Energetic aspects of diclofenac acid in crystal modifications and in solutions--mechanism of solvation, partitioning and distribution.

Temperature dependency of saturated vapor pressure and heat capacity for the diclofenac acid (Form II) were measured and thermodynamic functions of sublimation calculated (DeltaG(sub)(298) = 49.3 kJ x mol(-1); DeltaH(sub)(298) = 115.6 +/- 1.3 kJ x mol(-1); DeltaS(sub)(298) = 222 +/- 4 J x mol(-1) x K(-1)). Crystal polymorphic Forms I (P2(1)/c) and II (C2/c) of diclofenac acid have been prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction experiments. The difference between crystal lattice energies of the two forms were obtained by solution calorimetry: DeltaDeltaH(sol)(I --> II) = 1.6 +/- 0.4 kJ x mol(-1). Temperature dependencies of the solubility in buffers with pH 2.0 and 7.4, n-octanol and n-hexane were measured. The thermodynamic functions of solubility, solvation, and transfer processes were deduced. Specific and non-specific solvation terms were distinguished using the transfer from the "inert" n-hexane to the other solvents. The transfer of diclofenac acid molecules from the buffers to n-octanol (partitioning and distribution) is an entropy driven process. (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association.