Ferrocene‐tagged ionic liquid stabilized on silica‐coated magnetic nanoparticles: Efficient catalyst for the synthesis of 2‐amino‐3‐cyano‐4H‐pyran derivatives under solvent‐free conditions

An advanced novel magnetic ionic liquid based on imidazolium tagged with ferrocene, a supported ionic liquid, is introduced as a recyclable heterogeneous catalyst. Catalytic activity of the novel nanocatalyst was investigated in one‐pot three‐component reactions of various aldehydes, malononitrile and 2‐naphthol for the facile synthesis of 2‐amino‐3‐cyano‐4H‐pyran derivatives under solvent‐free conditions without additional co‐catalyst or additive in air. For this purpose, we firstly synthesized and investigated 1‐(4‐ferrocenylbutyl)‐3‐methylimidazolium acetate, [FcBuMeIm][OAc], as a novel basic ferrocene‐tagged ionic liquid. This ferrocene‐tagged ionic liquid was then linked to silica‐coated nano‐Fe₃O₄ to afford a novel heterogeneous magnetic nanocatalyst, namely [Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@Im‐Fc][OAc]. The synthesized novel catalyst was characterized using ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, Fourier transform infrared and energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopies, X‐ray diffraction, and transmission and field emission scanning electron microscopies. Combination of some unique characteristics of ferrocene and the supported ionic liquid developed the catalytic activity in a simple, efficient, green and eco‐friendly protocol. The catalyst could be reused several times without loss of activity.     

Reversible Carrier‐Type Transitions in Gas‐Sensing Oxides and Nanostructures

Despite many important applications of α‐Fe₂O₃ and Fe doped SnO₂ in semiconductors, catalysis, sensors, clinical diagnosis and treatments, one fundamental issue that is crucial to these applications remains theoretically equivocal—the reversible carrier‐type transition between n‐ and p‐type conductivities during gas‐sensing operations. Herein, we present an unambiguous and rigorous theoretical analysis in order to explain why and how the oxygen vacancies affect the n‐type semiconductors α‐Fe₂O₃ and Fe‐doped SnO₂, in which they are both electronically and chemically transformed into a p‐type semiconductor. Furthermore, this reversible transition also occurs on the oxide surfaces during gas‐sensing operation due to physisorbed gas molecules (without any chemical reaction). We make use of the ionization energy theory and its renormalized ionic displacement polarizability functional to reclassify, generalize and explain the concept of carrier‐type transition in solids, and during gas‐sensing operation. The origin of such a transition is associated with the change in ionic polarizability and the valence states of cations in the presence of oxygen vacancies and physisorped gas molecules.     

1,2,3-三氮杂苯－(水)3复合物多体相互作用

The interaction between 1,2,3-triazine and three water molecules was studied using density functional theory B3LYP method at 6-31-t＋＋G^＊＊ basis set. Various structures for 1,2,3-triazine-（water）n （n= 1, 2, 3） complex were investigated and the different lower energy structures were reported. Many-body analysis was also carded out to obtain relaxation energy and many-body interaction energy （two, three, and four-body）, and the most stable conformer has the basis set superposition error corrected interaction energy of -- 102.61 kJ/mol. The relaxation energy, two- and three-body interactions have significant contribution to the total interaction energy whereas four-body interaction was very small for 1,2,3-triazine-（water）3 complex.     

Interesting properties of Thomas–Fermi kinetic and Parr electron–electron‐repulsion DFT energy functional generated compact one‐electron density approximation for ground‐state electronic energy of molecular systems

The reduction of the electronic Schrodinger equation or its calculating algorithm from 4N‐dimensions to a (nonlinear, approximate) density functional of three spatial dimension one‐electron density for an N‐electron system, which is tractable in the practice, is a long desired goal in electronic structure calculation. If the Thomas‐Fermi kinetic energy (～∫ρ^5/3d r ₁) and Parr electron–electron repulsion energy (～∫ρ^4/3d r ₁) main‐term functionals are accepted, and they should, the later described, compact one‐electron density approximation for calculating ground state electronic energy from the 2nd Hohenberg–Kohn theorem is also noticeable, because it is a certain consequence of the aforementioned two basic functionals. Its two parameters have been fitted to neutral and ionic atoms, which are transferable to molecules when one uses it for estimating ground‐state electronic energy. The convergence is proportional to the number of nuclei (M) needing low disc space usage and numerical integration. Its properties are discussed and compared with known ab initio methods, and for energy differences (here atomic ionization potentials) it is comparable or sometimes gives better result than those. It does not reach the chemical accuracy for total electronic energy, but beside its amusing simplicity, it is interesting in theoretical point of view, and can serve as generator function for more accurate one‐electron density models. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 2009     

Facile One‐pot Synthesis of Substituted Dihydropyrrol‐2‐ones via Four‐component Domino Reaction of Amines,Dialkyl Acetylenedicarboxylates and Formaldehyde

A mild and efficient method for the one‐pot synthesis of substituted dihydropyrrol‐2‐one derivatives is described via four‐component domino reaction of amines, dialkyl acetylenedicarboxyaltes and formaldehyde in the presence of 1‐methyl‐2‐oxopyrrolidinium hydrogen sulfate ([Hpyro][HSO₄]) as ionic liquid catalyst. This facile approach proceeded smoothly in good to high yields and pure products are separated from the reaction mixture by simple filtration.     

An Efficient One‐Pot,Four‐Component Synthesis of {[(1H‐1,2,3‐Triazol‐4‐yl)methoxy]phenyl}‐1H‐pyrazolo[1,2‐b]phthalazine‐5,10‐dione Derivatives

The 1‐{[(1H‐1,2,3‐Triazol‐4‐yl)methoxy]phenyl}‐1H‐pyrazolo[1,2‐b]phthalazine‐5,10‐dione derivatives 5 were synthesized by a simple and efficient method, i.e., by the four‐component, one‐pot condensation reaction of phthalohydrazide 4 , a (propargyloxy)benzaldehyde 1 , an active methylene compound 3 (malononitrile or ethyl cyanoacetate), and an azide 2 in the presence of Cu(OAc)₂/sodium L ‐ascorbate as catalyst and 1‐methyl‐1H‐imidazolium trifluoroacetate ([Hmim](CF₃COO)) as an ionic‐liquid medium in good to excellent yields (Scheme 1).     

Isolation and purification of alkaloids from the fruits of Macleaya cordata by ionic‐liquid‐modified high‐speed counter‐current chromatography

Macleaya cordata (Willd) R. Br. is a medicinal plant. The most important bioactive compounds of M. cordata are alkaloids that have many biological activities including antifungal, anti‐inflammatory, and antitumor. In this study, an ionic‐liquid‐modified high‐speed counter‐current chromatography method was established to obtain alkaloids from the fruits of M. cordata. The conditions of ionic‐liquid‐modified high‐speed counter‐current chromatography, including solvent systems, the content of ionic liquid (1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [C₄mim][BF₄]), and the posttreatment of the ionic liquid, were investigated. Five alkaloids protopine, allocryptopine, sanguinarine, 8‐O‐demethylchelerythrine, and chelerythrine were separated from the extract of the fruits using a high speed counter‐current chromatography with two‐phase solvent system composed of dichloromethane/methanol/0.3 mol/L hydrochloric acid aqueous solution/[C₄mim][BF₄] (4:2:2:0.015, v/v). Their purities were 96.33, 95.56, 97.94, 96.22, and 97.90%, respectively. The results indicated that a small amount of ionic liquids as modifier of the two‐phase solvent system could shorten the separation time and improve the separation efficiency of the alkaloids from the fruits. The ionic‐liquid‐modified high‐speed counter‐current chromatography would provide a feasible way for highly effective separation of alkaloids from natural products.     

离子液体中13-芳基-5,7,12,14-四氢二苯并[b, i]氧杂蒽5,7,12,14(13H)-四酮衍生物的绿色高效合成

在离子液体[bmim+][BF4-]中高产率的合成了一系列13-芳基-5,7,12,14-四氢二苯并[b, i]氧杂蒽-5,7,12,14(13H)-四酮类化合物。该反应操作步骤简单,离子液体易于与产物分离,并且离子液体可以循环使用。     

Polyoxometalate Ionic Liquids as Self‐Repairing Acid‐Resistant Corrosion Protection

Corrosion is a global problem for any metallic structure or material. Herein we show how metals can easily be protected against acid corrosion using hydrophobic polyoxometalate‐based ionic liquids (POM‐ILs). Copper metal disks were coated with room‐temperature POM‐ILs composed of transition‐metal functionalized Keggin anions [SiW₁₁O₃₉TM(H₂O)]^n? (TM=Cu^II, Fe^III) and quaternary alkylammonium cations (C_nH_{2 n+1})₄N⁺ (n=7–8). The corrosion resistance against acetic acid vapors and simulated “acid rain” was significantly improved compared with commercial ionic liquids or solid polyoxometalate coatings. Mechanical damage to the POM‐IL coating is self‐repaired in less than one minute with full retention of the acid protection properties. The coating can easily be removed and recovered by rinsing with organic solvents.     

Self‐Assembly of Imidazolium‐Based Surfactants in Magnetic Room‐Temperature Ionic Liquids: Binary Mixtures

The phase behaviour of binary mixtures of ionic surfactants (1‐alkyl‐3‐imidazolium chloride, C_nmimCl with n=14, 16 and 18) and imidazolium‐based ionic liquids (1‐alkyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrachloroferrate, C_nmimFeCl₄, with n=2 and 4) over a broad temperature range and the complete range of compositions is described. By using many complementary methods including differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarised microscopy, small‐angle neutron and X‐ray scattering (SANS/SAXS), and surface tension, the ability of this model system to support self‐assembly is described quantitatively and this behaviour is compared with common water systems. The existence of micelles swollen by the solvent can be deduced from SANS experiments and represent a possible model for aggregates, which has barely been considered for ionic‐liquid systems until now, and can be ascribed to the rather low solvophobicity of the surfactants. Our investigation shows that, in general, C_nmimCl is a rather weak amphiphile in these ionic liquids. The amphiphilic strength increases systematically with the length of the alkyl chain, as seen from the phase behaviour, the critical micelle concentration, and also the level of definition of the aggregates formed.     

Polymorphism of 3‐(5‐phenyl‐1,3,4‐oxadiazol‐2‐yl)‐ and 3‐[5‐(pyridin‐4‐yl)‐1,3,4‐oxadiazol‐2‐yl]‐2H‐chromen‐2‐ones

This study of 3‐(5‐phenyl‐1,3,4‐oxadiazol‐2‐yl)‐2H‐chromen‐2‐one, C₁₇H₁₀N₂O₃, 1 , and 3‐[5‐(pyridin‐4‐yl)‐1,3,4‐oxadiazol‐2‐yl]‐2H‐chromen‐2‐one, C₁₆H₉N₃O₃, 2 , was performed on the assumption of the potential anticancer activity of the compounds. Three polymorphic structures for 1 and two polymorphic structures for 2 have been studied thoroughly. The strongest intermolecular interaction is stacking of the `head‐to‐head' type in all the studied crystals. The polymorphic structures of 1 differ with respect to the intermolecular interactions between stacked columns. Two of the polymorphs have a columnar or double columnar type of crystal organization, while the third polymorphic structure can be classified as columnar‐layered. The difference between the two structures of 2 is less pronounced. Both crystals can be considered as having very similar arrangements of neighbouring columns. The formation of polymorphic modifications is caused by a subtle balance of very weak intermolecular interactions and packing differences can be identified only using an analysis based on a study of the pairwise interaction energies.     

Amino acid ionic liquid‐based titanomagnetite nanoparticles: An efficient and green nanocatalyst for the synthesis of 1,4‐dihydropyrano[2,3‐c]pyrazoles

The amino acid ionic liquid tetrabutylammonium asparaginate (TBAAsp) was immobilized on titanomagnetite (Fe_3?xTi_xO₄) nanoparticles in a facile one‐pot process using an organosilane compound (TMSP) as spacer. The modified Fe_3?xTi_xO₄@TMSP@TBAAsp magnetic nanoparticles were characterized using Fourier transform spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry and thermogravimetric analysis. The resulting analytical data clearly verified the successful immobilization of the ionic liquid on the magnetic substrate. The magnetic ionic liquid‐based nanoparticles exhibited high catalytic activity in the synthesis of 1,4‐dihydropyrano[2,3‐c]pyrazole derivatives via a one‐pot three‐component reaction under mild reaction conditions. The catalyst was easily recycled and reused for at least six runs without any considerable loss of activity.     

Two pseudo‐enantiomeric forms of N‐benzyl‐4‐hydroxy‐1‐methyl‐2,2‐dioxo‐1H‐2λ6,1‐benzothiazine‐3‐carboxamide and their analgesic properties

The fact that molecular crystals exist as different polymorphic modifications and the identification of as many polymorphs as possible are important considerations for the pharmaceutic industry. The molecule of N‐benzyl‐4‐hydroxy‐1‐methyl‐2,2‐dioxo‐1H‐2λ⁶,1‐benzothiazine‐3‐carboxamide, C₁₇H₁₆N₂O₄S, does not contain a stereogenic atom, but intramolecular hydrogen‐bonding interactions engender enantiomeric chiral conformations as a labile racemic mixture. The title compound crystallized in a solvent‐dependent single chiral conformation within one of two conformationally polymorphic P2₁2₁2₁ orthorhombic chiral crystals (denoted forms A and B). Each of these pseudo‐enantiomorphic crystals contains one of two pseudo‐enantiomeric diastereomers. Form A was obtained from methylene chloride and form B can be crystallized from N,N‐dimethylformamide, ethanol, ethyl acetate or xylene. Pharmacological studies with solid–particulate suspensions have shown that crystalline form A exhibits an almost fourfold higher antinociceptive activity compared to form B.     

A two‐dimensional mixed‐valence CuII/CuI coordination polymer constructed from 2‐(pyridin‐3‐yl)‐1H‐imidazole‐4,5‐dicarboxylate

Coordination polymers are a thriving class of functional solid‐state materials and there have been noticeable efforts and progress toward designing periodic functional structures with desired geometrical attributes and chemical properties for targeted applications. Self‐assembly of metal ions and organic ligands is one of the most efficient and widely utilized methods for the construction of CPs under hydro(solvo)thermal conditions. 2‐(Pyridin‐3‐yl)‐1H‐imidazole‐4,5‐dicarboxylate (HPIDC²⁻) has been proven to be an excellent multidentate ligand due to its multiple deprotonation and coordination modes. Crystals of poly[aquabis[μ₃‐5‐carboxy‐2‐(pyridin‐3‐yl)‐1H‐imidazole‐4‐carboxylato‐κ⁵N¹,O⁵:N³,O⁴:N²]copper(II)dicopper(I)], [Cu^IICu^I₂(C₁₀H₅N₃O₄)₂(H₂O)]_n, (I), were obtained from 2‐(pyridin‐3‐yl)‐1H‐imidazole‐4,5‐dicarboxylic acid (H₃PIDC) and copper(II) chloride under hydrothermal conditions. The asymmetric unit consists of one independent Cu^II ion, two Cu^I ions, two HPIDC²⁻ ligands and one coordinated water molecule. The Cu^II centre displays a square‐pyramidal geometry (CuN₂O₃), with two N,O‐chelating HPIDC²⁻ ligands occupying the basal plane in a trans geometry and one O atom from a coordinated water molecule in the axial position. The Cu^I atoms adopt three‐coordinated Y‐shaped coordinations. In each [CuN₂O] unit, deprotonated HPIDC²⁻ acts as an N,O‐chelating ligand, and a symmetry‐equivalent HPIDC²⁻ ligand acts as an N‐atom donor via the pyridine group. The HPIDC²⁻ ligands in the polymer serve as T‐shaped 3‐connectors and adopt a μ₃‐κ²N,O:κ²N′,O′:κN′′‐coordination mode, linking one Cu^II and two Cu^I cations. The Cu cations are arranged in one‐dimensional –Cu1–Cu2–Cu3– chains along the [001] direction. Further crosslinking of these chains by HPIDC²⁻ ligands along the b axis in a –Cu2–HPIDC²⁻–Cu3–HPIDC²⁻–Cu1– sequence results in a two‐dimensional polymer in the (100) plane. The resulting (2,3)‐connected net has a (12³)₂(12)₃ topology. Powder X‐ray diffraction confirmed the phase purity for (I), and susceptibilty measurements indicated a very weak ferromagnetic behaviour. A thermogravimetric analysis shows the loss of the apical aqua ligand before decomposition of the title compound.     

A one‐dimensional coordination polymer formed from the reaction of 1,1‐diphenyl‐3,3′‐[(1R,2R)‐cyclohexane‐1,2‐diylbis(azanediyl)]dibut‐2‐en‐1‐one with MnCl2·4H2O

In the title coordination polymer, catena‐poly[[dichloridomanganese(II)]‐μ‐1,1‐diphenyl‐3,3′‐[(1R,2R)‐cyclohexane‐1,2‐diylbis(azaniumylylidene)]dibut‐1‐en‐1‐olate‐κ²O:O′], [MnCl₂(C₂₆H₃₀N₂)]_n, synthesized by the reaction of the chiral Schiff base ligand 1,1‐diphenyl‐3,3′‐[(1R,2R)‐cyclohexane‐1,2‐diylbis(azanediyl)]dibut‐2‐en‐1‐one (L) with MnCl₂·4H₂O, the asymmetric unit contains one crystallographically unique Mn^II ion, one unique spacer ligand, L, and two chloride ions. Each Mn^II ion is four‐coordinated in a distorted tetrahedral coordination environment by two O atoms from two L ligands and by two chloride ligands. The Mn^II ions are bridged by L ligands to form a one‐dimensional chain structure along the a axis. The chloride ligands are monodentate (terminal). The ligand is in the zwitterionic enol form and displays intramolecular ionic N⁺—H...O⁻ hydrogen bonding and π–π interactions between pairs of phenyl rings which strengthen the chains.     

Reaction‐path calculations and crystal structures of 1,1′‐(ethylene‐1,2‐diyl)dipyridinium dichloride dihydrate and 1,1′‐(ethylene‐1,2‐diyl)dipyridinium dibromide

The design of new organic–inorganic hybrid ionic materials is of interest for various applications, particularly in the areas of crystal engineering, supramolecular chemistry and materials science. The monohalogenated intermediates 1‐(2‐chloroethyl)pyridinium chloride, C₅H₅NCH₂CH₂Cl⁺·Cl⁻, (I′), and 1‐(2‐bromoethyl)pyridinium bromide, C₅H₅NCH₂CH₂Br⁺·Br⁻, (II′), and the ionic disubstituted products 1,1′‐(ethylene‐1,2‐diyl)dipyridinium dichloride dihydrate, C₁₂H₁₄N₂²⁺·2Cl⁻·2H₂O, (I), and 1,1′‐(ethylene‐1,2‐diyl)dipyridinium dibromide, C₁₂H₁₄N₂²⁺·2Br⁻, (II), have been isolated as powders from the reactions of pyridine with the appropriate 1,2‐dihaloethanes. The monohalogenated intermediates (I′) and (II′) were characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, while (I) and (II) were structurally characterized using powder X‐ray diffraction. Both (I) and (II) crystallize with half the empirical formula in the asymmetric unit in the triclinic space group P. The organic 1,1′‐(ethylene‐1,2‐diyl)dipyridinium dications, which display approximate C2h symmetry in both structures, are situated on inversion centres. The components in (I) are linked via intermolecular O—H…Cl, C—H…Cl and C—H…O hydrogen bonds into a three‐dimensional framework, while for (II), they are connected via weak intermolecular C—H…Br hydrogen bonds into one‐dimensional chains in the [110] direction. The nucleophilic substitution reactions of 1,2‐dichloroethane and 1,2‐dibromoethane with pyridine have been investigated by ab initio quantum chemical calculations using the 6–31G** basis. In both cases, the reactions occur in two exothermic stages involving consecutive S_N2 nucleophilic substitutions. The isolation of the monosubstituted intermediate in each case is strong evidence that the second step is not fast relative to the first.     

One‐Pot,Three‐Component Synthesis of Novel Spiro[3H‐indole‐3,2′‐thiazolidine]‐2,4′(1H)‐diones in an Ionic Liquid as a Reusable Reaction Media

A facile one‐pot, three‐component protocol for the synthesis of novel spiro[3H‐indole‐3,2′‐thiazolidine]‐2,4′(1H)‐diones by condensing 1H‐indole‐2,3‐diones, 4H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐4‐amine and 2‐sulfanylpropanoic acid in [bmim]PF₆ (1‐butyl‐3‐methyl‐1H‐imidazolium hexafluorophosphate) as a recyclable ionic‐liquid solvent gave good to excellent yields in the absence of any catalyst (Scheme 1 and Table 2). The advantages of this protocol over conventional methods are the mild reaction conditions, the high product yields, a shorter reaction time, as well as the eco‐friendly conditions.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of a two‐dimensional sodium coordination polymer of 4,4′‐(diazenediyl)bis(1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐5‐one)

The crystal engineering of coordination polymers has aroused interest due to their structural versatility, unique properties and applications in different areas of science. The selection of appropriate ligands as building blocks is critical in order to afford a range of topologies. Alkali metal cations are known for their mainly ionic chemistry in aqueous media. Their coordination number varies depending on the size of the binding partners, and on the electrostatic interaction between the ligands and the metal ions. The two‐dimensional coordination polymer poly[tetra‐μ‐aqua‐[μ₄‐4,4′‐(diazenediyl)bis(5‐oxo‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazolido)]disodium(I)], [Na₂(C₄H₂N₈O₂)(H₂O)₄]_n, (I), was synthesized from 4‐amino‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐5(4H)‐one (ATO) and its single‐crystal structure determined. The mid‐point of the imino N=N bond of the 4,4′‐(diazenediyl)bis(5‐oxo‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazolide) (ZTO²⁻) ligand is located on an inversion centre. The asymmetric unit consists of one Na⁺ cation, half a bridging ZTO²⁻ ligand and two bridging water ligands. Each Na⁺ cation is coordinated in a trigonal antiprismatic fashion by six O atoms, i.e. two from two ZTO²⁻ ligands and the remaining four from bridging water ligands. The Na⁺ cation is located near a glide plane, thus the two bridging O atoms from the two coordinating ZTO²⁻ ligands are on adjacent apices of the trigonal antiprism, rather than being in an anti configuration. All water and ZTO²⁻ ligands act as bridging ligands between metal centres. Each Na⁺ metal centre is bridged to a neigbouring Na⁺ cation by two water molecules to give a one‐dimensional [Na(H₂O)₂]_n chain. The organic ZTO²⁻ ligand, an O atom of which also bridges the same pair of Na⁺ cations, then crosslinks these [Na(H₂O)₂]_n chains to form two‐dimensional sheets. The two‐dimensional sheets are further connected by intermolecular hydrogen bonds, giving rise to a stabile hydrogen‐bonded network.     

A comparative study of two polymorphs of bis(1‐hydroxy‐2‐methylpropan‐2‐aminium) carbonate

Alkanolamines have been known for their high CO₂ absorption for over 60 years and are used widely in the natural gas industry for reversible CO₂ capture. In an attempt to crystallize a salt of (RS)‐2‐(3‐benzoylphenyl)propionic acid with 2‐amino‐2‐methylpropan‐1‐ol, we obtained instead a polymorph (denoted polymorph II) of bis(1‐hydroxy‐2‐methylpropan‐2‐aminium) carbonate, 2C₄H₁₂NO⁺·CO₃²⁻, (I), suggesting that the amine group of the former compound captured CO₂ from the atmosphere forming the aminium carbonate salt. This new polymorph was characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis at low temperature (100 K). The salt crystallizes in the monoclinic system (space group C2/c, Z = 4), while a previously reported form of the same salt (denoted polymorph I) crystallizes in the triclinic system (space group P, Z = 2) [Barzagli et al. (2012). ChemSusChem, 5 , 1724–1731]. The asymmetric unit of polymorph II contains one 1‐hydroxy‐2‐methylpropan‐2‐aminium cation and half a carbonate anion, located on a twofold axis, while the asymmetric unit of polymorph I contains two cations and one anion. These polymorphs exhibit similar structural features in their three‐dimensional packing. Indeed, similar layers of an alternating cation–anion–cation neutral structure are observed in their molecular arrangements. Within each layer, carbonate anions and 1‐hydroxy‐2‐methylpropan‐2‐aminium cations form planes bound to each other through N—H…O and O—H…O hydrogen bonds. In both polymorphs, the layers are linked to each other via van der Waals interactions and C—H…O contacts. In polymorph II, a highly directional C—H…O contact (C—H…O = 156°) shows as a hydrogen‐bonding interaction. Periodic theoretical density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that both polymorphs present very similar stabilities.     

6‐Propyl‐2‐thiouracil versus 6‐methoxymethyl‐2‐thiouracil: enhancing the hydrogen‐bonded synthon motif by replacement of a methylene group with an O atom

The understanding of intermolecular interactions is a key objective of crystal engineering in order to exploit the derived knowledge for the rational design of new molecular solids with tailored physical and chemical properties. The tools and theories of crystal engineering are indispensable for the rational design of (pharmaceutical) cocrystals. The results of cocrystallization experiments of the antithyroid drug 6‐propyl‐2‐thiouracil (PTU) with 2,4‐diaminopyrimidine (DAPY), and of 6‐methoxymethyl‐2‐thiouracil (MOMTU) with DAPY and 2,4,6‐triaminopyrimidine (TAPY), respectively, are reported. PTU and MOMTU show a high structural similarity and differ only in the replacement of a methylene group (–CH₂–) with an O atom in the side chain, thus introducing an additional hydrogen‐bond acceptor in MOMTU. Both molecules contain an ADA hydrogen‐bonding site (A = acceptor and D = donor), while the coformers DAPY and TAPY both show complementary DAD sites and therefore should be capable of forming a mixed ADA/DAD synthon with each other, i.e. N—H…O, N—H…N and N—H…S hydrogen bonds. The experiments yielded one solvated cocrystal salt of PTU with DAPY, four different solvates of MOMTU, one ionic cocrystal of MOMTU with DAPY and one cocrystal salt of MOMTU with TAPY, namely 2,4‐diaminopyrimidinium 6‐propyl‐2‐thiouracilate–2,4‐diaminopyrimidine–N,N‐dimethylacetamide–water (1/1/1/1) (the systematic name for 6‐propyl‐2‐thiouracilate is 6‐oxo‐4‐propyl‐2‐sulfanylidene‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyrimidin‐1‐ide), C₄H₇N₄⁺·C₇H₉N₂OS⁻·C₄H₆N₄·C₄H₉NO·H₂O, (I), 6‐methoxymethyl‐2‐thiouracil–N,N‐dimethylformamide (1/1), C₆H₈N₂O₂S·C₃H₇NO, (II), 6‐methoxymethyl‐2‐thiouracil–N,N‐dimethylacetamide (1/1), C₆H₈N₂O₂S·C₄H₉NO, (III), 6‐methoxymethyl‐2‐thiouracil–dimethyl sulfoxide (1/1), C₆H₈N₂O₂S·C₂H₆OS, (IV), 6‐methoxymethyl‐2‐thiouracil–1‐methylpyrrolidin‐2‐one (1/1), C₆H₈N₂O₂S·C₅H₉NO, (V), 2,4‐diaminopyrimidinium 6‐methoxymethyl‐2‐thiouracilate (the systematic name for 6‐methoxymethyl‐2‐thiouracilate is 4‐methoxymethyl‐6‐oxo‐2‐sulfanylidene‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyrimidin‐1‐ide), C₄H₇N₄⁺·C₆H₇N₂O₂S⁻, (VI), and 2,4,6‐triaminopyrimidinium 6‐methoxymethyl‐2‐thiouracilate–6‐methoxymethyl‐2‐thiouracil (1/1), C₄H₈N₅⁺·C₆H₇N₂O₂S⁻·C₆H₈N₂O₂S, (VII). Whereas in (I) only an AA/DD hydrogen‐bonding interaction was formed, the structures of (VI) and (VII) both display the desired ADA/DAD synthon. Conformational studies on the side chains of PTU and MOMTU also revealed a significant deviation for cocrystals (VI) and (VII), leading to the desired enhancement of the hydrogen‐bond pattern within the crystal.