[X-ray structural analysis of 3 crystalline modifications of 3-cyan-5-methyl-5-(pyridinyl)-1,2-dihydro-pyrid-2-one (milrinone)].

The crystal and molecular structures of the alpha-, beta-, and gamma-modification of the cardiotonic compound milrinone have been determined by X-ray structure analyses. In all modifications the molecules exist in the lactam form. Because of steric hindrances the pyridine rings deviate considerably from coplanarity. The dihedral angle amounts to 45 degrees in milrinone-alpha, 43.7 degrees in milrinone-beta, and 57.5 degrees in milrinone-gamma. In the three crystal structures molecules are connected via hydrogen bonds forming dimers. These are centrosymmetric in milrinone-alpha and -beta. In milrinone-gamma the molecules within a dimer are symmetry related by a twofold axis. The dimers are linked by charge transfer interactions. This leads to infinite chains in the alpha- and beta-modification and to infinite layers in milrinone-gamma.