Spectroscopic evidence for the presence of the cyclic hemiketal form of warfarin in aqueous solution: consequences for bioavailability.

Warfarin is an important oral anticoagulant drug that demonstrates a molecular-environment dependent structural diversity. Previous investigations of warfarin's ensemble of isomers in organic solvent-based environments have pointed to the importance of the closed-ring cyclic hemiketal form of the drug in non-polar environments, e.g. the interior of proteins, enzymes and biomembranes. Detection of the presence of these isomers in polar environments has not yet been reported. Here, we demonstrate the presence of the cyclic hemiketal structural form of warfarin under aqueous conditions. This finding underscores the importance considering all structural isomers of this drug when making predictions on warfarin's bioavailability.