Non-monoterpenoid azepinoindole alkaloids.

Covering: 1969 to 2018 Azepinoindole natural products can be broadly classified as being of monoterpenoid or non-monoterpenoid origin. The non-monoterpenoid azepinoindoles have not received as much attention in the literature as their more revered monoterpenoid counterparts. In this review, an overview of all non-monoterpenoid azepinoindoles is provided. Various biological and chemical aspects are discussed, including their isolation, biosynthesis and the elegant total synthesis studies that have been inspired by these alkaloids.

Enantioseparation of ß-carboline, tetrahydroisoquinoline and benzazepine analogues of pharmaceutical importance: Utilization of chiral stationary phases based on polysaccharides and sulfonic acid modified Cinchonaalkaloids in high-performance liquid and subcritical fluid chromatography.

High-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) and subcritical fluid chromatographic (SFC) separations of the enantiomers of structurally diverse, basic ß-carboline, tetrahydroisoquinoline and benzazepine analogues of pharmacological interest were performed applying chiral stationary phases (CSPs) based on (i) neutral polysaccharides- and (ii) zwitterionic sulfonic acid derivatives of Cinchona alkaloids. The aim of this work was to reveal the influence of structural peculiarities on the enantiorecognition on both types of CSP through the investigation of the effects of the composition of the bulk solvent, the structures of the chiral analytes (SAs) and chiral selectors (SOs) on retention and stereoselectivity. As a general tendency, valid for all polysaccharide SOs studied, the increase of the concentration of the apolar component in the mobile phase (n-hexane for LC or liquid CO2 for SFC) was found to significantly increase retention, which in most cases, was accompanied with increased selectivity and resolution. In a way, similar behaviour was registered for the zwitterionic SOs. In polar ionic mode employing eluent systems composed of methanol and acetonitrile with organic acid and base additives, moderate increases in retention factor, selectivity and resolution were observed with increasing acetonitrile content. However, under SFC conditions, an extremely high increase in retention was observed with increased CO2 content, while selectivity and resolution changed only slightly. Thermodynamic parameters derived from temperature dependence studies revealed that separations are controlled by enthalpy.

Isolation and identification of a novel aromatic amine mutagen produced by the Maillard reaction.

To clarify the formation of mutagens in the Maillard reaction of glucose and amino acids, 20 amino acids were separately incubated with glucose in the presence or absence of hydroxyl radicals produced by the Fenton reaction. After 1 week at 37 degrees C and pH 7.4, the reaction mixtures of glucose and tryptophan with and without the Fenton reagent showed mutagenicity toward Salmonella typhimurium YG1024 in the presence of a mammalian metabolic system (S9 mix). To identify mutagens in the reaction mixture, blue rayon-adsorbed material from a mixture of glucose, tryptophan, and the Fenton reagent was separated by column chromatography using various solid and mobile phases, and one mutagen, which accounted for 18% of the total mutagenicity of the reaction mixture, was isolated. The chemical structure of the mutagen was determined to be 5-amino-6-hydroxy-8H-benzo[6,7]azepino[5,4,3-de]quinolin-7-one (ABAQ) on the basis of ESI mass, high-resolution APCI mass, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, and IR spectral analyses and chemical synthesis of the mutagen. The novel aromatic amine showed high mutagenicity toward S. typhimurium TA98 and YG1024 with S9 mix, inducing 857 revertants of TA98 and 6007 revertants of YG1024/microg, respectively. The mutagenicity of ABAQ was comparable to that of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine, which is a mutagenic and carcinogenic hetrocyclic amine in cooked meat and fish formed through the Maillard reaction at high temperature.

A rapid and efficient method for the radiosynthesis and purification of [125I]SCH23982.

The radiosynthesis of (1R)-(+)-1-phenyl-3-methyl-7-[125I]iodo-8-hydroxy- 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine (commonly referred to as SCH23982) and its use as a high affinity D1 dopamine antagonist ligand have been reported previously. We now provide a simple and inexpensive protocol for the rapid and efficient synthesis of this radioligand based on the Cloramine-T-catalyzed reaction between the commercially available precursor (R)-(+)-1-phenyl-3-methyl- 8-hydroxy-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine and carrier-free sodium [125I]iodide. [125I]SCH23982 is separated rapidly (within 20 min) from the precursor and reaction byproducts (e.g., chlorinated precursor, SCH23390) by reverse-phase HPLC on a C-8 column. The major iodinated product has been identified as SCH23982 based on co-chromatography with authentic SCH23982, UV spectral characteristics, and biological activity. The chromatographic effluent containing the active product is adsorbed on a C-18 Sep-Pak cartridge to remove mobile-phase constituents and permit it to be eluted and diluted to the desired concentration; this technique is used also for periodic repurification. Our synthesis protocol results in final purified product that incorporates ca. 50% of the initial 125I (tested using starting quantities of 1-10 mCi Na125I); the final product has a specific activity of ca. 2500 +/- 350 Ci/mmol. Data from in vitro receptor autoradiographic and homogenate studies with this radioligand are consistent with previously reported values in terms of expected receptor distribution, affinity, and density (KD of 1.0 nM, Bmax of 1400 fmol/mg protein in rat striatal membranes).

Antimicrobial properties of alkaloids from Xanthorhiza simplicissima.

The organic extract of the whole plant Xanthorhiza simplicissima was found to exhibit good activity against the AIDS-related opportunistic pathogens Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Mycobacterium intracellularae. Bioassay-directed fractionation of the extract led to the isolation of the known alkaloid berberine as the major active component. A second alkaloid of the isohomoprotoberberine family, puntarenine, was isolated from this plant family for the first time. Puntarenine also showed marginal activity against the dermatophytic fungus Trichophyton mentagrophytes and the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

A validated method for the determination and purity evaluation of benazepril hydrochloride in bulk and in pharmaceutical dosage forms by liquid chromatography.

A gradient liquid chromatographic (LC) method has been developed for the determination and purity evaluation of benazepril hydrochloride in bulk and pharmaceutical dosage forms. The method is simple, rapid and selective. 5-Methyl-2-nitro phenol has been used as internal standard. The method is linear in the range of 50-800 microg. The precision for inter and intra-day assay variation of benazepril hydrochloride is below 1.6% RSD. The accuracy determined as relative mean error (RME) for the intra-day assay is within +/- 2.0%. The method is stability indicating, and is useful in the quality control of bulk manufacturing and also in pharmaceutical formulations.

Validation of a high-sensitivity assay for zatebradine in dried blood spots of human blood at pg/ml concentrations using HILIC-MS/MS.

BACKGROUND: One of the main reasons for the increased popularity of dried blood spots (DBS) is related to the 3Rs principles (replacement, refinement and reduction) for animal use in drug development. The small blood volume collected using this technique may have a significant impact on the assay sensitivity. An approach that made use of hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) to enhance the LC-MS assay sensitivity was explored and optimized for a tool compound. RESULTS: A very high-sensitivity assay in dried spots of human blood was validated in the range of 5 to 5000 pg/ml. The use of HILIC increased LC-MS sensitivity up to fivefold compared with other reversed phase chromatographic methods. CONCLUSION: The good compatibility of the DBS extracts with HILIC and the results of the assay validation for zatebradine at a very low LLOQ demonstrate the high potential and the high performance of this approach.

Solid-phase synthesis of 7-acylamino-1,4-benzodiazepine-2,5-diones.

A method for the synthesis of polymer-bound 7-acylamino-benzodiazepine-2,5-diones is described. The amino group of an alpha-amino acid is linked to polystyrene or TentaGel resin via reductive amination of polymer-bound 4-alkoxy-2,6-dimethoxybenzaldehyde. Acylation with unprotected 5-nitroanthranilic acid is followed by base-catalyzed ring closure. Reduction of the nitro group yields enantiomerically pure 7-aminobenzodiazepin-2,5-dione attached via the N-4 atom to the resin. Acylation of the amino group on the aromatic ring with acid chlorides in N-methylpyrrolidone (no DMF, no base!) followed by cleavage from the resin using TFA/Me(2)S/water (90:5:5) provides the acylated benzodiazepinones in 52-69% (PS resin) and 41-48% (TG resin) yield (based on the theoretical loading) and >70% purity (HPLC, 210 nm). Using Fmoc-protected tyrosine fluoride in NMP gives the amino acid-coupled benzodiazepinones in 24% (PS resin) and 31% (TG resin) yield.

An improved HPLC system for the analysis and purification of organic amine radiopharmaceuticals.

This paper describes the separation of lipophilic amine radiopharmaceuticals on normal phase silica using a reversed phase type eluant. This class of compound usually gives very poor peak symmetry on reversed phase columns. However, excellent separation of a number of amines of interest to Positron Emission Tomography, such as spiperone and its derivatives, has been achieved on this system.

Determination of a pyrimido-benzazepine anxiolytic agent and its 5-hydroxy metabolite in whole blood, plasma and urine by gas--liquid chromatography with electron-capture detection and by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Electron-capture gas--liquid chromatographic and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic assays are described for the quantitation of the compound, 9-chloro-7-(2-chlorophenyl)-5H-pyrimido [5,4-d] [2]-benzazepine, [I], a member of the benzazepine class of compounds undergoing clinical evaluation as anxiolytic agents. Studies on the biotransformation of [I] in the rat and dog showed that the compound was metabolized mainly by hydroxylation to yield the 5-hydroxy compound, [II], 9-chloro-7-(2-chlorophenyl)-5H-pyrimido [5,4-d] [2]-benzazepin-5-ol (major metabolite), along with the formation of lesser amounts of the N-oxide, [III], 9-chloro-7-(2-chlorophenyl)-5H-pyrimido [5,4-d] [2]-benzazepine 3-oxide, and the phenolic analogue, [IV], 3-chloro-4-(9-chloro-5H pyrimido-[5,4-d] [2] benzazepin-7-yl)phenol. This report describes the quantitation of [I] and [II] (major metabolite) in plasma using the above analytical techniques, both in preclinical studies in the dog and in clinical pharmacokinetic studies in man.