Conformational polymorphism in bicalutamide.

Two crystalline forms (forms I and II) and an amorphous phase of bicalutamide were fully characterized through combined results of differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray powder and single crystal diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Each polymorph crystallizes with one molecule in the asymmetric unit and the molecular conformations are quite different between them. The main difference is provided by C12-C11-S8-C5 torsion angle, which assumes a value of -88.3(4) degrees (-Syn-Clinal) and 72.5(4) degrees (+Syn-Clinal) in forms I and II, respectively. Consequently, molecules in form I show an open folding and molecules in form II a closed one. The relative stability between forms I and II is presented in an energy versus temperature diagram, where forms I and II are considered as a monotropic system, being form I the more stable one. The amorphous phase was observed very metastable and it converts to form II spontaneously at RT in around a week.