title: Solid-state characterization of a novel chemotherapeutic drug.
abstract: We present the results of a thermal, spectroscopic, diffractometric, and microscopic study of a novel DNA intercalator synthesized by Novuspharma S.p.A. (code name BRR 2778, purity by high-performance liquid chromatography: 99.4%). We found that the form that is stable at room temperature contains 1.5 water molecules per unit of formula (or about 4.7% in mass): this water is reversibly lost in two stages below 80 degrees and 90 degrees C in dry and wet nitrogen atmosphere, respectively. The hydrated compound is a pseudo-polymorph and dehydration is accompanied by a structural change that modifies the diffraction pattern without changing the shape of the microcrystals. Annealing above 150 degrees C causes decomposition of the anhydrous form and (above 190 degrees C) amorphization of the solid residue occurs.
authors.affiliation: C.S.G.I--Dipartimento di Chimica Fisica dell'Università degli Studi di Pavia, Via Taramelli 16, 27100 Pavia, Italy. marini@matsci.unipv.it
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marini
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Berbenni
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bruni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maggioni
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cofrancesco
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sinistri
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orlandi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Villa
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D007364:Intercalating Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared / Q000379:methods; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007364:Intercalating Agents; D007546:Isoquinolines; C086548:pixantrone