The Crystal Structure of Acemetacin Monohrdrate $(C_{21}H_{18}NO_6Cl-H_2O)$, A Non-Steroidal Antiinflammatory Agent

The molecular structure of acemetacin, 1-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-5-methoxy-2-methyl-1H-indole-3-acetic acid carboxymethyl ester, was determined by single cystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The compound was recrystallized from a mixture of acetone and water in triclinic, space group P1, with a=7.796(1), b=10.245(2), c=13.542(3)$\AA,\;\alpha=97.35(1),\;\beta=96.34(1),\;\gamma=107.06(1)^\circ$, and Z=2. The calculated density is 1.422; the observed value is $1.42\;g/cm^3$. The structure was solved by the direct method and refined by full matrix least-squares procedure to the final R value of 0,037 for 2960 independent reflections. There are water molecules, which are thought to be co-crystallized during the evaporation procedure, with the ratio of one water per compound molecule in the crystal. The conformation of the compound is found to be very similar to that of indomethacin. The molecules are stabilized by three O-H.....O type intermolecular hydrogen bonds between the oxygen of water molecule and those of the compound.