Crystal structures of aripiprazole, a new anti-psychotic drug, and of its inclusion compounds with methanol, ethanol and water

Aripiprazole, 7-[4-[4-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)-1-piperazinyl]butoxy]-3,4- dihydrocarbostyril, is an important new neuroleptic drug used in the treatment of schizophrenia and related psychoses. This study elucidates its detailed molecular structure and two preferred conformational forms, and relates to the solvates of this compound when crystallized from different environments. The latter is associated with the hydrogen-bonding capacity of aripiprazole through the piperazinyl and dihydrocarbostyril functions. Four unique crystal forms of this compound have been characterized using X-ray single crystal determinations, including an anhydrous structure (1), methanol (2) and hemi-ethanol (3) solvates and a hydrate (4). They were found to consist of hydrogen bonded dimers of the aripiprazole moieties that involve the cyclic (-NH-CO-)₂ di-amide interaction synthon in 1-3 (with the solvent molecules attached to them in 2 and 3), or of hydrogen bonded polymeric aggregates sustained by extended multiple bonding through water bridges in 4. These modes of supramolecular association involve two different conformers with similar energy of the drug moiety.