Crystalline methylthioninium chloride hydrates
View Patent ↗Three dihydrate forms B, C and D and a monohydrate form E of methylthioninium chloride are described. Forms B, C, D and E can be prepared under controlled humidity and temperature from methylthioninium chloride with higher water content or conversion of a hydrate. The hydrates can be incorporated in pharmaceutical compositions.
1. Crystalline methylthioninium chloride dihydrate as Form C, having the following characteristic peaks in a powder X-ray diffraction pattern:
Peak
2θ values (±0.1°)
1
8.1
2
11.1
3
17.6
4
25.9
5
27.2.
2. The compound of claim 1 having the following additional characteristic peaks in a powder X-ray diffraction pattern:
Peak
2θ values (±0.1°)
6
16.2
7
17.8
8
24.4
9
30.8
10
31.3
11
33.0.
3. The compound of claim 1 , which has two endothermic maxima at 151° C. and 183° C. when heated at a rate of 100° C. per minute in Differential Scanning calorimetry.
4. A process for the preparation of methylthioninium chloride dihydrate substantially in form C according to claim 1 , wherein a water-containing methylthioninium chloride or a mixture of various hydrates or a specific hydrate thereof is suspended and stirred at ambient temperature in a solvent selected from the group comprising isopropanol, 1-propanol, 1-butanol, 2-butanol, tert.-butanol, tetrahydrofurane, dioxane, acetone, 2-butanone, and acetonitrile containing a small amount of water, for a time sufficient to generate form C; the solid is then isolated; and the solvent is removed from the solid.
5. Crystalline methylthioninium chloride dihydrate as Form D, having the following characteristic peaks in a powder X-ray diffraction pattern:
Peak
2θ values (±0.1°)
1
7.0
2
8.5
3
12.0
4
14.4
5
25.3
6
25.7
7
27.5.
6. The compound of claim 5 having the following additional characteristic peaks in a powder X-ray diffraction pattern:
Peak
2θ values (±0.1°)
8
6.0
9
10.4
10
20.9
11
21.1
12
21.7
13
22.3
14
23.7
15
24.5
16
26.9
17
28.5
18
29.0
19
30.4
20
31.8.
7. The compound of claim 5 , which has two endothermic peak maxima at 164° C. and 185° C. and a step in the baseline near 63° C. when heated at a rate of 100° C. per minute in Differential Scanning calorimetry.
8. A process for the preparation of methylthioninium chloride dihydrate substantially in form D according to claim 5 , comprising: dissolving methylthioninium chloride pentahydrate in acetic acid and combining the solution with toluene, either by adding toluene to the acetic acid solution or by adding the acetic acid solution to toluene; isolating the solid by filtration shortly after precipitation; and removing the solvent by vacuum drying or in an inert gas flow, whereby the relative air humidity in all process steps is less than 50%.
9. Crystalline methylthioninium chloride dihydrate substantially as Form B, having the following characteristic peaks in a powder X-ray diffraction pattern:
Peak
2θ values (±0.1°)
1
5.8
2
11.2
3
25.3
4
26.8.
10. The compound of claim 9 having the following additional characteristic peaks in a powder X-ray diffraction pattern:
Peak
2θ values (±0.1°)
5
15.6
6
16.9
7
20.3
8
28.3.
11. The compound of claim 9 , which has a melting peak at 186° C. with a shoulder towards lower temperature when heated at a rate of 100° C. per minute in Differential Scanning calorimetry.
12. A process for the preparation of methylthioninium chloride dihydrate substantially in form B of claim 9 , which comprises exposing solid methylthioninium chloride pentahydrate at about room temperature to an inert gas flow having a relative humidity from 8 to 15% for a time sufficient to generate essentially pure form B.
13. A pharmaceutical composition comprising methylthioninium chloride dihydrate form B, C or D and optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient or diluent; wherein
Form B has the following characteristic peaks in a powder X-ray diffraction pattern:
Peak
2θ values (±0.1°)
1
5.8
2
11.2
3
25.3
4
26.8;
Form C has the following characteristic peaks in a powder X-ray diffraction pattern:
Peak
2θ values (±0.1°)
1
8.1
2
11.1
3
17.6
4
25.9
5
27.2
and;
Form D has the following characteristic peaks in a powder X-ray diffraction pattern:
2θ values
Peak
(±0.1°)
1
7.0
2
8.5
3
12.0
4
14.4
5
25.3
6
25.7
7
27.5.
14. A method of treatment of a tauopathy, Alzheimer's disease (AD), skin cancer, melanoma, Hepatitis C, HIV or West Nile virus in a patient, comprising administering to said patient a therapeutically-effective amount of methylthioninium chloride dihydrate form B, C or D; wherein
Form B has the following characteristic peaks in a powder X-ray diffraction pattern:
2θ values
Peak
(±0.1°)
1
5.8
2
11.2
3
25.3
4
26.8;
Form C has the following characteristic peaks in a powder X-ray diffraction pattern:
2θ values
Peak
(±0.1°)
1
8.1
2
11.1
3
17.6
4
25.9
5
27.2
and;
Form D has the following characteristic peaks in a powder X-ray diffraction pattern:
2θ values
Peak
(±0.1°)
1
7.0
2
8.5
3
12.0
4
14.4
5
25.3
6
25.7
7
27.5.