Gentisuric acid: metabolic formation in animals and identification as a metabolite of aspirin in man.

Gentisuric acid was synthesized from gentisic acid and glycine ethyl ester. NMR, mass spectrometric and elemental analysis confirmed the product as GU, and physicochemical characteristics were determined. A TLC-densitometric technique was developed to estimate GU and other metabolites of aspirin. Conjugation of gentisic acid with glycine to form GU was catalyzed by a mitochondrial fraction of rat and beef liver. GU was also formed by the rat liver microsomal hydroxylation of salicyluric acid, and phenobarbital pretreatment increased this formation. A random survey showed GU in 76% of SA-positive urines from aspirin-treated patients. Identity of GU in urine from two aspirin-treated patients was confirmed by TLC and mass spectrometric analysis, and hydrolysis of the compound from one patient yielded glycine and gentisic acid. Urine from controls or post-aspirin treatment patients did not show GU by TLC analysis. These results demonstrate for the first time the metabolic formation of GU in animals and its occurrence as a metabolite of aspirin in man.

Synthesis of trideuterated O-alkyl platelet activating factor and lyso derivatives.

Racemic heavy isotope analogs of 1-O-alkyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (lysoPAF) and 1-O-alkyl-2-O-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (PAF) were prepared for use as internal standards to facilitate quantitative studies based on mass spectrometry. Starting from pentadecane-1,15-diol and rac-glycerol-1,2-acetonide, a convergent synthesis of 1-O-[16'-2H3]hexadecyl and 1-O-[18'-2H3]octadecyl rac-glycero-3-phosphocholine and their acetyl derivatives is described. Three deuterium atoms were introduced at the terminal position of the 1-O-alkyl group by displacement of the p-toluensulfonyl group from 1-O-alkyl-15'-p-toluensulfonate and 1-O-alkyl-17'-p-toluensulfonate with [2H3]-methylmagnesium iodide. The 1-O-alkyl-17'-p-toluensulfonate was obtained by reaction of the 1-O-alkyl-15'-p-toluensulfonate with allylmagnesium bromide, followed by reductive ozonolysis and treatment with p-toluene-sulfonyl chloride. The hydroxyl group at C-2 was protected by a benzyl group and removed at a late stage in the synthesis. This provided the corresponding lyso-derivatives or allowed preparation of racemic PAF by subsequent acetylation of the free hydroxy group. The phosphocholine moiety was introduced at glycerol C-3 by reaction with bromoethyldichlorophosphate and trimethylamine. The synthetic compounds were analyzed by FAB/MS and GC/NICIMS. They were shown to contain less than 0.6% protium impurity.

Enantioselective construction of cyclic quaternary centers: (-)-mesembrine.

The preparation of the crystalline amide 2 is reported. Conjugate addition to 2 proceeded with the expected high diastereocontrol to give 3. This set the stage for subsequent intramolecular alkylidene C-H insertion to give, after ozonolysis and aldol condensation, (-)-mesembrine 1. Amide 2 should be a useful chiron for the enantioselective construction of cyclic quaternary centers.

Synthesis of (-)-astrogorgiadiol.

Reaction of Rh2(S)-PTPA4 with the (R)-citronellol-derived alpha-diazo-beta-ketoester 1 led to the formation of cyclic beta-ketoester 2 in 95% yield and 48% diastereomeric excess. The purity of 2 was increased to > 99% de after one crystallization. To demonstrate its utility in steroid total synthesis, the beta-ketoester 2 was carried on to secosteroid (-)-astrogorgiadiol (3), a naturally occurring vitamin D analogue with antiproliferative properties.

Total synthesis of the four enantiomerically pure diastereomers of 8-F(2t)-isoprostane.

Syntheses of the four enantiomerically pure diastereomers of 8-F(2t)-isoprostane (5-8) are described. The key to this approach was to prepare the racemic alcohol 9 in high diastereomeric purity and then resolve 9 by lipase-mediated acetylation to yield the enantiomerically pure alcohols 30 and 32.

Synthesis of (-)-delobanone.

On irradiation in the presence of Fe(CO)(5) under a CO atmosphere, the alkenyl cyclopropane 2 underwent smooth ring expansion to give the sesquiterpene (-)-delobabone 3. The alkenyl cyclopropane 2 was prepared from the enantiomerically enriched epoxide 1.

Selective synthesis of octadeuterated (+/-)-5-HETE for use in GC-MS quantitation of 5-HETE.

5(S)-hydroxy-6 trans-8,11,14 cis-eicosatetraenoic acid (5-HETE) is the major product of arachidonic acid metabolism via the 5-lipoxygenase pathway. A limiting factor in the quantitation of 5-HETE by GC-MS analysis is the availability of a stable isotope analog for use as an internal standard. In this report, we detail procedures for selective chemical synthesis of multimilligram quantities of octadeuterated (+/-)-5-HETE from octadeuterated arachidonic acid. The octadeuterated (+/-)-5-HETE is suitable for use as an internal standard for GC-MS quantitation of 5-HETE. Preparation of the octadeuterated analog of 5-HETE can be readily performed in most laboratory settings.

A nomenclature system for the isoprostanes.

In 1990, prostaglandin (PG) F2-like compounds were discovered to be produced in abundance in vivo by a free radical mechanism independent of the cyclooxygenase enzyme. Because these compounds are isomeric to cyclooxygenase-derived PGF2 alpha, they were termed F2-isoprostanes (F2-IsoP's). Subsequently, it was also demonstrated that PGD2-like compounds (D2-IsoP's) and PGE2-like compounds (E2-IsoP's) are also produced in vivo as products of this pathway. Four different regioisomers of each of these classes of IsoP's are formed, each of which can be comprised of eight racemic diastereomers. Thus, 64 different F2-IsoP's, E2-IsoP's, and D2-IsoP's can be formed. Interest in these molecules stems not only from the fact that quantification of IsoP's can provide a valuable index of free radical-induced lipid peroxidation in vivo but also from the fact that it has been shown that these compounds are capable of exerting potent biological activity. Because of this potential for exerting biological activity, the chemical syntheses of various IsoP compounds for biological testing has been initiated. As a result, a need for a systematic nomenclature for these compounds has evolved. A facile nomenclature that will allow rational differentiation and designation of each of the isomeric structures comprising the family of IsoP's is presented.

Investigation of the chemical conversion of hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoate to leukotriene epoxide using stereospecifically labeled arachidonic acid. Comparison with the enzymatic reaction.

A series of stereospecifically labeled polyunsaturated fatty acids were prepared by biosynthesis from [8-DR-3H]- and [8-LS-3H]stearic acids. The labeled stearic acids were synthesized by a novel scheme employing readily available alkyne and aldehyde starting materials. The stereochemical purity of the prochiral tritium labels was judged to be greater than 99%, as determined by analysis of the octadec-1-yn-8(R)- and 8(S)-ol intermediates in the synthesis. Previously, the labeled arachidonic acids were used to investigate the stereoselectivity of hydrogen abstraction in the biosynthesis of leukotriene epoxides. We have now investigated the selectivity of hydrogen abstraction in a chemical synthesis of 14,15-leukotriene (LT) A4 from mixtures of [3-14C]- and either [10-DR-3H]- or [10-LS-3H]15(S)-HPETE methyl esters. Reaction with either chirally labeled precursor led to 70-95% retention of 3H relative to 14C in the 14,15-LTA4 and 10-Z-14,15-LTA4 products after purification by high performance liquid chromatography. The 15-dienone obtained from this reaction was consistently enriched in 3H relative to 14C after isolation and purification. Evidence was obtained to indicate that the majority of the 3H in the products was retained in its original location and configuration. These results indicate that the biomimetic chemical reaction is stereo-random with respect to hydrogen loss from carbon 10 and that, in contrast to the reaction as it occurs in leukocytes and platelets, in the chemical model the reaction begins by decomposition of the hydroperoxide group, with hydrogen loss from carbon 10 occurring as a late or final step.

The determination of meperidine, noremeperidine and deuterated analogs in blood and plasma by gas chromatography mass spectrometry selected ion monitoring.

A gas chromatographic mass spectrometric assay using selected ion monitoring for meperidine and normeperidine in blood and plasma is described. Both unlabeled and [3H]-phenyl ring labeled drugs may be determined simultaneously using [2H10] analogs as internal standards. Calibration curves are linear over the range 5--100 ng ml-1, the results reproducible (coefficient of variation < 5%), the sensitivity limit is about 5 ng using a 1 ml sample and no interference is present in blank blood or plasma, or by isotope inpurity. The method is shown to be applicable to measuring the concentration of meperidine and its metabolite, normeperidine, in blood, following simultaneous administration by the intravenous and oral routes of 25 mg each of unlabeled and [2H5] labeled drug, respectively.

2,3-Dinor-5,6-dihydro-15-F(2t)-isoprostane: a bioactive prostanoid metabolite.

15-F(2t)-isoprostane (15-F(2t)-IsoP), also termed 8-isoprostaglandin F(2alpha), is one of a series of prostanoids formed by free radical-mediated peroxidation of arachidonic acid and exerts potent biological actions such as vasoconstriction. We recently demonstrated that 15-F(2t)-IsoP is metabolized in humans to a major metabolite, 2,3-dinor-5,6-dihydro-15-F(2t)-IsoP (15-F(2t)-IsoP-M). 15-F(2t)-IsoP-M can also potentially be formed as a product of free radical-induced oxidation of the low abundance fatty acid gamma-linolenic acid. We confirmed that 15-F(2t)-IsoP-M is generated during oxidation of gamma-linolenic acid and explored whether it may exhibit biological activity. 15-F(2t)-IsoP-M caused marked constriction of porcine surface retinal and intraparenchymal brain microvessels, comparable to that observed with 15-F(2t)-IsoP. These effects were associated with increased thromboxane A(2) (TXA(2)) formation and were virtually abolished by TXA(2)-synthase and -receptor inhibitors (CGS-12970 and L-670596). Vasoconstriction induced by either 15-F(2t)-IsoP or 15-F(2t)-IsoP-M on perfused ocular choroid was also abrogated by TXA(2)-synthase inhibition as well as by removal of endothelium. Similar to 15-F(2t)-IsoP, 15-F(2t)-IsoP-M evoked vasoconstriction and TXA(2) generation by activating Ca(2+) influx from nonvoltage-gated channels (SK&F96365 sensitive) in the retina and from both nonvoltage- and N-type voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels (omega-conotoxin MVIIA sensitive), respectively, in brain endothelial and astroglial cells; smooth muscle cells were unresponsive to both agents. Cross-desensitization experiments further suggest that 15-F(2t)-IsoP and 15-F(2t)-IsoP-M act on the same receptor mechanism. Findings reveal a novel concept by which a beta-oxidation metabolite of 15-F(2t)-IsoP that can also be formed by nonenzymatic oxidation of gamma-linolenic acid is equivalently bioactive to 15-F(2t)-IsoP and may prolong the vascular actions of F(2)-IsoPs.