Kevin S. Eccles

Characterisation, solubility and intrinsic dissolution behaviour of benzamide: dibenzyl sulfoxide cocrystal

This study examined the 1:1 cocrystal benzamide:dibenzyl sulfoxide, comprising the poorly water soluble dibenzyl sulfoxide (DBSO) and the more soluble benzamide (BA), to establish if this cocrystal shows advantages in terms of solubility and dissolution in comparison to its pure components and to a physical mixture. Solubility studies were performed by measuring DBSO solubility as a function of BA concentration, and a ternary phase diagram was constructed. Dissolution was examined through intrinsic dissolution studies. Solid-state characterisation was carried out by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction (EDX), infra-red spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and thermal analysis. DBSO solubility was increased by means of complexation with BA. For the cocrystal, the solubility of both components was decreased in comparison to pure components. The cocrystal was identified as metastable and incongruently saturating. Dissolution studies revealed that dissolution of DBSO from the cocrystal was not enhanced in comparison to the pure compound or a physical mix, while BA release was retarded and followed square root of time kinetics. At the disk surface a layer of DBSO was found. The extent of complexation in solution can change the stability of the complex substantially. Incongruent solubility and dissolution behaviour of a cocrystal can result in no enhancement in the dissolution of the less soluble component and retardation of release of the more soluble component.

Expanding the crystal landscape of isonicotinamide: concomitant polymorphism and co-crystallisation

Attempts to co-crystallise 3-arylbutanoic acid derivatives with isonicotinamide have led to co-crystals and novel polymorphs of the isonicotinamide co-former appearing under similar crystallisation conditions.

Structure-function analysis of the C-3 position in analogues of microbial behavioural modulators HHQ and PQS.

2-Heptyl-3-hydroxy-4-quinolone (PQS) and its precursor 2-heptyl-4-quinolone (HHQ) are key signalling molecules of the important nosocomial pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We have recently reported an interkingdom dimension to these molecules, influencing key virulence traits in a broad spectrum of microbial species and in the human pathogenic yeast Candida albicans. For the first time, targeted chemical derivatisation of the C-3 position was undertaken to investigate the structural and molecular properties underpinning the biological activity of these compounds in P. aeruginosa, and using Bacillus subtilis as a suitable model system for investigating modulation of interspecies behaviour.

Evaluation of the Bruker SMART X2S: crystallography for the nonspecialist?

An evaluation of the Bruker SMART X2S for the collection of crystallographic diffraction data, structure solution and refinement is carried out with a variety of materials with different electron densities, presenting some of the successes and challenges of automation in chemical crystallography.

The Use of Co-crystals for the Determination of Absolute Stereochemistry: An Alternative to Salt Formation

Absolute stereochemistry of oils and viscous liquids can be difficult to determine. Co-crystallization involves generating a crystalline material consisting of more than one neutral compound. The combination of co-crystallization with both X-ray diffraction and chiral HPLC was particularly powerful in overcoming these difficulties for a series of chiral 3-arylbutanoic acids. Co-crystallization offers advantages over salt formation because co-crystals dissociate in solution, meaning identical HPLC conditions can be used for both the materials of interest and their co-crystals.

Synthesis of Cyclic α-Diazo-β-keto Sulfoxides in Batch and Continuous Flow

Diazo transfer to β-keto sulfoxides to form stable isolable α-diazo-β-keto sulfoxides has been achieved for the first time. Both monocyclic and benzofused ketone derived β-keto sulfoxides were successfully explored as substrates for diazo transfer. Use of continuous flow leads to isolation of the desired compounds in enhanced yields relative to standard batch conditions, with short reaction times, increased safety profile, and potential to scale up.

Preparation and characterisation of solid state forms of paracetamol-O-glucuronide

The synthesis and crystallisation of the pharmaceutically important metabolite, paracetamol-O-glucuronide, is described. Hydrated and anhydrous forms of the target molecule have been characterised by PXRD, DSC and TGA. In addition, a methanol solvate has been analysed, including single crystal analysis, which represents the first structure solution for this system.

Asymmetric Aldol-Tishchenko Reaction of Sulfinimines.

Methods for the preparation of 1,3-amino alcohols and their derivatives containing two stereogenic centers usually involve a two-step installation of the chiral centers. An aldol-Tishchenko reaction of chiral sulfinimines which involves the first reported reduction of a C═N in this type of reaction is described. Two and even three chiral centers can be installed in one synthetic step, affording anti-1,3-amino alcohols in good diastereo- and enantioselectivity.

Hydrogen bonding in crystal forms of primary amide functionalised glucose and cellobiose

A glucoside and cellobioside of glycolamide were synthesised and the crystal chemistry of these compounds investigated. The amidoglucoside crystallised in the P2(1) space group. The primary amide group participates in C(7) and C(17) chains also involving the pyranose oxygen and hydroxyl groups. The amidocellobioside crystallised as a methanol solvate in the P2(1) space group. The amide N-H groups donate hydrogen bonds to oxygen atoms on the cellobiose units, while intramolecular hydrogen bonds give rise to S(7) and S(9) motifs in addition to a R3(3) (9) motif. A tetra-O-acetylglucoside derivative of thioglycolamide and its sulfoxide derivative were synthesised to examine the effect of protecting the glucopyranose hydroxyl groups. The thioglycolamido derivative, which crystallised in the P2(1)2(1)2(1) space group, featured amide N-H groups donating to the glucopyranose oxygen and an acetyloxy group. The sulfoxy derivative crystallised in the P2(1) space group and featured the primary amide groups forming R2(3)(8) motifs generating a 2(1) ladder.

Co-crystallisation through halogen bonding with racemic or enantiopure sulfinamides

The structures of the racemic and enantiopure forms of a primary sulfinamide reveal a key structure-defining N–H⋯OS hydrogen bond motif that resembles the ubiquitous N–H⋯OC hydrogen bond motif of central importance in protein structures. The presence of the inherently chiral sulfinamide functional group, in contrast to the planar amide, in the hydrogen bonded chains is notable. Halogen bonding with a chiral oxygen acceptor was demonstrated in the co-crystals of the sulfinamide with 1,4-diiodotetraflurobenzene, which reveal a variety of moderate and weak hydrogen and halogen bonding acting co-operatively to form the overall architecture.