a. Drug Delivery and Materials Science Research Group, School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom

b. Faculty of Chemistry, University of Latvia, Kr. Valdemara 48, Riga 1013, Latvia

Little is known concerning the pathway of the crystallization of the thermodynamically stable polymorph of theophylline, form IV. Here we study the reasons why the thermodynamically stable theophylline form IV can be obtained only by slow, solvent mediated phase transformation (SMPT) in specific solvents, and whether the presence of prenucleation aggregates affect the polymorphic outcome. Solution concentration, polymorphic composition and morphology were monitored over time during the transformation from form II to form IV in several solvents. NMR and FTIR spectroscopy were used to detect prenucleation molecular aggregates present in the solutions. It was determined that theophylline self-associates in solvents which are good H-bond donors and the presence of these aggregates hinder the nucleation and phase transformation. SMPT from form II to form IV is a nucleation-growth controlled polymorphic transformation, nucleation is most likely homogenous, and form IV crystals grow along the (001) plane, forming plate-like crystals.

a. Faculty of Chemistry, University of Latvia, Kr. Valdemara 48, Riga 1013, Latvia

b. Department of Chemistry, Durham University, South Road, Durham, United Kingdom

13C, 15N and 2H solid-state NMR spectroscopy have been used to rationalize arrangement and dynamics of solvent molecules in a set of isostructural solvates of droperidol. The solvent molecules are determined to be dynamically disordered in the methanol and ethanol solvates, while they are ordered in the acetonitrile and nitromethane solvates. 2H NMR spectra of deuterium-labelled samples allowed the characterization of the solvent molecule dynamics in the alcohol solvates and the non-stoichiometric hydrate. The likely motion of the alcohol molecules is rapid libration within a site, plus occasional exchange into an equivalent site related by the inversion symmetry, while the water molecules are more strongly disordered. DFT calculations strongly suggest that the differences in dynamics between the solvates are related to differences in the energetic penalty for reversing the orientation of a solvent molecule.

a. Faculty of Chemistry, University of Latvia, Kr. Valdemara 48, Riga 1013, Latvia

b. Formulation and Drug Delivery Research Group, School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom

Degradation of the drug antazoline was studied in aqueous solutions by means of pH-rate profiling (pH 0-7.4). The novel approach of Runge-Kutta numerical integration in combination with multi-parameter optimisation was applied to UV-Vis spectral data to determine a valid kinetic model and kinetic parameters of the degradation process. The overall degradation mechanism was found to be dependent on the environmental pH. In the pH range of 3.0-7.4, the formation of the antazoline hydrolysis product (N-(2-aminoethyl)-2-(N-benzylanilino)acetamide) through three different pathways (acidic, non-catalysed, and semi-alkaline hydrolysis) was observed. In highly acidic media (pH 0-2), the degradation mechanism was found to be more complex. Although the same primary degradation product formed, a colourful (dark blue/violet) intermediate was also observed and further investigated by HPLC/TOF-MS.

a. Faculty of Chemistry, University of Latvia, Kr. Valdemara 48, Riga 1013, Latvia

b. Formulation and Drug Delivery Research Group, School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom

Crystal structures of dihydrate (DH) and three anhydrous forms (A, B and C) of quifenadine (1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-8-yl-diphenyl-methanol) hydrochloride are presented, and crystal structure information is used to explain and rationalize the relative stability of polymorphs and observed phase transformations. The dehydration mechanism of the hydrate is provided by interpreting the results obtained in studies of crystal structures, dehydration kinetics and thermal analysis. Structural analysis is used to explain the observed relative stability of the anhydrous phases and the hydrate. The crystal structures have been determined either from single crystal (form DH) or from powder diffraction data (forms A, B and C). All three polymorphs consist of similar hydrogen bonded tetramers, and the structural differences arise due to differences in conformation or/and molecular packing.

a. Faculty of Chemistry, University of Latvia, Kr. Valdemara 48, Riga 1013, Latvia

b. Department of Chemistry, Durham University, South Road, Durham, United Kingdom

The compatibility of thermodynamically unstable polymorph of two active pharmaceutical compounds (xylazine hydrochloride form X and zopiclone form C) with different excipients was investigated. The effects of the excipient and its amount in the sample on the thermal properties and possible chemical interactions were studied. The most commonly used excipients in the pharmaceutical industry - calcium carbonate, lactose hydrate, cellulose, magnesium stearate hydrate and calcium stearate hydrate were selected for this study. The dependence of the phase transition rate from an unstable to a more stable polymorph on the excipients and their amounts in the initial sample was analysed at 80. °C, and the corresponding phase transition rate constants were calculated.

a. Faculty of Chemistry, University of Latvia, Kr. Valdemara 48, Riga 1013, Latvia

The compatibility of thermodynamically unstable polymorph of two active pharmaceutical compounds (xylazine hydrochloride form X and zopiclone form C) with different excipients was investigated. The effects of the excipient and its amount in the sample on the thermal properties and possible chemical interactions were studied. The most commonly used excipients in the pharmaceutical industry - calcium carbonate, lactose hydrate, cellulose, magnesium stearate hydrate and calcium stearate hydrate were selected for this study. The dependence of the phase transition rate from an unstable to a more stable polymorph on the excipients and their amounts in the initial sample was analysed at 80. °C, and the corresponding phase transition rate constants were calculated.

a. Faculty of Chemistry, University of Latvia, Kr. Valdemara 48, Riga 1013, Latvia

b. School of Pharmacy, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, United Kingdom

Solid-state cocrystallization is of contemporary interest because it offers an easy and efficient way to produce cocrystals, which are recognized as prospective pharmaceutical materials. Research explaining solid-state cocrystallization mechanisms is important but still too scarce to give a broad understanding of factors governing and limiting these reactions. Here we report an investigation of the mechanism and kinetics of isoniazid cocrystallization with benzoic acid. This reaction is spontaneous; however, its rate is greatly influenced by environmental conditions (humidity and temperature) and pretreatment (milling) of the sample. The acceleration of cocrystallization in the presence of moisture is demonstrated by kinetic studies at elevated humidity. The rate dependence on humidity stems from moisture facilitated rearrangements on the surface of isoniazid crystallites, which lead to cocrystallization in the presence of benzoic acid vapor. Furthermore, premilling the mixture of the cocrystal ingredients eliminated the induction time of the reaction and considerably increased its rate.

a. Faculty of Chemistry, University of Latvia, Kr. Valdemara 48, Riga 1013, Latvia

b. Latvia Institute of Organic Synthesis, Aizkraukles 21, Riga 1006, Latvia

New antazoline salts with organic acids (fumaric acid, oxalic acid, and maleic acid) were prepared. The effect of the crystallization solvent and mechanochemical treatment on the crystalline forms of these salts was studied. Two polymorphs of antazoline hydrogen maleate were identified and their relative stability was determined. The molecular structures of antazoline hydrogen oxalate and antazoline hydrogen maleate showed differences in antazoline cation conformation. In crystal structures of all salts both imidazoline nitrogens of antazoline cation are involved in hydrogen bond formation with carboxyl groups of the acid.