Covalent‐assisted supramolecular synthesis: the effect of hydrogen bonding in cocrystals of 4‐tert‐butylbenzoic acid with isoniazid and its derivatized forms

A series of cocrystals of isoniazid and four of its derivatives have been produced with the cocrystal former 4‐tert‐butylbenzoic acid via a one‐pot covalent and supramolecular synthesis, namely 4‐tert‐butylbenzoic acid–isoniazid, C₆H₇N₃O·C₁₁H₁₄O₂, 4‐tert‐butylbenzoic acid–N′‐(propan‐2‐ylidene)isonicotinohydrazide, C₉H₁₁N₃O·C₁₁H₁₄O₂, 4‐tert‐butylbenzoic acid–N′‐(butan‐2‐ylidene)isonicotinohydrazide, C₁₀H₁₃N₃O·C₁₁H₁₄O₂, 4‐tert‐butylbenzoic acid–N′‐(diphenylmethylidene)isonicotinohydrazide, C₁₉H₁₅N₃O·C₁₁H₁₄O₂, and 4‐tert‐butylbenzoic acid–N′‐(4‐hydroxy‐4‐methylpentan‐2‐ylidene)isonicotinohydrazide, C₁₂H₁₇N₃O₂·C₁₁H₁₄O₂. The co‐former falls under the classification of a `generally regarded as safe' compound. The four derivatizing ketones used are propan‐2‐one, butan‐2‐one, benzophenone and 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylbutan‐2‐one. Hydrogen bonds involving the carboxylic acid occur consistently with the pyridine ring N atom of the isoniazid and all of its derivatives. The remaining hydrogen‐bonding sites on the isoniazid backbone vary based on the steric influences of the derivative group. These are contrasted in each of the molecular systems.