Two polymorphs of afobazole from powder diffraction data

Afobazole {systematic name: 2‐[2‐(morpholin‐4‐yl)ethylsulfanyl]‐1H‐benzimidazole} is a new anxiolytic drug and Actins, Auzins & Petkune [(2012). Eur. Patent EP10163962] described four polymorphic modifications. In the present study, the crystal structures of two monoclinic polymorphs, 5‐ethoxy‐2‐[2‐(morpholin‐4‐ium‐4‐yl)ethylsulfanyl]‐1H‐benzimidazol‐3‐ium dichloride, C₁₅H₂₃N₃O₂S²⁺·2Cl⁻, (II) and (IV), have been established from laboratory powder diffraction data. The crystal packing and conformation of the dications in (II) and (IV) are different. In (II), there are channels in the [001] direction, which offer atmospheric water molecules an easy way of penetrating into the crystal structure, thus explaining the higher hygroscopicity of (II) compared with (IV).