Dehydroepiandrosterone

Three polymorphs (forms I–III), a monohydrate (form S2), and three new solvates [4:1 hydrate (form S1), monohydrate (form S3), and methanol half-solvate (form S4)] were isolated and characterized by X-ray powder diffractometry (XRPD), IR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), hot stage microscopy, solution calorimetry, and their dissolution rates. A new polymorph, designated as form V, melting at 146.5–148°C, was observed by hot stage microscopy. Our results indicate that only forms I and S4 exhibit reproducible DSC thermograms. Five of the isolated modifications undergo phase transformation on heating, and their DSC thermograms are not reproducible. Interpretation of DSC thermograms was facilitated by use of hot stage microscopy. The identification of each modification is based on XRPD patterns (except forms S3 and S4, for which the XRPD patterns are indistinguishable) and IR spectra. In the IR spectra, a significant difference was observed in the OH stretching region for all seven modifications. In a purity determination study, 5% of a contaminant modification in binary mixtures of several modifications could be detected by use of XRPD. To obtain a better understanding of the thermodynamic properties of these modifications, a series of increasing heating rates and different pan types were used in DSC. According to Burger's rule, forms I–III are monotropic polymorphs with decreasing stability in the order form I > form II > form III. The melting onsets and heats of fusion for forms I–III are 149.1 °C, 25.5 kJ/mol; 140.8 °C, 24.6 kJ/mol; and 137.8 °C, 24.0 kJ/mol, respectively. For form III the heat of fusion was calculated from heat of solution and DSC data. In the case of form S1 the melting point, 127.2°C, was obtained by DSC using a hermetically sealed pan. The relative stabilities of the six modifications stored under high humidity conditions were predicted to be, on the basis of the heat of solution and thermal analysis data, form S2 > form S3 > form S1 > form I > form II > form III. However, the results of the dissolution rate determination were inconsistent with the heat of solution data. The stable form I shows a higher initial dissolution rate than the metastable form II and unstable form III. All modifications were converted into the stable monohydrate, form S2, during the dissolution study, suggesting that the moisture level in solid formulations should be carefully controlled.