Principal Investigator Allan Myerson
Cocrystals can be defined as multiple-component crystal systems that coexist through hydrogen bonds or non-covalent interactions. The reactants are solids at ambient conditions.
The development of cocrystals of active pharmaceutical ingredients is of great current interest as a means of increasing the solubility of poorly soluble drugs. However, cocrystals can also be used as a means of separations. For example, a cocrystal could be formed with an impurity but not with the desired component. If the solubility of the cocrystal was very low, it could be possible to crystallize out the impurity (as the cocrystal) while leaving the desired component in solution. This could be advantageous for pharmaceutical intermediates by eliminating the their crystallization. Our group is currently evaluating various strategies for employing cocrystals for separations