Stereoselective convergent synthesis of 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 metabolites: a practical approach

Vitamin D3 active metabolites 24R,25-(OH)2-D3, 24S,25-(OH)2-D3, and 1 alpha, 24R,25-(OH)3-D3 were synthesized by a convergent and stereoselective approach. In the synthetic route, the stereogenic center at C-24 was generated through ultrasonically induced aqueous conjugate addition of iodide 6 to Seebach's dioxolanone 5, and the vitamin D triene system was constructed using the Lythgoe approach. The synthesis, which is both short (seven steps from iodide 6) and efficient (32-40% overall yield), allows the preparation of large quantities of the metabolites and provides a novel example of a highly stereoselective reaction promoted by the zinc-copper couple in aqueous media.     

Synthesis of metabolites of S-1452, an orally active thromboxane A2 receptor antagonist.

The synthesis of 16 metabolites of S-1452, an orally active thromboxane A2 (TXA2) receptor antagonist, is described. Regioselective hydroxylation at C-5 or C-6 of the bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane skeleton of the optically active intermediate 16 was attempted by using 9-borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane followed by H2O2 or m-chloroperbenzoic acid (m-CPBA) and then LiA1H4, to obtain the hydroxylated product 17a or 17b, respectively. Modification of the C-2 substituent of 17a and 17b afforded eight metabolites of S-1452. Eight non-hydroxylated metabolites were synthesized by using a similar reaction sequence.     

Ion-pairing reversed-phase liquid chromatography fractionation in combination with isotope labeling reversed-phase liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry for comprehensive metabolome profiling

We report a novel two-dimensional (2D) separation strategy aimed at improving the detectability of liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) for metabolome analysis. It is based on the use of ion-pairing (IP) reversed-phase (RP) LC as the first dimension separation to fractionate the metabolites, followed by isotope labeling of individual fractions using dansylation chemistry to alter the physiochemical properties of the metabolites. The labeled metabolites having different hydrophobicity from their unlabeled counterparts are then separated and analyzed by on-line RPLC Fourier-transform ion-cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS). This off-line 2D-LC-MS strategy offers significant improvement over the one-dimensional (1D) RPLC MS technique in terms of the number of detectable metabolites. As an example, in the analysis of a human urine sample, 3564 13C-/12C-dansylated ion pairs or metabolites were detected from seven IP RPLC fractions, compared to 1218 metabolites found in 1D-RPLC-MS. Using a library of 220 amine- and phenol-containing metabolite standards, 167 metabolites were positively identified based on retention time and accurate mass matches, which was about 2.5 times the number metabolites identified by 1D-RPLC-MS analysis of the same urine sample.     

Cal-B-catalyzed alkoxycarbonylation of a-ring stereoisomeric synthons of 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and 1alpha,25-dihydroxy-19-nor-previtamin D3: a comparative study. first regioselective chemoenzymatic synthesis of 19-nor-A-ring carbonates

A comparative study of alkoxycarbonylation processes of both 19-nor-A-ring and A-ring stereoisomers of 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 analogues catalyzed by Candida antarctica lipase B (CAL-B) has been described. The presence of the methyl group in the A-ring at C-2, as in 3-6, has a determining role in the regioselectivity of the biocatalysis, mainly allowing the hydroxyl group at C-5 position to react. For the 19-nor-A-ring stereoisomers 7-10, which lack the C-2 methyl group, the configurations at C-3 and C-5 have a high influence in the selectivity exhibited by CAL-B. Thus, each couple of enantiomers showed opposing regioselectivities depending on the C-3 configuration. When C-3 possesses an (S)-configuration, enzymatic alkoxycarbonylations took place at the C-5-(R) or C-5-(S) hydroxyl groups. However, if the chiral centers at C-3 are (R), CAL-B alkoxycarbonylated the C-3-(R) hydroxyl group independently of the configuration at C-5. The corresponding carbonates are useful A-ring precursors of 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 analogues, selectively modified at the C-1 or C-3 positions. In addition, an improved synthesis of cis A-ring synthons 5 and 6 is described using a Mitsunobu methodology.     

Regioselective enzymatic acylations of polyhydroxylated eudesmanes: semisynthesis, theoretical calculations, and biotransformation of cyclic sulfites

Different lipase enzymes have been tested in order to perform regioselective acetylations on the eudesmane tetrol from vulgarin. High yields (95%) of 1,12-diacetoxy derivative (4) were achieved in 1 h with Candida antarctica lipase (CAL). However, only the 12-acetyl derivative (6) was obtained in similar yield with Mucor miehei (MML) or Candida cylindracea (CCL) lipases. The enzymatic protection at C-1 and C-12 has been used to form eudesmane cyclic-sulfites between C-6 and C-4 atoms. The R/S-sulfur configuration has been assigned by means of the experimental and theoretical (13)C and (1)H NMR chemical shifts. The theoretical shifts were calculated using the GIAO method, with a MM+ geometry optimization followed by a single-point calculation at the B3LYP/6-31G(*) level (B3LYP/6-31G(*)//MM+). Moreover, B3LYP/6-31G(*) geometry optimizations were carried out to test the B3LYP/6-31G(*)//MM+ results, for the deacetylated sulfites (12 and 15). In addition to the delta(C) and delta(H) shifts, the (3)J(HH) coupling constants were also calculated and compared with the experimental values when available. Finally, different reactivities have been checked in both sulfites by biotransformation with Rhizopus nigricans. While the R-sulfite gave 2 alpha- and 11 beta-hydroxylated metabolites, the S-sulfite yielded only regioselective deacetylations. Furthermore, both sulfites showed different reactivities in redox processes.     

1H and 13C NMR spectral assignment of androstane derivatives

(1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopic data for 5alpha-androstanes and halo-5alpha-androstanes with different substituents at positions C-3, C-9, C-11 and C-17 were examined and assigned by a combination of 1D and 2D NMR experiments. The substituent effects on the (13)C chemical shifts were compared with those of epi-androsterone, used as a reference compound. The coupling constants (n)J((19)F,(13)C) were measured for compounds 6, 8, 11 and 14.     

New taxane diterpenoids from Taiwanese Taxus sumatrana

Two new taxane diterpenoids, tasumatrols A (1) and B (2), have been isolated from extracts of the leaves and twigs of Taiwanese Taxus sumatrana. Tasumatrol A is a rare 5/6/6 taxene system, having a novel gamma-lactone at C-10 and C-19. The structures of compounds 1 and 2 were determined on the basis of two dimensional (2D)-NMR techniques, including correlation spectroscopy (COSY), 1H-detected heteronuclear multiple quantum coherence (HMQC) and heteronuclear multiple bond connectivity (HMBC) experiments.     

Biocatalyzed cross-coupling of sinomenine and guaiacol by Antrodiella semisupina

In search of more potent derivatives of sinomenine (1), a clinically available natural alkaloid for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), biocatalyzed cross-coupling of sinomenine and guaiacol (2) by Antrodiella semisupina, provided two unique C-C coupled (3 and 4) and one C-O linked (5) novel metabolites. The structures of the metabolites were elucidated by means of MS, 2D NMR techniques and X-ray analysis. 4 exhibited more potent inhibitory activity on IL-6 production than 1 in human synovial sarcoma cell (SW982), and 5 stimulated IL-6 production.     

Structure elucidation by synthesis of four metabolites of the antitumor drug ENMD-1198 detected in human plasma samples

ENMD-1198 is a biologically active analogue of the antitumor drug 2-methoxyestradiol. Four human metabolites of ENMD-1198 were identified through synthesis and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry comparisons of the metabolites with the synthetic standards. Two metabolites (3 and 4) are epimers resulting from benzylic hydroxylation at C-6. Two additional metabolites (5 and 6) are formed by epimeric hydroxylation at C-6 and α-epoxidation of the 16,17-alkene. The syntheses provided sufficient quantities of the metabolites for cytotoxicity studies to proceed. The 6-β-ol 4 was moderately less cytotoxic than the parent drug, while the remaining three metabolites (3, 5, and 6) were significantly less cytotoxic.     

1H and 13C NMR data for C-6 substituted 3-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane-1-carboxylates

The 1H and 13C NMR spectra of 3-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonanes with various oxygenated substituents at C-6 were assigned using 1D (DEPT) and 2D (COSY, HSQC, HMBC, NOESY) experiments. Close examination of this NMR data details the effects of substitution and stereochemistry at C-6 in these compounds.     

New cytotoxic apigenin derivatives from Selaginella doederleinii

75%aqueous ethanol extract from the whole herbs of Selaginella doederleinii was isolated,and two new apigenin derivatives,doederflavones A(1) and B(2),together with ten known compounds(3-12) were characterized.Their structures were assigned by extensive spectroscopic methods including 1D/2D NMR and HR-ESIMS.Compounds 1-6 bear an aryl substituent at the C-8 or C-6 positions in ring A of apigenin skeleton.Compounds 1 and 2 were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxicity against four human cancer cell lines A549,MCF-7,SMMC-7721,and LoVo,both of which exhibited significant cytotoxicity against A549 with IC_(50) values of 0.82 μmol/L and 1.32 μmol/L,respectively.     

Structures of TMC-95A-D: novel proteasome inhibitors from Apiospora montagnei sacc. TC 1093

Four novel proteasome inhibitors, TMC-95A-D (1-4) have been isolated from the fermentation broth of Apiospora montagnei Sacc. TC 1093, isolated from a soil sample. All of the molecular formulas of 1-4 were established as C(33)H(38)N(6)O(10) by high-resolution FAB-MS. Their planar structures were determined on the basis of extensive analyses of 1D and 2D NMR, and degradation studies. Compounds 1-4 have the same planar structures to each other, and are unique highly modified cyclic peptides containing L-tyrosine, L-aspargine, highly oxidized L-tryptophan, (Z)-1-propenylamine, and 3-methyl-2-oxopentanoic acid units. The absolute configuration at C-11 and C-36 of 1-4 was determined based on chiral TLC and HPLC analyses of their chemical degradation products. The ROESY analysis along with (1)H-(1)H coupling constants clarified the absolute stereochemistry at C-6, -7, -8, and -14 of the cyclic moieties. These studies revealed the relationships of 1-4 to be diastereomers at C-7 and C-36.     

1H and 13C NMR spectra of C-6 and C-9 substituted 3-azabicyclco[3.3.1]nonanes

The 1H and 13C NMR data for 3-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonanes with OH and OMe substituents at C-6 and C-9 were measured using 1D (DEPT) and 2D (COSY, HSQC, HMBC, NOESY) experiments. Comparison of this NMR data illustrates the effects of stereochemistry and substitution at these positions.     

Profiling the metabolic difference of seven tanshinones using high-performance liquid chromatography/multi-stage mass spectrometry with data-dependent acquisition

Tanshinones are a class of bioactive constituents in the roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza named Dan-Shen in Chinese, which possess diverse pharmacological activities. In this study, we employed a sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography/multi-stage mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS(n)) method with data-dependent acquisition and a dynamic exclusion program for the identification of phase I metabolites of seven tanshinones in rat bile after intravenous administration. These seven tanshinones are tanshinone IIA, sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate (abbreviated as STS, a water-soluble derivate of tanshinone IIA), cryptotanshinone, 15,16-dihydrotanshinone I, tanshinone IIB, przewaquinone A and tanshinone I. Altogether 33 metabolites underwent monohydroxylation, dihydroxylation, dehydrogenation, D-ring hydrolysis or oxidation reactions in the C-4 or C-15 side chain which were characterized by analyzing the LC/MS(n) data. Different metabolic reactions for tanshinones were dependent on the degree of saturation and the substituent group in the skeleton. Dehydrogenation was the major metabolic modification for cryptotanshinone with saturated A and D rings. 15,16-Dihydrotanshinone I containing a saturated D ring was mainly metabolized through D-ring hydrolysis. For tanshinone IIA, possessing a saturated A ring, hydroxylation was the major metabolic pathway. When there was hydroxyl group substitution in the C-17 or C-18 position, such as przewaquinone A and tanshinone IIB, or sulfonic group substitution in the C-16 position, such as STS, higher metabolic stability than that of tanshinone IIA was shown and only trace metabolites were generated. Oxidation in the C-4 or C-15 side chain was a characteristic reaction for tanshinone IIA and hydroxylated tanshinone IIA. For tanshinone I, bearing unsaturated A and D rings simultaneously, no metabolites were detected.     

In vivo biotransformation of 17 alpha-methyltestosterone in the horse revisited: identification of 17-hydroxymethyl metabolites in equine urine by capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

The in vivo phase I biotransformation of 17 alpha-methyltestosterone in the horse leads to the formation of a complex mixture of regio- and stereoisomeric C(20)O(2), C(20)O(3) and C(20)O(4) metabolites, excreted in urine as glucuronide and sulphate phase II conjugates. The major pathways of in vivo metabolism are the reduction of the A-ring (di- and tetrahydro), epimerisation at C-17 and oxidations mainly at C-6 and C-16. Some phase I metabolites have been identified previously by positive ion electron ionisation capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/EI + MS) mainly from the characteristic fragmentation patterns of their methyloxime-trimethylsilyl ether (MO-TMS), enol-TMS or TMS ether derivatives. Following oral administration of 17 alpha-methyltestosterone to two castrated thoroughbred male horses, the glucuronic acid conjugates excreted in post-administration urine samples were selectively hydrolysed by E. coli beta-glucuronidase enzymes. Unconjugated metabolites and the steroid aglycones obtained after enzymatic deconjugation were isolated from urine by solid-phase extraction, derivatised as MO-TMS ethers and analysed by GC/EI + MS. In addition to some of the known metabolites previously identified from the characteristic mass spectral fragmentation patterns of 17 alpha-methyl steroids, some isobaric compounds exhibiting a diagnostic loss of 103 mass units from the molecular ions with subsequent losses of trimethylsilanol or methoxy groups and an absence of the classical D-ring fragment ion were detected. From an interpretation of their mass spectra, these compounds were identified as 17-hydroxymethyl metabolites, formed in vivo in the horse by oxidation of the 17-methyl moiety of 17 alpha-methyltestosterone. This study reports on the GC/EI + MS identification of these novel 17-hydroxymethyl C(20)O(3) and C(20)O(4) metabolites of 17 alpha-methyltestosterone excreted in thoroughbred horse urine.     

Urinary metabolites of cinobufagin in rats and their antiproliferative activities

Cinobufagin was one of the important cardenolidal steroids and a major component of Chan'Su, a famous traditional Chinese medicine. The urinary metabolites of cinobufagin after single oral doses of 25?mg?kg?1 in rats were investigated. Eleven metabolites were isolated and purified by liquid-liquid extraction, open-column chromatography, medium-pressure liquid chromatography, as well as semi-preparative high-performance liquid chromatography. Their structures were elucidated by chemical and various spectroscopic methods, which were identified as desacetylcinobufagin (M-1), 3-oxo-desacetylcinobufagin (M-2), 3-oxo-cinobufagin (M-3), 3-epi-desacetylcinobufagin (M-4), 3-epi-12β-hydroxyl desacetylcinobufagin (M-5), 5β-hydroxyl cinobufagin (M-6), 5β-hydroxyl desacetylcinobufagin (M-7), 12β-hydroxyl cinobufagin (M-8), 1β,12β-dihydroxyl cinobufagin (M-9), 12β-hydroxyl desacetylcinobufagin (M-10) and 1β,12β-dihydroxyl desacetylcinobufagin (M-11), respectively. Among them, M-1 was the main urinary metabolite of cinobufagin with a yield of 17.7%. Most metabolites were hydroxylated products of cinobufagin at C-1β, 5β and 12β positions, as well as deacetylated products at C-16. Except M-1, M-4 and M-7, the other eight metabolites were novel in vivo metabolites of cinobufagin. Some metabolites showed potential cytotoxicity against human hepatoma cells (HepG2) and human leukaemia (K562, HL-60) cells; however, their cytotoxicities generally decreased after metabolic conversion.     

Didemnaketals D and E,bioactive terpenoids from a Red Sea ascidian Didemnum species

Two new spiroketals, didemnaketals D (1) and E (2) were isolated from a marine ascidian species belonging to the genus Didemnum. The structures of the compounds were elucidated by extensive 1D (¹H, ¹³C, and DEPT) and 2D (COSY, TOCSY, HSQC, HMBC, NOESY, and ROESY) NMR studies and high-resolution mass spectroscopic data. The new didemnaketals differ from the reported ones in which that they lack the methyl functionality at C-6 and the hydroxy moiety at C-21. Instead, they possess an ester moiety at C-6 in addition to new oxygen functionality at C-20 of the didemnaketals. Compounds 1 and 2 were evaluated for their protein kinase inhibitory activity against different kinases (CDK5, CK1, DyrK1A, and GSK3) at 10 μg/mL. Compounds 1 and 2 showed moderate activity against these kinases. In addition, the compounds displayed moderate antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis, respectively.     

Submerged fermentation of the edible mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus in a batch stirred tank bioreactor as a promising alternative for the effective production of bioactive metabolites

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of the submerged fermentation procedure in the production of bioactive metabolites of the common edible mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus. The biomass of the mushroom strain was produced by submerged fermentation in a batch stirred tank bioreactor and extracted by solvents of increasing polarity. The dichloromethane and methanol extract were fractioned by different techniques including Adsorption Chromatography and Fast Centrifugal Partition Chromatography (FCPC). The structures of pure compounds were elucidated with 1D/2D NMR-spectroscopic analyses, and chemical correlations combined with GC/MS and LC/MS experiments. Nineteen metabolites (e.g., fatty acids, phenolic metabolites, nucleotides and alkaloids) were isolated. Beyond the production of known metabolites, we report herein the production also of trans-3,4-dihydro-3,4,8-trihydroxynapthalen-1(2H)-one, indolo-3-carboxylic acid, 3-formylpyrrole and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, that have pharmaceutical interest and are isolated for the first time from Pleurotus strains. This work indicates the great potential of the established bioprocess for the production of P. ostreatus mycelia with enhanced metabolic profile.     

Comparative identification of the metabolites of dehydrocorydaline from rat plasma,bile, urine and feces by both the targeted and untargeted liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry strategies

Severe interference from the endogenous substances is often encountered in characterizing the drug metabolites by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry using data-dependent acquisition (DDA). To add a precursor ions list (PIL) by DDA or apply data-independent acquisition (DIA) coupled with post-acquisition data processing (such as mass defect filtering, MDF) may assist to target more metabolites from the complex biosamples. Dehydrocorynine (DHC) is a bioactive alkaloid compound rich in Corydalis yanhusuo. We integrated both PIL-DDA and DIA-MDF strategies to probe the metabolites of DHC simultaneously from the rat plasma, bile, urine, and feces. Chromatographic separation was performed on an HSS C18 SB column. The positive-mode collision-induced dissociation-MS² data of DHC metabolites were recorded by PIL-DDA on both the QTrap 4500 and Vion IM-QTOF mass spectrometers, and by HDMS^E on Vion IM-QTOF. Efficient workflows to process the high-definition DDA (HDDDA) and HDMS^E data were elaborated. Totally 40 metabolites (orally administrated at the dose of 100 mg/kg) were identified or tentatively characterized, involving 30 from bile, 16 from feces, 7 from plasma, and 18 from urine. The methoxyls and C-5/C-6/C-8 were the main sites prone to be metabolized via demethylation and oxidation, and further glucuronic acid conjugation and sulfuric acid conjugation. Compared with literature, we can newly discover 17 metabolites in bile, and, for the first time, report the metabolites of DHC from rat urine and feces. Conclusively, the presented PIL-DDA and DIA-MDF strategies are powerful in elucidating the drug metabolites, which thus provides reference to characterizing the metabolic profiles of traditional Chinese medicine components.     

Studies on Agarofurans VIII. Synthesis of the Metabolites of 4-Butyl-a-agarofuran

Agarofurans have been found to be active on the nervous system in our institute. 4-Butyl-a-agarofuran 1 is a promising drug candidate. In order to explore the pharmacokinetics of 1, the metabolism of 1 in vitro was studied with liver microsomes from rats. Five metabolites were isolated and structures were identified as compounds 2-6. But the absolute configuration of 2,4,5 and the position of carbonyl in 3 could not be unambiguously determined. Further determination was limited by the smal…