Structure Elucidation and Characterization of Different Thyroxine Polymorphs
Graphical Abstract
You’d better shape up: Two new polymorphs of the thyroid hormone thyroxine were characterized and it was found that polymorphism has a significant effect on the solubility and stability of this clinically useful compound. The conformational changes alter the electronic properties of the iodine atoms and the reactivity of the CI bonds, which could have a significant effect on the hormone activity.
Abstract
Thyroid hormones regulate almost every process in the body, including body temperature, growth, and heart rate. They influence carbohydrate metabolism, protein synthesis and breakdown, and cardiovascular, renal, and brain function. Two new polymorphs of synthetic L-thyroxine (T4) are reported and the effect of polymorphism on the solubility of this important hormone is shown. Conformational changes were also discovered to have a remarkable effect on the strength of halogen bonding and the reactivity of the CI bonds, which could have a significant effect on the hormone activity.