'Self-destructing' solvents control crystallisation
‘Deep eutomic’ mixtures allow easy access to unusual pharmaceutical polymorphs
A new type of solvent system that can easily encourage pharmaceutical compounds to crystallise into forms that were previously economically unviable has been developed by UK researchers.
The idea builds on the development of deep eutectic solvents – from the Greek for ‘easy melting’ – which are mixtures with much lower melting points than any of their components. They are widely used to run solution-phase reactions at lower temperatures than otherwise possible, saving energy and avoiding emissions of volatile solvents through evaporation.