Structural studies of several solvated potassium salts of tenatoprazole crystallizing as conglomerates

Despite the weak acidic character of tenatoprazole it is possible to crystallize, in strong alkaline media, different solvated salts of this active pharmaceutical ingredient. Among these solid phases, some potassium salts exhibiting non congruent solubilities, form stable conglomerates in equilibrium with their mother liquors without detectable partial solid solutions between the enantiomers.The crystal structures of the ethanol and the ethylene glycol stoichiometric solvates of potassium salts have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction, revealing that the solvent molecules play an important role in the crystal cohesion. They participate to the coordination polyhedra of the potassium cations and also contribute to strong periodic bond chains. Moreover, there is no direct link between the tenatoprazole anions and the potassium cations, so the solvent molecules act as electrostatic relays between ions of opposite charges.