Nitration of Porphyrin Systems: A Toolbox of Synthetic Methods

This review addresses nitration reactions of porphyrin derivatives. Simple porphyrins modifications afford valuable intermediates in this area of chemistry. They are useful materials for further transformations, as the NO₂ group introduced into parent porphyrin system increases its electrophilic character, thus allowing a broad spectrum of subsequent reactions, e. g. reduction of NO₂ to NH₂, subsequent diazotisation, nucleophilic substitution of hydrogen (in ortho-position to NO₂), a variety of cyclizations, etc. Such reactions are often utilized in the first steps of the designed syntheses, leading to attractive and useful target porphyrin molecules. This approach (via nitro-derivatives) allows synthesizing numerous porphyrin-like compounds of a high degree of complexity, and has thus become one of the methods choice. The substitution by NO₂ group can take place at all positions of the porphyrin systems: four meso-positions (5, 10, 15, 20) and eight positions β (2, 3, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18). The third possibility includes the nitration in meso-aryl rings attached to positions 5, 10, 15, and 20. The latter derivatives (meso-aryl substituted ones) are a large, well-known group of synthetic porphyrins. The nitration reactions described herein follow three various mechanisms: (a) radical, (b) via π-cation radicals and π-dications, and (c) electrophilic. All the above cases are discussed in detail. According to our knowledge, this is the first such systematic account concerning these reactions.     

Crystal structure of 1:1 Complexes between urea and two crown ether derivatives of phthalic acid, 2,3,5,6,8,9,11,12,14,15-decahydrobenzo[1,4,7,10,13,16]hexaoxacyclo-octadecin-18,19-dicarboxylic acid (i) and 2,3,5,6,8,9,11,12-octahydro-benzo[1,4,7,10,13]pentaoxacyclopentadecin-15,16-dicarboxylic acid (II)

The crystal structures of the titlke compounds have been determined by X-ray diffraction. Urea, I crystallizes in the triclinic PI space group with cell dimensions a = 8.336(2), b = 11.009(2), c = 13.313(2) Å, α = 105.55(3), β = 103.62(3), γ = 104.63(3)° and Z = 2 final R value 0.072 for 2105 observations. Urea, II crystallizes in the orthorhombic P2₁2₁2₁ space group with cell dimensions a = 8.750(2), b = 10.844(3) and c = 21.215(3) Å and Z = 4, final R value 0.083 for 599 observations. All the hydrogen atoms were located in the complex urea, I ; urea molecules form hydrogen bonded dimers about centers of symmetry, these dimers are sandwiched between macrocyclic rings forming one simple and one bifurcated hydrogen bond from the “endo” hydrogen atoms to the ether oxygen atoms. These units are held by hydrogen bonding between the urea molecules and carboxylic acids in two other units; these hydrogen bonds are cyclic involving eight atoms -(N-H(exo)…O(keto)-C-O-H…O(urea)-C)-. Only one carboxylic acid group per molecule takes part in these hydrogen bonds, the other forms a short, 2.490(7) Å, internal bond to the acceptor keto oxygen atom. N(H)…O bonds range from 2.930(7) to 3.206(7) Å, O(H)…O is 2.475(6) Å. In the complex urea, II each urea is hydrogen bonded to three different host molecules and vice versa; the urea “endo” hydrogen atoms bond to the ether oxygen atoms, while both “exo” hydrogen atoms take part in cyclic hydrogen bonds to carboxylic acids. There is not internal hydrogen bond. N(H)…O bonds range from 2.83 to 3.26(2) A and the O-…O bonds are 2.55 and 2.56(2) Å.     

Reactions between arylhydrazinium chlorides and 2‐chloroquinoline‐3‐carbaldehydes: molecular and supramolecular structures of a hydrazone,a 4,9‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrazolo[3,4‐b]quinoline and two 1H‐pyrazolo[3,4‐b]quinolines

Hydrazone derivatives exhibit a wide range of biological activities, while pyrazolo[3,4‐b]quinoline derivatives, on the other hand, exhibit both antimicrobial and antiviral activity, so that all new derivatives in these chemical classes are potentially of value. Dry grinding of a mixture of 2‐chloroquinoline‐3‐carbaldehyde and 4‐methylphenylhydrazinium chloride gives (E)‐1‐[(2‐chloroquinolin‐3‐yl)methylidene]‐2‐(4‐methylphenyl)hydrazine, C₁₇H₁₄ClN₃, (I), while the same regents in methanol in the presence of sodium cyanoborohydride give 1‐(4‐methylphenyl)‐4,9‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrazolo[3,4‐b]quinoline, C₁₇H₁₅N₃, (II). The reactions between phenylhydrazinium chloride and either 2‐chloroquinoline‐3‐carbaldehyde or 2‐chloro‐6‐methylquinoline‐3‐carbaldehyde give, respectively, 1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazolo[3,4‐b]quinoline, C₁₆H₁₁N₃, (III), which crystallizes in the space group Pbcn as a nonmerohedral twin having Z′ = 3, or 6‐methyl‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazolo[3,4‐b]quinoline, C₁₇H₁₃N₃, (IV), which crystallizes in the space group R. The molecules of compound (I) are linked into sheets by a combination of N—H…N and C—H…π(arene) hydrogen bonds, and the molecules of compound (II) are linked by a combination of N—H…N and C—H…π(arene) hydrogen bonds to form a chain of rings. In the structure of compound (III), one of the three independent molecules forms chains generated by C—H…π(arene) hydrogen bonds, with a second type of molecule linked to the chains by a second C—H…π(arene) hydrogen bond and the third type of molecule linked to the chain by multiple π–π stacking interactions. A single C—H…π(arene) hydrogen bond links the molecules of compound (IV) into cyclic centrosymmetric hexamers having (S₆) symmetry, which are themselves linked into a three‐dimensional array by π–π stacking interactions.     

Conformational and MO studies of hydroxy-2-aminotetralins

Attempting to explain the differences in the pharmacological profiles of the isomeric monohydroxy-and dihydroxy-2-aminotetralins (DHAT) which are potent dopaminergic agonists we have calculated the conformational energies of 2-aminotetralin and its N,N-dipropyl derivative using the QCFF/Pi and PCILO methods. Molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) maps based on ab initio (STO-3G) wave functions were computed for both dihydroxytetralins. Root-mean-square (rms) deviations from steric congruence between the enantiomeric 5,6- and 6,7-DHAT based either on atomic centers or on the minima in MEP near the putative points of attachment to the receptor are small, but may nevertheless be sufficient to cause differences in activity on subtypes of the dopamine receptor. N,N-dipropyl substitution influences the conformational energies of the skeleton and the preferences in the orientation of the propyl groups in the isomeric DHAT may be important for the interaction with the receptor. The HOMO energies of the isomeric HAT and DHAT do not correlate with their potencies.     

Theoretical insight into the solvent effect on the stoichiometric reduction of carbonyl compounds by ammonia borane and N-methyl amine borane

For the traditional reduction of ketones and aldehydes, NH₃BH₃ ( AB ) and N-methyl amine borane ( M _n AB ) have been effective reducing agents. However, the reaction process is indefinite and different mechanisms have been proposed; also the solvent effect, which is closely related to the mechanism, has not been considered seriously. Here we employ density functional theory to carry out a comprehensive study on the mechanism. The calculated free energy of the concerted double hydrogen transfer process is lower than the hydroboration mechanism by 4.7 kcal/mol, which indicates that reduction of carbonyl by AB is likely due to be the concerted double hydrogen transfer in both aprotic (tetrahydrofuran) and protic (MeOH) solvents. For the reduction by M _n AB , the corresponding free energies of all reactions are higher than those of AB . Meanwhile, the reduction of benzaldehyde by M _n AB (n = 1, 2) also favors a concerted double hydrogen transfer rather than hydroboration.     

Crystal Structure Of Betulin Ethanol Solvate

The crystal structure of the 1:1 ethanol betulin solvate, a widely spread natural compound, is determined. The betulin solvate crystallizes in orthorhombic symmetry in the P2₁2₁2₁ space group, Z= 4. The unit cell parameters are as follows: a = 7.0159(1) ?, b = 12.4425(2) ?, c = 33.7500(5) ?; V = 2946.22(8) ?³. Betulin molecules are hydrogen bonded to each other and ethanol molecules, as a result of which the layers are distinguished in the structure, which are perpendicular to the crystallographic direction. Inside the layer, all molecules are hydrogen bonded, while the layers are linked by van der Waals interactions.     

N,N′‐Diethyl‐4‐nitrobenzene‐1,3‐diamine, 2,6‐bis(ethylamino)‐3‐nitrobenzonitrile and bis(4‐ethylamino‐3‐nitrophenyl) sulfone

N,N′‐Diethyl‐4‐nitrobenzene‐1,3‐diamine, C₁₀H₁₅N₃O₂, (I), crystallizes with two independent molecules in the asymmetric unit, both of which are nearly planar. The molecules differ in the conformation of the ethylamine group trans to the nitro group. Both molecules contain intramolecular N—H...O hydrogen bonds between the adjacent amine and nitro groups and are linked into one‐dimensional chains by intermolecular N—H...O hydrogen bonds. The chains are organized in layers parallel to (101) with separations of ca 3.4 Å between adjacent sheets. The packing is quite different from what was observed in isomeric 1,3‐bis(ethylamino)‐2‐nitrobenzene. 2,6‐Bis(ethylamino)‐3‐nitrobenzonitrile, C₁₁H₁₄N₄O₂, (II), differs from (I) only in the presence of the nitrile functionality between the two ethylamine groups. Compound (II) crystallizes with one unique molecule in the asymmetric unit. In contrast with (I), one of the ethylamine groups, which is disordered over two sites with occupancies of 0.75 and 0.25, is positioned so that the methyl group is directed out of the plane of the ring by approximately 85°. This ethylamine group forms an intramolecular N—H...O hydrogen bond with the adjacent nitro group. The packing in (II) is very different from that in (I). Molecules of (II) are linked by both intermolecular amine–nitro N—H...O and amine–nitrile N—H...N hydrogen bonds into a two‐dimensional network in the (10) plane. Alternating molecules are approximately orthogonal to one another, indicating that π–π interactions are not a significant factor in the packing. Bis(4‐ethylamino‐3‐nitrophenyl) sulfone, C₁₆H₁₈N₄O₆S, (III), contains the same ortho nitro/ethylamine pairing as in (I), with the position para to the nitro group occupied by the sulfone instead of a second ethylamine group. Each 4‐ethylamino‐3‐nitrobenzene moiety is nearly planar and contains the typical intramolecular N—H...O hydrogen bond. Due to the tetrahedral geometry about the S atom, the molecules of (III) adopt an overall V shape. There are no intermolecular amine–nitro hydrogen bonds. Rather, each amine H atom has a long (H...O ca 2.8 Å) interaction with one of the sulfone O atoms. Molecules of (III) are thus linked by amine–sulfone N—H...O hydrogen bonds into zigzag double chains running along [001]. Taken together, these structures demonstrate that small changes in the functionalization of ethylamine–nitroarenes cause significant differences in the intermolecular interactions and packing.     

Supramolecular interactions in salts/cocrystals involving pyrimidine derivatives of sulfonate/carboxylic acid

The crystal structures of three compounds involving aminopyrimidine derivatives are reported, namely, 5-fluorocytosinium sulfanilate–5-fluorocytosine–4-azaniumylbenzene-1-sulfonate (1/1/1), C₄H₅FN₃O⁺·C₆H₆NO₃S⁻·C₄H₄FN₃O·C₆H₇NO₃S, I , 5-fluorocytosine–indole-3-propionic acid (1/1), C₄H₄FN₃O·C₁₁H₁₁NO₂, II , and 2,4,6-triaminopyrimidinium 3-nitrobenzoate, C₄H₈N₅⁺·C₇H₄NO₄⁻, III , which have been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In I , there are two 5-fluorocytosine (5FC) molecules (5FC-A and 5FC-B) in the asymmetric unit, with one of the protons disordered between them. 5FC-A and 5FC-B are linked by triple hydrogen bonds, generating two fused rings [two R₂²(8) ring motifs]. The 5FC-A molecules form a self-complementary base pair [R₂²(8) ring motif] via a pair of N—H…O hydrogen bonds and the 5FC-B molecules form a similar complementary base pair [R₂²(8) ring motif]. The combination of these two types of pairing generates a supramolecular ribbon. The 5FC molecules are further hydrogen bonded to the sulfanilate anions and sulfanilic acid molecules via N—H…O hydrogen bonds, generating R₄⁴(22) and R⁶₆(36) ring motifs. In cocrystal II , two types of base pairs (homosynthons) are observed via a pair of N—H…O/N—H…N hydrogen bonds, generating R₂²(8) ring motifs. The first type of base pair is formed by the interaction of an N—H group and the carbonyl O atom of 5FC molecules through a couple of N—H…O hydrogen bonds. Another type of base pair is formed via the amino group and a pyrimidine ring N atom of the 5FC molecules through a pair of N—H…N hydrogen bonds. The base pairs (via N—H…N hydrogen bonds) are further bridged by the carboxyl OH group of indole-3-propionic acid and the O atom of 5FC through O—H…O hydrogen bonds on either side of the R₂²(8) motif. This leads to a DDAA array. In salt III , one of the N atoms of the pyrimidine ring is protonated and interacts with the carboxylate group of the anion through N—H…O hydrogen bonds, leading to the primary ring motif R₂²(8). Furthermore, the 2,4,6-triaminopyrimidinium (TAP) cations form base pairs [R₂²(8) homosynthon] via N—H…N hydrogen bonds. A carboxylate O atom of the 3-nitrobenzoate anion bridges two of the amino groups on either side of the paired TAP cations to form another ring [R₃²(8)]. This leads to the generation of a quadruple DADA array. The crystal structures are further stabilized by π–π stacking ( I and III ), C—H…π ( I and II ), C—F…π ( I ) and C—O…π ( II ) interactions.     

Two polymorphs of bis(2‐carbamoylguanidinium) fluorophosphonate dihydrate

Two polymorphs of bis(2‐carbamoylguanidinium) fluorophosphonate dihydrate, 2C₂H₇N₄O⁺·FO₃P²⁻·2H₂O, are presented. Polymorph (I), crystallizing in the space group Pnma, is slightly less densely packed than polymorph (II), which crystallizes in Pbca. In (I), the fluorophosphonate anion is situated on a crystallographic mirror plane and the O atom of the water molecule is disordered over two positions, in contrast with its H atoms. The hydrogen‐bond patterns in both polymorphs share similar features. There are O—H...O and N—H...O hydrogen bonds in both structures. The water molecules donate their H atoms to the O atoms of the fluorophosphonates exclusively. The water molecules and the fluorophosphonates participate in the formation of R⁴₄(10) graph‐set motifs. These motifs extend along the a axis in each structure. The water molecules are also acceptors of either one [in (I) and (II)] or two [in (II)] N—H...O hydrogen bonds. The water molecules are significant building elements in the formation of a three‐dimensional hydrogen‐bond network in both structures. Despite these similarities, there are substantial differences between the hydrogen‐bond networks of (I) and (II). The N—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen bonds in (I) are stronger and weaker, respectively, than those in (II). Moreover, in (I), the shortest N—H...O hydrogen bonds are shorter than the shortest O—H...O hydrogen bonds, which is an unusual feature. The properties of the hydrogen‐bond network in (II) can be related to an unusually long P—O bond length for an unhydrogenated fluorophosphonate anion that is present in this structure. In both structures, the N—H...F interactions are far weaker than the N—H...O hydrogen bonds. It follows from the structure analysis that (II) seems to be thermodynamically more stable than (I).     

Hydrogen migrations in mass spectrometry. V—loss of olefin from n-propyl esters following chemical ionization

The sources of the migrating hydrogen in the elimination of propylene from the protonated and ethylated n-propyl acetate and n-propyl benzoate molecules have been determined by studying the CH₄ and H₂ chemical ionization mass spectra of esters specifically deuterated in the propyl group. It is shown that the migrating hydrogen originates from C-1 ( ～ 27%), C-2 ( ～ 23%) and C-3 ( ～ 50%) of the propyl group, independent of ester and mode of ionization. It is argued that the observed reaction involves specific competing H-migration reactions from each propyl position to the ether oxygen in a keto-protonated (ethylated) ester molecule.     

Dibenzylammonium hydrogen maleate and a redetermination at 120 K of bis(dibenzylamino)methane

In dibenzylammonium hydrogen maleate [or dibenzylammonium (2Z)‐3‐carboxyprop‐2‐enoate], C₁₄H₁₆N⁺·C₄H₃O₄⁻, (I), the anion contains a fairly short and nearly linear O—H...O hydrogen bond, with an O...·O distance of 2.4603 (16) Å, but with the H atom clearly offset from the mid‐point of the O...O vector. The counter‐ions in (I) are linked by two N—H...O hydrogen bonds to form C₂²(6) chains and these chains are weakly linked into sheets by a C—H...O hydrogen bond. Bis(dibenzylamino)methane, C₂₉H₃₀N₂, (II), crystallizes with two independent molecules lying across twofold rotation axes in the space group C2/c, and the molecules are conformationally chiral; there are no direction‐specific intermolecular interactions in the crystal structure of (II).     

5‐Formylsalicylic acid and 5‐(benzimidazolium‐2‐yl)salicylate

Both title compounds are derivatives of salicylic acid. 5‐Formylsalicylic acid (systematic name: 5‐formyl‐2‐hydroxybenzoic acid), C₈H₆O₄, possesses three good hydrogen‐bond donors and/or acceptors coplanar with their attached benzene ring and abides very well by Etter's hydrogen‐bond rules. Intermolecular O—H...O and some weak C—H...O hydrogen bonds link the molecules into a planar sheet. Reaction of this acid and o‐phenylenediamine in refluxing ethanol produced in high yield the new zwitterionic compound 5‐(benzimidazolium‐2‐yl)salicylate [systematic name: 5‐(1H‐benzimidazol‐3‐ium‐2‐yl)‐2‐hydroxybenzoate], C₁₄H₁₀N₂O₃. Each imidazolium N—H group and its adjacent salicyl C—H group chelate one carboxylate O atom via hydrogen bonds, forming seven‐membered rings. As a result of steric hindrance, the planes of the molecules within these pairs of hydrogen‐bonded molecules are inclined to one another by ∼74°. There are also π–π stacking interactions between the parallel planes of the imidazole ring and the benzene ring of the salicyl component of the adjacent molecule on one side and the benzimidazolium component of the molecule on the other side.     

Two polymorphs of 5‐cyclohexyl‐5‐ethylbarbituric acid and their packing relationships with other barbiturates

Polymorph (Ia) (m.p. 474 K) of the title compound, C₁₂H₁₈N₂O₃, displays an N—H...O=C hydrogen‐bonded layer structure which contains R₆⁶(28) rings connecting six molecules, as well as R₂²(8) rings linking two molecules. The 3‐connected hydrogen‐bonded net resulting from these interactions has the hcb topology. Form (Ib) (m.p. 471 K) displays N—H...O=C hydrogen‐bonded looped chains in which neighbouring molecules are linked to one another by two different R₂²(8) rings. Polymorph (Ia) is isostructural with the previously reported form II of 5‐(2‐bromoallyl)‐5‐isopropylbarbituric acid (noctal) and polymorph (Ib) is isostructural with the known crystal structures of four other barbiturates.     

(5RS)‐5‐(4‐Methoxyphenyl)‐2‐(methylsulfanyl)benzo[g]pyrimido[4,5‐b]quinoline‐4,6,11(3H,5H,12H)‐trione,with Z′ = 3, forms a three‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded framework containing five types of hydrogen bond

The title compound, C₂₃H₁₇N₃O₄S, crystallizes with Z′ = 3 in the space group P. Two of the three independent molecules are broadly similar in terms of both their molecular conformations and their participation in hydrogen bonds, but the third molecule differs from the other two in both of these respects. The molecules are linked by a combination of N—H...O, N—H...N, C—H...O, C—H...N and C—H...π(arene) hydrogen bonds to form a continuous three‐dimensional framework structure within which a centrosymmetric six‐molecule aggregate can be identified as a key structural element.     

Amido‐3‐hydroxypyridin‐4‐ones as Iron(III) Ligands

The synthesis and physicochemical properties of a range of 2‐ and 6‐amido‐3‐hydroxypyridin‐4‐ones are described. All the amido‐substituted 3‐hydroxypyridin‐4‐ones have lower pK_a values than 1,2‐dimethyl‐3‐hydroxypyridin‐4‐one (deferiprone). This is due to the inductive effect of the amido group. Furthermore, the pK_a values of the 3‐hydroxy group in 1‐nonsubstituted pyridinones are dramatically lower than those of the corresponding 1‐alkyl analogues, indicating that a strong hydrogen bond exists between the 2‐amido function and the 3‐oxygen anion, which stabilises the anion. As a result of the decreased competition with protons, the pFe³⁺ values of this group of molecules are higher than that of deferiprone. The distribution coefficients of these molecules are also increased despite the lack of a hydrophobic 1‐alkyl substituent and this is ascribed to the intramolecular hydrogen bond. X‐ray diffraction studies confirm the existence of the intramolecular hydrogen bond.     

Voltammetric Studies of Cadmium‐ and Zinc‐Containing Metallothioneins at Nafion‐Coated Mercury Thin Film Electrodes

Voltammetric studies of rabbit liver metallothioneins (MTs, containing both Zn and Cd ions) and Zn₇‐MT were carried out at Nafion‐coated mercury film electrodes (NCMFEs). The accumulation of MT molecules into the NCMFEs enhances the voltammetric signals and the electrostatic interaction between the Nafion membrane and MT facilitates facile electron transfer reactions. Two well‐defined redox waves, with reduction potential (E_pc) values at ?0.740 and ?1.173 V, respectively, were observed. The peak at E_pc =?0.740 V is attributable to the reduction of the Cd‐MT complex, whereas that at E_pc=?1.173 V was assigned to the reduction of the Zn‐MT complex. Zn₇‐MT exhibits only one redox wave with E_pc=?1.198 V. The NCMFE was found to be more advantageous than thin mercury film electrode (MFE), because the pristine metal ions in MTs (e.g., Cd²⁺ and/or Zn²⁺) are not significantly replaced by Hg²⁺. The NCMFE is also complementary to Nafion‐coated bismuth film electrode in that it has a greater hydrogen overpotential, which allows the reduction of the Zn‐MT complex to be clearly observed. Moreover, intermetallic compound formation between Cd and Zn appears to be less serious at NCMFEs. Consequently, the amounts of Cd and Zn deposited into the electrode upon the reduction reactions can be quantified more accurately.     

Cholesterol Peroxidation as a Special Type of Lipid Oxidation in Photodynamic Systems

Like other unsaturated lipids in cell membranes and lipoproteins, cholesterol (Ch) is susceptible to oxidative modification, including photodynamic oxidation. There is a sustained interest in the pathogenic properties of Ch oxides such as those generated by photooxidation. Singlet oxygen (¹O₂)‐mediated Ch photooxidation (Type II mechanism) gives rise to three hydroperoxide (ChOOH) isomers: 5α‐OOH, 6α‐OOH and 6β‐OOH, the 5α‐OOH yield far exceeding that of the others. 5α‐OOH detection is relatively straightforward and serves as a definitive indicator of ¹O₂ involvement in a reaction, photochemical or otherwise. Like all lipid hydroperoxides (LOOHs), ChOOHs can disrupt membrane or lipoprotein structure/function on their own, but subsequent light‐independent reactions may either intensify or attenuate such effects. Such reactions include (1) one‐electron reduction to redox‐active free radical intermediates, (2) two‐electron reduction to redox‐silent alcohols and (3) translocation to other lipid compartments, where (1) or (2) may take place. In addition to these effects, ChOOHs may act as signaling molecules in reactions that affect cell fates. Although processes a‐c have been well studied for ChOOHs, signaling activity is still poorly understood compared with that of hydrogen peroxide. This review focuses on these various aspects Ch photoperoxidation and its biological consequences.     

A novel crystal form of metacetamol: the first example of a hydrated form

We report the crystal structure and crystallization conditions of a first hydrated form of metacetamol (a hemihydrate), C₈H₉NO₂·0.5H₂O. It crystallizes from metacetamol‐saturated 1:1 (v/v) water–ethanol solutions in a monoclinic structure (space group P2₁/n) and contains eight metacetamol and four water molecules per unit cell. The conformations of the molecules are the same as in polymorph II of metacetamol, which ensures the formation of hydrogen‐bonded dimers and R₂²(16) ring motifs in its crystal structure similar to those in polymorph II. Unlike in form II, however, these dimers in the hemihydrate are connected through water molecules into infinite hydrogen‐bonded molecular chains. Different chains are linked to each other by metacetamol–water and metacetamol–metacetamol hydrogen bonds, the latter type being also present in polymorph I. The overall noncovalent network of the hemihydrate is well developed and several types of hydrogen bonds are responsible for its formation.     

Comparison of the crystal structures of the potent anticancer and anti‐angiogenic agent regorafenib and its monohydrate

Regorafenib {systematic name: 4‐[4‐({[4‐chloro‐3‐(trifluoromethy)phenyl]carbamoyl}amino)‐3‐fluorophenoxy]‐1‐methylpyridine‐2‐carboxamide}, C₂₁H₁₅ClF₄N₄O₃, is a potent anticancer and anti‐angiogenic agent that possesses various activities on the VEGFR, PDGFR, raf and/or flt‐3 kinase signaling molecules. The compound has been crystallized as polymorphic form I and as the monohydrate, C₂₁H₁₅ClF₄N₄O₃·H₂O. The regorafenib molecule consists of biarylurea and pyridine‐2‐carboxamide units linked by an ether group. A comparison of both forms shows that they differ in the relative orientation of the biarylurea and pyridine‐2‐carboxamide units, due to different rotations around the ether group, as measured by the C—O—C bond angles [119.5 (3)° in regorafenib and 116.10 (15)° in the monohydrate]. Meanwhile, the conformational differences are reflected in different hydrogen‐bond networks. Polymorphic form I contains two intermolecular N—H…O hydrogen bonds, which link the regorafenib molecules into an infinite molecular chain along the b axis. In the monohydrate, the presence of the solvent water molecule results in more abundant hydrogen bonds. The water molecules act as donors and acceptors, forming N—H…O and O—H…O hydrogen‐bond interactions. Thus, R₄²(28) ring motifs are formed, which are fused to form continuous spiral ring motifs along the a axis. The (trifluoromethyl)phenyl rings protrude on the outside of these motifs and interdigitate with those of adjacent ring motifs, thereby forming columns populated by halogen atoms.