Two orthorhombic polymorphs of hydromorphone

Abstract

Conditions to obtain two polymorphic forms by crystallization from solution were determined for the analgestic drug hydro­morphone. In both polymorphs, the hydro­morphone mol­ecules adopt very similar conformations with some small differences observed only in the N-methyl amine part of the mol­ecule. The crystal structures of both polymorphs feature chains of mol­ecules connected by hydrogen bonds