH range below pHmax different solids were isolated depending on the buffers employed

Potentiometric CheqSol and standardized shake-flask solubility methods are complimentary tools in physicochemical profiling

The solubility of three drugs (glimepiride, pioglitazone, sibutramine) with different acid/base properties and expected supersaturation behavior was examined in detail using the shake-flask (SF) and potentiometric (CheqSol) methods. Both uncharged (free) species and hydrochloride salts were used as starting materials. On the one hand, the SF method provided information about the thermodynamic solubility at any pH value, including the counterion-dependent solubility of ionic species. Additionally, this method easily allowed the identification of the solid phase in equilibrated solutions by powder X-ray diffraction, and the detection and quantification of aggregation and complexation reactions. On the other hand, CheqSol method permitted the measurement of the equilibrium solubility of neutral species, the observation of changes in solid forms, and the extent and duration of supersaturation (kinetic solubility) for 'chaser' compounds. The combined information from both methods gave an accurate picture of the solubility behavior of the studied drugs