Hydrogen-bonding synthons in lamotrigine salts: 3,5-diamino-6-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)-1,2,4-triazin-2-ium 2-[(2-carboxyphenyl)disulfanyl]benzoate in its monohydrate and anhydrous forms.

Lamotrigine is a drug used in the treatment of epilepsy and related convulsive diseases. The drug in its free form is rather inadequate for pharmacological use due to poor absorption by the patient, which limits its bioavailability. On the other hand, the lamotrigine molecule is an excellent hydrogen-bonding agent and this has been exploited intensively in the search for better formulations. The formulation presently commercialized (under the brand name Lamictal) is rather complex and includes a number of anions in addition to the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). The title salts of lamotrigine, namely 3,5-diamino-6-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)-1,2,4-triazin-2-ium 2-[(2-carboxyphenyl)disulfanyl]benzoate monohydrate, C9H8Cl2N5+·C14H9O4S2-·H2O, (I), and the anhydrate, C9H8Cl2N5+·C14H9O4S2-, (II), contain a lamotriginium cation (L), a hydrogen dithiodibenzoate monoanion (D) and, in the case of (I), a disordered solvent water molecule. Both L and D present their usual configurations severely twisted around their central C-C and S-S bonds, respectively. The supramolecular structure generated by the many available donor and acceptor sites is characterized by a planar antisymmetric motif of the form D-L-L-D, i.e. the structural building block. Although this characteristic motif is extremely similar in both structures, its conformation involves different donors and acceptors in its R22(8) central L-L homosynthon. The lateral R22(8) D-L heterosynthons are, on the other hand, identical. These substructures are further connected by strong hydrogen bonds into broad two-dimensional structures, in turn weakly linked to each other. Even if the homo- and heterosynthons in (I) and (II) are rather frequent in lamotrigine structural chemistry, the composite tetrameric synthon appears to be much less common. The occurrence of these motifs among lamotrigine salts and cocrystals is analyzed.

Aripiprazole salts. III. Bis(aripiprazolium) oxalate-oxalic acid (1/1).

The asymmetric unit of the title salt [systematic name: bis(4-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)-1-{4-[(2-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolin-7-yl)oxy]butyl}piperazin-1-ium) oxalate-oxalic acid (1/1)], 2C(23)H(28)Cl(2)N(3)O(2)(+)·C(2)O(4)(2-)·C(2)H(2)O(4), consists of one protonated aripiprazole unit (HArip(+)), half an oxalate dianion and half an oxalic acid molecule, the latter two lying on inversion centres. The conformation of the HArip(+) cation differs from that in other reported salts and resembles more the conformation of neutral Arip units in reported polymorphs and solvates. The intermolecular interaction linking HArip(+) cations is also similar to those in reported Arip compounds crystallizing in the space group P1, with head-to-head N-H···O hydrogen bonds generating centrosymmetric dimers, which are further organized into planar ribbons parallel to (012). The oxalate anions and oxalic acid molecules form hydrogen-bonded chains running along [010], which 'pierce' the planar ribbons, interacting with them through a number of stronger N-H···O and weaker C-H···O hydrogen bonds, forming a three-dimensional network.

Characterization of semi-solid Self-Emulsifying Drug Delivery Systems (SEDDS) of atorvastatin calcium by Raman image spectroscopy and chemometrics.

A methodology based on Raman image spectroscopy and chemometrics for homogeneity evaluation of formulations containing atorvastatin calcium in Gelucire(®) 44/14 is presented. In the first part of the work, formulations with high amounts of Gelucire(®) 44/14 (80%) and solvents of different polarities (diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, propyleneglycol, propylene glycol monocaprylate and glyceryl mono/dicaprylate/caprate) were prepared for miscibility screening evaluation by classical least squares (CLS). It was observed that Gelucire(®) 44/14 presented higher affinity for the lipophilic solvents glyceryl mono/dicaprylate/caprate and propylene glycol monocaprylate, whose samples were observed to be homogeneous, and lower affinity for the hydrophilic solvents diethylene glycol monoethyl ether and propyleneglycol, whose samples were heterogeneous. In the second part of the work, the ratio of glyceryl mono/dicaprylate/caprate and Gelucire(®) 44/14 was determined based on studies in water and allowed the selection of the proportions of these two excipients in the preconcentrate that provided supersaturation of atorvastatin upon dilution. The preconcentrate was then evaluated for homogeneity by partial least squares (PLS) and an excellent miscibility was observed in this proportion as well. Therefore, it was possible to select a formulation that presented simultaneously homogeneous preconcentrate and solubility enhancement in water by Raman image spectroscopy and chemometrics.

Aripiprazole salts. II. Aripiprazole perchlorate.

The molecular structure of aripiprazole perchlorate (systematic name: 4-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)-1-{4-[(2-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolin-7-yl)oxy]butyl}piperazin-1-ium perchlorate), C(23)H(28)Cl(2)N(3)O(2)(+)·ClO(4)(-), does not differ substantially from the recently published structure of aripiprazole nitrate [Freire, Polla & Baggio (2012). Acta Cryst. C68, o170-o173]. Both compounds have almost identical bond distances, bond angles and torsion angles. The two different counter-ions occupy equivalent places in the two structures, giving rise to very similar first-order `packing motifs'. However, these elemental arrangements interact with each other in different ways in the two structures, leading to two-dimensional arrays with quite different organizations.

Aripiprazole salts. I. Aripiprazole nitrate.

The crystal structure of aripiprazole nitrate (systematic name: 4-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)-1-{4-[(2-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolin-7-yl)oxy]butyl}piperazin-1-ium nitrate), C(23)H(28)Cl(2)N(3)O(2)(+)·NO(3)(-) or AripH(+)·NO(3)(-), is presented and the molecule compared with the aripiprazole molecules reported so far in the literature. Bond distances and angles appear very similar, except for a slight lengthening of the C-NH distances involving the protonated N atom, and the main differences are to be found in the molecular spatial arrangement (revealed by the sequence of torsion angles) and the intermolecular interactions (resulting from structural elements specific to this structure, viz. the nitrate counter-ions on one hand and the extra protons on the other hand as hydrogen-bond acceptors and donors, respectively). The result is the formation of [100] strips, laterally linked by weak π-π and C-Cl...π interactions, leading to a family of undulating sheets parallel to (010).

Conformational polymorphism on imatinib mesylate: grinding effects.

Crystal structures of polymorphs α and ß of imatinib mesylate were obtained. Thermal behavior and grinding effects were studied by X-ray powder diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry techniques. Molecules in forms α and ß exhibit significant conformational differences due to dissimilar intramolecular interactions, which stabilize their molecular conformations. In spite of that, both crystal structures present a dimer-chain arrangement. Dimers are mainly determined by hydrogen bonding interactions and some weak π-π interactions. Connections between dimers are provided by mesylate ions to determine chains of dimers. Neighboring chains are linked by very weak interactions: C-H···π interactions in form α and π-π interactions in form ß. At room temperature, thermal disorder was observed in the mesylate ion in form α, which could be removed at low temperatures (-123°C). Form ß was found to be the more stable form at room temperature. Both polymorphs exhibit a tendency to generate amorphous material by grinding, which can be converted to a crystalline phase by either temperature or aging. When amorphous crystallization is kinetically studied at room temperature, form ß is obtained after a week. Conversely, when the crystallization is activated by temperature, the final obtained crystal form depends on the starting material, proving the importance of seeding.

1-(9H-Carbazol-4-yloxy)-3-{[2-(2-methoxyphenoxy)ethyl]amino}propan-2-ol hemihydrate: a carvedilol solvatomorph.

In the title racemic hemihydrated solvatomorph of carvedilol (carv), C(24)H(26)N(2)O(4)·0.5H(2)O, the asymmetric unit contains two independent organic moieties and one water molecule. Within this 2(carv)·H(2)O unit, the molecular components are strongly linked by hydrogen bonds and the unit acts as the basic building block for the crystal structure. Interactions parallel to (10 ̅1) generate hydrogen-bonded layers which are further linked by much weaker C-H···N/O interactions. The conformations of the organic molecules, as well as the hydrogen-bonding interactions connecting them, are compared with other related structures in the literature.

L-tyrosine immobilized on multiwalled carbon nanotubes: a new substrate for thallium separation and speciation using stabilized temperature platform furnace-electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry.

An approach for the separation and determination of inorganic thallium species is described. A new sorbent, L-tyrosine-carbon nanotubes (L-tyr-CNTs), was used and applied to the analysis of tap water samples. At pH 5.0, L-tyr was selective only towards Tl(III), while total thallium was determined directly by stabilized temperature platform furnace-electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (STPF-ETAAS). The Tl(III) specie, which was retained by L-tyrosine, was quantitatively eluted from the column with 10% of nitric acid. An on-line breakthrough curve was used to determine the column capacity, which resulted to be 9.00 micromol of Tl(III) g(-1) of L-tyr-CNTs with a molar ratio of 0.14 (moles of Tl bound to moles of L-tyr at pH 5). Transient peak areas revealed that Tl stripping from the column occurred instantaneously. Effects of sample flow rate, concentration and flow rate of the eluent, and interfering ions on the recovery of the analyte were systematically investigated. The detection limit for the determination of total thallium (3sigma) by STPF-ETAAS was 150 ng L(-1). The detection limit (3sigma) for Tl(III) employing the separation system was 3 ng L(-1), with an enrichment factor of 40. The precision of the method expressed as the relative standard deviation (RSD) resulted to be 3.4%. The proposed method was applied to the speciation and determination of inorganic thallium in tap water samples. The found concentrations were in the range of 0.88-0.91 microg L(-1) of Tl(III), and 3.69-3.91 microg L(-1) of total thallium.

Solid phase extraction of Co ions using L-tyrosine immobilized on multiwall carbon nanotubes.

A study was performed to assess the performance of aminoacids immobilized on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for their employment as a sorbent for solid phase extraction systems. An immobilization method is introduced and the aminoacid L-tyrosine was chosen as a case study. A spectrophotometric study revealed the amount of aminoacid immobilizated on CNTs surface, and it turned to be of 3174 micromol of L-tyrg(-1). The material was tested for Co retention using a minicolumn inserted in a flow system. At pH 7.0, the amount of Co retained by the column was of 37.58+/-3.06 micromol Co g(-1) of CNTs. A 10% (v/v) HNO(3) solution was chosen as eluent. The pH study revealed that Co binding increased at elevated pH values. The calculation of the mol ratio (moles of Co bound at pH 9 to moles of l-tyr) turned to be 3:1. The retention capacity was compared to other bivalent cations and showed the following tendency: Cu(2+)>Ni(2+)>Zn(2+)>>Co(2+). The analytical performance was evaluated and an enrichment factor of 180 was obtained when 10 mL of 11.37 microg L(-1)Co solution was loaded onto the column at pH 9.0; reaching a limit of detection (LoD) of 50 ng L(-1). The proposed system was successfully applied to Co determination in QC-LL2 standard reference material (metals in natural water).

On-line redox speciation analysis of antimony using l-proline immobilized on controlled pore glass and hydride generation inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry for detection.

L-proline was immobilized on controlled pore glass to study the ability of this material for the separation and preconcentration of Sb(III) and Sb(V). The substrate was packed in a minicolumn and incorporated in a flow injection system. The effluents of the on-line solid phase extraction (before and after elution) were directly coupled to the hydride generation inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry system. The effect of pH, sample (and eluent) volume, flow rates of sample loading and elution on separation of Sb(III) e Sb(V) were evaluated. Our experiments demonstrated that Sb(V) was not retained and it was selectively determined during the loading step, while retained Sb(III) was determined after elution. The proposed system was also used for the selective preconcentration of Sb(III). In this case, a preconcentration factor of 11 and a limit of detection of 90 ng L(-1) for Sb(III) were achieved when 8 mL of sample were loaded into the column. The speciation analysis of inorganic Sb in river water and effluent samples was performed using the proposed method. The values obtained for total Sb (obtained by sum of Sb(III) and Sb(V)) were in good agreement with expected values. Recoveries of Sb(III) and Sb(V) in the river water Standard Reference Material 1640 (from National Institute of Standard and Technology) and spiked river waters were between 83 and 111%.

[Ba6(C2H3O2)12(H2O)3.5], a new hydrate of barium acetate.

A new barium acetate phase, di-mu(5)-acetato-tri-mu(4)-acetato-tri-mu(3)-acetato-tri-mu(2)-acetato-mu(2)-acetato-triaquahemiaquahexabarium(II), of analytical formula [Ba(6)(C(2)H(3)O(2))(12)(H(2)O)(3.5)], is described. The asymmetric unit contains six independent Ba centres with coordination numbers varying from 7 to 10 arising from bonding to 12 crystallographically independent acetate ligands and four molecules of water, one of which is disordered over two sites both of occupancy 0.5. Bonding to the acetate ligands creates a completely connected three-dimensional structure. All H atoms of the water molecules participate in hydrogen bonding.

A fully automated system for inorganic antimony preconcentration and speciation in urine.

A study was undertaken to ascertain the analytical capabilities of L-methionine immobilized on controlled pore glass for Sb preconcentration and speciation. A fully automated on-line system, implemented with hydride generation (HG) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES), was used. Sb(III), at pH 10 was selectively retained in the column containing the immobilized aminoacid, while Sb(V) was not retained at all. A 30% HCl solution was used as eluent agent. Prior to total Sb determination, a pre-reduction step with thiourea was necessary. An on-line pH adjusting and pre-reduction of Sb(V) was achieved in a fully automated system. The detection limit for the preconcentration of 10 mL of an aqueous solution was 70 ng L(-1) with a relative standard deviation of 2%. An enrichment factor of 20 was achieved when 10 mL of sample was passed through the system, reaching a throughput of 23 samples per hour. The method was successfully applied to the determination of Sb(III) and total Sb in urine.

Structure and thermal decomposition of poly[[triaqua(mu4-oxydiacetato)lanthanum(III)] nitrate].

In the title lanthanum complex, {[La(C(4)H(4)O(5))(H(2)O)(3)]NO3}n, the lanthanum cation is immersed in a nine-coordinate environment provided by a tridentate oxydiacetate (oda) ligand (through two carboxylate and one ether O atoms), three carboxylate O atoms from neighbouring oda ligands and three aqua ligands. The LaO9 polyhedra are interlinked into a tight three-dimensional framework, which leaves holes where the nitrate anions lodge. The links to the polymeric framework are by an extensive hydrogen-bonding scheme utilizing all the water H atoms. Thermogravimetric analysis shows that the three coordinated water molecules leave the structure in two well differentiated steps.

Conformational polymorphism in bicalutamide.

Two crystalline forms (forms I and II) and an amorphous phase of bicalutamide were fully characterized through combined results of differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray powder and single crystal diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Each polymorph crystallizes with one molecule in the asymmetric unit and the molecular conformations are quite different between them. The main difference is provided by C12-C11-S8-C5 torsion angle, which assumes a value of -88.3(4) degrees (-Syn-Clinal) and 72.5(4) degrees (+Syn-Clinal) in forms I and II, respectively. Consequently, molecules in form I show an open folding and molecules in form II a closed one. The relative stability between forms I and II is presented in an energy versus temperature diagram, where forms I and II are considered as a monotropic system, being form I the more stable one. The amorphous phase was observed very metastable and it converts to form II spontaneously at RT in around a week.

Fractionation of eleven elements by chemical bonding from airborne particulate matter collected in an industrial city in Argentina.

A four-step chemical sequential extraction procedure was used to evaluate the distribution of Al, As, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Ti, V and Zn in airborne particulate matter collected on glass fibre filters using a high-volume sampler. Two sets of samples were collected in 2001 (winter and summer campaigns) in representative zones of an industrial city of Argentina. The leaching scheme was applied to PM-10 particles and consisted in extracting the elements in four fractions, namely soluble and exchangeable elements; carbonates, oxides and reducible elements; bound to organic matter and sulfidic metals; and residual elements. Metals and metalloids at microg g(-1) level were determined in each fraction by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES). Analyte concentration varied from 14 microg g(-1) (equivalent to 1.0 ng m(-3)) for As to 11.8 mg g(-1) (equivalent to 2,089 ng m(-3)) for Al. Seven elements, namely Al, Cr, Fe, Mn, Pb, Ti and Zn showed similar distributions in both seasons while As was distributed in a significantly different manner in each season. The results exhibited low As contents in the first and second fractions that could be associated with routine coal combustion and a high content in the third and fourth fractions of the summer samples that could be linked to the use of pesticides. Aluminium, As, Cu, Mn, Ni, Ti, V and Zn were found in different percentages in the more bioavailable aqueous fraction with As, Mn, V and Zn exhibiting solubilities greater than 1% while Cr and Pb being insoluble. The content of Al, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, and Zn in the residual fraction was, in average, higher than 50%. A comparative assessment of the use of the underlying information available from fractionation studies compared to that obtained from total element content was done for Fe and Mn. It showed that the results obtained using chemical sequential extraction procedures allowed further discrimination of the potential air pollution sources.

Thermal behaviour and stability in Olanzapine.

The stability and thermal behaviour of two anhydrate phases and a new mixed water:DMSO solvate of Olanzapine (2-methyl-4-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-10H-thieno-[2,3-b][1,5]benzodiazepine) are studied by different methods: differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and Raman scattering (RS). Single crystal structural data for the latter phase are presented, confirming the presence of the (Olanzapine)(2) dimer as the structural building unit of all known phases of the drug, either anhydrate or solvated. An apparent interconversion between both solid state forms is shown to be an artifact and explained in terms of a melting-recrystallization process.

Metal fractionation of atmospheric aerosols via sequential chemical extraction: a review.

This review surveys schemes used to sequentially chemically fractionate metals and metalloids present in airborne particulate matter. It focuses mainly on sequential chemical fractionation schemes published over the last 15 years. These schemes have been classified into five main categories: (1) based on Tessier's procedure, (2) based on Chester's procedure, (3) based on Zatka's procedure, (4) based on BCR procedure, and (5) other procedures. The operational characteristics as well as the state of the art in metal fractionation of airborne particulate matter, fly ashes and workroom aerosols, in terms of applications, optimizations and innovations, are also described. Many references to other works in this area are provided.

The Zn2+ salt of pamidronate: a role for water in the metal-cation binding properties of bisphosphonates.

Pamidronate (3-ammonium-1-hydroxypropylidene-1,1-bisphosphonate) is used clinically in the treatment of diseases affecting bone tissue. In the salt zinc pamidronate dihydrate, Zn(2+).2C(3)H(10)NO(7)P(2)(-).2H(2)O, pamidronate is a zwitterion with an overall charge of -1. The carbon chain adopts a trans conformation, separating maximally the positively charged N atom from the negative phosphonate groups. The Zn(2+) ion lies on an inversion center and is surrounded by a sixfold coordination sphere provided by two bidentate chelating zwitterions and two water molecules. The bidentate O.Zn.O bond angle is 92.70 (7) degrees, while the O.O bite distance is 3.018 (3) A.

Identificación de fuentes de emisión por microscopía electrónica y difracción por rayos X

Estudio de identificación de fuentes de emisión de material particulado, tomando como base dos muestras patrón y analizando una muestra tomada en aire ambiente. Se analizaron mediante difracción de rayos X (DRX), microscopía electrónica de barrido (MEB), y espectrometría de energía dispersiva de rayos X (EDX)

Fractionation of elements by particle size of ashes ejected from Copahue Volcano, Argentina.

The volcano Copahue, Neuquén province, Argentina has shown infrequent explosive eruptions since the 18th century. Recently, eruptive activity and seismicity were registered in the period July-October, 2000. As a consequence, ash clouds were dispersed by winds and affected Caviahue village located at about 9 km east of the volcano. Samples of deposited particles from this area were collected during this episode for their chemical analysis to determine elements of concern with respect to the health of the local population and its environment. Different techniques were used to evaluate the distribution of elements in four particle size ranges from 36 to 300 microm. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) was selected to detect major components namely, minerals, silicate glass, fragments of rocks and sulfurs. Major and minor elements (Al, Ca, Cl, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, S, Si and Ti), were detected by energy dispersive X ray analysis (EDAX). Trace element (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sb, U, V and Zn) content was quantified by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Nuclear activation analysis (NAA) was employed for the determination of Ce, Co, Cs, Eu, Hf, La, Lu, Rb, Sc, Sm, Ta and Yb. An enrichment was observed in the smallest size fraction of volcanic ashes for four elements (As, Cd, Cu and Sb) of particular interest from the environmental and human health point of view.