A unique case of polymorphism in polyiodide networks resulting from the reaction of the drug methimazole and I2

The oxidation of thioamide methimazole (C4H6N2S) with molecular diiodine in water afforded the ionic compound [2(C4H5N2S–SN2C4H6)]I3I5 (1) in 1-triclinic and 1-monoclinic polymorphs. The polymorphic nature of [C4H5N2S–SN2C4H6]2I3I5 has been highlighted by comparing the structure of the 1-triclinic form with that of the 1-monoclinic form reported in the literature. No significant geometric differences are observed for the cations in the two polymorphs. The polymorphism is essentially due to a different arrangement in the polyiodide network of the [I5]− and [I3]− components. The FT-Raman spectrum of 1-triclinic shows the characteristic bands in the range 200–50 cm−1 which are in good agreement with the structural features of the polyiodide network. The molecular electrostatic potential maps of the cation methimazole-disulfide [C4H5N2S–SN2C4H6]+ and the bis-cation methimazole-disulfide {[C4H5N2S–SN2C4H6]+}2 in 1-triclinic have been studied to clearly identify the electrostatic potential energy distributions over the cations, and the electron belt and σ-hole areas responsible for the directionality of the non-covalent interactions in the polyiodides. It is suggested that the cation methimazole-disulfide may be a reaction intermediate in the inhibition of thyroid hormones by methimazole.