Molecular and absolute crystal structure of pindolol-1-(1H-indol-4-yloxy)-3-[(1-methylethyl)amino]-2-propanol: A specific beta-adrenoreceptor antagonist with partial agonist activity

The crystal and molecular structure of pindolol, 1-(1H indol-4-yloxy)-3-[(1-methylethyl)amino]-2-propanol, has been determined by direct methods. Crystals are tetragonal, ,a=b=15.809(4),c=11.246(2) Å,Z=8,D _c=1.174 mg m^–3. The finalR-factor for 2271 reflections withI>2(I) is 0.038. Refinement by full-matrix least-squares on F² also enabled the absolute configuration of the structure to be established. The molecule is essentially planar, including much of the side-chain which is stabilized by the existence of two intramolecular H-bonds, between the ethyl oxygen and OH group, and between the OH and side-chain amide groups, respectively. The crystal structure is formed by three intermolecular hydrogen bonds including two side-chain-side-chain interactions, between ethyl oxygen to amide and OH to amide, and an interaction between the side-chain OH to indole NH.     

Adrenaline recognition in water

Host molecule 1 displays a high affinity in water towards catecholamines and especially related structures such as beta-blockers with extended aromatic pi-faces (up to 7x10(3) M(-1) for each single complexation step or 5x10(7) M(-2) for both steps). The amphiphilic structural design leads to an extensive self-association of host molecules through their aromatic flanks. Above a cmc (critical micelle concentration) of 3x10(-4) M, host 1 forms micelles that produce a favorable microenvironment for hydrophobic interactions with the included guest molecules. Electrostatic attraction of the ammonium alcohol by the phosphonate anions is thus combined with hydrophobic contributions between the aromatic moieties. Ionic hydrogen bonds with polar OH or NH groups of the guest enforce the non-covalent interactions, and finally lead to increased specificity. Both its affinity and its selectivity towards adrenergic receptor substrates are greatly enhanced if the receptor molecule 1 is transferred from water into a lipid monolayer. Catecholamines and beta-blockers lead to drastically different effects at concentrations approaching the micromolar regime. Especially beta-blockers with minute structural changes can be easily distinguished from each other. In both cases, extensive hydrophobic interactions with a self-associated and/or self-organized microenvironment are largely responsible for the observed high efficiency and specificity.     

A common method for the determination of several calcium channel blockers using an HPLC system with ultraviolet detection

We report a common HPLC method for the single or simultaneous determination of four calcium channel blockers (CCB), namely diltiazem (DTZ), verapamil (VER), nifedipine (NIF) and nitrendipine (NIT) and their active metabolites demetildiltiazem and deacetildiltiazem (MA and M1), norverapamil (NOR), and dehydronifedipine (DHN). DHN was first synthesised in our laboratory and different pH values of the mobil phase were subsequently prepared and tested for chromatographic separation. The detection system and the environmental light conditions were optimised. The best separations of all analytes were obtained using a C₁₈ column and a mobile phase of methanol, 0.04 M ammonium acetate, acetonitrile and triethylamine (2:2:1:0.04 v/v). Quantitation was performed using imipramine (IMI) as the internal standard. For DTZ and its metabolites (M1 and MA), the wavelength chosen was 237 nm; for VER and its metabolite NOR, it was 210 nm; and, finally for NIF and its metabolite DHN and NIT it was 216 nm. When a simultaneous analysis was carried out the wavelength was of 230 nm. The optimum pH were 7.90 and 7.10 when the separation of NIT and DTZ or VER and NIF were carried out, respectively, and 7.90 when a simultaneous separation was carried out. The detection limit of the assay was less than 8 ng ml⁻¹ for all compounds, with coefficients of variation less than 7% (for inter- and intra-day) over the concentration range of 1–1000 ng ml⁻¹. The retention times were less than 11 min. When NIF or NIT were studied, it was necessary to use a sodium vapour lamp in order to avoid the photodegradation which takes place under daylight conditions.     

Structure-activity relationship of Ca2+ channel blockers: A study using conformational analysis and chemometric methods

Summary A structure-activity relationship study has been done on 8 compounds with the activity known as Ca²⁺ channel blockers. Conformational analysis was carried out using a molecular mechanics method. The 3D-QSAR approach was used and the most polar functional groups present in all the molecules were considered. Eight interatomic distances are necessary to define the relative spatial disposition of these relevant molecular fragments. The structure-activity relationship between interatomic distances and biological activity was performed using statistic and chemometric methods. In particular, with Principal Component Analysis, it was possible to reduce the number of interatomic distances: only six of the eight distances are sufficient to describe the system in a useful way. A classification method was iteratively used to select the most probable conformations linked to the biological activity and to build a model able to classify conformations according to their biological behaviour. Cluster analysis on the active selected conformations subsequently allowed the identification of two different geometrical patterns for the active compounds. Finally the validity of the model was verified by correctly predicting the activity of other molecules not used in the construction of the model but possessing known activity.     

Optical Control of Acetylcholinesterase with a Tacrine Switch

Photochromic ligands have been used to control a variety of biological functions, especially in neural systems. Recently, much effort has been invested in the photocontrol of ion channels and G‐protein coupled receptors found in the synapse. Herein, we describe the expansion of our photopharmacological approach toward the remote control of an enzyme. Building on hallmark studies dating from the late 1960s, we evaluated photochromic inhibitors of one of the most important enzymes in synaptic transmission, acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Using structure‐based design, we synthesized several azobenzene analogues of the well‐known AChE inhibitor tacrine (THA) and determined their effects on enzymatic activity. One of our compounds, AzoTHA, is a reversible photochromic blocker of AChE in vitro and ex vivo with high affinity and fast kinetics. As such, AzoTHA can be used to control synaptic transmission on the neuromuscular endplate based on the light‐dependent clearance of a neurotransmitter.     

解吸附电晕束电离质谱法快速检测中成药及保健食品中非法添加的β-受体阻滞剂

建立了新型的解吸附电晕束离子源耦合离子阱质谱法(DCBI-MS),在无需复杂的样品前处理及色谱分离的条件下,可快速检测降血压中成药及保健食品中非法添加的7种β-受体阻滞剂阿替洛尔、比索洛尔、美托洛尔、普萘洛尔、盐酸塞利洛尔、盐酸贝凡洛尔和卡维地洛.采用一级质谱快速筛选和二级质谱确证的方法对目标化合物进行了定性和半定量测定.各目标物的检出限均低于0.1 mg/L,在0.5～100 mg/L浓度范围内线性关系良好.实验获得的7种β-受体阻滞剂的裂解规律为芳氧丙醇胺类化合物的质谱检测提供了参考依据.通过与高效液相色谱-电喷雾离子化质谱法(HPLC-ESI/MS)对比表明,DCBI-MS方法的检测结果可靠.对9种市售样品进行检测,有1批次中成药检出含有未标示的卡维地洛.结果表明,DCBI-MS法测定单个样品的时间不超过1 min,分析速度快,可以在大批量复杂基质样品中β-受体阻滞剂的筛查和药品品质的在线监测中发挥重要作用.     

The effect of chromatographic conditions on the separation of selected alkaloids on CN-silica layers

ABSTRACT

Selected alkaloids were chromatographed on cyanopropyl-silica thin layers using nonaqueous and aqueous eluents containing various free silanol blocker agents. Because of the strong retention of these basic compounds, nonaqueous eluents containing medium polar diluents, strongly polar modifiers, or aqueous eluents containing organic modifier, water, and silanol blockers (ammonia, diethylamine, and ionic liquid) were required for analysis. Mobile phases containing addition of acids were also tested for separation of investigated alkaloids. The most selective and efficient systems were used in two-dimensional separations of isoquinoline alkaloids’ mixture and plant extracts.     

Pharmacophore modelling of structurally unusual diltiazem mimics at L-type calcium channels

The purpose of this theoretical study was to investigate the molecular features of some structurally unusual calcium antagonists with experimentally proved affinity to the diltiazem-binding site at L-type calcium channels. Therefore, sterical and electronic characteristics of cis-/trans-diclofurime, the verapamil-like derivatives McN-5691 and McN-6186 as well as the natural products papaverine, laudanosine, antioquine and tetrandrine were compared with the pharmacophoric requirements detected for classical diltiazem-like derivatives. This yielded a common pharmacophore model for all of these compounds. Based on this model, one single negative molecular electrostatic potential induced by the free electron pairs of the oxime oxygen of trans-diclofurime was detected that might be responsible for the stronger effects compared to the cis isomer. Furthermore, the dual diltiazem- and verapamil-like features of McN-5691 (and McN-6186) as well as the distinct pharmacophoric assignment of the laudanosine enantiomers may be interpreted on a molecular level. Finally, the crucial partial structure of the bis-benzylisoquinoline derivatives antioquine and tetrandrine being responsible for the calcium antagonistic effects could be revealed by superposition on the most active benzothiazepinone derivative 8-methoxydiltiazem. The results obtained for these unusual diltiazem mimics are discussed taking into consideration earlier findings for classical diltiazem-like derivatives.     

Retention of β blockers on native titania stationary phase

In recent years, metal oxides such as titania have been commercially available as chromatographic beds that can potentially be used to achieve novel separations of polar compounds. For example β blockers, which are more often encountered in environmental sciences, have a wide range of polarity, and their basic character leads to difficult sample treatment and separation on conventional silica‐based sorbents. The contribution of titania to the selective analysis of nine β blockers was evaluated in terms of retention mechanisms observed in hydrophilic interaction LC using acetonitrile/water mobile phases with various additives. The mobile phase additives enabled to control the β blocker charge as well as the titania surface charge. Depending on their respective ionic state, various retention mechanisms were identified at low water contents (<40%), including mainly adsorption mixed with hydrophilic interaction LC partition, ion exchange and ion exclusion. An unexpected retention was also observed for high water content and high pH, changing the selectivity of the support.