Abstract
SINCE the introduction in 1961 of 6[D(−)α-amino-phenyl-acetamido]penicillanic acid1 (I; ampicillin), its synthesis, bacteriology, pharmacology, and clinical use as a broad-spectrum penicillin have been extensively reported. Recently, attention has been turned to the physical properties of the solid. Thus, Grant and Alburn2 have distinguished between, a crystalline anhydrous form and a monohydrate, which differ in solid-state infra-red absorption spectra, density, solubility, and thermal stability. They make no mention, however, of the highly crystalline ampicillin trihydrate which may be obtained by crystallization from water3 or by treating acid addition salts in moist organic solvents with amines of high molecular weight4. We wish to report further details of the various solid forms of ampicillin, both anhydrous and hydrated, and the means whereby they may be inter-converted.
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References
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AUSTIN, K., MARSHALL, A. & SMITH, H. Crystalline Modifications of Ampicillin. Nature 208, 999–1000 (1965). https://doi.org/10.1038/208999a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/208999a0
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