Organic semiconductors are of interest because low processing temperatures and cost which make such materials candidates for flexible electronics. The charge transport properties of the material are largely dependent on solid-state arrangement of the molecules. This thesis focuses on co-crystallization as a means to achieve [2+2] photodimerization with organic semiconductors, the impact the co-crystal former has on mobility, the use of a co-crystal former to obtain different conformations of a flexible system, and the ability to detect the change in conformation by infrared spectroscopy. [2+2] photodimerization is studied as a way to alter the orientation of the π-systems in the solid state. To align a semiconductor building block into an orientation suitable for [2+2] photodimerization a co-crystallization method was used. The result of the photoreaction is the formation of a dimer in which the π-systems of the semiconductor building block are in a different orientation then before. Changes in the physical properties of the material through photodimerization are explored as a method for patterning thin films. The impact the second component has on the overall mobility in our system is examined. The second component is not expected to act as a semiconductor and the impact on mobility the by its inclusion in the solid is unknown. The impact of a second component on mobility is studied by observing the mobility of multiple co-crystals along with the mobility of the single component. It was found that the mobility could be increased by a factor of approximately 200 with addition of a second component. The mobility change seen in the two-component crystals is equated to the changes observed in the crystal packing. The conformation a molecule adopts in a solid can vary. It was discovered that the addition of a second component can be used to select the major conformation a bithiophene adopts in a solid. The change in conformation changes the orientation of the π-systems between molecules within the solid. The ability for a second component to alter the conformation of a bithiophene is explored. Infrared spectroscopy is used as a facial method to detect the change in the bithiophene conformation.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Chemistry / Christer B. Aakeröy / Co-crystallization allows the manipulation of physical properties of a given compound without affecting its chemical behavior. The ability to predict hydrogen bonding interactions, provides means to the rational design of supramolecular architectures. It also makes it possible to select with a degree of accuracy, a few co-formers that have a high probability of forming co-crystals with a compound of interest, instead of blindly screening against a large number of candidates. To study the effects of changing electronic environment on the ability to form co-crystals, five symmetric dioximes of different hydrogen bond donating ability were synthesized with different functional groups on the carbon α to the oxime moiety. It was shown that the supramolecular yield increase with the positive MEP value on the donor site. In order to further explore this relationship between calculated MEP values and supramolecular selectivity three asymmetric ditopic donors containing phenol carboxylic acid and aldoxime groups were screened against a series of asymmetric ditopic acceptors. Nine crystal structures show that the supramolecular outcome can be predicted according to Etter’s rules by ranking donors and acceptors according to calculated MEP values. To explore the possibility of using the same approach with other hydrogen bond donors, three asymmetric ditopic donor ligands containing cyanooxime groups were synthesized and screened against a series of asymmetric ditopic acceptors. Nine out of ten times the supramolecular outcome could be predicted by MEP calculations 1-deazapurine exists in two tautomeric forms (1H and 3H) in aqueous solution, which have very different hydrogen bonding environments. The 3H tautomer forms a self-complementary dimer involving a donor and an acceptor site leaving a second acceptor site vacant. In order to stabilize this tautomer the molecule was screened against a of series hydrogen and halogen bond donors. Four out of five structures obtained showed 3H tautomer. The 1H tautomer is the geometric complement of urea. Therefore the molecule was screened against a series of N,N-diphenylureas and all five structures showed the 1H tautomer.

Crystal engineering study using spray dryer was performed for scale-up and rapid, continuous crystallisation of co-crystals from solution. The study emphasise on developing co-crystals of two structurally similar compounds, caffeine (CAF) and theophylline (THEO) with various di-carboxylic acids. The incongruently soluble pair of CAF and THEO with di-carboxylic acids acquires large solubility difference which is important to consider for its utility in product development. Based on previous assumption that maleic acid (MAL) elevates CAF’s solubility; solubility of the two similar compounds was tested in various dicarboxylic acids. Other solubility enhancement strategies such as introduction of surfactant and binary solvents were also scrutinised. A kinetically similar bench-scale technique, rotary evaporator (rotavap) was investigated as a pre-screening tool for the production of co-crystals via spray drying. Furthermore, various process parameters within the spray dryer were optimised to control the kinetic conditions which influence co-crystallisation and quality of the product. Another polymorphic co-crystal pair, CBZ (carbamazepine) and SAC (saccharin) was examined in various solvents and its degradation was evaluated over a period of few months. In this study, a two-step conversion of CBZ into its degradate was hypothesised. Rotavap delivered a true reflection of co-crystal favoured via spray drying apart from co-crystal pairs depicting polymorphism. Spray dryer offered a unique environment favouring metastable forms of co-crystals irrespective of the starting component stoichiometry; generating CAF:MAL 2:1. However, due to process limitation and solubility constraint, the impurity of CAF in CAF:MAL 2:1 co-crystals could not be abolished.

This thesis describes applications in co-crystal reactivity, structure determination, and mechanochemical preparation. We also investigate the solution-phase reactivities of products derived from a template-directed synthesis. Specifically, we described the acid treatment of an achiral molecular ladder of C2h symmetry composed of five edge-sharing cyclobutane rings, or a [5]-ladderane, with acid results in cis- to trans- isomerization and/or oxidation of end pyridyl groups. Solution NMR spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations support the isomerization to generate two diastereomers; namely, an achiral and a unique chiral ladderane. The NMR data, however, could not lead to unambiguous configurational assignments of the two isomers. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction was employed to determine each configuration. One isomer readily crystallized as a pure form and X-ray diffraction revealed the molecule as being achiral based on Ci symmetry. The second isomer resisted crystallization under a variety of conditions. Consequently, a strategy based on a co-crystallization was developed to generate single crystals of the second isomer. Co-crystallization of the isomer with a carboxylic acid readily afforded single crystals that confirmed a chiral ladderane based on C2 symmetry. We also demonstrate how the stereochemistry can be retained upon treatment with acid. It will be shown how a monocyclobutane can be used as a model system when investigating the reactivity of the [5]-ladderane. While investigating the reactivity of a diene diacid we determined that a bicyclobutyl that bears six carboxylic acid groups results from a trimerization of the solid in pure form in the solid state. Powder X-ray diffraction and a co-crystallization are used to solve the structure of the diene and elucidate the stereochemistry of the bicyclobutyl, respectively. Having established the reactivity of the diene diacid we used hydrogen-bond-acceptor (HBA) templates to assemble the diacid in the solid state in a photoactive solid for an intermolecular [2 + 2] photocycloaddition as well as a photostable solid. To enhance strategies to generate stereocontrolled products derived from reactive co-crystals mechanochemical methods were applied to eliminate or reduce the solvent used to prepare the co-crystal solids. In particular, we show how supermolecules with olefins organized by hydrogen-bond donor and acceptor templates that react in the solid state rapidly form co-crystals via solvent-free and liquid-assisted grinding.

Magister Pharmaceuticae - MPharm / The objective was to prepare new solid phases, i.e. co-crystal forms, of two sulfa antibiotic drugs (sulfamethoxazole and sulfasalazine) with trimethoprim and fourteen potential co-formers with GRAS status. Trimethoprim was chosen for its synergistic effects with both sulfa drugs and the other co-formers were selected in an attempt to improve the physicochemical properties of the antibiotics. A variety of co-crystallization techniques, including solvent assisted grinding, slow evaporation, slurry method and solidification of the melt were used to obtain these results. From these methods, three new solid phases were successfully isolated for the sulfamethoxazole antibiotic, viz. sulfamethoxazole-benzoic anhydride (SMZ-BAN) co-crystal by the slurry method, amorphous sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (SMZ-TMP) form by solidification of the melt and amorphous sulfamethoxazole-oxalic acid (SMZ-OA) by slow evaporation. For the sulfasalazine antibiotic, co-crystallization experimentation produced, sulfasalazine-trimethoprim salt (SSZ-TMPs) by slow evaporation, sulfasalazine-trimethoprim co-crystal (SSZ-TMP) by solvent assisted grinding and sulfasalazine-nicotinamide co-crystal (SSZ-NC) by solidification of the melt. Of these six compounds subjected to single crystal X-ray analysis, only one of their structures was elucidated i.e. the salt, SSZ-TMPs. Different techniques that were used to assess the thermal behaviour of the products included hot stage microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. FTIR provided information on the purity of the compounds and the suggested host-guest interaction sites. X-ray powder diffraction supported the determination of the new phase comparative to the parent compounds. Finally dissolution testing was carried out for successful candidates with encouraging recommendations for future work.

Magister Pharmaceuticae - MPharm / Co-crystals are a solid phase phenomena that could enhance the physicochemical properties of an active pharmaceutical ingredient. A co-crystal has never been incorporated into a liquid dosage form with the assurance of maintaining its co-crystal state until absorption under defined conditions. This study aims to develop a liquid formulation with a nevirapine co-crystal. A protocol was developed to investigate all the five co-formers that were used to make the nevirapine co-crystals to-date. The most appropriate co-former was selected for a liquid dosage form to study the integrity and the scaling up of the co-crystal in a suspension formulation. Co-formers used were viz. saccharin, glutaric acid, salicylic acid, rac-tartaric acid and maleic acid. These were characterized according to their physical, chemical, pharmacological and pharmaceutical properties. A grading scale was used to select the most appropriate co-former for a suspension formulation. Comparatively, saccharin produced the best combination of physical, chemical, pharmacological and pharmaceutical properties, especially with regard to the particle size and the specific gravity which proved to be very useful as optimal criteria for suspension formulation. Upon selection of the ideal co-former, scale-up of the nevirapine saccharin co-crystal was performed from a small scale of 350 mg to a large scale of 5 g. Nevirapine-saccharin (NVSC) co-crystals were prepared utilizing the slow evaporation technique, using methanol as the solvent and the percentage yield of the co-crystals were > 80 %. The identity of co-crystals was confirmed using hot stage microscopy (HSM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), fourier transform infra- red (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Three co-crystal suspension formulations were prepared using the excipients identified in the branded, Viramune® suspension, with each formulation containing viscosity enhancers such as aerosil 200, carbopol 971G and carbopol 974P. To ascertain the co- crystal integrity in the suspension, it was filtered and the filtrate was identified with DSC and FTIR while the filtered solution was identified with ultraviolet spectroscopy (UV). The co-crystal suspension formulation with optimal pH, viscosity and assurance of co-crystal integrity was the carbopol 974P formulation. The UV and DSC of the filtrate of the suspension revealed that the co-crystal had not separated into its individual components and remained intact while in suspension form irrespective of the excipients added. This formulation proceeded to the quality control stage. It was assessed for its pH, viscosity and dissolution according to the USP 32 standards and compared to the branded nevirapine suspension, Viramune ®, presently on the market. The suspension was characterized for particle size, zeta potential and polydispersity index. The dissolution results assayed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) revealed a drug release of 86 % in the Viramune® suspension while the NVSC co- crystal suspension achieved a drug release of 94% within 30 minutes of dissolution. / National Research Foundation (NRF)

no / We report on the templated growth of 2:1 benzoic acid/isonicotinamide co-crystal on a benzoic acid subphase. The molecular basis for the template, registry between the phases, is presented. The template growth of behavior of the title compound was contrasted with that from melt and solution. This approach may be applicable as a precursor for the synthesis of bulk composite crystals.

no / Co-crystal screening is routinely undertaken using high-throughput solution growth. We report a low- to medium throughput approach, encompassing both a melt and solution crystallization step as a route to the identification of co-crystals. Prior to solution studies, a melt growth step was included utilizing the Kofler mixed fusion method. This method allowed elucidation of the thermodynamic landscape within the binary phase diagram and was found to increase overall screening efficiency. The pharmaceutically acceptable adduct nicotinamide was selected and screened against a small set of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) (ibuprofen (both the racemic compound (R/S) and S-enantiomer), fenbufen, flurbiprofen (R/S), ketoprofen (R/S), paracetamol, piracetam, and salicylic acid) as part of a larger systematic study of synthon stability. From the screen, three new co-crystal systems have been identified (ibuprofen (R/S and S) and salicylic acid) and their crystal structures determined. Because of poor crystal growth synchrotron radiation was required for structure solution of the S-ibuprofen nicotinamide co-crystal. Two further potential systems have also been discovered (fenbufen and flurbiprofen), but crystals suitable for structure determination have yet to be obtained. A greater ability to control crystallization kinetics is required to yield phase-pure single-crystalline material for full verification of this crystal engineering strategy.

Crystal engineering study using spray dryer was performed for scale-up and rapid, continuous crystallisation of co-crystals from solution. The study emphasise on developing co-crystals of two structurally similar compounds, caffeine (CAF) and theophylline (THEO) with various di-carboxylic acids. The incongruently soluble pair of CAF and THEO with di-carboxylic acids acquires large solubility difference which is important to consider for its utility in product development. Based on previous assumption that maleic acid (MAL) elevates CAF’s solubility; solubility of the two similar compounds was tested in various dicarboxylic acids. Other solubility enhancement strategies such as introduction of surfactant and binary solvents were also scrutinised. A kinetically similar bench-scale technique, rotary evaporator (rotavap) was investigated as a pre-screening tool for the production of co-crystals via spray drying. Furthermore, various process parameters within the spray dryer were optimised to control the kinetic conditions which influence co-crystallisation and quality of the product. Another polymorphic co-crystal pair, CBZ (carbamazepine) and SAC (saccharin) was examined in various solvents and its degradation was evaluated over a period of few months. In this study, a two-step conversion of CBZ into its degradate was hypothesised. Rotavap delivered a true reflection of co-crystal favoured via spray drying apart from co-crystal pairs depicting polymorphism. Spray dryer offered a unique environment favouring metastable forms of co-crystals irrespective of the starting component stoichiometry; generating CAF:MAL 2:1. However, due to process limitation and solubility constraint, the impurity of CAF in CAF:MAL 2:1 co-crystals could not be abolished.

Co-crystals are emerging as a potential area in the field of crystal designing as it improves material's physicochemical properties. Many groups are working on the development of newer techniques for the preparation of co-crystals, which can be scalable and contribute to the green agenda. Being continuous and scalable technique, our own developed twin screw extrusion mediated solvent free continuous co-crystallisation (SFCC) technique has been used for the preparation of carbamazepine: saccharin co-crystal. Carbamazepine has been used as a model drug since it shows challenges such as low solubility (BCS class II), polymorphism and thermolabile nature whilst, saccharin was used as a co-former. Effect of extrusion processing parameters such as shear, temperature and screw speed on cocrystallisation has been studied. In addition to this, effect of particle size of co-crystal components, use of hydrated form of carbamazepine, addition of solvent and application of reverse elements on the purity of co-crystal was understood. Use of carbamazepine dihydrate as a starting component yields pure co-crystals. The addition of small amount of polar solvent in anhydrous carbamazepine also yields pure co-crystals whereas particle size did not show any significant effect. Result showed that selection of processing temperature near to eutectic, moderate shear and increase in residence time of component mixture in mixing zone was mainly responsible for co-crystallisation. The extrudates were mainly characterised by XRPD, DSC and in-vitro dissolution tests. Pure co-crystals prepared by addition of highly Development of a solvent free continuous co-crystallisation technique for carbamazepine-saccharin ii polar solvent have been showed drug release identical to that of pure co-crystals prepared by solvent crystallisation.