Effect of Preferential Solvation on the Thermodynamic Properties of Antidepressant Drug Trazodone in Aqueous Ethanol: Linear Free‐Energy Relationships

Dissociation constants (pK_a) of trazodone hydrochloride (TZD⋅HCl) in EtOH/H₂O media containing 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80% (v/v) EtOH at 288.15, 298.15, 308.15, and 318.15 K were determined by potentiometric techniques. At any temperature, pK_a decreased as the solvent was enriched with EtOH. The dissociation and transfer thermodynamic parameters were calculated, and the results showed that a non‐spontaneous free‐energy change (Δ_dissG^o>0) and unfavorable enthalpy (Δ_dissH^o>0) and entropy (Δ_dissS^o<0) changes occurred on dissociation of trazodone hydrochloride. The free‐energy change or pK_a varied nonlinearly with the reciprocal dielectric constant, indicating the inadequacy of the electrostatic approach. The dissociation equilibria are discussed on the basis of the standard thermodynamics of transfer, solvent basicity, and solute‐solvent interactions. The values of Δ_transG^o and Δ_transH^o increased negatively with increasing EtOH content, revealing a favorable transfer of trazodone hydrochloride from H₂O to EtOH/H₂O mixtures and preferential solvation of H⁺ and trazodone (TZD). Also, Δ_transS^o values were negative and reached a minimum, in the H₂O‐rich zone that has frequently been related to the initial promotion and subsequent collapse of the lattice structure of water. The pK_a or Δ_dissG^o values correlated well with the Dimroth‐Reichardt polarity parameter E_T(30), indicating that the physicochemical properties of the solute in binary H₂O/organic solvent mixtures are better correlated with a microscopic parameter than the macroscopic one. Also, it is suggested that preferential solvation plays a significant role in influencing the solvent dependence of dissociation of trazodone hydrochloride. The solute‐solvent interactions were clarified on the basis of the linear free‐energy relationships of Kamlet and Taft. The best multiparametric fit to the Kamlet‐Taft equation was evaluated for each thermodynamic parameter. Therefore, these parameters in any EtOH/H₂O mixture up to 80% were accurately derived by means of the obtained equations.