A Novel Deep Eutectic System for the Creation of New Co-crystals

Project Information

Eutomic

Grant agreement ID: 945679

DOI

10.3030/945679

Project closed

EC signature date 5 May 2020

Start date 1 June 2020

End date 30 November 2021

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Future and Emerging Technologies (FET)

Total cost

€ 99 878,00

EU contribution

€ 99 878,00

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL
United Kingdom

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Eutomic (A Novel Deep Eutectic System for the Creation of New Co-crystals)

Reporting period: 2020-06-01 to 2021-11-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The innovation presented here concerns the formation of cocrystals of organic molecules using a deep eutectic solvent, where one component of the deep eutectic solvent is volatile at room temperature and pressure. The formation of a ternary deep eutectic system with two stable organic molecules and a volatile organic molecule affords a liquid as the melting point of the mixture is considerably lower than the melting point of all of the components. On exposure to the air, the volatile component leaves the system, thereby destroying the deep eutectic nature of the system and allowing for the facile formation of cocrystals of the two stable molecules that are entirely new to science. This idea has arisen from the Horizon2020 FET-Open grant ‘MagnaPharm’ and as a possible exploitable result, this innovation idea will be explored under the aegis of this proposal. The desire to control and constrain the growth of crystals using external stimuli in MagnaPharm led inexorably to this new idea of using a sparingly stable synergistic solvent system as a vector for the spontaneous creation of new cocrystals in and of itself. Our research has initially focused on pharmaceutical targets, as this is the raison d’etre of MagnaPharm and where our expertise currently lies. In doing so, this proposal seeks to advance our work into the commercial arena, creating novel pharmaceutical cocrystals.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Work performed over the course of the project was the engagement of industrial stakeholders and the development of the synthetic work, which was innovating around the central theme of the patent. This being the case, cocrystallisation experiments have expanded to include a variety of new volatile components. These have all been based on a benzene motif, which was chosen for its ability to be a hydrogen bond donor or acceptor, whilst simultaneously maintaining a high vapour pressure. Beyond phenol-based systems, the technology has been seen to work with ortho, meta and para-cresol; ortho, meta and para-diol, acetophenone and xylene. In addition to these developments, the experimental modes used have also expanded. Current crystallisation methods have progressed to adjusting the temperature and pressure during self-destruction. Annealing in a volatile component humid environment has also been added to the growth tool kit.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The potential impacts of the work will be the ability to solubilise new organic molecules, from pharmaceuticals, through organic semiconductors, to inks and agrochemicals. The liquid-based approach will enable large organic molecules to be purified and crystallised, as current methods can often fail to provide a suitable solubilisation vector for them. This will enable functional organic molecules that are stalled in development, to be freed, thereby saving time and money for any company that invests in our work.

A crystal of metacetamol - a regioisomer of paracetamol.