Ranitidine hydrochloride, a polymorphic crystal form

In the title compound, dimethyl(¿5-[2-(1-methylamino-2-nitroethenylamino)ethylthiometh yl]-2- furyl¿methyl)ammonium chloride, C(13)H(23)N(4)O(3)S(+).Cl(-), protonation occurs at the dimethylamino N atom. The ranitidine molecule adopts an eclipsed conformation. Bond lengths indicate extensive electron delocalization in the N,N'-dimethyl-2-nitro-1, 1-ethenediamine system of the molecule. The nitro and methylamino groups are trans across the side chain C=C double bond, while the ethylamino and nitro groups are cis. The Cl(-) ions link molecules through hydrogen bonds.