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Updated: Sep 11, 2025
06:35
Construction and Systematical Symmetric Studies of a Series of Supramolecular Clusters with Binary or Ternary Ammonium Triphenylacetates
Published on: February 15, 2016
8.2K
First Crystal Structure of an Aspartame Cocrystal.
Nazanin Fereidouni1, Marwah Aljohani2, Andrea Erxleben1,3
1School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, University of Galway, Galway H91TK33, Ireland.
Crystal Growth & Design
|August 11, 2025
Summary
This study reports the first crystal structure of an aspartame cocrystal, revealing insights into its challenging needle-like crystallization. Understanding this behavior is key for industrial processing and fundamental solid-state research.
Area of Science:
- Crystallography
- Materials Science
- Pharmaceutical Science
Background:
- Aspartame exhibits extreme needle-like crystallization, posing industrial processing challenges.
- Cocrystallization offers a method to modify solid-state properties and improve compound handling.
- No prior crystal structures of aspartame cocrystals were available.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cocrystallization of aspartame with various coformers.
- To determine the crystal structure of any identified aspartame cocrystals.
- To understand the structural basis for aspartame's crystallization behavior.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive cocrystal screening of aspartame.
- Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis for cocrystal identification.
- Single-crystal X-ray diffraction for structural determination.
Main Results:
- Cocrystals of aspartame with fumaric acid and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid were identified via PXRD.
- Despite crystallization challenges, single crystals of aspartame·4-hydroxybenzoic acid dihydrate were obtained.
- The first crystal structure of an aspartame cocrystal was determined.
Conclusions:
- The structure of aspartame·4-hydroxybenzoic acid dihydrate reveals specific hydrogen bonding patterns.
- These interactions, particularly the spiral formation of aspartame zwitterions, explain the needle growth and cocrystal isolation difficulties.
- This work provides fundamental insights into aspartame's solid-state behavior and cocrystal formation.
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