Can the substituent in the para position of anilide ion influence the N−···H–F → N–H···F− switching: a quantum chemical study

The effect of substituents in the para position of anilide ion (An) on the N^?···H–F → N–H···F^? switching in X–An–HF (X = H, Me, CHO, CN, NO, F, NO₂, OH and OMe) complexes was investigated by means of B3LYP and MP2 quantum chemical methods. To delve into the mechanistic details of the proton transfer process, potential energy curve and further geometrical parameters involved in H-bonding during the course of the proton transfer process were evaluated at the MP2/6-311++G(2d,2p) level of theory. The changes in H-bond strength because of variation of substituents were well accompanied by changes in formation energy of complexes, structural parameter, electron density, natural charge and charge transfer between subunits. For X = H, Me, CHO, CN, NO, F and NO₂ substituents, our results at MP2/6-311++G(2d,2p) level showed that the minimum energy structures correspond to the N···HF H-bonded complexes without proton transfer occurring. On the other hand, for electron-donating substituents OH and OMe, proton is transferred from HF to anilide ion and the minimum energy structures are HNH···F^? H-bonded complexes. The nature of HN^?···HF and HN–H···F^? interactions in complexes was characterized by means of atoms in molecules and natural bond orbital analyses.     

Synthesis and characterization of electrically conducting polymers for regenerative engineering applications: sulfonated ionic membranes

Conductive polymers have found extensive application in fuel cells, sensors and more recently as scaffolds for tissue and organ regeneration. Scaffolds that can transmit electrical impulses have been shown to be beneficial in regeneration of tissues like muscle and nerve that are electroactive in nature. Most cellular events and cell functions are regulated by ion movement, and their imbalance is the cause of several diseases. We report synthesis and characterization of sulfonated polymers of poly(methyl vinyl ether‐alt‐maleic anhydride) (PMVEMA), poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK), poly(ether sulfone) (PES) and poly(phenylene oxide) (PPO) and evaluate their potential for tissue regeneration. The ionic conductive property stems from the presence of sulfonic groups on the polymer backbone. The structure of the polymer was confirmed using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and membrane hydrophicity was determined by water contact angle measurement. The electrical conductivity of these sulfonated membranes was found to be 53.55, 35.39 and 29.51 mS/cm for SPPO, SPEEK and SPMVEMA, respectively. The conductivity was directly proportional to the sulfonic acid content on the polymer backbone. The ionic membranes namely SPPO, SPEEK and SPMVEMA demonstrated superior cell adhesion properties (~7–10 fold higher) than cells seeded onto tissue culture polystyrene. The sulfonated membranes exhibited static water contact angle in the range of 70–76°. The membranes supported the proliferation of human skin fibroblasts over 14 days in culture as evidenced by confocal and electron microscopy imaging. The ionic materials reported in this study may serve as scaffolds for a variety of tissue healing and drug delivery applications. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Characterization of forced degradation products of ketorolac tromethamine using LC/ESI/Q/TOF/MS/MS and in silico toxicity prediction

Ketorolac, a nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug, was subjected to forced degradation studies as per International Conference on Harmonization guidelines. A simple, rapid, precise, and accurate high‐performance liquid chromatography combined with electrospray ionization quadrupole time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI/Q/TOF/MS/MS) method has been developed for the identification and structural characterization of stressed degradation products of ketorolac. The drug was found to degrade in hydrolytic (acidic, basic, and neutral), photolytic (acidic, basic, and neutral solution), and thermal conditions, whereas the solid form of the drug was found to be stable under photolytic conditions. The method has shown adequate separation of ketorolac tromethamine and its degradation products on a Grace Smart C‐18 (250 mm × 4.6 mm i.d., 5 µm) column using 20 mM ammonium formate (pH = 3.2): acetonitrile as a mobile phase in gradient elution mode at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min. A total of nine degradation products were identified and characterized by LC/ESI/MS/MS. The most probable mechanisms for the formation of degradation products have been proposed on the basis of a comparison of the fragmentation of the [M + H]⁺ ions of ketorolac and its degradation products. In silico toxicity of the drug and degradation products was investigated by using topkat and derek softwares. The method was validated in terms of specificity, linearity, accuracy, precision, and robustness as per International Conference on Harmonization guidelines. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

In vivo metabolic investigation of silodosin using UHPLC–QTOF–MS/MS and in silico toxicological screening of its metabolites

Silodosin (SLD) is a novel α1‐adrenoceptor antagonist which has shown promising clinical efficacy and safety in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). However, lack of information about metabolism of SLD prompted us to investigate metabolic fate of SLD in rats. To identify in vivo metabolites of SLD, urine, feces and plasma were collected from Sprague–Dawley rats after its oral administration. The samples were prepared using an optimized sample preparation approach involving protein precipitation followed by solid‐phase extraction and then subjected to LC/HR‐MS/MS analysis. A total of 13 phase I and six phase II metabolites of SLD have been identified in rat urine which includes hydroxylated, N‐dealkylated, dehydrogenated, oxidative, glucosylated, glucuronide and N‐sulphated metabolites, which are also observed in feces. In plasma, only dehydrogenated, N‐dealkylated and unchanged SLD are observed. The structure elucidation of metabolites was done by fragmentation in MS/MS in combination with HRMS data. The potential toxicity profile of SLD and its metabolites were predicted using TOPKAT software and most of the metabolites were proposed to show a certain degree of skin sensitization and occular irritancy. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Organocatalytic enantioselective domino Michael-aldol condensation of 5-oxoalkanal and alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes. Efficient assembly of densely functionalized cyclohexenes

Organocatalytic Michael reaction of glutaraldehyde and 3-arylpropenal followed by the subsequent intramolecular aldol condensation provided 2-arylcyclohex-3-ene-1,3-dicarbaldehydes. Reactions with the 5-oxohexanal variant afforded the highly functionalized cyclohexenedicarbaldehydes in high diastereoselectivity and high enantioselectivity (>99% ee). Structure of the adduct 3j was confirmed unambiguously by X-ray analysis.     

The organocatalytic direct self-trimerization of acrolein: application to the total synthesis of montiporyne F

The organocatalytic direct self-trimerization of acrolein, via cascade double-Michael and Mannich reactions, affording 5-methylenecyclohex-3-ene-1,3-dicarbaldehyde (1) is described. Synthetic application of the reaction was demonstrated by further transformations of 1 to montiporyne F.     

Identification and characterization of in vitro and in vivo fidarestat metabolites: Toxicity and efficacy evaluation of metabolites

The progression of diabetic complications can be prevented by inhibition of aldose reductase and fidarestat considered to be highly potent. To date, metabolites of the fidarestat, toxicity, and efficacy are unknown. Therefore, the present study on characterization of hitherto unknown in vitro and in vivo metabolites of fidarestat using liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI/MS/MS) is undertaken. In vitro and in vivo metabolites of fidarestat have been identified and characterized by using LC/ESI/MS/MS and accurate mass measurements. To identify in vivo metabolites, plasma, urine, and feces samples were collected after oral administration of fidarestat to Sprague–Dawley rats, whereas for in vitro metabolites, fidarestat was incubated in human S9 fraction, human liver microsomes, and rat liver microsomes. Furthermore, in silico toxicity and efficacy of the identified metabolites were evaluated. Eighteen metabolites have been identified. The main in vitro phase I metabolites of fidarestat are oxidative deamination, oxidative deamination and hydroxylation, reductive defluroniation, and trihydroxylation. Phase II metabolites are methylation, acetylation, glycosylation, cysteamination, and glucuronidation. Docking studies suggest that oxidative deaminated metabolite has better docking energy and conformation that keeps consensus with fidarestat whereas the rest of the metabolites do not give satisfactory results. Aldose reductase activity has been determined for oxidative deaminated metabolite (F‐1), and it shows an IC50 value of 0.44 μM. The major metabolite, oxidative deaminated, did not show any cytotoxicity in H9C2, HEK, HEPG2, and Panc1 cell lines. However, in silico toxicity, the predication result showed toxicity in skin irritation and ocular irritancy SEV/MOD versus MLD/NON (v5.1) model for fidarestat and its all metabolites. In drug discovery and development research, it is distinctly the case that the potential for pharmacologically active metabolites must be considered. Thus, the active metabolites of fidarestat may have an advantage as drug candidates as many drugs were initially observed as metabolites.     

Characterization of degradation products of Ivabradine by LC‐HR‐MS/MS: a typical case of exhibition of different degradation behaviour in HCl and H2SO4 acid hydrolysis

A validated stability‐indicating HPLC method was established, and comprehensive stress testing of ivabradine, a cardiotonic drug, was carried out as per ICH guidelines. Ivabradine was subjected to acidic, basic and neutral hydrolysis, oxidation, photolysis and thermal stress conditions, and the resulting degradation products were investigated by LC‐PDA and LC‐HR‐MS/MS. The drug was found to degrade in acid and base hydrolysis. An efficient and selective stability assay method was developed on Phenomenex Luna C18 (250 × 4.6 mm, 5.0 µm) column using ammonium formate (10 mM, pH 3.0) and acetonitrile as mobile phase at 30 °C in gradient elution mode. The flow rate was 0.7 ml/min and detection wavelength was 286 nm. A total of five degradation products (I‐1 to I‐5) were identified and characterized by LC‐HR‐MS/MS in combination with accurate mass measurements. The drug exhibited different degradation behaviour in HCl and H₂SO₄ hydrolysis conditions. It is a unique example where two of the five degradation products in HCl hydrolysis were absent in H₂SO₄ acid hydrolysis. The present study provides guidance to revise the stress test for the determination of inherent stability of drugs containing lactam moiety under hydrolytic conditions. Most probable mechanisms for the formation of degradation products have been proposed on the basis of a comparison of the fragmentation pattern of the drug and its degradation products. In silico toxicity revealed that the degradation products ( I‐2 to I‐5 ) were found to be severe irritants in case of ocular irritancy. The analytical assay method was validated with respect to specificity, linearity, range, precision, accuracy and robustness. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.