Acebutolol and alprenolol metabolism predictions: comparative study of electrochemical and cytochrome P450-catalyzed reactions using liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry

A comparative study of the electrochemical conversion and the biotransformation performed by the cytochrome P450 (CYP450) obtained by rat liver microsomes has been achieved to elucidate the oxidation mechanism of both acebutolol and alprenolol. For this purpose, a wide range of reactions such as N-dealkylation, O-dealkoxylation, aromatic hydroxylation, benzyl hydroxylation, alkyl hydroxylation, and aromatic hydroxylation have been examined in this study, and their mechanisms have been compared. Most of the results of the electrochemical oxidation have been found to be in accordance with those obtained by incubating acebutolol and alprenolol in the presence of CYP450, i.e., N-dealkylation, benzyl hydroxylation, and O-dealkoxylation reactions catalyzed by liver microsomes were found to be predicted by the electrochemical oxidation. The difficulty for the electrochemical process to mimic both aromatic and alkyl hydroxylation reactions has also been discussed, and the hypothesis for the absence of aromatic hydroxylated and alkyl hydroxylated products, respectively, for alprenolol and acebutolol, under the anodic oxidation has been supported by theoretical calculation. The present study highlights the potential and limitation of coupling of electrochemistry–liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry for the study of phase I and phase II reactions of acebutolol and alprenolol.

Inverse Kinetic Solvent Isotope Effect in TiO2 Photocatalytic Dehalogenation of Non‐adsorbable Aromatic Halides: A Proton‐Induced Pathway

An efficient redox reaction between organic substrates in solution and photoinduced h⁺_vb/e^?_cb on the surface of photocatalysts requires the substrates or solvent to be adsorbed onto the surface, and is consequentially marked by a normal kinetic solvent isotope effect (KSIE≥1). Reported herein is a universal inverse KSIE (0.6–0.8 at 298 K) for the reductive dehalogenation of aromatic halides which cannot adsorb onto TiO₂ in a [D₀]methanol/[D₄]methanol solution. Combined with in situ ATR‐FTIR spectroscopy investigations, a previously unknown pathway for the transformation of these aromatic halides in TiO₂ photocatalysis was identified: a proton adduct intermediate, induced by released H⁺/D⁺ from solvent oxidation, accompanies a change in hybridization from sp² to sp³ at a carbon atom of the aromatic halides. The protonation event leads these aromatic halides to adsorb onto the TiO₂ surface and an ET reaction to form dehalogenated products follows.     

Quantifying electrochemical promotion of induced bipolar Pt particles supported on YSZ

Electrochemical promotion (EP) of CO oxidation is shown for the first time on induced bipolar Pt particles supported on yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ). These Pt particles are formed by sputter deposition of high-purity Pt metal followed by sintering. Conditions were chosen to stay below the percolation threshold of Pt particles. In-plane polarization of Pt particles results in a bipolar system and leads to the formation of a large number of galvanic cells partially or completely polarized. We have defined an equivalent number of active cells (n_cell) which has been estimated from the oxygen evolution reaction as a function of the applied current on the two feed electrodes. The CO oxidation rate is measured under high vacuum conditions as a function of applied current. The use of isotopically labeled oxygen allows the discrimination of the faradaic process (¹⁶O from YSZ) from the non-faradaic process (¹⁸O from¹⁸O₂) and to determine the faradaic efficiency (Λ) and the rate enhancement (ρ) parameters in this bipolar system. These results mark an important step in the realization of electrochemical promotion on highly dispersed catalysts.     

Synthesis of new lariat ethers containing polycyclic phenols and heterocyclic aromatic compound on graphite surface via mannich reaction

Synthesis of novel lariat ethers containing polycyclic phenols and heterocyclic aromatic compound using graphite via Mannich reaction are herein described. For this purpose N-(methoxymethyl) azacrown ether 4 was synthesized in nearly quantitative yield. The reaction of N-(methoxymethyl) azacrown ether 4 with polycyclic phenols and heterocyclic aromatic compound was performed in 10-20 min in the presence of graphite. The graphite powder can be reused up to five times after simple washing with acetone.     

Lignin-degrading enzyme fromPhanerochaete chrysosporium

The extracellular fluid of ligninolytic cultures of the white-rot wooddestroying fungus,Phanerochaete chrysosporium Burds., contains an enzyme that degrades lignin model compounds as well as lignin itself (1). Like ligninolytic activity, the enzyme appears during idiophasic metabolism, which is triggered by nitrogen starvation. The enzyme has been purified to homogeneity by DEAE-Biogel A chromatography, as assessed by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing, and gel filtration chromatography. These techniques also revealed a molecular weight of 42,000 daltons, and an isoelectric point of 3.4. The purified enzyme exhibits low substrate specificity. It is an oxygenase, but requires hydrogen peroxide for activity. The activity is optimum at 0.15 mM H₂O₂; at concentrations above 0.5 mM, H₂O₂is inhibitory. Model compound studies have shown that the enzyme catalyzes cleavage between Cα and Cß in compounds of the type aryl-CαHOH—CßHR-(R = -aryl or -O-aryl), and in the Cα-hydroxyl-bearing propyl side chains of lignin. This cleavage produces an aromatic aldehyde moiety from the Cα-portion, and a Cß-hydroxylated moiety from the Cα-portion. Cleavage between Cα and Cß in arylglycerol-Β-aryl ether structures leads indirectly to cleavage of the Β-aryl ether linkage, which is the most abundant intermonomer linkage in lignin. The Cß-hydroxyl oxygen comes from molecular oxygen, and not from H₂O₂, as determined by¹⁸O isotope studies. The pH optimum for these reactions is between 2.5 and 3.0; no activity is observed above pH 5. Formation of the expected aldehydes from spruce and birch lignins, and partial depolymerization of the lignins results from the action of the purified enzyme. In addition to Cα—Cß cleavage, the enzyme catalyzes aromatic alcohol oxidation, aryl methylene oxidation, hydroxylation at Cα and Cß in models containing a Cα—Cß double bond, intradiol cleavage in phenylglycol structures, and phenol oxidations.     

Catalytic Role of TiO2 Terminal Oxygen Atoms in Liquid‐Phase Photocatalytic Reactions: Oxidation of Aromatic Compounds in Anhydrous Acetonitrile

On the basis of experiments carried out with controlled amounts of residual oxygen and water, or by using oxygen‐isotope‐labeled Ti¹⁸O₂ as the photocatalyst, we demonstrate that ¹⁸O_s atoms behave as real catalytic species in the photo‐oxidation of acetonitrile‐dissolved aromatic compounds such as benzene, phenol, and benzaldehyde with TiO₂. The experimental evidence allows a terminal‐oxygen indirect electron‐transfer (TOIET) mechanism to be proposed, which is a new pathway that involves the trapping of free photogenerated valence‐band holes at O_s species and their incorporation into the reaction products, with simultaneous generation of oxygen vacancies at the TiO₂ surface and their subsequent healing with oxygen atoms from either O₂ or H₂O molecules that are dissolved in the liquid phase. According to the TOIET mechanism, the TiO₂ surface is not considered to remain stable, but is continuously changing in the course of the photocatalytic reaction, challenging earlier interpretations of TiO₂ photocatalytic phenomena.     

Isotopic Labeling Reveals Active Reaction Interfaces for Electrochemical Oxidation of Lithium Peroxide

The unresolved debate on the active reaction interface of electrochemical oxidation of lithium peroxide (Li₂O₂) prevents rational electrode and catalyst design for lithium‐oxygen (Li‐O₂) batteries. The reaction interface is studied by using isotope‐labeling techniques combined with time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF‐SIMS) and on‐line electrochemical mass spectroscopy (OEMS) under practical cell operation conditions. Isotopically labelled microsized Li₂O₂ particles with an Li₂¹⁶O₂/electrode interface and an Li₂¹⁸O₂/electrolyte interface were fabricated. Upon oxidation, ¹⁸O₂ was evolved for the first quarter of the charge capacity followed by ¹⁶O₂. These observations unambiguously demonstrate that oxygen loss starts from the Li₂O₂/electrolyte interface instead of the Li₂O₂/electrode interface. The Li₂O₂ particles are in continuous contact with the catalyst/electrode, explaining why the solid catalyst is effective in oxidizing solid Li₂O₂ without losing contact.     

Isotope effects in the oxidative functionalization of methane in the presence of rhodium-containing homogeneous catalytic systems

The combined oxidation of carbon monoxide, CH₄, and CD₄ by molecular oxygen (¹⁶O₂ and ¹⁸O₂) in aqueous solutions of trifluoroacetic acid labeled with ¹⁸O in the presence of rhodium and copper compounds and potassium iodide has been studied. The distribution of ¹⁸O in isotopically substituted products suggests that oxygen entered into the methane molecule from an active oxidizing agent. This oxidizing agent was produced from molecular oxygen under the action of reagents and catalytic system components. The kinetic isotope effect observed for methane (k _H/k _D=3.9?4.3) suggests a nonradical character of the step at which the oxygen atom passes from an active oxidizing agent to the methane molecule or its fragments—transition-state components of the corresponding step.     

An in situ oxidation route to fabricate graphene nanoplate-metal oxide composites

We report our studies on an improved soft chemical route to directly fabricate graphene nanoplate-metal oxide (Ag₂O, Co₃O₄, Cu₂O and ZnO) composites from the in situ oxidation of graphene nanoplates. By virtue of H⁺ from hydrolysis of the metal nitrate aqueous solution and NO₃⁻, only a small amount of functional groups were introduced, acting as anchor sites and consequently forming the graphene nanoplate-metal oxide composites. The main advantages of this approach are that it does not require cumbersome oxidation of graphite in advance and no need to reduce the composites due to the lower oxidation degree. The microstructures of as-obtained metal oxides on graphene nanoplates can be dramatically controlled by changing the reaction parameters, opening up the possibility for processing the optical and electrochemical properties of the graphene-based nanocomposites.     

Investigation of the species-dependent in vitro metabolism of BAL30630 by stable isotope labeling and isotope exchange experiments analyzed by capillary liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry

The in vitro metabolic profile of BAL30630, an antifungal piperazine propanol derivative, which inhibits the 1,3-beta-d-glucansynthase, was investigated by incubation with microsomes of several species and with rat hepatocytes. For the spotting of the metabolites, mixtures of BAL30630 with a stable isotope (deuterium) labeled analogue were incubated. The metabolic pattern comprises several oxidized metabolites. Based on isotope exchange experiments, their structures could be assigned to epoxide- and hydroxylated metabolites. In hepatocyte incubations, several glucuronides formed from these oxidized metabolites could be observed. From the analysis of the metabolic pattern in microsomes, products of carbamate hydrolysis were characterized. This hydrolysis was highly species dependent. In activated incubations and in rat hepatocytes, those metabolites were further oxidized. In incubations without NADPH activation, the resulting hydrolytic metabolites could be enriched without the subsequent oxidation. Final structural elucidation of the metabolites was performed using accurate mass determination and isotope exchange experiments, in which incubations were analyzed by deuterium exchange and capillary HPLC–QTof-MS and MS/MS. The use of non-radioactive, stabile isotope labeled drug analogues in combination with isotope exchange studies was essential in particular for a defined assignment of the functional groups in the structures of the investigated metabolites.     

Electrochemical oxidation of 4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d] pyrimidine-4,6-dione (oxipurinol) at the pyrolytic graphite electrode

The electrochemical oxidation of 4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d] pyrimidine-4,6-dione (oxipurinol) at the pyrolytic graphite electrode (PGE) has been studied. Oxipurinol exhibits up to three voltammetric oxidation peaks at the PGE between pH 1–12. The first pH-dependent peak (peak I_a) is proposed to be an initial, irreversible 2e-2H⁺ reaction to give 5,6-dihydro-4H-pyrazolo[3,4-d] pyrimidine-4,6-dione. This primary product further reacts by two routes. The major route, accounting for ca. 90% of the latter compound, involves a Michael addition of water followed by further electrochemical oxidation and hydrolysis to give 5,6-dihydro-5,6-dihydroxy-5-carboxy-6-diazenouracil. The minor route involves further electrochemical oxidation of 5,6-dihydro-4H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]-pyrimidine-4,6-dione in a 2e-2H⁺ reaction to give 4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-3H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]-pyrimidine-3,4,6-trione.Decomposition and, generally, additional electrochemical reactions of 5,6-dihydro-5,6-dihydroxy-5-carboxy-6-diazenouracil result in the formation of alloxan, parabanic acid, 6-diazo-isobarbituric acid and 5′-hydroxy-5-carboxy-6,6′-azouracil. The two latter compounds have never previously been reported. Decomposition of 4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-3H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine-3,4,6-trione results in formation of uracil-5-carboxylic acid.Detailed reaction schemes have been proposed to explain the observed electrochemistry and the formation of the observed products.     

Cover Feature: Effects of Microhydration on the Mechanisms of Hydrolysis and Cl− Substitution in Reactions of N2O5 and Seawater (ChemPhysChem 5/2023)

The reaction of N₂O₅ at atmospheric interfaces has recently received considerable attention due to its importance in atmospheric chemistry. N₂O₅ reacts preferentially with Cl⁻ to form ClNO₂/NO₃⁻ (Cl⁻ substitution), but can also react with H₂O to form 2HNO₃ (hydrolysis). In this paper, we explore these competing reactions in a theoretical study of the clusters N₂O₅/Cl⁻/nH₂O (n=2–5), resulting in the identification of three reaction motifs. First, we uncovered an S_N2-type Cl⁻ substitution reaction of N₂O₅ that occurs very quickly due to low barriers to reaction. Second, we found a low-lying pathway to hydrolysis via a ClNO₂ intermediate (two-step hydrolysis). Finally, we found a direct hydrolysis pathway where H₂O attacks N₂O₅ (one-step hydrolysis). We find that Cl⁻ substitution is the fastest reaction in every cluster. Between one-step and two-step hydrolysis, we find that one-step hydrolysis barriers are lower, making two-step hydrolysis (via ClNO₂ intermediate) likely only when concentrations of Cl⁻ are high.     

MECHANISM OF PHOTOOXYGENATION OF THE CD (II) COMPLEX OF PYROPHEOPHORBIDE A METHYL ESTER

Photooxygenation of (pyropheophorbidato a methyl ester)cadmium (II) was studied using ^18,18O₂ labeling of the molecular oxygen required for cleavage of the macrocycle. After reductive demetallation of the primary oxidation product (4,5-dioxo-4,5-secopyropheophorbidato a methyl ester)cadmium (II), the isotope content of formylbilinone 4a was analyzed by repeated-scan fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. Comparison of the spectroscopic data of the labeled pigment 4a with the statistical probabilities of¹⁸ O isotope incorporation calculated for four possible reaction mechanisms clearly proves that photooxidative ring cleavage occurred by the one-molecule mechanism, i.e. the terminal oxygen atoms of 4a were derived from one oxygen molecule. Furthermore, a study of the exchange of the¹⁸ O-labeled atoms revealed that no exchange occurs within the pH 4.5–9.5 range. In stronger alkaline or acidic solutions, only the oxygen atom of the formyl group is exchanged. Hydrolysis of the methyl ester group of 4a was achieved, without loss of the¹⁸ O label on the formyl group, at pH 7.2 in the presence of pig liver esterase.     

PCET in the oxidation of ascorbate. Dramatic change of the kinetic isotope effect on the change in solvent polarity

The first step in the oxidation of ascorbate with substituted nitrosobenzenes is a proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) reaction and the observed kinetic isotope effects in the reaction, k_H2O/k_D2O, change dramatically with a change in solvent polarity, in line with known theoretical predictions.     

Binary system organic base-anode in the oxidative activation of hydrogen sulfide

Initiation of the reaction between hydrogen sulfide and aliphatic, aromatic, and heteroaromatic hydrocarbons in acetonitrile using the binary system organic base-anode is described. The reaction of hydrogen sulfide with nitrogen-containing organic bases is studied by means of cyclic voltammetry. The reaction of hydrogen sulfide with triethylamine leads to the formation of thiolate anion. The next step o reaction is electrochemical oxidation of the thiolate anion that to lead thiyl radical formation in situ thiyl radicals. In the presence of binary system on the basis of hydrogen sulfide aliphatic, aromatic, and heteroaromatic thiols and sulfides are formed at room temperature.     

Synthesis of a new class of triphenylamine‐containing poly(ether‐imide)s for electrochromic applications

A novel triphenylamine (TPA)‐containing bis(ether anhydride) monomer, namely 4,4′‐bis(3,4‐dicarboxyphenoxy)triphenylamine dianhydride, was synthesized and reacted with various aromatic diamines leading to a series of new poly(ether‐imide)s (PEI). Most of these PEIs were soluble in organic solvents and could be easily solution cast into flexible and strong films. The polymer films exhibited good thermal stability with glass‐transition temperatures in the range 211–299 °C. The polymer films exhibited reversible electrochemical processes and stable color changes (from transparent to navy blue) with high coloration efficiency and contrast ratio upon electro‐oxidation. During the electrochemical oxidation process, a crosslinked polymer structure was developed due to the coupling reaction between the TPA radical cation moieties in the polymer chains. These polymers can be used to fabricate electrochromic devices with high coloration efficiency, high redox stability, and fast response time. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 825–838     

Induced Near-Infrared Emission and Controlled Photooxidation based on Sulfonated Crown Ether in Water

Regulation of physio-chemical properties and reaction activities via noncovalent methodology has become one of increasingly significant topics in supramolecular chemistry and showed inventive applications in miscellaneous fields. Herein, we demonstrate that sulfonated crown ether can form very stable host-guest complexes with a series of push-pull-type photosensitizers, eventually leading to the dramatic fluorescence enhancement in visible and near-infrared regions. Meanwhile, severe suppression in singlet oxygen (¹O₂) production is found, mainly due to the higher energy barriers between the excited single and triple states upon host-guest complexation. Moreover, such complexation-induced tuneable ¹O₂ generation systems has been utilized in adjusting the photochemical oxidation reactions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (anthracene) and sulfides ((methylthio)benzene) in water. This supramolecularly controlled photooxidation based on the selective molecular binding of crown ether with photosensitizers may provide a feasible and applicable strategy for monitoring and modulating many photocatalysis processes in aqueous phase.     

The role of surface oxides in formic acid oxidation on Au

Compared to Pt or Pd electrodes, Au is a poor catalyst for the direct anodic oxidation of HCOOH, but the formation of Au surface oxides in acidic solutions is accompanied by a fast oxidation of HCOOH. This fast reaction is not simply a secondary reaction of Au surface oxides since those oxides are kinetically stable in HCOOH solutions. They do oxidize HCOOH only via a slow and purely electrochemical process which occurs on free Au sites and is “driven” by oxide reduction. The fast HCOOH oxidation is due to a highly reactive intermediate which is able either to form stable Au oxides Au_nO_m or to react with HCOOH. Our results are consistent with the model that by the charge transfer step a reactive non-equilibrium {Au…O> species is formed which converts to stable equilibrium oxides Au_nO_m after migration and rearrangement steps. Pre-equilibrium <Au…O> oxidizes HCOOH and this oxidation is of lower order with respect to <Au…O> compared with the formation of Au_nO_m.     

Sulfur‐33 Isotope Tracing of the Hydrodesulfurization Process: Insights into the Reaction Mechanism,Catalyst Characterization and Improvement

The novel approach based on ³³S isotope tracing is proposed for the elucidation of hydrodesulfurization (HDS) mechanisms and characterization of molybdenum sulfide catalysts. The technique involves sulfidation of the catalyst with ³³S‐isotope‐labeled dihydrogen sulfide, followed by monitoring the fate of the ³³S isotope in the course of the hydrodesulfurization reaction by online mass spectrometry and characterization of the catalyst after the reaction by temperature‐programmed oxidation with mass spectrometry (TPO‐MS). The results point to different pathways of thiophene transformation over Co or Ni‐promoted and unpromoted molybdenum sulfide catalysts, provide information on the role of promoter and give a key for the design of new efficient HDS catalysts.     

Sulfur‐33 Isotope Tracing of the Hydrodesulfurization Process: Insights into the Reaction Mechanism,Catalyst Characterization and Improvement

The novel approach based on ³³S isotope tracing is proposed for the elucidation of hydrodesulfurization (HDS) mechanisms and characterization of molybdenum sulfide catalysts. The technique involves sulfidation of the catalyst with ³³S‐isotope‐labeled dihydrogen sulfide, followed by monitoring the fate of the ³³S isotope in the course of the hydrodesulfurization reaction by online mass spectrometry and characterization of the catalyst after the reaction by temperature‐programmed oxidation with mass spectrometry (TPO‐MS). The results point to different pathways of thiophene transformation over Co or Ni‐promoted and unpromoted molybdenum sulfide catalysts, provide information on the role of promoter and give a key for the design of new efficient HDS catalysts.