Potentiometric and spectrophotometric pKa determination of water-insoluble compounds: validation study in a new cosolvent system

In this paper the validation of pKa determination in MDM-water mixtures is presented. The MDM-water mixture is a new multicomponent cosolvent mixture (consisting of equal volumes of methanol, dioxane and acetonitrile, as organic solvents) that dissolves a wide range of poorly water-soluble compounds. The cosolvent dissociation constants (p(s)Ka) of 50 chemically diverse compounds (acids, bases and ampholytes) were measured in 15-56 wt% MDM-water mixtures by potentiometric or spectrophotometric titration and the aqueous pKa values obtained by extrapolation. Three different extrapolation procedures were compared in order to choose the best extrapolation in MDM-water mixture using a sub-set of 30 water-soluble compounds. The extrapolated results are in good agreement with pKa values measured in aqueous medium. No significant difference was found among these extrapolation procedures thus the widely used Yasuda-Shedlovsky plot was proposed for MDM cosolvent also. Further we also present that the single point estimation based on measurement in 20%/v MDM-mixture using a general calibration equation may be suitable for rapid pKa determination in the early phase of drug research.

Equilibrium versus kinetic measurements of aqueous solubility, and the ability of compounds to supersaturate in solution--a validation study

A novel potentiometric procedure has recently been described for rapid measurement of equilibrium aqueous solubility values of organic acids, bases, and ampholytes that form supersaturated solutions. In this procedure, the equilibrium solubility is actively sought by changing the concentration of the neutral form by adding HCl or KOH titrants and monitoring the rate of change of pH due to precipitation or dissolution in a process called Chasing Equilibrium. In this article, we seek to validate the procedure against a shake-flask protocol for solubility determination. A set of 16 small organic compounds, covering a wide range of solubilities was chosen for the study. Interestingly, while 10 compounds in the study were found to chase equilibrium, the others did not. Kinetic solubility data was also collected. It was noted that kinetic solubility was consistently higher than equilibrium solubility for chasers, but correlated well with equilibrium solubility for nonchasers. The ratio of kinetic to equilibrium solubility indicated a compound's ability to form supersaturated solutions.

Physico-Chemical Profiling of Antidepressive Sertraline: Solubility,Ionisation, Lipophilicity

The fundamental physico-chemical parameters of sertraline, a potent selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor and reference compound in the development of new antidepressive agents, were determined. The thermodynamic solubility of the hydrochloride salt (S = 4.24 +/- 0.02 mg/ml) and the free base form (S = 0.002 mg/ml) was measured by the saturation shake-flask method. The co-solvent technique in methanol/water mixtures and the Yasuda-Shedlovsky extrapolation were applied for the determination of the dissociation constant (pKa = 9.16 +/- 0.02). The partition of sertraline was studied in octanol/water and alkane/water systems determining the logPoct and logPch)values by potentiometric and shake-flask methods, respectively. These experimental data were used to interpret the excellent pharmacokinetic properties of the molecule. The high lipophilicity value (logPoct = 4.30 +/- 0.01) of the nonionised form confirms the good absorption and distribution in the body. However, the good brain penetration can better be explained with the lack of polar interactions evidenced here by the zero DeltalogP (logPoct-logPch) value of sertraline.

In-Solution and On-Plate Light-Catalyzed E/Z Isomerization of Cyclic Chalcone Analogues. Lipophilicity of E- and Z-2-(X-Benzylidene)-1-Benzosuberones

Some cyclic chalcone analogues [E-2-(X-benzylidene)-1-indanones, -tetralones, and -benzosuberones], on-plate UV light-catalyzed formation of new chromatographic spots, can be observed during thin-layer chromatography (TLC). Gas chromatographic (GC) analysis of selected derivatives indicates the formation of one new substance in each case. GC coupled with mass spectrometry and 1H NMR analysis of the samples reveals that the compounds formed are the respective Z-2-(X-benzylidene)-1-indanones, -tetralones, and -benzosuberones. Two-dimensional TLC shows that the E/Z isomerization is a reversible process. By means of the RP-TLC, the logarithm of n-octanol-water partition coefficient (log P) values of E- and Z-isomeric pairs of selected 2-(X-benzylidene)-1-benzosuberones is determined. The Z-isomers are less lipophilic than the E-isomers.

Synthesis and studies of 1,2-dihydroquinoline derivatives as inhibitors of lipid peroxidation

A series of new spiro[naphto[2,1-c][2,7]naphtiridine-5,4'-piperidine] derivatives was prepared. Biochemical investigations revealed that all members of this series were potent inhibitors of both NADPH- and Fe(2+)-dependent lipid peroxidation (IC50 < 10 mumol/l) in rat brain microsomes and rat brain homogenate, respectively.

Synthesis and biological characterization of 1-methyl-1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridyl-1,2,5-thiadiazole derivatives as muscarinic agonists for the treatment of neurological disorders

Muscarinic agonists might be useful in the treatment of neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, chronic pain, and drug abuse. Previous studies identified a series of bis-1,2,5-thiadiazole derivatives of 1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridine with high activity and selectivity for muscarinic receptors. To develop compounds with improved central nervous system penetration, several new derivatives were synthesized and characterized for muscarinic receptor binding and activity. One ligand (11) exhibited agonist activity at M(1), M(2), and M(4) receptors, a selectivity profile suggesting potential utility in the treatment of schizophrenia.

Lipophilicity of aminopyridazinone regioisomers

Ten pairs of pyridazinone regioisomers were prepared, and their lipophilicity was described by the logarithm of the octanol/water partition coefficient (log P) determined experimentally and calculated with prediction methods. The 4- and 5-(substituted amino)-3(2H)-pyridazinone regioisomers were synthesized by nucleophilic substitution of one of the chloro atoms of 4,5-dichloro-2-methyl-3(2H)-pyridazinone or its 6-nitro derivative. Structures of new compounds were proven by spectroscopic methods. The experimental log P values were obtained by a shake flask method in octanol and a Sörensen buffer (pH 7.4) solvent system. A consequent difference was found in the lipophilicity of regioisomers. For each isomer pair, the log P value of the 4-isomer was significantly (average by 0.75 log unit) higher than that of the 5-isomer. Some quantum chemical calculations as well as X-ray analysis of two pairs of regioisomers were also carried out to gain insight into the structural differences of regioisomers. The log P values were calculated by the fragmental approach KOWWIN and a QSPR analysis (3DNET). The a priori KOWWIN gave poor agreement, but with the programs KOWWIN with EVA (experimental value adjusted) and 3DNET, the results were generally in agreement with experiment.

Theoretical conformational analysis for neurotransmitters in the gas phase and in aqueous solution. Norepinephrine

The natural neurotransmitter (R)-norepinephrine takes the monocationic form in 93% abundance at the physiological tissue pH of 7.4. Ab initio and DFT/B3LYP calculations were performed for 12 protonated conformers of (R)-norepinephrine in the gas phase with geometry optimizations up to the MP2/6-311++G level, and with single-point calculations up to the QCISD(T) level at the HF/6-31G-optimized geometries. Four monohydrates were studied at the MP2/6-31G//HF/6-31G level. In the gas phase, the G1 conformer is the most stable with phenyl.NH(3)(+) gauche and HO(alc).NH(3)(+) gauche arrangements. A strained intramolecular hydrogen bond was found for conformers (G1 and T) with close NH(3)(+) and OH groups. Upon rotation of the NH(3)(+) group as a whole unit about the C(beta)-C(alpha) axis, a 3-fold potential was calculated with free energies for barriers of 3-12 kcal/mol at the HF/6-31G level. Only small deviations were found in MP2/6-311++G single-point calculations. A 2-fold potential was calculated for the phenyl rotation with free energies of 11-13 kcal/mol for the barriers at T = 310 K and p = 1 atm. A molecular mechanics docking study of (R)-norepinephrine in a model binding pocket of the beta-adrenergic receptor shows that the ligand takes a conformation close to the T(3) arrangement. The effect of aqueous solvation was considered by the free energy perturbation method implemented in Monte Carlo simulations. There are 4-5 strongly bound water molecules in hydrogen bonds to the conformers. Although hydration stabilizes mostly the G2 form with gauche phenyl.NH(3)(+) arrangement and a water-exposed NH(3)(+) group, the conformer population becomes T > G1 > G2, in agreement with the PMR spectroscopy measurements by Solmajer et al. (Z. Naturforsch. 1983, 38c, 758). Solvent effects reduce the free energies for barriers to 3-6 and 9-12 kcal/mol for rotations about the C(beta)-C(alpha) and the C(1)(ring)-C(beta) axes, respectively.

Reliability of logP predictions based on calculated molecular descriptors: a critical review

Correct QSAR analysis requires reliable measured or calculated logP values, being logP the most frequently utilized and most important physico-chemical parameter in such studies. Since the publication of theoretical fundamentals of logP prediction, many commercial software solutions are available. These programs are all based on experimental data of huge databases therefore the predicted logP values are mostly acceptable - especially for known structures and their derivatives. In this study we critically reviewed the published methods and compared the predictive power of commercial softwares (CLOGP, KOWWIN, SciLogP/ULTRA) to each other and to our recently developed automatic QS(P)AR program. We have selected a very diverse set of 625 known drugs (98%) and drug-like molecules with experimentally validated logP values. We have collected 78 reported "outliers" as well, which could not be predicted by the "traditional" methods. We used these data in the model building and validation. Finally, we used an external validation set of compounds missing from public databases. We emphasized the importance of data quality, descriptor calculation and selection, and presented a general, reliable descriptor selection and validation technique for such kind of studies. Our method is based on the strictest mathematical and statistical rules, fully automatic and after the initial settings there is no option for user intervention. Three approaches were applied: multiple linear regression, partial least squares analysis and artificial neural network. LogP predictions with a multiple linear regression model showed acceptable accuracy for new compounds therefore it can be used for "in-silico-screening" and/or planning virtual/combinatorial libraries.

Correlations between cytotoxicity and topography of some 2-arylidenebenzocycloalkanones determined by X-ray crystallography

Three series of 2-arylidenebenzocycloalkanones 1-3 were prepared in order to compare the topography of the molecules with cytotoxicity. These compounds contain two aryl rings whose spatial relationships to each other were influenced by the size of the alicyclic ring and the nature of the substituents in the arylidene aryl rings. All compounds were evaluated against murine P388 and L1210 cells as well as human Molt 4/C8 and CEM T-lymphocytes. From these results, 1l and 2c,l emerged as useful lead molecules and 1l was shown to significantly inhibit macromolecular DNA, RNA, and protein syntheses in L1210 cells. Various interatomic distances, bond angles, and a torsion angle of 19 representative compounds were determined by X-ray crystallography, and correlations between these data and the cytotoxicity were noted in nearly 40% of the cases examined. Structure-activity relationships revealed that in general, the steric properties of the groups in the arylidene aryl ring, as revealed by measurements of the molar refractivity values, contributed more to bioactivity than the electronic and hydrophobic properties of the aryl substituents. The compounds displayed little murine toxicity, which favors the decision to develop these molecules as cytotoxic and anticancer agents.

Quinazolone-alkyl-carboxylic acid derivatives inhibit transmembrane Ca(2+) ion flux to (+)-(S)-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid

Comparison of the kinetics of the inward Ca(2+) ion flux to (S)-alpha-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid [(S)-AMPA] in cerebrocortical homogenates and that of the previously reported transmembrane Na(+) ion influx mediated by an AMPA receptor in hippocampal homogenates established that the agonist-induced opening of the AMPA receptor channels occurs in two kinetically distinguishable phases. Here we report that the 2-methyl-4-oxo-3H-quinazoline-3-acetic acid (Q1) inhibits the major slow-phase response specifically, whereas the acetyl piperidine derivative (Q5) is a more potent inhibitor of the fast-phase response. Both the quinazolone-3-propionic acid (Q2) and the quinazolone-3-acetic acid methyl ester (Q3) enhanced the slow-phase response to (S)-AMPA. The information provided by docking different Q1, Q2, and Q5 models at the ligand-binding core of iGluRs were used to define agonistic and antagonistic modes of interactions. Based on the effects of quinazolone-3-alkyl-carboxylic acid derivatives on specific [(3)H]Glu binding and kinetically distinguishable Ca(2+) ion permeability responses to (S)-AMPA and molecular modeling, the fast- and the slow-phase (S)-AMPA-elicited Ca(2+) ion fluxes were corresponded to different subunit compositions and degrees of S1S2 bridging interaction relative to substitution of kainate thereupon. Substitutions of agonists and antagonists into the iGluR2 S1S2 ligand binding core induced different modes of domain-domain bridging.

Multiwavelength spectrophotometric determination of acid dissociation constants part V: microconstants and tautomeric ratios of diprotic amphoteric drugs

The acid-base equilibria of several diprotic amphoteric drugs, namely, niflumic acid, norfloxacin, piroxicam, pyridoxine and 2-methyl-4-oxo-3H-quinazoline-3-acetic acid have been characterized in terms of microconstants and tautomeric ratios. A multiwavelength spectrophotometric (WApH) titration method for determination of acid dissociation constants (pKa values) of ionizable compounds developed previously was applied for this purpose. Microspeciation was investigated by three approaches: (1) selective monitoring of ionizable group by spectrophotometry, (2) deductive method and (3) k(z) method for determination of tautomeric ratio from co-solvent mixtures. The formulation for (3) has been derived and found to invoke fewer assumptions than a reported procedure (K. Takács-Novák, A. Avdeef, K.J Box, B. Podányi, G. Szász, J. Pharm. Biomed. Anal., 12 (1994) 1369-1377). It has been shown that the WApH technique, for such types of ampholytes, is able to deduce the microconstants and tautomeric ratios which are in good agreement with literature data.

Ion-pair partition of quarternary ammonium drugs: the influence of counter ions of different lipophilicity, size, and flexibility

PURPOSE

The ion-pair partition of quaternary ammonium (QA) pharmacons with organic counter ions of different lipophilicity, size, shape and flexibility was studied to elucidate relationships between ion-pair formation and chemical structure.

METHODS

The apparent partition coefficient (P') of 4 QAs was measured in octanol/pH 7.4 phosphate buffer system by the shake-flask method as a function of molar excess of ten counter ions (Y), namely: mesylate (MES), acetate (AC), pyruvate (PYRU), nicotinate (NIC), hydrogenfumarate (HFUM), hydrogenmaleate (HMAL), p-toluenesulfonate (PTS), caproate (CPR), deoxycholate (DOC) and prostaglandin E1 anion (PGE1).

RESULTS

Based on 118 of highly precise logP' values (SD< 0.05), the intrinsic lipophilicity (without external counter ions) and the ion-pair partition of QAs (with different counter ions) were characterized. Linear correlation was found between the logP' of ion-pairs and the size of the counter ions described by the solvent accessible surface area (SASA). The lipophilicity increasing effect of the counter ions were quantified and the following order was established: DOC approximate to PGE1 >> CPR approximate to PTS >> NIC approximate to HMAL >> PYRU approximate to AC approximate to MES approximate to HFUM. Analyzing the lipophilicity/molar ratio (QA:Y) profile, the differences in the ion-pair formation were shown and attributed to the differences in the flexibility/rigidity and size both of QA and Y.

CONCLUSIONS

Since the largest (in average, 300 X) lipophilicity enhancement was found by the influence of DOC and PGE1 and considerable (on average 40 X) increase was observed by CPR and PTS, it was concluded that bile acids and prostaglandin anions may play a significant role in the ion-pair transport of quaternary ammonium drugs and caproic acid and p-toluenesulfonic acid may be useful salt forming agents to improve the pharmacokinetics of hydrophilic drugs.

Characterization of potential NMDA and cholecystokinin antagonists I. acid-base properties of 2-methyl-4-oxo-3H-quinazoline-3-alkyl-carboxylic acids at the molecular and submolecular levels

The protonation macroconstants (log K) of 4(3H)-quinazolone (1) and two 2-methyl-4-oxo-3H-alkyl-quinazoline-3-carboxylic acid derivatives (2,3) were determined by pH-potentiometry. The acid-base chemistry of compounds 2 and 3, where proton-bindings take place in an overlapping fashion, was described in terms of protonation microconstants as well. Microspeciation was carried out by two means: UV-pH titration (selective, pH-dependent monitoring of the N1-binding site), and deductively (using a derivative compound as covalently fixed model of one of the protonation isomers). The microconstant values obtained by the two different methods are in agreement within 0.05 log K units. Microspeciation revealed remarkable differences between the two homologue compounds (2 and 3). The microconstant values show that insertion of a second methylene moiety into the aliphatic acid side-chain (1) increases the electron-density and most basicity parameters of both functional groups; (2) significantly modifies the extent of site-site interactions in the molecule; (3) opens new conformational preferences by N1 ring nitrogen-carboxylic group intramolecular hydrogen bond formation and (4) reverses the predominantly zwitterion-involved protonation pathway into a neutral form-involved pathway. These molecules exemplify that microconstant values allow the comparative prediction and quantitative evaluation of pharmacokinetic behaviour, and signify the fact that microspeciation is a powerful tool in the process of drug development.