A review of the methods of chemical synthesis of sulphate and glucuronide conjugates

Preparation of glucuronides using liver microsomes and their characterization by 1D/2D NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry: Application to fentanyl metabolites

A simple, low-cost method for preparing glucuronic acid-conjugated metabolites was developed using fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, as a model drug. Five glucuronic acid-conjugated metabolites of fentanyl were measured in the culture medium of fresh human hepatocytes incubated with fentanyl. These glucuronides were also formed by incubation of their corresponding substrates (e.g., 4'-hydroxy-fentanyl and β-hydroxy-fentanyl) with uridine 5'-diphosphoglucuronic acid and human liver microsomes (HLM). Experiments using liver microsomes of several animals revealed that significant species differences exist in the glucuronide formation patterns; fentanyl glucuronide was only formed in HLM, and 4'-hydroxy-fentanyl glucuronide was formed much more in rat liver microsomes (RLM) than HLM and dog liver microsomes. Furthermore, surprisingly, HLM and RLM showed opposite substrate selectivity for the enantiomers of β-hydroxy-fentanyl. Submilligram amounts of three of these metabolites, namely, 4'-hydroxy-fentanyl glucuronide and two glucuronides of β-hydroxy-fentanyl, were prepared by using HLM or RLM. The products were readily purified with a reversed-phase/anion-exchange mixed-mode solid-phase extraction cartridge, and then, their chemical structures were confirmed by 1D/2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and mass spectrometry data. In addition, the products were quantitated by quantitative NMR, and the yields were 3.6-69%.

Peripheralization Strategies Applied to Morphinans and Implications for Improved Treatment of Pain

Opioids are considered the most effective analgesics for the treatment of moderate to severe acute and chronic pain. However, the inadequate benefit/risk ratio of currently available opioids, together with the current 'opioid crisis', warrant consideration on new opioid analgesic discovery strategies. Targeting peripheral opioid receptors as effective means of treating pain and avoiding the centrally mediated side effects represents a research area of substantial and continuous attention. Among clinically used analgesics, opioids from the class of morphinans (i.e., morphine and structurally related analogues) are of utmost clinical importance as analgesic drugs activating the mu-opioid receptor. In this review, we focus on peripheralization strategies applied to N-methylmorphinans to limit their ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, thus minimizing central exposure and the associated undesired side effects. Chemical modifications to the morphinan scaffold to increase hydrophilicity of known and new opioids, and nanocarrier-based approaches to selectively deliver opioids, such as morphine, to the peripheral tissue are discussed. The preclinical and clinical research activities have allowed for the characterization of a variety of compounds that show low central nervous system penetration, and therefore an improved side effect profile, yet maintaining the desired opioid-related antinociceptive activity. Such peripheral opioid analgesics may represent alternatives to presently available drugs for an efficient and safer pain therapy.

Synthesis and stability study of a new major metabolite of γ-hydroxybutyric acid

γ-Hydroxybutanoic acid (GHB) is used as a date-rape drug, which renders the victims unconscious and defenceless. Intoxications are very difficult to detect for forensic scientists due to rapid metabolism to endogenous levels of GHB. We recently discovered a new major metabolite, 2, of GHB (1) that could potentially extend the analytical detection window for GHB intoxications. Herein we disclose synthetic procedures based on a Koenigs-Knorr glucuronidation approach that provides GHB glucuronide 2 and a deuterium-labelled analogue d 4-2 of high purity suitable for analytical chemistry. In addition, we have assessed the stability of GHB glucuronide 2 by mimicking the natural pH range for urine, which is of importance in the development of new analytical methods. Using NMR we show that GHB glucuronide 2 is highly stable towards aqueous hydrolysis within the pH range normally observed for urine even at elevated temperature.

Acylglucuronide in alkaline conditions: migration vs. hydrolysis

This work rationalizes the glucuronidation process (one of the reactions of the phase II metabolism) for drugs having a carboxylic acid moiety. At this stage, acylglucuronides (AG) metabolites are produced, that have largely been reported in the literature for various drugs (e.g., mycophenolic acid (MPA), diclofenac, ibuprofen, phenylacetic acids). The competition between migration and hydrolysis is rationalized by adequate quantum calculations, combing MP2 and density functional theory (DFT) methods. At the molecular scale, the former process is a real rotation of the drug around the glucuconic acid. This chemical-engine provides four different metabolites with various toxicities. Migration definitely appears feasible under alkaline conditions, making proton release from the OH groups. The latter reaction (hydrolysis) releases the free drug, so the competition is of crucial importance to tackle drug action and elimination. From the theoretical data, both migration and hydrolysis appear kinetically and thermodynamically favored, respectively.

Synthesis of Glycosides of Glucuronic, Galacturonic and Mannuronic Acids: An Overview

Uronic acids are carbohydrates present in relevant biologically active compounds. Most of the latter are glycosides or oligosaccharides linked by their anomeric carbon, so their synthesis requires glycoside-bond formation. The activation of this anomeric center remains difficult due to the presence of the electron-withdrawing C-5 carboxylic group. Herein we present an overview of glucuronidation, mannuronidation and galacturonidation reactions, including syntheses of prodrugs, oligosaccharides and stereochemical aspects.

Sulfate esters of morphine derivatives: synthesis and characterization

Sixteen 3-O- and 6-O-sulfate esters of morphine, codeine and some of their N-methyl quaternary derivatives were synthesized by means of sulfation with pyridine-SO(3) complex and sulfuric acid/N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. Complete (1)H- and (13)C-NMR assignments are given for each of the synthesized compounds based on one- and two-dimensional homo- and heteronuclear measurements. Comparative analysis of chiral properties by circular dichroism and optical rotatory dispersion revealed characteristic differences in the spectra due to changes in charge, polarity and intramolecular association by strong hydrogen bonds in aqueous solution. The synthesized sulfate esters are prospective peripheral analgesics lacking central side effects and are also useful as reference substances for various analytical studies involving sulfate ester metabolites.

Uronic acids in oligosaccharide and glycoconjugate synthesis

This chapter describes the assembly of uronic acid containing oligosaccharides and glycoconjugates. Two strategies are available to access these target molecules, namely a pre-glycosylation oxidation approach, in which uronic acid building blocks are used, and a post-glycosylation oxidation strategy, which employs an oxidation step after the assembly of the oligosaccharide chain. Because uronic acid building blocks are generally considered to be less reactive than their non-oxidized counterparts, the latter approach has found most application in carbohydrate synthesis. With the aid of selected examples of recent syntheses of biologically relevant oligosaccharides and glycoconjugates, the reactivity of different uronic acid building blocks is evaluated. From these examples it is apparent that the generally assumed low reactivity of uronic acids does not a priori rule out an efficient assembly of these target compounds. Besides influencing the reactivity of a given pyranoside, the C-5 carboxylic acid function can also have a profound effect on the stereochemical course of a glycosylation reaction, which can be exploited in the stereoselective formation of glycosidic bonds.

Effect of aging on glucuronidation of valproic acid in human liver microsomes and the role of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase UGT1A4, UGT1A8, and UGT1A10

Valproic acid (VPA) is a widely used anticonvulsant that is also approved for mood disorders, bipolar depression, and migraine. In vivo, valproate is metabolized oxidatively by cytochromes P450 and beta-oxidation, as well as conjugatively via glucuronidation. The acyl glucuronide conjugate (valproate-glucuronide or VPAG) is the major urinary metabolite (30-50% of the dose). It has been hypothesized that glucuronidation of antiepileptic drugs is spared over age, despite a known decrease in liver mass. The formation rates of VPAG in a bank of elderly (65 years onward) human liver microsomes (HLMs) were measured by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry and compared with those in a younger (2-56 years) HLM bank. In vitro kinetic studies with recombinant UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) were completed. A 5- to 8-fold variation for the formation of VPAG was observed within the microsomal bank obtained from elderly and younger donors. VPAG formation ranged from 6.0 to 53.4 nmol/min/mg protein at 1 mM substrate concentration (n=36). The average velocities at 0.25, 0.5, and 1 mM VPA were 7.0, 13.4, and 25.4 nmol/min/mg protein, respectively, in the elderly HLM bank. Rates of VPAG formation were not significantly different in the HLM bank obtained from younger subjects. Intrinsic clearances (V(max)/K(m)) for several cloned, expressed UGTs were determined. UGT1A4, UGT1A8, and UGT1A10 also were found to catalyze the formation of VPAG in vitro. This is the first reported activity of these UGTs toward VPA glucuronidation. UGT2B7 had the highest intrinsic clearance, whereas UGT1A1 demonstrated no activity. In conclusion, our investigation revealed no differences in VPAG formation in younger versus elderly HMLs and revealed three other UGTs that form VPAG in vitro.

Synthesis of urine drug metabolites: glucuronic acid glycosides of phenol intermediates

The investigation of drug metabolism requires substantial amount of metabolites. Isolation from urine is tedious, therefore, the material obtained by synthesis is preferred. Substantial amounts of three tentative drug metabolites, phenolic glucuronides, have been prepared using easily available glycosyl donors. The final products [3(2-N-methyl-N-isopropylaminoethoxy)phenyl] beta-D-glucopyranosiduronic acid, 4-amino-3,5-dimethylphenyl beta-D-glucopyranosiduronic acid and [2(S)-propanoyl-6-O-naphthyl] beta-D-glucopyranuronic acid are useful as, for example, reference material in metabolite investigations.

Synthesis of the Metabolites of 4-(2-Methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)-2,2-diphenylbutanamide (KRP-197/ONO-8025)

We synthesized the six presumed metabolites (2--7) of 4-(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)-2,2-diphenylbutanamide [KRP-197/ONO-8025, 1], a urinary incontinence therapeutic agent, in order to confirm the structures of the metabolites. Metabolite (2) was synthesized via glucuronidaion of compound (1) and methyl 2,3,4-tri-O-benzoyl-1-methanesulfonyl-alpha-D-glucopyranuronate. Metabolite (3) was synthesized via 3-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-methyl-1,3-imidazolidine-4,5-dione. Metabolites (4--7) were synthesized via 4-amino-2-diphenylbutanamide, respectively. The structures of the metabolites (2--7) in humans were identified by means of synthesis of the authentic compounds.

Effective Synthesis of 1β-Acyl Glucuronides by Selective Acylation

[reaction: see text] Acyl glucuronides are vital metabolites for many carboxylic acid containing drugs. We report an efficient new method for the chemical synthesis of these molecules by selective 1beta-acylation of allyl glucuronate with carboxylic acids catalyzed by HATU and then mild deprotection through treatment with Pd(PPh(3))(4) and morpholine. The method is effective for a range of aryl and alkyl carboxylic acids, including important drugs.

Glucuronidation of steroidal alcohols using iodosugar and imidate donors

We report a study of the glucuronidation of a number of important steroidal secondary alcohols. The alcohols studied are androsterone 7, epiandrosterone 8, 17-acetoxy-androstane-3alpha,17beta-diol 9, 11alpha-hydroxyprogesterone 10, and 3-benzoylestradiol 11. These were first glucuronidated using the Schmidt trichloroacetimidate method with variations in acyl substituent (viz. derivatives 2 and 3), Lewis acid catalyst and order of addition. The results are contrasted with those obtained using our recently described glycosyl iodide donor 4, catalysed either by N-iodosuccinimide (NIS) or various metal salts.

Characterization by liquid chromatography-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry of two coupled oxidative-conjugative metabolic pathways for 7-ethoxycoumarin in human liver microsomes treated with alamethicin

The microsomal metabolism of 7-ethoxycoumarin (7-EC) was investigated using liquid chromatography (LC)-NMR and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) to characterize the coupling of oxidative-conjugative metabolism events. Within microsomes, cytochromes P450 (P450s) and UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) are spatially disparate, each having surface and luminal localization, respectively. To optimize cofactor and substrate transit to UGT without compromising P450 activity, the pore-forming peptide alamethicin was used for microsomal perforation. Aqueous extracts of microsomal incubations containing NADPH and UDP-glucuronic acid were injected for LC-NMR and LC-MS analysis. The analytical complementarity of LC-NMR and LC-MS permitted the identification of four metabolites (M1 to M4). The metabolites M1 and M2 are novel microsomal metabolites for 7-EC, consistent with 3-hydroxylation and subsequent glucuronidation, respectively. Metabolites M3 and M4 were 7-hydroxycoumarin (7-HC) and 7-HC glucuronide, respectively. Viewed collectively, these results illustrate the utility of alamethicin in the examination of coupled oxidative-conjugative metabolism and the synergy of LC-NMR and LC-MS in metabolite identification.

An enzymatic synthesis of glucuronides of azetidinone-based cholesterol absorption inhibitors

Two derivatives, 1 and 3, of a novel cholesterol absorption inhibitor, Sch 58235, were glucuronidated with the help of glucuronyl transferases derived from bovine and dog liver microsomes. An efficient procedure for the iodination of 4 was developed on an analytical scale to be used for the preparation of a 125I-labeled radioactive glucuronide 5.

Enzymatic glucuronidation of a novel cholesterol absorption inhibitor, Sch 58235

A glucuronide of a novel cholesterol absorption inhibitor was synthesized on a 200-mg scale in one step via bovine liver glucuronyltransferase-catalyzed coupling of the glucuronyl moiety of UDP-glucuronic acid with the phenolic hydroxyl of Sch 58235. It was shown that the product yield is limited by the hydrolysis of UDP-glucuronic acid by impurities present in the commercial microsomal preparation of the transferase. This detrimental effect of UDPGluA hydrolysis could be diminished by the presence of high concentration of glucuronlytransferase. Optimization of reaction conditions and purification procedure resulted in a process that proceeded with 95% conversion and 88% isolated product yield. The 13C6-glucuronide of Sch 58235 was prepared with the help of a cascade of eight enzymes operating concurrently in one pot.

Sugar-substituted 2-azetidinone cholesterol absorption inhibitors: enhanced potency by modification of the sugar

A glucuronide conjugate of the potent 2-azetidinone cholesterol absorption inhibitor Sch 58235 was synthesized to confirm the structure of a metabolite isolated from in vivo sources. A series of 2-azetidinone glycosides was prepared via Schmidt trichloroimidate methodology. Enhanced cholesterol absorption inhibition was achieved by modification of the sugar moiety.

Sugar-substituted 2-azetidinones as cholesterol absorption inhibitors

The asymmetric synthesis of a glucuronide conjugate of the 2-azetidinone cholesterol absorption inhibitor Sch 48461 was accomplished to confirm the structure of a metabolite isolated from in vivo sources. Key features of this article include the asymmetric synthesis of 2-azetidinones by Evan's chiral oxazolidinone methodology and glucuronide formation by a Mitsunobu protocol.

Effect of substituents on the metabolism of nitracrine in rat

1. Male Wistar rats were treated with either the antitumour agent nitracrine (1-nitro-9-(3'-dimethylamino-N-propylamino)-acridine; NC), 4-methoxy-NC, NC-aliphatic-N-oxide, 4-methoxy-NC-aliphatic-N-oxide, or NC-aromatic-N-oxide (30 mumol/kg, via the femoral vein) and the major biliary and urinary metabolites analysed by hplc. 2. No NC or 4-methoxy-NC were detected in bile or urine of rat treated with NC or 4-methoxy-NC respectively, whereas the aliphatic N-oxides of NC and 4-methoxy-NC were recovered largely unchanged in both bile and urine. 3. NC-aromatic-N-oxide was rapidly and extensively converted to a major polar biliary product. This product was also synthesised enzymatically from NC-aromatic-N-oxide using rat liver cytosol and has been identified by mass and 1H-nmr spectrometry as 1-(S-glutathionyl)-9-(3'-dimethylamino-N-propylamino)-acridine-N(10)-oxi de. 4. The equivalent 1-(S-glutathionyl) conjugate appears to be formed from NC, and excreted in bile as a minor product, but not from 4-methoxy-NC. Further experiments with cytosol indicate that direct displacement of the nitro group by GSH is mediated by GSH transferase. 5. Finally, the major biliary metabolite of NC has been provisionally identified as a glucuronide of 1-nitro-2-hydroxy-NC. 6. It is concluded that, for at least a significant fraction of NC, nitroreduction does not occur. Further, N-oxidation of the aliphatic (but not the aromatic ring) nitrogen, plus 4-methoxy substitution, decreases the overall metabolism of NC in the rat.

750 MHz HPLC-NMR spectroscopic studies on the separation and characterization of the positional isomers of the glucuronides of 6,11-dihydro-11-oxodibenz[b,e]oxepin-2-acetic acid

Ester glucuronides (beta-1-O-acyl-D-glucopyranuronates) of many drugs can undergo a series of acyl migration reactions, resulting in positional isomers and anomers which can react with serum proteins with possible toxicological consequences. We have investigated the acyl migration of the ester glucuronides of the model drug 6,-11-dihydro-11-oxodibenz[b,e]oxepin-2-acetic acid in pH 7.4 buffer using directly coupled 750 MHz stopped-flow HPLC-NMR spectroscopy. Using a reversed phase isocratic HPLC method with 21% acetonitrile and 79% D2O in the mobile phase, it was possible to separate and hence identify the individual positional isomers of the model drug glucuronide by 750 MHz HPLC-NMR. The order of elution of the isomers from the C18 column was 4alpha-, 4beta-, aglycon, 1beta-, 3beta-, 3alpha-, 2alpha-, 2beta- (alpha- and beta- referring to the anomerization state at C1 on the glucuronide ring and the numbers referring to the carbon number on the glucuronide ring to which the drug moiety has migrated). It is shown that directly coupled ultra-high-field HPLC-NMR spectroscopy offers a unique analytical advantage for obtaining structural information of interconverting compounds in equilibrium mixtures, and this method will be of value in the study of reactive drug glucuronides of toxicological importance.

Identification of ractopamine hydrochloride metabolites excreted in rat bile

1. Rats dosed orally with 2.85 +/- 0.30 mg [14C]ractopamine HC1 [(1R*, 3R*), (1R*, 3S*)-4-hydroxy-alpha-[[[3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)- 1-methylpropyl]-amino]-methyl]([U-14C]benzenemethanol)hydrochloride] containing 1.44 +/- 0.15 microCi radioactivity excreted 58 +/- 7% of the administered radioactivity in the bile within 24 h. Absorption and excretion of radioactivity was rapid as 55% of the administered radiocarbon was excreted into the bile during the first 8-h collection period. 2. Radioactivity excreted in rat bile was partitioned by XAD-2 column chromatography and reverse-phase hplc into at least seven different crude metabolite fractions; metabolites representing approximately 76% of the biliary radioactivity were isolated and identified from four of the crude metabolite fractions. 3. Approximately 46% of the biliary radioactivity was identified as a sulphate-ester, glucuronic acid diconjugate of ractopamine. Identification was based on 1H-nmr and negative-ion FAB-ms spectroscopy. Enzymatic and chemical hydrolysis of the sulphate-ester followed by co-chromatography of the hydrolysis products with synthetic ractopamine mono-glucuronides, established the site of sulphation at the C-10' phenol (phenol attached to carbinol) and glucuronidation at the C-10 phenol (phenol attached to methylpropyl amine) of ractopamine. 4. A metabolite representing approximately 6% of the biliary radioactivity was identified as a ractopamine mono-sulphate conjugate by using mass spectral and 1H-nmr techniques. Sulphate was conjugated at the C-10' phenol of ractopamine and was not stereospecific. 5. Approximately 25% of the biliary radioactivity was identified as ractopamine mono-glucuronides. The major site of glucuronidation was at the C-10 phenol, but ractopamine glucuronidated at the C'-10 phenol was also present.

Identification of drug glucuronides in human urine by RP-HPLC after derivatization

A method for the identification of four types of drug glucuronides in human urine is presented. The approach involves solid-phase extraction (C18 columns) from acidified human urine and subsequent methylation and acetylation of the extracted drug glucuronides to triacetyl methyl derivatives. These derivatives were identified by RP-HPLC by comparison with synthesized authentic reference compounds. The scope of the method was demonstrated by identification of glucuronides formed by metabolism of clofibrate, phenazone, disulfiram and sulfamethoxazole in urine samples of two male volunteers.

Studies on anabolic steroids. 9. Tertiary sulfates of anabolic 17 alpha-methyl steroids: synthesis and rearrangement

A simple and convenient method has been developed to prepare sulfates of anabolic 17 beta-hydroxy-17 alpha-methyl steroids. The sulfates of methandienone, 17 alpha-methyltestosterone, mestanolone, oxandrolone, and stanozolol were prepared. Different A-ring functions were not affected under the sulfation condition. The buffered hydrolyses of these sulfates provided the 17-epimers of the original steroids and 17,17-dimethyl-18-nor-13(14)-ene steroids, presumably via the 17-carbocations.