Crystallisation From Volatile Deep Eutectic Solvents

TL;DR

This paper introduces volatile deep eutectic solvents that enable controlled crystallization and polymorphism, including the spontaneous formation of a more effective acetaminophen form at room temperature.

Contribution

It presents a novel class of volatile deep eutectic solvents with auto-destructive capabilities for controlled crystallization and pharmaceutical polymorphism.

Findings

Successful control of pharmaceutical polymorphism.

First spontaneous formation of a more efficacious acetaminophen form at room temperature.

Demonstration of the solvents' physical characteristics similar to classical deep eutectic solvents.

Abstract

A new class of deep eutectic solvents are presented where one component of the system is inherently volatile, enabling a premeditated, auto-destructive capability which leads inexorably to a series of novel crystal structures. These volatile deep eutectic solvents are easily-formed liquids with a greatly depressed melting point and exhibit all of the physical characteristics of classical deep eutectic solvents, with the exception that the hydrogen-bond donor component is volatile when exposed to the atmosphere at room temperature. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this concept through the exquisite control of pharmaceutical polymorphism, among which is a more efficacious form of acetaminophen, which can be formed spontaneously for the first time at room temperature.