Combined use of liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance for the identification of degradation compounds in an erythromycin formulation.

A commercial erythromycin formulation containing erythromycin A (EA) as the major compound showed the presence of an unknown degradation compound that was co-eluted with erythromycin E (EE) in the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.) liquid chromatographic (LC) method. The amount of the degradation compound increased with respect to time. To separate this unknown (UNK1), investigation was performed with different LC methods coupled to ultraviolet detection (LC-UV). With the present Ph. Eur. method, the degradation compound could not be well separated. However, with the most selective LC-UV method (XTerra method), two more degradation products (UNK2 and UNK3) were found in the formulation which could not be observed using other methods because of their poor separation. By combining the results obtained with LC-UV, LC/MS and LC/NMR, the degradation products were identified as pseudoerythromycin A hemiketal (PsEAHK), erythromycin A enol ether carboxylic acid and erythromycin C enol ether carboxylic acid. PsEAHK is known to be a base-catalysed degradation product of EA, whereas the other two degradation products were newly identified.

Structural and physicochemical profiling of morphine and related compounds of therapeutic interest.

A concise account of the physicochemical properties of morphine and its derivatives of therapeutic interest is provided. Such properties include macroscopic and microscopic acid/base parameters, lipophilicity, solubility, permeability that all influence the fate of drugs in the body. The dependence of these parameters on pH is discussed and subsequent implications in drug administration and formulation are presented.

Methods for syntheses of N-methyl-DL-aspartic acid derivatives.

A novel practical method for the synthesis of N-methyl-DL-aspartic acid 1 (NMA) and new syntheses for N-methyl-aspartic acid derivatives are described. NMA 1, the natural amino acid was synthesized by Michael addition of methylamine to dimethyl fumarate 5. Fumaric or maleic acid mono-ester and -amide were regioselectively transformed into beta-substituted aspartic acid derivatives. In the cases of maleamic 11a or fumaramic esters 11b, the alpha-amide derivative 13 was formed, but hydrolysis of the product provided N-methyl-DL-asparagine 9 via base catalyzed ring closure to DL-alpha-methylamino-succinimide 4, followed by selective ring opening. Efficient methods were developed for the preparation of NMA-alpha-amide 13 from unprotected NMA via sulphinamide anhydride 15 and aspartic anhydride 3 intermediate products. NMA diamide 16 was prepared from NMA dimethyl ester 6 and methylamino-succinimide 4 by ammonolysis. Temperature-dependent side reactions of methylamino-succinimide 4 led to diazocinone 18, resulted from self-condensation of methylamino-succinimide via nucleophyl ring opening and the subsequent ring-transformation.

Population, acid-base, and redox properties of N-acetylcysteine conformers.

Rotamers of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC, the most popular mucolytic drug) are characterized in terms of populations, site- and conformer-specific acid-base properties, reducing strength, and molecular pharmacology. A new, general relationship between the bulk- and rotamer-specific basicities is introduced. NAC at high pH predominantly exists in a trans thiolate-carboxylate rotameric form, whereas protonation promotes the occurrence of intramolecular hydrogen bond-forming isomers. Distribution curves of the rotamers are depicted as a function of pH. Rotamer-dependent thiolate basicities differ by up to 0.5 log k units. Carboxylate basicities show slight conformation-dependence only. The membrane-penetrating capabilities from various compartments of the body are assessed on the basis of the pH-dependent charge of the molecule. The thiol-disulfide half-cell potential is calculated, using the correlation between the thiolate basicity and oxidizability. The oxidation-reduction properties of NAC are compared to those of other biological thiols in their definite microscopic forms. The pharmacokinetic behavior is interpreted in terms of the physicochemical parameters, providing molecular/submolecular explanation for several therapeutic properties of NAC.

Enhancing effect of zinc on astroglial and cerebral endothelial histamine uptake.

We have studied the effect of zinc ion on the uptake of histamine (HA) into cultured astroglial and cerebral endothelial cells and established that Zn(2+) enhances the uptake of the amine dose-dependently and in remarkable extents by increasing the V(max) to about 3-fold (from 3.25 +/- 0.42 to 8.50 +/- 0.97 pmol/mg protein/min in astroglial cells) without altering the K(M) (0.20 +/- 0.03 microM) significantly. The stimulatory effect of zinc ion showed strong sensitivity for VUF 8407, an inhibitory compound of astroglial and cerebral endothelial uptake of HA. In the presence of 20 microM VUF 8407 the zinc-enhanced uptake was reduced by about 50% in both cell types. Binding measurements revealed increased capacities of the zinc-exposed HA binding (B(max)= 0.41 +/- 0.05 increased to 1.21 +/- 0.16 pmol/mg protein in astroglial membranes and B(max) = 0.25 +/- 0.03 enhanced to 1.05 +/- 0.12 pmol/mg protein in cerebral endothelial membranes) but statistically unchanged affinity of the ligand for HA carrier (K(D) values calculated as 35.2 +/- 3.4 nM and 45.1 +/- 3.8 nM for astroglial bindings; whereas 25 +/- 2.1 nM and 30 +/- 2.6 nM for cerebral endothelial bindings of the amine). The compound VUF 8407 reduced the B(max) of zinc-exposed HA binding of astroglial membranes but did not modify the K(D) of the zinc-exposed membrane significantly. The ex vivo experiments confirmed our in vitro findings; an i.c.v. dose of 0.4 micromol/kg ZnSO(4,) 24 hr after the injection, enhanced the uptake of [(3)H]HA into dissociated hypothalamic and cerebellar cells to about 2- and 3-fold, respectively. Present data clearly showed that zinc exposures enhance the astroglial and the cerebral endothelial uptake of HA in vitro and it might be considered that zinc produces similar effects in vivo. Free zinc may participate in the regulation of the extraneuronal HA concentration and this metal ion (endogenous or exogenous) might be favored in the removal of the amine from the interstitial space especially in conditions with relatively high HA.

Protonation equilibria of quinolone antibacterials.

The acid-base properties of seven antibacterial 7-piperazinyl fluoroquinolone derivatives were studied by potentiometry and UV and NMR spectroscopy. These molecules contain two proton-binding sites of similar basicity, namely, the piperazine amino and the carboxylate groups, as proven by 1H NMR spectroscopy. The basicities are quantitated at the molecular level in terms of macroconstants, and also at the submolecular level in terms of microconstants. The microconstants are then used to calculate the concentration of the positive, zwitterionic, neutral, and negatively charged species (microspeciation). The zwitterionic forms always predominate over their neutral protonation isomers, but the zwitterionic:neutral concentration ratio is considerably different for the examined fluoroquinolone derivatives.

Characterization of calcified deposits on contraceptive intrauterine devices.

The formation of calcified deposits on > 200 contraceptive intrauterine devices (IUD) was quantitated as a function of time in healthy women, pregnant women, and women with a pathologic lesion. The incrustment formation was significantly enhanced when inflammation occurred, but change could not be observed in cases of pregnancy. The incrustments were analyzed by x-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, x-ray microprobe, and ultramicrochemical stone analysis techniques. Major components and their average w/w percent quantities in the incrustments are as follows: calcium carbonate 75%, apatite 5%, and organic matrix 20%. Earlier hypotheses on the chemical processes of deposit formation are discussed, and a new, ionic mechanism of calcification on IUD surfaces is suggested.

PIP: Calcium incrustation on the surface of an IUD significantly increases the likelihood of side effects such as bacterial and fungoid infections. The time-dependence of calcification on IUDs and the chemical composition of calcified deposits were investigated in devices removed from more than 200 healthy women with lower abdominal complaints or a planned or accidental pregnancy. A linear relationship was found between the amount of incrustation on plastic IUDs and the duration of IUD use. Incrustment formation was faster when inflammation occurred, presumably as a result of enhanced excretion of incrustment-forming compounds, but pregnancy had no effect on this rate. Deposit formation on copper IUDs was less uniform and proceeded at a slower rate. The incrustments were characterized by x-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, x-ray microprobe, and ultramicrochemical stone analysis techniques. On average, incrustments were composed of calcium carbonate (75%), organic matrix (20%), and apatite (5%). The rate of incrustation depended not only on the size and quality of the IUD, but also on the individual capability of the uterus to produce calcium ions. The growth of incrustments on IUDs can be monitored by noninvasive ultrasonography.

Characterization of potential NMDA and cholecystokinin antagonists I. acid-base properties of 2-methyl-4-oxo-3H-quinazoline-3-alkyl-carboxylic acids at the molecular and submolecular levels.

The protonation macroconstants (log K) of 4(3H)-quinazolone (1) and two 2-methyl-4-oxo-3H-alkyl-quinazoline-3-carboxylic acid derivatives (2,3) were determined by pH-potentiometry. The acid-base chemistry of compounds 2 and 3, where proton-bindings take place in an overlapping fashion, was described in terms of protonation microconstants as well. Microspeciation was carried out by two means: UV-pH titration (selective, pH-dependent monitoring of the N1-binding site), and deductively (using a derivative compound as covalently fixed model of one of the protonation isomers). The microconstant values obtained by the two different methods are in agreement within 0.05 log K units. Microspeciation revealed remarkable differences between the two homologue compounds (2 and 3). The microconstant values show that insertion of a second methylene moiety into the aliphatic acid side-chain (1) increases the electron-density and most basicity parameters of both functional groups; (2) significantly modifies the extent of site-site interactions in the molecule; (3) opens new conformational preferences by N1 ring nitrogen-carboxylic group intramolecular hydrogen bond formation and (4) reverses the predominantly zwitterion-involved protonation pathway into a neutral form-involved pathway. These molecules exemplify that microconstant values allow the comparative prediction and quantitative evaluation of pharmacokinetic behaviour, and signify the fact that microspeciation is a powerful tool in the process of drug development.

Determination of sulphate by pH titration.

A simple and inexpensive method has been developed for the determination of sulphate and other very weak bases and acids. It utilizes the partial protonation of the weak base or the partial dissociation of the weak acid, which has not been exploited for analytical purposes thus far. The procedure consists of three pH titrations: one with a test solution of known sulphate content, the second with the sulphate sample, and the third with a blank. This method can be used in the presence of several inorganic ions and organic matrices, including non-aqueous solvents. In aqueous medium sulphate contents above 10(-3)M can be determined. The use of solvent mixtures may increase the sensitivity of the method by two orders of magnitude.

Microscopic acid-base equilibria of arginine.

Three and two protonation macroconstants as well as twelve and four microconstants have been determined for arginine and citrulline, respectively. These data include microscopic basicity values of the arginine guanidino group, for which no reliable constants have been reported earlier. The determinations were carried out by a combination of potentiometric and deductive methods. The guanidino basicity proved to be extremely high, and can be characterized by microconstants between 14.7 and 15.0 log k units. The interactivity parameters could also be determined from the microscopic protonation constants. These values for the guanidino-amino and the guanidino-carboxylate interactions are 0.2 and 0.1 log k units, respectively. The pH-dependent distribution of all eight arginine microspecies is made visual by a microspeciation diagram. The microspeciation diagram is the most useful tool to predict bidentate binding isomerism in metal complex formation and site-specific bioligand-bioligand associations.

Determination of enantiomeric purity by simultaneous dual circular dichroism and ultraviolet spectroscopy.

A method is described for the determination of enantiomeric composition. The ellipticity and absorbance of the sample are measured simultaneously by CD and UV spectroscopies, and the resulting G value is determined. G is an intensive physico-chemical parameter, a close derivative of anisotropy factor. Its magnitude is identical with opposite sign for enantiomers. The experimental G value is concentration-independent, as long as both absorption and ellipticity are linear functions of concentration. The analytical procedure introduced here is simple, rapid, and inexpensive, even though it includes calibration with standards of established enantiomeric composition. Provided the sample contains some UV-active contaminant(s), the method can be used after achiral chromatographic purification. By virtue, the method lacks several sources of error, arising normally from concentration inaccuracies. Applicability of the principles is tested by the example of phenylglycine and mandelic acid. Advantages of the method allowed the determination of phenylglycine enantiomer purity with an accuracy of 0.1%.

1H-NMR studies on thymopoietin-type oligopeptides--assignment of the proton resonances and investigation of conformational preferences.

The thymopoietin-type tripeptides TP3 (HArg-Lys-AspOH), TP(D-Asp)3(HArg-Lys-D-AspOH) and tetrapeptide TP4 (HArg-Lys-Asp-ValOH) were studied by one- and two-dimensional, 500 MHz 1H-NMR spectroscopy in H2O and D2O solutions at four different pH values. All proton resonances of the three oligopeptides were assigned by two-dimensional phase-sensitive TOCSY experiments at pH 12.2, 9.1, 5.9 and 3.6. At these pH-values well-defined stages of protonation and concomitant molecular charges exist, allowing different possibilities for intra-molecular and inter-residual orientations. Conformation-sensitive rotating frame nuclear Overhauser enhancement (ROESY) two-dimensional experiments were also performed at the above pH values. These experiments indicated no definite solution conformation of any of the molecules at any pH. Standard one-dimensional experiments were also carried out and three-bond coupling constants were measured for the NH--CH and the Asp CH--CH moieties. The coupling constants provided evidence that non-statistical orientations of the functional groups exist which are changed upon protonation of the basic sites.

Acid-base properties of terbutaline in terms of protonation macro- and microconstants.

The acid/base chemistry of terbutaline was characterized at the molecular level in terms of protonation macroconstants and microconstants. The macroconstants were measured by potentiometry and calculated by standard evaluation methods. The stepwise macroconstant values were log K1 = 11.01, log K2 = 9.89, and log K3 = 8.57 at 25.0 degrees C and 0.2 M ionic strength. The microconstants were deduced using the relationships between macro- and microconstants and an appropriate data set of model compounds (resorcinol and phenylephrine). The molecule of terbutaline contains three ionizable functional groups. In the unprotonated form of the molecule, the two identical phenolate groups are slightly more basic than the secondary amino group, whereas the amino basicity significantly exceeds that of the phenolate site, when the other phenol is protonated. This is due to the large phenolate-phenolate intramolecular interaction. The phenolate-phenolate and the phenolate-amino interactivity parameters were found to be -1.21 and -0.41 log E units, respectively.

Deconvolution of composite chromatographic peaks by simultaneous dual detections.

Composite chromatographic peaks are deconvoluted by a method that uses ratio formation from signals of simultaneous double detection. The method is generally suitable if two detector signals can simultaneously be acquired and their uses do not need any a priori assumption or mathematical shape analysis. A simple deduction makes the compound- and detector-specific intensive parameters explicit, which allows for the digital construction of directly invisible component peaks. The simultaneous double detection is shown to be superior to coupled detectors, sequentially fixed chromatograms, and subsequently synchronized peaks. The combination of circular dichroism and ultraviolet (UV) detection is shown to be especially advantageous in the analysis of enantiomers for which the other ratio-forming peak-deconvolution techniques have inherently been insensitive. The double chiroptical UV detection can be of further use to decompose overlapping peaks of nonenantiomeric compounds that are highly similar. The capacity of the method is exemplified by the analysis of morphine alkaloids, steroid oximes, and synthetic heterocycles.

[Characterization of drug, narcotic and psychotropic drug chirality by statistical methods]. / Gyógyszer- és kábítószervegyületek kiralitásának statisztikai jellemzése.

The percentage of chiral entities among drug, narcotic drug and psychotropic compounds is steadily increasing. Receptors of the human body recognize the enantiomeric forms of constitutionally identical compounds as entirely different chemical agents. Based upon these facts, this paper reports the percentage of chiral compounds in the various pharmacological classes, and related data. Pertinent terms, such as eutomer, distomer, eudismic index, eudismic affinity quotient are defined. Differences in biological activity between eutomers and distomers are exemplified. The pharmacological classes and subclasses of highest chirality, and the "most chiral" active principles are shown. Some puzzling observations on pharmacological behaviour of stereoisomers are highlighted. The necessity of "racemate switch" in the pharmaceutical industry, and the significance of stereo-specific interactions between the drug, narcotic drug and psychotropic ligands, and complementary, "pocket" moieties of the human body are emphasized. Some features of enantiopharmacology, a fledgling science in the interface of stereochemistry and traditional pharmacology are introduced. The statistical treatment of asymmetric compounds in pharmacological classes and subclasses shows that presently, the percentage of chirality in drug categories is more characteristic of the origin of the compound than its target molecule.

[Stereochemical aspects of narcotic and psychotropic drug action]. / A kábítószerhatás szterokémiai kérdései.

Medicinal drugs are predominantly, whereas narcotic and psychotropic drugs are exclusively exogenous compounds. Three further fundamental properties of the narcotic/psychotropic compounds of significant abuse potential is that they all are of natural (plant or microbial) origin, they contain a large number of chiral atoms, and they influence the neurotransmission processes in the central nervous system. For some of them, the existence of corresponding endogenous ligands have recently been reported. Since exogenous compounds and their endogenous ligands are assumed to bind the same target moiety of the receptor, several fundamental questions arise: To what extent can stereochemical relationships be established between the exogenous compound and its endogenous counterpart? Do they have superimposable moieties? Are the corresponding chiral atoms of the same configuration? Is there a chiral-genetic relationship between the exogenous and endogenous compound? Theoretical aspects and answers to all these questions are sought for morphine, cocaine, LSD, tetrahydrocannabinol, amphetamine and related molecules.

[Determination of enantiomeric purity by simultaneous dual circular dichroism and ultraviolet spectrophotometry]. / Enantiomer-tisztaság közvetlen meghatározása ellipcitás és abszorpció egyidejú mérésével.

A method is described for the determination of enantiomeric composition. The ellipticity and absorbances of the sample are measured simultaneously by CD and UV spectroscopies, and the resulting G value is determined. G is an intensive physico-chemical parameter, a close derivative of anisotropy factor. Its magnitude is identical with opposite sign for enantiomers. The experimental G value is concentration-independent, as long as both absorption and ellipticity are linear functions of concentration. The analytical procedure introduced here is simple, rapid, and inexpensive, even though it includes calibration with standards of established enantiomeric composition. Provided the sample contains some UV-active contaminant(s), the method can be used after achiral chromatographic purification. By virtue, the method lacks several sources of error, arising normally from concentration inaccuracies. Applicability of the principles is tested by the example of phenylglycine and mandelic acid. Advantages of the method allowed the determination of phenylglycine enantiomer purity with an accuracy of 0.1%.

[Lactate-guanidinium and lactate-lactate weak interactions in aqueous solutions]. / Laktát-guanidinum és laktát-laktát gyenge kölcsönhatások vizes közegben.

Spectropolarimetry was used to quantify the guanidinium-lactate and lactate-lactate equilibrium reactions. Association constants for the guanidinium-lactate and lactate-lactate formations are 6.11 and 1.12, respectively, in aqueous solution. The value 6.11 is certainly high among electrostatic interactions in water. This stability, however, can not account for the extremely strong lactate-protein binding, observed by NMR spectroscopy. The molar rotation coefficients for both the heteroassociation and homoassociation complexes are also calculated. The homoassociative lactate-lactate binding is the first such interaction, whose constant has been determined by spectropolarimetry in aqueous solution.

[Microequilibrium of drug molecules]. / Gyógyszervegyületek mikroegyensúlyai.

Protonation macro-, micro-, and submicro constants are physico-chemical parameters of crucial importance, concerning the fate of bio-, drug, and narcotic drug molecules in the body and in protic solvents. The most important characteristics, relationships, applications and biological significance of these parameters are reviewed, using acetylcysteine and cysteine, as examples. The mucolytic effect of acetylcysteine, an active principle in numerous drugs, is interpreted in terms of protonation state of the molecule and its thiolate site. Microscopic protonation constants of acetylcysteine, data that have not previously appeared, are also reported.

[Characterization of the kinetics of ester hydrolysis at the submolecular level]. / Az észterhidrolízis kinetikájának szubmolekuláris jellemzése.

Ester-type compounds are important drugs as directly binding active principles, but also, as prodrugs that provide the acting agent after hydrolytic decomposition. The profound characterisation of the kinetics of ester hydrolysis is therefore equally important to interpret and design metabolic processes and prodrug-->drug transitions. The extramolecular factors (temperature, ionic strength, solvent etc.) influencing the rate constant values have extensively been studied. Contrary to that, few data can be found on the effect and magnitude of the intramolecular factors (substituent effect, neighbour-group protonation). This paper reports the introduction and determination of microscopic rate constants of ester hydrolysis, a new physicochemical parameter, which is defined in the sense of the protonation state of the basic site(s) adjacent the ester group. The microscopic rate constants of phenylalanine-methyl-ester hydrolysis are determined and interpreted. Also, the principles to characterise the rate of monobasic double esters at the submolecular level, exemplified by cocaine, are established.