Preparation of a 1:1 cocrystal of genistein with 4,4′-bipyridine

Based on analysing the relationship between the possible number of intermolecular O-H···N hydrogen bonds and the stoichiometric ratio, a 1:1 C15H10O5·C10H8N2 (genistein-4,4′-bipyridine) cocrystal has been prepared by solution evaporation and characterized. This work successfully demonstrates that the stoichiometric ratio could be inferred by analysing the possible number of intermolecular hydrogen bonds between flavonoids and amines. The strategy provides a facile route for rational designing cocrystal of flavonoids with amines. Additionally, the title cocrystal shows advantages in terms of solubility and antibacterial properties in comparison to pure genistein.