Andris Actiņš

Solvent-mediated phase transformation between two tegafur polymorphs in several solvents

This paper describes a study of the solvent-mediated polymorphic transformation (SMPT) of the metastable α tegafur to the thermodynamically stable β tegafur in several solvents. Phase transformation in acetone, ethanol, i-propanol, toluene, and water at 22 °C was described using the solid-state kinetic model P2; the rate constants for this process were in the range from 0.028 min−1 to 0.0056 min−1. In all of the employed solvents, an induction time was observed. Kinetic, solubility and scanning electron microscopy data indicated that nucleation kinetics corresponded to a second-order power function and according to the kinetic model, the nuclei growth rate was constant in the examined SMPT. Surface nucleation was observed, and the possible nucleation mechanism was given. The phase transition rate depended linearly on the difference between the equilibrium solubilities of α and β tegafur in the respective solvent, i.e. supersaturation.

Hydration and dehydration kinetics of xylazine hydrochloride

From the experiments where mixture of xylazine hydrochloride hydrate H and anhydrous X were held at constant conditions, the stable form of xylazine hydrochloride can be found out. To determine equilibrium relative humidity, the unstable form of xylazine hydrochloride was inserted in thermostated humidity chamber and its weight was recorded by weighing the sample outside the chamber. The kinetic model and the rate constant for each condition were determined. The rate constants give information regarding the speed of the process at every experimentally used relative humidity. Thus using the data in coordinates k – p for each temperature it is possible to determine the water vapor pressure of the equilibrium. With this method the phase boundary for xylazine hydrochloride was determined and hydration enthalpy was calculated. The hydration rates of xylazine polymorphs A and X were investigated.

The relative stability of xylazine hydrochloride polymorphous forms

All four known xylazine hydrochloride polymorphous forms were obtained and their relative stabilities were compared directly at three different temperatures. At higher temperatures, it is possible to determine the relative stability of all forms directly by measuring the changes in the composition of the mixtures of two polymorphous forms using powder x-ray diffraction methods. At lower temperatures, a solvent was added to the mixture and the changes in composition were determined. Polymorph transition temperatures were determined directly. To predict the transition temperature which was not found using the direct method, the polymorph melting data and determined transition temperatures were used. A phase stability diagram was constructed from the acquired data. The stability of all anhydrous polymorphous forms was compared in the presence of water vapor pressure that was higher than the equilibrium pressure.

Dehydration of mildronate dihydrate: a study of structural transformations and kinetics

The dehydration of mildronate dihydrate (3-(1,1,1-trimethylhydrazin-1-ium-2-yl)propionate dihydrate) was investigated by powder X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, hot-stage microscopy, water sorption–desorption studies and dehydration kinetic studies. It was determined that mildronate dihydrate dehydrated in a single step, directly transforming into the anhydrous form. In order to understand the reasons for a one step dehydration mechanism, crystal structures of dihydrate, monohydrate and anhydrous forms were compared, proving the similarity of the dihydrate and anhydrous forms. In order to understand the reasons for molecule reorganization during dehydration, the energy of the anhydrous form was compared with that of a theoretical dihydrate structure without water molecules. It was proven that the experimentally observed anhydrous phase AP was thermodynamically more stable. By analyzing the effect of the particle size and sample weight on the dehydration kinetic parameters it was determined that besides the main rate limiting step, phase boundary advancement, contribution from the water diffusion outside the crystal and the water diffusion outside the powdered sample also appeared to affect the dehydration kinetics and contribution from these processes could be changed by changing the aforementioned factors.

Solvates of Dasatinib: Diversity and Isostructurality.

A series of dasatinib crystalline forms were obtained, and a hierarchical cluster analysis of their powder X-ray diffraction patterns was performed. The resulting dendrogram implies 3 structural groups. The crystal structures of several solvates representing 2 of these groups were determined. The crystal structure analysis confirms the isostructurality of solvates within structural group I and suggests a correlation between solvent molecule size and trends in crystal structures within this group. In addition, the formation relationships in 2-solvent media between different dasatinib solvate groups were determined. The formation preference of solvates was found to follow the ranking group I > group III > group II.

Three anhydrous forms and a dihydrate form of quifenadine hydrochloride: a structural study of the thermodynamic stability and dehydration mechanism

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.

Effect of Experimental and Sample Factors on Dehydration Kinetics of Mildronate Dihydrate: Mechanism of Dehydration and Determination of Kinetic Parameters

The dehydration kinetics of mildronate dihydrate [3-(1,1,1-trimethylhydrazin-1-ium-2-yl)propionate dihydrate] was analyzed in isothermal and nonisothermal modes. The particle size, sample preparation and storage, sample weight, nitrogen flow rate, relative humidity, and sample history were varied in order to evaluate the effect of these factors and to more accurately interpret the data obtained from such analysis. It was determined that comparable kinetic parameters can be obtained in both isothermal and nonisothermal mode. However, dehydration activation energy values obtained in nonisothermal mode showed variation with conversion degree because of different rate-limiting step energy at higher temperature. Moreover, carrying out experiments in this mode required consideration of additional experimental complications. Our study of the different sample and experimental factor effect revealed information about changes of the dehydration rate-limiting step energy, variable contribution from different rate limiting steps, as well as clarified the dehydration mechanism. Procedures for convenient and fast determination of dehydration kinetic parameters were offered.

Organic solvents vapor pressure and relative humidity effects on the phase transition rate of α and β forms of tegafur

The objective of this work was to investigate the relative humidity (RH) and solvent vapor pressure effects on the phase transition dynamics between tegafur polymorphic forms that do not form hydrates and solvates. The commercially available α and β modifications of 5-fluoro-1-(tetrahydro-2-furyl)-uracil, known as the antitumor agent tegafur, were used as model materials for this study. While investigating the phase transitions of α and β tegafur under various partial pressures of methanol, n-propanol, n-butanol, and water vapor, it was determined that the phase transition rate increased in the presence of solvent vapors, even though no solvates were formed. By increasing the relative air humidity from 20% to 80%, the phase transition rate constant of α and β tegafur was increased about 60 times. After increasing the partial pressure of methanol, n-propanol, or n-butanol vapor, the phase transition rate constant did not change, but the extent of phase transformation was increased. In the homologous row of n-alcohols, the phase transition rate constant decreased with increasing carbon chain length. The dependence of phase transformation extent versus the RH corresponded to the polymolecular adsorption isotherm with a possible capillary condensation effect.

Determination of trace amounts of β tegafur in commercial α tegafur by powder X-ray diffractometric analysis

Objectives  The main objective of this work was to develop a suitable analytical technique for determining trace amounts of the thermodynamically stable solid form in bulk samples of metastable form, to a sensitivity of 0.005%–1.0%. Tegafur (5‐fluoro‐1‐(tetrahydro‐2‐furyl)‐uracil) α and β crystalline forms were used as a model for this problem.

Multi-technique approach for qualitative and quantitative characterization of furazidin degradation kinetics under alkaline conditions

Degradation of drug furazidin was studied under different conditions of environmental pH (11-13) and temperature (30-60°C). The novel approach of hybrid hard- and soft-multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares (HS-MCR-ALS) method was applied to UV-vis spectral data to determine a valid kinetic model and kinetic parameters of the degradation process. The system was found to be comprised of three main species and best characterized by two consecutive first-order reactions. Furazidin degradation rate was found to be highly dependent on the applied environmental conditions, showing more prominent differences between both degradation steps towards higher pH and temperature. Complimentary qualitative analysis of the degradation process was carried out using HPLC-DAD-TOF-MS. Based on the obtained chromatographic and mass spectrometric results, as well as additional computational analysis of the species (theoretical UV-vis spectra calculations utilizing TD-DFT methodology), the operating degradation mechanism was proposed to include formation of a 5-hydroxyfuran derivative, followed by complete hydrolysis of furazidin hydantoin ring.