Physicochemical properties of tamoxifen hemicitrate sesquihydrate

A novel modification of tamoxifen [(Z)-2-[4-(1,2-diphenyl-1-butenyl) phenoxy]-N,N-dimethylethylamine] citrate, tamoxifen hemicitrate hydrate was prepared. The crystalline form was identified and characterized by powder and single crystal X-ray diffractometries, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and hot-stage microscopy, and its physicochemical stability was also evaluated. The results of an elemental analysis, a single crystal X-ray analysis, and the TGA suggested that the molar ratio of tamoxifen:citric acid:water was 2:1:3 indicating it to be tamoxifen hemicitrate sesquihydrate. Simultaneous XRD–DSC measurements also indicated that two hydrates, sesquihydrate and hemihydrate, and an anhydrous form would exist during heating. The physicochemical stability of tamoxifen citrate forms A and B suspended in water and of form A during kneading and drying suggested that tamoxifen citrate was transformed into tamoxifen hemicitrate hydrate in water within 24 h, whereas tamoxifen citrate in a mixture with microcrystalline cellulose was quite stable during kneading. These results suggested that water and a mixture of water and organic solvent should be used for the manufacturing process with special attention paid to the transformation to tamoxifen hemicitrate sesquihydrate, because it showed a different stoichiometry from the active ingredient, tamoxifen citrate.