X-ray crystal structure of the antimalarial agent (-)-halofantrine hydrochloride supports stereospecificity for cardiotoxicity.

The crystal and molecular structures and absolute configuration of (-)-halofantrine hydrochloride were determined by X-ray diffraction. The absolute configuration of the single chiral center of (-)-halofantrine was established to be in the S configuration. Thus, (+)-halofantrine, the more cardiotoxic isomer, has the R configuration. The carbon atom adjacent to the aromatic ring has the same configuration in both (+)- halofantrine and quinidine, suggesting a stereospecific component to the cardiotoxicity produced by both agents. The intramolecular N ... O distance is 4.177 +/- 0.006 A (1 A = 0.1 nm), which is close to the N ... O distance found in the crystal structure of (+/-)-halofantrine hydrochloride, even though the N-H group points in opposite directions in racemic halofantrine and (-)-halofantrine. Both the hydroxyl group and the amine group form hydrogen bonds with the chloride anions. The crystallographic parameters for (-)-halofantrine hydrochloride were as follows: chemical formula, C26H31Cl2F6NO+. Cl-; Mr, 492.4; symmetry of unit cell, orthorhombic; space group, P2(1)2(1)2(1); parameters of unit cell, a was 6.290 +/- 0.001 A, b was 13.533 +/- 0.003 A, and c was 30.936 +/- 0.006 A; volume of the unit cell, 2,633.2 +/- 0.7 A(3); number of molecules per unit cell, 4; calculated density, 1.354 g cm(-3); source of radiation, Cu K(alpha) (lambda = 1.54178 A); mu (absorption coefficient), 3.50 mm(-1); F(000) (sum of atomic scattering factors at zero scattering angle), 1,120; room temperature was used; final R (residual index), 4.75% for 2,988 reflections, with absolute value of Fo > 3sigma(F), where Fo is the observed structure factor and F is the structure factor.