In this contribution the supramolecular architecture of a series of six 1,3-phenyl-dioxalamic molecular clefts is described. The conformation was controlled by the use of Me and OMe group substitution in the phenyl spacer. The structural and conformational study was carried out by X-ray diffraction analysis, DFT calculations at PBEPBE 6-31+G (3df, 3pd) theory level and variable temperature ¹H NMR in solution. The C2-Me group exerts a dual influence on the conformation adopting the endo(sc) or exo(ac) conformations in the oxalamic arms, meanwhile the C2-OMe group leads to the adoption of the exo(ap) conformation. DFT study results showed that the exo(ap)–exo(ap) conformation is more stable than the other conformations due to the conjugation that stabilizes the molecule and minimizes the conformational energy. Supramolecular arrays in oxalamate/oxalamide derivatives of 1,3-diaminobenzene, 2-methyl-benzene-1,3-diamine and 2,4,6-trimethyl-benzene-1,3-diamine are directed by self-complementary N–H⋯O hydrogen bonding interactions, whose organization in the crystal depends on the twist of the oxalamic arms, meanwhile in oxalamate/oxalamide derivatives of 5-tert-butyl-2,6-diamineanisol with an exo(ap)–exo(ap) conformation, the supramolecular arrays are directed by π-stacking, dipolar carbonyl–carbonyl interactions and C–H⋯O soft contacts. N¹,N¹′-(1,3-(2,4,6-Trimethyl)-phenyl)-bis-(N²-(2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethyl)oxalamide) adopts the form of a supramolecular meso-helix, which is the first example of helical 1,3-phenyl-dioxalamide.

Molecular complexation is a strategy used to modify the physicochemical or biopharmaceutical properties of an active pharmaceutical ingredient. Solvent assisted grinding is a common method used to obtain solid complexes in the form of cocrystals. Lidocaine is a drug used as an anesthetic and for the treatment of chronic pain, which bears in its chemical structure an amide functional group able to form hydrogen bonds. Polyphenols are used as cocrystal coformers due to their ability to form O–H···X (X = O, N) hydrogen bond interactions. The objective of this study was to exploit the ability of phloroglucinol to form molecular complexes with lidocaine by liquid assisted grinding. The formation of the complex was confirmed by the shift of the O–H and C=O stretching bands in the IR spectra of the polycrystalline ground powders, suggesting the formation of O–H···O=C hydrogen bonds. Hydration of the complexes also was confirmed by IR spectroscopy and by powder X-ray diffraction. The molecular structure was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction.

Isoniazid is used as anti-tuberculosis drug which possesses functional groups capable of forming hydrogen bonds. A series of cocrystals of isoniazid (INH) with polyphenolic coformers such as catechol (CAT), orcinol (ORC), 2-methylresorcinol (MER), pyrogallol (PYR), and phloroglucinol (PLG) were prepared by solvent-assisted grinding. Powder cocrystals were characterized by infrared (IR) spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction. The crystal structure of the cocrystals revealed the unexpected hydration of the INH-MER cocrystal and the preference of the (phenol) O–H∙∙∙N (pyridine) and (terminal) N-H∙∙∙O (phenol) heterosynthons in the stabilization of the structures. The supramolecular architecture of the cocrystals is affected by the conformation and the substitution pattern of the hydroxyl groups of the polyphenols.

Pharmaceutical cocrystallization offers the possibility to modify the physicochemical and biopharmaceutical properties of active pharmaceutical ingredients. The mechanochemical synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of the catechol-theophylline (CAT-TEO) cocrystal is reported. The cocrystal was prepared by the solvent-assisted grinding method. The ATR-IR spectroscopy study allowed to determine the formation of the cocrystal because the O-H and C=O stretching bands in the CAT-TEO cocrystal were shifted with respect to the starting materials, suggesting the formation of the C=O···H-O hydrogen bond interaction. Infrared spectroscopy also allowed to discard hydration of the cocrystal, and polymorphic transitions of the starting products as a consequence of the mechanochemical grinding. The X-ray powder diffraction and thermal studies confirmed the formation of a new solid phase. In the solid state ¹³C NMR spectra of the cocrystal, the signals were shifted with respect to the starting products. The ¹³C NMR chemical shifts of the CAT-TEO cocrystal were simulated by using the gauge including the atomic orbital (GIAO) method. These results showed a good correlation between the experimental and calculated ¹³C NMR results. Theoretical calculations and natural bonding orbital analysis (NBO) at a B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level of theory were performed to obtain structural information of the cocrystal.