Solution and solid state properties of a set of procaine and procainamide derivatives

A set of potential Class III antiarrhythmic agents of structure p-HOOC-R-CO-NH-C(6)H(4)-CO-X-C(2)H(5)-N(C(2)H(5))(2) were isolated as crystalline solids of the amide and ester derivatives, I: succinylprocainamide (X=-NH-, R=-C(2)H(4)-); II: succinylprocaine (X=-O-, R=-C(2)H(4)-); III: maleylprocainamide (X=-NH-, R=-C(2)H(2)-) and IV: maleylprocaine (X=-O-, R=-C(2)H(2)-). Although compounds I-IV exhibit similar solution properties (i.e. acid-base speciation, with zwitterionic (+-) to neutral (00) form ratios higher than 10(4)), aqueous solubility of -NH- derivatives is significantly higher than that of -O- derivatives and also, solvent effects on solubility (i.e. the change of water by ethanol) is clearly different in both series. Solution and solid-state properties of I-IV were characterized to account for the observed differences. Results indicate that procainamide derivatives I and III crystallizes as (+-)(s) but procaine derivatives II and IV as (00)(s). Besides, I is anhydrous but II-IV are hydrates. Aqueous solubility and solvent effect on solubility are controlled by the intrinsic solubility of the species (+-) in I and III and (00) in II and IV. The rise of hydrophilicity of species (00) due to the structural change from -O- to -NH- would determine the change in the structure of the precipitating crystals from (00)(s) to (+-)(s). Solid structure (zwitterionic or neutral), as well as composition (anhydrous or hydrated) may be recognized as the main factors in determining the rank of aqueous solubility of the set: (+-)>(+-.H(2)O)>(00.H(2)O).