Investigation of phase II metabolism of 11-hydroxy-Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and metabolite verification by chemical synthesis of 11-hydroxy-Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-glucuronide.

(-)-Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol ((-)-Δ-9-THC) is the main psychoactive constituent in cannabis. During phase I metabolism, it is metabolized to (-)-11-hydroxy-Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol ((-)-11-OH-Δ-9-THC), which is psychoactive, and to (-)-11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol ((-)-Δ-9-THC-COOH), which is psychoinactive. It is glucuronidated during phase II metabolism. The biotransformation of (-)-Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-glucuronide ((-)-Δ-9-THC-Glc) and (-)-11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-glucuronide ((-)-Δ-9-THC-COOH-Glc) is well understood, which is mainly due to the availability of commercial reference standards. Since such a standardized reference is not yet available for (-)-11-hydroxy-Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-glucuronide ((-)-11-OH-Δ-9-THC-Glc), its biotransformation is harder to study and the nature of the glucuronide bonding-alcoholic and/or phenolic-remains unclear. Consequently, the aim of this study was to investigate the biotransformation of (-)-11-OH-Δ-9-THC-Glc in vitro as well as in vivo and to identify the glucuronide by chemically synthesis of a reference standard. For in vitro analysis, pooled human S9 liver fraction was incubated with (-)-Δ-9-THC. Resulting metabolites were detected by high-performance liquid chromatography system coupled to a high-resolution mass spectrometer (HPLC-HRMS) with heated electrospray ionization (HESI) in positive and negative full scan mode. Five different chromatographic peaks of OH-Δ-9-THC-Glc have been detected in HESI positive and negative mode, respectively. The experiment set up according to Wen et al. indicates the two main metabolites being an alcoholic and a phenolic glucuronide metabolite. In vivo analysis of urine (n = 10) and serum (n = 10) samples from cannabis users confirmed these two main metabolites. Thus, OH-Δ-9-THC is glucuronidated at either the phenolic or the alcoholic hydroxy group. A double glucuronidation was not observed. The alcoholic (-)-11-OH-Δ-9-THC-Glc was successfully chemically synthesized and identified the main alcoholic glucuronide in vitro and in vivo. (-)-11-OH-Δ-9-THC-Glc is the first reference standard for direct identification and quantification. This enables future research to answer the question whether phenolic or alcoholic glucuronidation forms the predominant way of metabolism.

Synthesis of Para (-)-Δ8-THC Triflate as a Building Block for the Preparation of THC Derivatives Bearing Different Side Chains.

A two-step synthesis of para (-)-Δ8-THC-OTf that can be used as building block for late-stage introduction of side chains to the tetrahydrodibenzopyran core of THC by cross-coupling chemistry is presented. No protecting groups are needed, and (-)-Δ8-THC-OTf can be cross-coupled to access derivatives bearing pharmacologically interesting side chains such as benzoyl units, sterically demanding groups, aromatic chains, and alkenyl groups. This approach allowed an efficient four-step synthesis of (-)-Δ8-THC from commercial materials.

Short and Protecting-Group-Free Approach to the (-)-Δ8-THC-Motif: Synthesis of THC-Analogues, (-)-Machaeriol B and (-)-Machaeriol D.

Friedel-Crafts alkylation of resorcinols with ( S)- cis-verbenol and subsequent cyclization allows the construction of the tetrahydrodibenzopyran core of (-)-Δ8-THC which is also found in other natural products in one step. Using a benzofuryl substituted resorcinol, followed by diastereoselective hydroboration and oxidative or reductive workup, directly provides (-)-machaeriol B and D in 42% and 43% overall yields. Bromoresorcinol as a coupling partner delivers Br-THC that can be applied for late-stage diversification by Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling to readily access (-)-Δ8-THC analogues.

Electrochemical simulation of metabolic reactions of the secondary fungal metabolites alternariol and alternariol methyl ether.

Mycotoxins are secondary plant metabolites that have been found to cause severe diseases in humans and livestock. Exposure can take place on a daily basis since mycotoxins can be found not only in food, animal food, and dietary supplements but also in materials used in buildings. For this work, the Alternaria toxins alternariol (AOH) and alternariol methyl ether (AME) are chosen as representatives for this relevant compound class and are investigated regarding their oxidative phase I metabolism using a combination of electrochemical (EC) oxidation and high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS). This previously established method has been proven to be a valuable tool for the electrochemical simulation of certain phase I metabolic reactions. A comparison of the electrochemically generated products with those formed during microsomal incubation demonstrates the potential of the method for the successful prediction of the main phase I metabolic reactions of mycotoxins. It can thus find use as a supportive method in the elucidation of the metabolic pathways of various mycotoxins.