A Supramolecular Assembly Formed by Heteroassociation of Ciprofloxacin and Norfloxacin in the Solid State: Co-Crystal Synthesis and Characterization

The interaction in the solid state between ciprofloxacin (CIP) and norfloxacin (NOR) was investigated and a new multicomponent molecular complex (COP) was obtained and characterized. It is composed of equimolar quantities of both compounds, according to TLC and 1 H NMR data. As single-crystal X-ray analysis showed, COP crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P (1̅). The asymmetric unit comprises three independent zwitterions (A, B, and C) with contributions of both CIP and NOR, as well as 14.6 water molecules. At the zwitterion A site, the occurrence is about 37% (CIP), 63% (NOR); at the B site, there is predominantly CIP (70%); and at the C site the occurrence is about 43% (CIP) and 57% (NOR), yielding an overall 1:1 CIP-NOR ratio in the crystal. TG data evidenced a one-step loss of solvent (about 18% per COP zwitterion) below 110 °C, confirming the presence of water molecules. The propensity for heteroassociation between CIP and NOR, under the conditions described herein, originated a co-crystal reported for the first time between FQs, and became one of the most interesting aspects of this research.