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Syn–Anti Conformational Equilibrium of Indomethacin: A Combined NOESY and Quantum Chemical Study

delete2026-07-30
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PRE
AI
A
Aleksey Kovalev
K
Konstantin Belov
Y
Yoshio Barrera
S
Savaş Kaya *
I
Ilya A. Khodov *
DOI:10.1007/s11095-026-04162-9delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
To elucidate the conformational equilibrium of Indomethacin in solution and to establish its relationship with solvent environment and solid-state polymorphism. A combined experimental–computational approach was employed. One- and two-dimensional NOESY NMR spectroscopy were used to quantify cross-relaxation rates and derive conformation-sensitive internuclear distances in DMSO-d6 and CDCl3. Conformer populations were determined using the initial rate approximation and isolated spin-pair approximation. Quantum-chemical calculations based on Density Functional Theory (B3LYP-D3(BJ)/def2-TZVP, SMD solvation model) were performed to evaluate conformer energetics and solvent effects. Two conformer families, syn- and anti-, were identified as key structural motifs governing indomethacin behavior. InDMSO-d6, the syn-conformer dominates (80.8%), whereas in CDCl3 the equilibrium shifts toward nearly equal populations (51.5% syn, 48.5% anti), revealing a strong solvent-dependent effect. Experimentally derived NOESY distances showed excellent agreement with computed geometries. DFT calculations confirmed the energetic preference of syn-type conformers while demonstrating significant solvent-induced changes in relative stability. Importantly, a direct correlation between solution-phase conformational equilibrium and known polymorphic forms was established. This study demonstrates that solvent-controlled conformational equilibria play a probable role in determining the solid-state forms of indomethacin. The integrated NOESY-DFT methodology provides a robust and quantitative framework for conformational analysis and offers a predictive tool for rational design and optimization of pharmaceutical solid forms.
Keywords:
conformational analysis
cross-relaxation rates
density functional theory
drug solid forms
indomethacin
NOESY NMR
polymorphism
solvent effects

Journal

Pharmaceutical Research cover
Pharmaceutical Research
IF:
4.3
Papers:
7.9K
Citations:
2.0W

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D
Department of Chemistry
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6.8K
Papers: 3.0K
Citations: 7
I
instituto de química
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194
Papers: 67
Citations: 1
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