Synthesis and bioanalytical evaluation of morphine-3-O-sulfate and morphine-6-O-sulfate in human urine and plasma using LC-MS/MS

The aim of this work was to synthesize morphine‐3‐O‐sulfate and morphine‐6‐O‐sulfate for use as reference substances, and to determine the sulfate conjugates as possible heroin and morphine metabolites in plasma and urine by a validated LC‐MS/MS method. Morphine‐6‐O‐sulfate and morphine‐3‐O‐sulfate were prepared as dihydrates from morphine hydrochloride, in overall yields of 41 and 39% with product purities of >99.5% and >98%, respectively. For bioanalysis, the chromatographic system consisted of a reversed‐phase column and gradient elution. The tandem mass spectrometer was operated in the positive electrospray mode using selected reaction monitoring, of transition m/z 366.15 to 286.40. The measuring range was 5–500 ng/mL for morphine‐3‐O‐sulfate and 4.5–454 ng/mL for morphine‐6‐O‐sulfate in plasma. In urine, the measuring range was 50–5000 ng/mL for morphine‐3‐O‐sulfate and 45.4–4544 ng/mL for morphine‐6‐O‐sulfate. The intra‐assay and total imprecision (coefficient of variation) was below 11% for both analytes in urine and plasma. Quantifiable levels of morphine‐3‐O‐sulfate in authentic urine and plasma samples were found. Only one authentic urine sample contained a detectable level of morphine‐6‐O‐sulfate, while no detectable morphine‐6‐O‐sulfate was found in plasma samples.     

CH Oxygenation and N‐Trifluoroacylation of Arylamines Under Metal‐Free Conditions: A Convenient Approach to 2‐Aminophenols and N‐Trifluoroacyl‐ortho‐aminophenols

Direct ortho‐hydroxylation through C?H oxygenation and N‐trifluoroacylation of anilines was achieved in a single step under metal‐free conditions by using a combination of TFA and oxone. The method allowed the formation of functionalised amino phenolic compounds such as ortho‐hydroxy‐N‐trifluoroacetanilides in good yields with broad substrate scope.     

Anilinic N‐Oxides Support Cytochrome P450‐Mediated N‐Dealkylation through Hydrogen‐Atom Transfer

The mechanism of N‐dealkylation mediated by cytochrome P450 (P450) has long been studied and argued as either a single electron transfer (SET) or a hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) from the amine to the oxidant of the P450, the reputed iron–oxene. In our study, tertiary anilinic N‐oxides were used as oxygen surrogates to directly generate a P450‐mediated oxidant that is capable of N‐dealkylating the dimethylaniline derived from oxygen donation. These surrogates were employed to probe the generated reactive oxygen species and the subsequent mechanism of N‐dealkylation to distinguish between the HAT and SET mechanisms. In addition to the expected N‐demethylation of the product aniline, 2,3,4,5,6‐pentafluoro‐N,N‐dimethylaniline N‐oxide (PFDMAO) was found to be capable of N‐dealkylating both N,N‐dimethylaniline (DMA) and N‐cyclopropyl‐N‐methylaniline (CPMA). Rate comparisons of the N‐demethylation of DMA supported by PFDMAO show a 27‐fold faster rate than when supported by N,N‐dimethylaniline N‐oxide (DMAO). Whereas intermolecular kinetic isotope effects were masked, intramolecular measurements showed values reflective of those seen previously in DMAO‐ and the native NADPH/O₂‐supported systems (2.33 and 2.8 for the N‐demethylation of PFDMA and DMA from the PFDMAO system, respectively). PFDMAO‐supported N‐dealkylation of CPMA led to the ring‐intact product N‐cyclopropylaniline (CPA), similar to that seen with the native system. The formation of CPA argues against a SET mechanism in favor of a P450‐like HAT mechanism. We suggest that the similarity of KIEs, in addition to the formation of the ring‐intact CPA, argues for a similar mechanism of Compound I (Cpd I) formation followed by HAT for N‐dealkylation by the native and N‐oxide‐supported systems and demonstrate the ability of the N‐oxide‐generated oxidant to act as an accurate mimic of the native P450 oxidant.     

Rapid simultaneous determination of codeine and morphine in plasma using LC‐ESI‐MS/MS: Application to a clinical pharmacokinetic study

A rapid and sensitive high‐performance LC‐MS/MS method was developed and validated for the simultaneous quantification of codeine and its metabolite morphine in human plasma using donepezil as an internal standard (IS). Following a single liquid‐liquid extraction with ethyl acetate, the analytes were separated using an isocratic mobile phase on a C₁₈ column and analyzed by MS/MS in the selected reaction monitoring mode using the respective [M+H]⁺ ions, mass‐to‐charge ratio (m/z) 300/165 for codeine, m/z 286/165 for morphine and m/z 380/91 for IS. The method exhibited a linear dynamic range of 0.2–100/0.5–250 ng/mL for codeine/morphine in human plasma, respectively. The lower LOQs were 0.2 and 0.5 ng/mL for codeine and its metabolite morphine using 0.5 mL of human plasma. Acceptable precision and accuracy were obtained for concentrations over the standard curve range. A run time of 2.0 min for each sample made it possible to analyze more than 300 human plasma samples per day. The validated LC‐MS/MS method was applied to a pharmacokinetic study in which healthy Chinese volunteers each received a single oral dose of 30 mg codeine phosphate.     

Synergistic interaction of epoxides and N‐vinylcarbazole during photoinitiated cationic polymerization

A kinetic study was conducted of the independent photoinitiated cationic polymerization of a number of epoxide monomers and mixtures of these monomers with N‐vinylcarbazole. The results show that these two different classes of monomers undergo complex synergistic interactions with one another during polymerization. It was demonstrated that N‐vinylcarbazole as well as other carbazoles are efficient photosensitizers for the photolysis of both diaryliodonium and triarylsulfonium salt photoinitiators. In the presence of large amounts of N‐vinylcarbazole, the rates of the cationic ring‐opening photopolymerization of epoxides are markedly accelerated. This effect has been ascribed to a photoinitiated free‐radical chain reaction that results in the oxidation of monomeric and polymeric N‐vinylcarbazole radicals by the onium salt photoinitiators to generate cations. These cations can initiate the ring‐opening polymerization of the epoxides, leading to the production of copolymers. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 3697–3709, 2000     

Formation of cyclic acylphosphoramidates in mass spectra of N‐monoalkyloxyphosphoryl amino acids using electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

The fragmentation reactions of N‐monoalkyloxyphosphoryl amino acids (N‐MAP‐AAs) were studied by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS). The sodiated cyclic acylphosphoramidates (CAPAs) were formed through a characteristic pentacoordinate phosphate participated rearrangement reaction in the positive‐ion ESI‐MS/MS and HR‐MS/MS of N‐MAP‐AAs, in which the fragmentation patterns were clearly different from those observed in the corresponding ESI‐MS/MS of N‐dialkyloxyphosphoryl amino acids/peptides and N‐phosphono amino acids. The formation of CAPAs depended on the chemical structures of N‐terminal phosphoryl groups, such as alkyloxy group, negative charge and alkali metal ion. A possible integrated rearrangement mechanism for both P‐N to P‐O phosphoryl group migration and formation of CAPAs was proposed. The fragmentation patterns of CAPAs as novel intermediates in gas phase were also investigated. In addition, it was found that the formation of α‐amino acid CAPAs was more favorable than β‐ or γ‐CAPAs in gas phase, which was consistent with previous solution‐phase experiments. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

One Facile Preparation of N‐Aroyl‐N′‐arylsulfonylhydrazines by Oxidation of Aromatic Aldehyde N‐Arylsulfonylhydrazones with bis(Trifluoroacetoxy)iodobenzene

N‐aroyl‐N′‐arylsulfonylhydrazines can be obtained by oxidation of aromatic aldehyde N‐arylsulfonylhydrazones with bis(trifluoroacetoxy)iodobenzene in acetone at room temperature in mild to good yields.     

Quenching of Singlet Oxygen by Tertiary Aliphatic Amines. Structural Effects on Rates and Products

A kinetic and product study of the reaction of a series of α‐methyl‐substituted N‐methylpiperidines with thermally generated ¹O₂ in MeCN was carried out. It was found that as the number of α‐methyl groups (Me in α‐position relative to the N‐atom) increases, the rate of ¹O₂ quenching (physical plus chemical) slightly decreases. This finding shows that, with respect to the reaction rate, steric effects are much more important than electronic effects as the latter should have produced the opposite result. The opposite outcome was instead found for the chemical quenching that leads to the N‐demethylation products and N‐formyl derivatives. The same trend was observed for the ratio between N‐demethylation and formation of the N‐formyl derivatives (NH/NCHO ratio). All these results are consistent with the mechanism reported in Scheme 1 where an exciplex is first formed that by a H‐atom transfer process produces an α‐amino‐substituted C‐radical. The latter forms the product of N‐demethylation by one electron oxidation, or affords the N‐formyl derivative by radical coupling (Scheme 1). Similar results were obtained with N,N‐dimethylcyclohexanamine. However, this ‘acyclic’ amine exhibited behaviors quite distinct from those of the N‐methylpiperidines series, with respect to reaction rate, extent of chemical quenching, and NH/NCHO ratio.     

Screening of N,N‐bidentate and N,N,N‐tridentate pyridine‐based ligands in the catalytic allylic oxidation of cyclic olefins

A variety of chiral N,N‐bidentate and N,N,N‐tridentate ligands based on the pyridine framework, namely C2‐symmetric dipyridylmethane and terpyridine, N‐(p‐toluensulfinyl)iminopyridines and two kinds of iminopyridines, has been assessed in the asymmetric copper(I)‐catalysed allylic oxidation of cyclic olefins. Catalytic activity and enantioselectivity were found to be highly dependent upon the framework of the ligands, which afforded cycloalkenyl benzoates in low to moderate yields and enantioselectivities. The best yields (up to 70%) and enantioselectivities (up to 53% enantiomeric excess) were obtained with an iminopyridine based on camphane and quinoline skeletons. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Oxidation of quinolones with peracids (an in situ EPR study)

4‐Oxoquinoline derivatives (quinolones) represent heterocyclic compounds with a variety of biological activities, along with interesting chemical reactivity. The quinolone derivatives possessing secondary amino hydrogen at the nitrogen of the enaminone system are oxidized with 3‐chloroperbenzoic acid to nitroxide radicals in the primary step while maintaining their 4‐pyridone ring. Otherwise, N‐methyl substituted quinolones also form nitroxide radicals coupled with the opening of the 4‐pyridone ring in a gradual oxidation of the methyl group via the nitrone–nitroxide spin‐adduct cycle. This was confirmed in an analogous oxidation using N,N‐dimethylaniline as a model compound. N‐Ethyl quinolones in contrast to its N‐methyl analog form only one nitroxide radical without a further degradation. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

In situ green synthesis of Cu‐Ni bimetallic nanoparticles supported on reduced graphene oxide as an effective and recyclable catalyst for the synthesis of N‐benzyl‐N‐aryl‐5‐amino‐1H‐tetrazoles

In the present work, for the first time we have designed a novel approach for the synthesis of N‐benzyl‐N‐aryl‐5‐amino‐1H‐tetrazoles using reduced graphene oxide (rGO) decorated with Cu‐Ni bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs). In situ synthesis of Cu/Ni/rGO nanocomposite was performed by a cost efficient, surfactant‐free and environmentally benign method using Crataegus azarolus var. aronia L. leaf extract as a stabilizing and reducing agent. Phytochemicals present in the extract can be used to reduce Cu²⁺ and Ni²⁺ ions and GO to Cu NPs, Ni NPs and rGO, respectively. Analyses by means of FT‐IR, UV–Vis, EDS, TEM, FESEM, XRD and elemental mapping confirmed the Cu/Ni/rGO formation and also FT‐IR, NMR, and mass spectroscopy as well as elemental analysis were used to characterize the tetrazoles. The Cu/Ni/rGO nanocomposite showed the superior catalytic activity for the synthesis of N‐benzyl‐N‐aryl‐5‐amino‐1H‐tetrazoles within a short reaction time and high yields. Furthermore, this protocol eliminates the need to handle HN₃.     

Reaction with N,N‐Diethyl‐p‐phenylenediamine: A Procedure for the Sensitive Square‐Wave Voltammetric Detection of Chlorine

The reaction of chlorine and N,N‐diethyl‐p‐phenylenediamine has been studied as a means of generating an analytical voltammetric signal of much improved sensitivity and selectivity for the detection of the former than is possible via direct electrolysis. A reaction mechanism is suggested whereby the chlorine attacks the primary amine of DEPD to form the N‐chlorinated product that shows a much enhanced signal under conditions of square‐wave voltammetry than does chlorine itself. The analytical parameters were found to vary with concentration of DEPD and a linear range from 17 to 495 μM was achievable with a corresponding limit of detection of 6.8 μM     

In vitro metabolic fate of alizapride: evidence for the formation of reactive metabolites based on liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry

The study of the formation of reactive metabolites during drug metabolism is one of the major areas of research in drug development since the link between reactive metabolites and drug adverse effects was well recognized. In particular, it has been shown that acrolein, a reactive carbonyl species sharing carbonylating and alkylating properties, binds covalently to nucleophilic sites in proteins, causing cellular damage. Alizapride, (±)‐6‐methoxy‐N‐{[1‐(prop‐2‐en‐1‐yl)‐pyrrolidin‐2‐yl]methyl}‐1H‐benzotriazole‐5‐carboxamide, is a N‐allyl containing dopamine antagonist with antiemetic properties for which no data concerning its metabolic fate are so far reported. The study of the in vitro metabolism of alizapride showed the formation of acrolein during the oxidative N‐deallylation. Moreover, the formation of an epoxide metabolite has been also described suggesting its role as a putative structural alert. The reactivity of the acrolein and the epoxide generated in alizapride metabolism was demonstrated by the formation of the corresponding adducts with nucleophilic thiols. Overall, ten metabolites have been identified and characterized by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry analysis allowing to propose an in vitro metabolic scheme for alizapride. At the best of our knowledge, this is the second case of a drug involved in the generation of acrolein during its metabolism being the first represented by cyclophosphamide. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Oxidative N‐Heterocyclic Carbene‐Catalyzed γ‐Carbon Addition of Enals to Imines: Mechanistic Studies and Access to Antimicrobial Compounds

The reaction mechanism of the γ‐carbon addition of enal to imine under oxidative N‐heterocyclic carbene catalysis is studied experimentally. The oxidation, γ‐carbon deprotonation, and nucleophilic addition of γ‐carbon to imine were found to be facile steps. The results of our study also provide highly enantioselective access to tricyclic sulfonyl amides that exhibit interesting antimicrobial activities against X. oryzae, a bacterium that causes bacterial disease in rice growing.     

Voltammetric Oxidation of Drugs of Abuse II. Codeine and Metabolites

The oxidation of codeine on glassy carbon electrodes has been studied in detail using differential pulse voltammetry. The results obtained using a glassy carbon electrode clearly show a much more complex oxidation mechanism than that previously reported when platinum and gold electrodes were used. To clarify the codeine oxidative profile, several metabolites and analogues of this alkaloid, codeine N‐oxide, norcodeine, dihydrocodeine, acetylcodeine and 6‐chlorodesoxycodeine, were synthesized and studied. It was deduced that the anodic waves observed in codeine oxidation are related to the presence of methoxy, hydroxy and tertiary amine groups. Due to the similarity of potentials at which these oxidative processes take place, at some pHs an overlap of peaks occurs and only one anodic wave is observed.     

Electrosynthesis and Characterization of Poly(N‐(9‐fluorenylmethoxycarbony)‐glycine)

High‐quality poly(N‐(9‐fluorenylmethoxycarbony)‐glycine) (PFG), a new kind of soluble polyfluorene derivative, was successfully synthesized electrochemically by direct anodic oxidation of N‐(9‐fluorenylmethoxycarbony)‐glycine (FG) in boron trifluoride diethyl etherate (BFEE). The onset oxidation potential of FG in BFEE was only 0.6 V vs. Pt, which was much lower than that in acetonitrile +0.1 mol/L tetrabutylammonium tetra?uoroborate (TBATFB). PFG film obtained from BFEE showed good electrochemical activity and thermal stability. It indicates that BFEE is a better medium for the electrosynthesis of PFG film. PFG is highly soluble in common organic solvents, facilitating potential applications as a blue‐light‐emitting material. Fluorescent spectra revealed that PFG was a good blue‐light emitter. Results of FT‐IR and ¹H NMR spectra indicated the polymerization location of N‐(9‐fluorenylmethoxycarbony)‐glycine occurred mainly at C(2) and C(7) positions of the fluorine ring.     

Tertiary amine catalyzed polymerizations of α‐amino acid N‐carboxyanhydrides: The role of cyclization

Sarcosine N‐carboxyanhydride, D,L ‐alanine N‐carboxyanhydride, D,L ‐phenylalanine N‐carboxyanhydride, and D,L ‐leucine N‐carboxyanhydride were polymerized with pyridine or N‐ethyldiisopropylamine as the catalyst. With pyridine, cyclic oligo‐ and polypeptides were obtained in addition to water‐initiated or water‐terminated chains. The cyclopeptides were the main products in the case of sarcosine N‐carboxyanhydride and D,L ‐phenylalanine N‐carboxyanhydride. The fraction of cycles was particularly high when N‐methylpyrrolidone was used as the reaction medium. These results suggested the existence of a pyridine‐catalyzed zwitterionic mechanism. However, cyclopeptides were also obtained with N‐ethyldiisopropylamine as the catalyst. In this case, N‐deprotonation of N‐carboxyanhydrides, followed by the formation of N‐acyl N‐carboxyanhydride chain ends, was the most likely initiation mechanism. Various chain‐growth mechanisms were examined. In the case of γ‐benzyl ester‐L ‐glutamate N‐carboxyanhydride, side reactions such as the formation of pyroglutamoyl end groups were detected. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 4680–4695, 2006     

The Reaction of Peroxynitrite with Morpholine (Secondary Amines) Revisited: The Overlooked Hydroxylamine Formation

The reaction of peroxynitrite/peroxynitrous acid with morpholine as a model compound for secondary amines is reinvestigated in the absence and presence of carbon dioxide. The concentration‐ and pH‐dependent formation of N‐nitrosomorpholine and N‐nitromorpholine as reported in three previous papers ([25] [26] [14]) is basically confirmed. However, ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopic product analysis shows that, in the absence of CO₂, N‐hydroxymorpholine is, at pH ≥ 7, the major product of this reaction, even under anaerobic conditions. The formation of N‐hydroxymorpholine has been overlooked in the three cited papers. Additional (ring‐opened) oxidation products of morpholine are also detected. The data account for radical pathways for the formation of these products via intermediate morpholine‐derived aminyl and α‐aminoalkyl radicals. This is further supported by EPR‐spectrometric detection of morpholine‐derived nitroxide radicals, i.e., morpholin‐4‐yloxy radicals. N‐Nitrosomorpholine, however, is very likely formed by electrophilic attack of peroxynitrite‐derived N₂O₄. ¹⁵N‐CIDNP Experiments establish that, in the presence of CO₂, N‐nitro‐ and C‐nitromorpholine are generated by radical recombination. The present results are in full accord with a fractional (28 ± 2%) homolytic decay of peroxynitrite/peroxynitrous acid with release of free hydroxyl and nitrogen dioxide radicals.     

Solid Phase Extraction of Thallium(III) on Micro Crystalline Naphthalene Modified with N,N’-Bis(3-methylsalicylidene)- ortho-phenylenediamine and Determination by Spectrophotometry

A novel, simple, sensitive and effective method has been developed for preconcentration of thallium on N,N’-bis(3-methylsalicylidene)-ortho-phenylenediamine (MSOPD) adsorbent in a pH range 5.0—10.0, prior to its spectrophotometric determination, based on the oxidation of bromopyrogallol red at λ＝520 nm. This method makes it possible to quantitize thallium in a range of 3.6×10－9 to 2.0×10－5 mol/L, with a detection limit (S/N＝3) of 1.42×10－9 mol/L. This procedure has been successfully applied to determine the ultra trace levels of thallium in the environmental samples, free from the interference of some diverse ions. The precision, expressed as relative standard deviation of three measurements, is better than 2.9%.     

2,2,2‐Trifluoroacetophenone as an Organocatalyst for the Oxidation of Tertiary Amines and Azines to N‐Oxides

A cheap, mild and environmentally friendly oxidation of tertiary amines and azines to the corresponding N‐oxides is reported by using polyfluoroalkyl ketones as efficient organocatalysts. 2,2,2‐Trifluoroacetophenone was identified as the optimum catalyst for the oxidation of aliphatic tertiary amines and azines. This oxidation is chemoselective and proceeds in high‐to‐quantitative yields utilizing 10 mol % of the catalyst and H₂O₂ as the oxidant.