The Crystal and Molecular Structure of an Antidepressant Drug (Isocarboxazid)

The crystal arid molecular structure of 5-methyl-3-isoxazole carboxylic acid 2-benzylhydrazine (isocarboxazid, C₁₂H₁₃N₃O₂), an antidepressant drug, has been determined by X-ray diffraction method and IR analysis. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c, with a = 6.376(1), b = 14.131(1), c = 13.256(1) Å, β = 99.75(1)°. The structure has been solved by using SIR program and refined to R = 0.048. The benzene and isoxazoles rings are not coplanar and have a dihedral angle of 167.7(5)° between their respective planes. Some of the bond lengths and angles found in the molecule are distorted due to π-electron delocalization and strain. The infrared spectrum of isocarboxazid has been also reported and assignments have been suggested for some characteristic bands. These assignments were confirmed by X-ray analysis.