Solution-Mediated Polymorphic Transformation of Prasugrel Hydrochloride from Form II to Form I

In situ Raman spectroscopy was applied for the analysis of the solution-mediated polymorphic transformation of prasugrel hydrochloride from the metastable form II to the stable form I. The solution concentration during the transition process was monitored by a gravimetric method. The main factors studied were solvent, temperature, solid loading, and agitation speed. Because of the balance between the solubility and the strength of solute–solvent interactions, the transformation rate was highest in ethyl acetate and lowest in butanone at all three temperatures studied (20, 30, and 40 °C). The thermodynamic driving force of the polymorphic transformation from form II to form I was evaluated through solubility measurements of the two forms in ethyl acetate, acetone, and butanone. At increasing temperature, the nucleation induction time and the overall transformation time decreased despite the decreasing driving force. The solid loading seemed to have no effect on the transformation time because of surface nucleation of form I on form II, as determined from the morphology–time profile through polarizing microscope analysis, whereas increasing the agitation rate resulted in a faster polymorphic transformation process. It was confirmed by transformation experiments that the polymorphic transformation from form II to form I is controlled by the nucleation and growth of the stable form I crystal.