Crystal engineering of pharmaceutical co-crystals: application of methyl paraben as molecular hook

The applicability of the O-HaN heterosynthon for synthesis of a pharmaceutical co-crystal comprised of a commonly used tablet excipient methyl paraben and quinidine, an anti-malarial constituent of Cinchona tree bark, is described. The studies have shown that methyl paraben has picked its target via hydrogen-bond-mediated molecular recognition, thereby acting as molecular hook.