Enantiomers of thalidomide: blood distribution and the influence of serum albumin on chiral inversion and hydrolysis

The aim of this investigation was to elucidate the distribution and reactions of the enantiomers of thalidomide at their main site of biotransformation in vivo, i.e., in human blood. Plasma protein binding, erythrocyte: plasma distribution, and the kinetics of chiral inversion and degradation in buffer, plasma, and solutions of human serum albumin (HSA) were studied by means of a stereospecific HPLC assay. The enantiomers of thalidomide were not extensively bound to blood or plasma components. The geometric mean plasma protein binding was 55% and 66%, respectively, for (+)-(R)- and (−)-(S)-thalidomide. The corresponding geometric mean blood:plasma concentration ratios were 0.86 and 0.95 (at a haematocrit of 0.37) and erythrocyte:plasma distributions were 0.58 and 0.87. The rates of inversion and hydrolysis of the enantiomers increased with pH over the range 7.0–7.5. HSA, and to a lesser extent human plasma, catalysed the chiral inversion, but not the degradation, of (+)-(R)- and (−)-(S)-thalidomide. The addition of capric acid or preincubation of HSA with acetylsalicylic acid or physostigmine impaired the catalysis to varying extents. Correction for distribution in blood enhances previously observed differences between the pharmacokinetics of the enantiomers in vivo. The findings also support the notion that chiral inversion in vivo takes place mainly in the circulation and in albumin-rich extravascular spaces while hydrolysis occurs more uniformly in the body. In addition, the chiral inversion and hydrolysis of thalidomide apparently occur by several different mechanisms. Chirality 10:223–228, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Enantioselective inhibition of TNF-α release by thalidomide and thalidomide-analogues

The question whether the immunomodulating activity of rac-thalidomide resides in either the (−)-(S)- or the (+)-(R)-enantiomer was addressed by synthesis and separation of pure enantiomers of thalidomide-analogues which carry a methyl-group at the asymmetric carbon atom and are thus prevented from racemization. The effect of the pure enantiomers of the thalidomide-analogues and also of the enantiomers of thalidomide on relapse of TNF-α was tested in vitro by using stimulated peripheral mononuclear blood cells. Both enantiomers of thalidomide inhibited the release of TNF-α equally well at low concentrations (5 and 12.5 μg/ml) but at higher concentrations (25 and 50 μg/ml) there was a weak but statistically significant selectivity towards the (−)-(S)-enantiomer. In the case of the configuration-stable thalidomide-analogues there was a very pronounced and statistically significant enantioselectivity towards the (S)-form even at lower concentrations (≥5 μg/ml). The (S)-enantiomers of the thalidomide-analogues differed in their inhibitory potency from (−)-(S)-thalidomide suggesting that the introduction of the methyl-group increases the TNF-α-inhibitory activity while the reduction of one of the carbonyl-functions in the glutarimide-moiety to a methylene-group decreases activity. The effect of these small molecular alterations on activity and the enantioselectivity towards the (S)-enantiomers may indicate that thalidomide and its analogues directly interact with one or several cellular target-proteins. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Stereoselective distribution of hydroxychloroquine in the rabbit following single and multiple oral doses of the racemate and the separate enantiomers

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) stereoselective distribution was investigated in rabbits after 20 mg/kg po of racemic-HCQ (rac-HCQ) and 20 mg/kg po of each enantiomer, 97% pure (?)-(R)-HCQ and 99% pure (+)-(S)-HCQ. Concentrations were 4 to 6 times higher in whole blood than in plasma. Melanin did not affect plasma and whole blood levels since concentrations did not differ between pigmented and nonpigmented animals. After single and multiple doses of the separate enantiomers, only 5–10% of the antipode could be measured, in blood or plasma. Therefore, there was no significant interconversion from one enantiomer into the other. Following rac-HCQ, plasma (+)-(S)-levels always surpassed (?)-(R)-ones while in whole blood, (?)-(R)-HCQ concentrations were always the highest. When the enantiomers were administered separately, blood concentrations achieved after (?)-(R)-HCQ were higher, especially after multiple doses. These observations suggest that (?)-(R)-HCQ is preferentially concentrated by cellular components of blood. This enantioselective distribution of HCQ could be secondary to a stereoselective protein binding to plasma proteins, although a more specific binding of (?)-(R)-HCQ to blood cells cannot be ruled out. Since in whole blood (?)-(R)-HCQ is retained in cellular components, metabolism would favour the more available (+)-(S)-enantiomer. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Synthesis of (+)-(R)- and (−)-(S)-5-hydroxy-2-methyl-2-dipropylaminotetralin: Effects on rat hippocampal output of 5-HT, 5-HIAA,and DOPAC as determined by in vivo microdialysis

Racemic 5-methoxy-2-methyl-2-dipropylaminotetralin ( 3 ) has been prepared by a short synthetic route, in which the N,N-dipropyliminium perchlorate of 5-methoxy-2-tetralone ( 4 ) is a key intermediate. Racemic 3 was resolved by crystallization of the corresponding diastereomeric di-p-toluoyltartrates. The enantiomeric excess (%ee) of the phenolic derivatives of (+)-(R)- and (?)-(S)-3 [(+)-(R)- and (?)-(S)-2] was determined by ¹HNMR spectroscopic analysis of the corresponding diastereomeric (?)-(R)-1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diylphosphoric acid salts utilizing ¹³C satellites. X-ray crystallography established the absolute configuration of (?)-(S)-2 · HCl. The enantiomers of 2 were tested for hippocampal output of 5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, and dihydroxyphenylacetic acid in rats by use of in vivo microdialysis. The (?)-(S)-enantiomer appeared to affect 5-HT-turnover, whereas (+)-(R)- 2 was inactive. Results obtained provide support for the previously reported hypothesis that the inactivity of (?)-(S)- 2 at central DA receptors is caused by the steric bulk of the C(2)-methyl group. This makes it possible to define a “DA D2 receptor essential volume.” © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Absolute configuration and biological activity of mequitamium iodide enantiomers

The enantiomers of 1-methyl-3-(10H-phenothiazine-10-ylmethyl)-1-azoniabicyclo[2,2,2]octane iodide ( 1 ) were prepared by chiral chromatographic resolution of the precursor mequitazine ( 2 ). The (+)-(S)-enantiomer 1b is 10-fold more potent than (?)-(R)-enantiomer 1a as a histamine antagonist, while the two enantiomers show the same antimuscarinic activity in vitro. The absolute configuration of the more active dextrorotatory isomer has been determined by X-ray analysis. Conformational analysis and molecular modeling suggest that the (+)-(S)-enantiomer can adopt a conformation similar to that attributed to the receptor binding conformers of classical antihistamines. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Stereoselectivity of the in vitro metabolism of thalidomide

The stereoselective metabolism of the former sedative thalidomide and the metabolism of its analogue EM 12 were studied in vitro with liver homogenates. In our study we focused on hydroxylated nonhydrolyzed metabolites of thalidomide. An analytical HPLC method was developed to determine these metabolites directly. The investigations showed a highly stereoselective biotransformation of thalidomide. 5-Hydroxy thalidomide was preferentially formed by (?)-(S)-thalidomide, whereas (+)-(R)-thalidomide was metabolized to two hitherto unknown compounds (Met A and B). Mass spectrometry of these metabolites Met A and B indicated that oxidation or hydroxylation took place in the glutarimide moiety. Biotransformation studies with the more stable thalidomide analogue EM 12 revealed four new metabolites (Met C? F) whose quantities differed in the selected liver homogenate. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

The temperature dependence of steady-state kinetics: What can be learned about pig liver esterase stereospecificity?

The steady-state kinetic parameters for pig liver carboxylesterase (PLE)-catalyzed hydrolysis of the prochiral substrate dimethyl phenylmalonate (DMPM) (product enantioselectivity) and the separate enantiomers of three chiral 2-phenylpropionic acid esters (substrate enantioselectivity) were measured at seven temperatures between 288 K and 312 K. Arrhenius plots of turnover numbers against the reciprocal of experimental temperatures yielded enthalpies and entropies of activation at enzyme saturation. (+)-(S)-methyl-2-phenylpropionate, (+)-(S)-4-nitrophenyl 2-phenylpropionate, and both enantiomers of phenyl 2-phenylpropionate showed very similar activation enthalpies and entropies (approximately 50 kJ mol^?1 and ?50 J mol^?1 K^?1, respectively), but differences were observed for (?)-(R)-methyl 2-phenylpropionate and (?)-(R)-4-nitrophenyl 2-phenylpropionate. Whereas the entropies of activation of all 2-phenylpropionates were negative, positive entropies of activation were measured in the formation of monomethyl phenylmalonate enantiomers from DMPM. Enthalpy–entropy compensation analysis of the data indicates a common mechanism of PLE substrate and product enantiospecificity in the reactions studied here. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Stereoselective metabolism of benalaxyl in liver microsomes from rat and rabbit

Benalaxyl (BX), methyl‐N‐phenylacetyl‐N‐2,6‐xylyl alaninate, is a potent acylanilide fungicide and consist of a pair of enantiomers. The stereoselective metabolism of BX was investigated in rat and rabbit microsomes in vitro. The degradation kinetics and the enantiomer fraction (EF) were determined using normal high‐performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection and a cellulose‐tris‐(3,5‐dimethylphenylcarbamate)‐based chiral stationary phase (CDMPC‐CSP). The t_1/2 of (?)‐R‐BX and (+)‐S‐BX in rat liver microsomes were 22.35 and 10.66 min of rac‐BX and 5.42 and 4.03 of BX enantiomers. However, the t_1/2 of (?)‐R‐BX and (+)‐S‐BX in rabbit liver microsomes were 11.75 and 15.26 min of rac‐BX and 5.66 and 9.63 of BX enantiomers. The consequence was consistent with the stereoselective toxicokinetics of BX in vitro. There was no chiral inversion from the (?)‐R‐BX to (+)‐S‐BX or inversion from (+)‐S‐BX to (?)‐R‐BX in both rabbit and rat microsomes. These results suggested metabolism of BX enantiomers was stereoselective in rat and rabbit liver microsomes. Chirality, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Enantioselective syntheses and calcium channel modulating effects of (+)- and (−)-3-isopropyl 5-(4-methylphenethyl) 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(2-pyridyl)-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylates

The (+)- and (?)-enantiomers of 3-isopropyl 5-(4-methylphenethyl) 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(2-pyridyl)-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylate were synthesized using an efficient highly enantioselective (ee ≥ 96%) variant of the Hantzsch dihydropyridine synthesis. The key step in this procedure involved the asymmetric Michael addition of a metalated chiral aminocrotonate, derived from D -valine or L -valine, respectively, to the Knoevenagel acceptor (Z)-2-isopropoxycarbonyl-1-(2-pyridyl)-but-1-en-3-one. Both enantiomers exhibited a dual cardioselective partial calcium channel agonist (positive inotropic)/smooth muscle selective calcium channel antagonist effect. The relative in vitro smooth muscle calcium channel antagonist activities of the (?):(+) enantiomers was 26:1. In contrast, the (+)-enantiomer exhibited a greater in vitro positive inotropic effect on guinea pig left atrium where the contractile force was maximally increased by 14.8% at a concentration of 1.63 × 10^?8 M. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Enzymatic and chromatographic chiral discrimination of racemic (thio)glycidyl esters: Part I. A chemoenzymatic approach to both enantiomers of thioglycidyl esters

Both hitherto unknown (+)-(R)- and (?)-(S)-thioglycidyl esters, (R)-( 2 ) and (S)-( 2 ), have been synthesized with different high enantiomeric excesses (ee) by two routes from the corresponding rac-glycidyl esters rac-( 1 ). The first includes a porcine pancreatic lipase (PPL)-mediated kinetic resolution of these esters followed by sulfuration with practically complete inversion to the (+)-(R)-enantiomer (+)-(R)-( 2 ) (36–86% ee). (?)-(S)-Thioglycidyl esters (?)-(S)-( 2 ) are obtained by the reverse reaction sequence (43–80% ee). In the latter case the hydrolysis rate is lower than that of analogous glycidyl esters. Moreover, the dependence of enantiomeric excess on the size of the acyl-group is of the opposite tendency. Therefore, in both cases suitable selection of the acid residue gives rise to maximum enantioselectivity. The irreversible lipase-catalyzed acylation of rac-glycidol and rac-thioglycidol, however, was found to be a less suitable alternative. The enantiomeric excess of recovered homochiral esters was determined by chiral chromatography using modified cellulose stationary phases (OB, OD). © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Stereoselective degradation of Diclofop-methyl during alcohol fermentation process

Stereoselective degradation of Diclofop-methyl (DM) has been found in alcohol fermentation of grape must and sucrose solution with dry yeast. A method was developed for separation and determination the two enantiomers of DM during the fermentation process by high-performance liquid chromatography based on cellulose tri-(3,5-dimethylphenyl-carbamate) chiral stationary phase. The results showed that the enantiomers of DM degraded following the first-order kinetics in the sucrose solution and the degradation of DM enantiomers in grape must were biphasic (slow-fast-slow process). In the sucrose solution, half lives of (+)-(R)-DM and (-)-(S)-DM were calculated to be 8.5 h and 3.1 h, respectively. In the grape must, half life of (+)-(R)-DM was calculated to be 41.7 h while (-)-(S)-DM was 16.0 h. The result was that (-)-(S)-enantiomer degraded faster than the (+)-(R)-enantiomer in both alcohol fermentation. The results also showed that the differences of the enantioselective degradation of DM depended on the fermentation matrix. DM was configurationally stable in fermentation, showing no interconversion of (-)-(S)- to (+)-(R)- enantiomer, and vice-versa.     

Thalidomide enantiomers: determination in biological samples by HPLC and vancomycin-CSP

Thalidomide is a racemate with potentially different pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the component (+)-(R)- and (-)-(S)-thalidomide enantiomers. As part of a project on the adjunctive effects of thalidomide and cytotoxic agents, a method for the chiral separation and quantitation of thalidomide was developed and validated. Thalidomide in relevant serum and tissue homogenate samples was stabilized by buffering with an equal volume of citrate-phosphate buffer (pH 2, 0.2M), and stored at -80 degrees C pending assay. The thalidomide enantiomers, extracted from the samples with diethyl ether, were well separated on a chiral HPLC column of vancomycin stationary phase and a mobile phase of 14% acetonitrile in 20 mM ammonium formate adjusted to pH 5.4; their concentrations were determined with phenacetin as internal standard at 220 nm detection. Over a thalidomide concentration range of 0.1-20 microg/ml, assay precision was 1-5% (CV) for both enantiomers, and calibration curves were linear with all correlation coefficients being >0.99. The estimated limit of quantification for both enantiomers was 0.05 microg/ml with 0.2-0.6 ml serum samples. Thalidomide in rat and human serum, acidified and stored as described above, was found to be chemically and chirally stable over 1 year. The method has been successfully applied to serum samples from human patients undergoing thalidomide treatment for mesothelioma, and to serum, blood and tissue samples from a laboratory rodent model using transplanted 9l gliosarcoma. Enantioselectivity in thalidomide pharmacokinetics has been found, thereby reinforcing the need for considering the relevance of chirality in thalidomide pharmacology.     

Toxicokinetics of a single intravenous dose of rac-propranolol versus optically pure propranolol in the rat

Conscious male Wistar SPF Riv:TOX rats were dosed intravenously with 2.5, 5, or 10 mg/kg rac-propranolol·HCl, or with 5 mg/kg of either (-)-(S)- or (+)-(R)-propranolol·HCl. Disposition of (-)-(S)- and (+)-(R)-propranolol after dosing of rac-propranolol was linear in the dose range examined. Total plasma clearance was not changed in animals dosed with the individual enantiomers compared to the animals that were dosed with rac-propranolol. However, for (-)-(S)-propranolol both volume of distribution and elimination half-life decreased, whereas for (+)-(R)-propranolol increases were observed for these characteristics, in animals dosed with the individual enantiomers. Our observations suggest that the (+)-(R)-enantiomer competes with (-)-(S)-propranolol for plasma protein binding sites, resulting in lower plasma protein binding of the (-)-(S)-enantiomer when the racemate is administered. From recent toxicological experiments, it was concluded that rac-propranolol is more toxic than the individual enantiomers in the rat, when dosed iv at the same total mass. It is concluded that the observed potentiation of toxic effects of propranolol enantiomers when administered as a racemate can at least partly be explained by a pharmacokinetic interaction. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Formation of glycine conjugate and (-)-(R)-enantiomer from (+)-(S)-2-phenylpropionic acid suggesting the formation of the CoA thioester intermediate of (+)-(S)-enantiomer in dogs.

It has been proposed that the chiral inversion of the 2-arylpropionic acids is due to the stereospecific formation of the (-)-R-profenyl-CoA thioesters which are putative intermediates in the inversion. Accordingly, amino acid conjugation, for which the CoA thioesters are obligate intermediates, should be restricted to those optical forms which give rise to the (-)-R-profenyl-CoA, i.e., the racemates and the (-)-(R)-isomers. We have examined this problem in dogs with respect to 2-phenylpropionic acid(2-PPA). Regardless of the optical configuration of 2-phenylpropionic acid administered, the glycine conjugate was the major urinary metabolite and this was shown to be exclusively the (+)-(S)-enantiomer by chiral HPLC. Both (-)-(R)- and (+)-(S)-2-phenylpropionic acid were present in plasma after the administration of either antipode, and further evidence of the chiral inversion of both enantiomers was provided by the presence of some 25% of the opposite enantiomer in the free 2-phenylpropionic acid and its glucuronide excreted in urine after administration of (-)-(R)- and (+)-(S)-2-phenylpropionic acid. The (+)-(S)-enantiomer underwent chiral inversion to the (-)-(R)-antipode when incubated with dog hepatocytes. These data suggests that both enantiomers of 2-phenylpropionic acid are substrates for canine hepatic acyl CoA ligase(s) and thus undergo chiral inversion, but that the CoA thioester of only (+)-(S)-2-phenylpropionic acid is a substrate for the glycine N-acyl transferase. These studies are presently being extended to the structure and species specificity of the reverse inversion and amino acid conjugation of profen NSAIDs.     

Chiral resolution,determination of absolute configuration,and biological evaluation of (1,2-benzothiazin-4-yl)acetic acid enantiomers as aldose reductase inhibitors

Abstract

A novel series of (1,2-benzothiazin-4-yl)acetic acid enantiomers was prepared by chiral resolution, and their absolute configurations were determined using the PGME method. The biological evaluation of the racemate and single enantiomers has shown a remarkable difference for the aldose reductase inhibitory activity and selectivity. The (R)-(?)-enantiomer exhibited the strongest aldose reductase activity with an IC₅₀ value of 0.120?μM, which was 35 times more active than the S-(+)-enantiomer. Thus, the stereocenter at the C4 position of this scaffold was shown to have a major impact on the activity and selectivity.     

Absolute configurations and conformations of the opioid agonist and antagonist enantiomers of picenadol

The absolute configurations of the enantiomers of the opiod picenadol [cis-1,3-dimethyl-4-propyl-4-propyl-4-(3-hydroxyphenyl)piperidine; cis-3-methyl, 4-propyl] have been determined by an X-ray crystallographic study of the chloride salt of the (+)-enantiomer. The agonist (+)-enantiomer and the antagonist (?)-enantiomer were found to have the 3R, 4R and 3S, 4S absolute configurations, respectively. The conformational properties of the enantiomers were also examined with MM2–87 calculations. There was good agreement between the computed global minimum and the crystallographic structure with the phenyl ring approximately bisecting the piperidine ring by both methods. This orientation of the phenyl ring differs from that of related opioids such as the phenylmorphans, prodines, meperidine, and ketobemidone in which the phenyl ring tends to eclipse one edge of the piperidine ring. Because the phenyl ring bisects the piperidine ring in picenadol, there is little difference in the three-dimensional orientations of the phenyl rings of the two enantiomers when one superimposes the piperidine rings. The agonist (+)-enantiomer is ambiguous with respect to an opioid ligand model, which suggests that agonist activity requires a specific range of dihedral angles for the phenyl ring. While the global minimum of the agonist is not consistent with the model, a second conformer that is only 1.2 kcal/mol above the global minimum is consistent. An alternative explanation is that agonist or antagonist activity is solely due to the presence of the 3-methyl group on the different edges of the piperidine ring. MM2–87 calculations were also performed on the opioid agonist des-3-methyl analog of picenadol and the closely related trans-1,3,4-trimethyl-4-(3-hydroxyphenyl)piperidines (trans-3-methyl, 4-methyl) in which both enantiomers are opioid antagonists. The conformational properties of these compounds are consistent with the ligand model. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Synthesis of (+)-(R)- and (−)-(S)-trans-8-hydroxy-2-[N-n-propyl-N-(3′-iodo-2′-propenyl)] aminotetralin: New 5-HT1A receptor ligands

(R,S)-trans-8-Hydroxy-2-[N-n-propyl-N-(3′-iodo-2′-propenyl)amino]tetralin 7 , a new radioiodinated ligand based on 8-OH-DPAT, was reported as a potential ligand for 5-HT_1A receptors. The optically active (+)-(R)- and (?)-(S)- 7 were prepared to investigate the stereoselectivity of (R,S)- 7 . Racemic intermediate 8-methoxy-2-N-n-propyltetralin was reacted with the acyl chloride of (?)-(R)-O-methylmandelic acid to form a mixture of (S,R)- and (R,R)-diastereoisomers, which were separated by flash column chromatography. After removing the N-acyl group from the diastereoisomers, the desired (+)-(R)-or (?)-(S)- 7 was obtained by adding an N-iodopropenyl group. In vitro homogenate binding studies showed the stereoselectivity of this new compound for 5-HT_1A receptors. (+)-(R)- 7 isomer displayed 100-fold higher affinity than the (?)-(S)- 7 isomer. Biochemical study indicated that (+)-(R)- 7 potently inhibited forskolin-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity in hippocampal membranes (E_max and EC₅₀ were 24.5% and 5.4 nM, respectively), while (?)-(S)- 7 showed no effect at 1 μM. The radioiodinated (+)-(R)- and (?)-(S)-[¹²⁵I] 7 were confirmed by coelution with the resolved unlabeled compound on HPLC (reverse phase column PRP-1, acetonitrile/pH 7.0 buffer, 80/20). The active isomer, (+)-(R)-[¹²⁵I] 7 , displayed high binding affinity to 5-HT_1A receptors (K_d = 0.09 ± 0.02 nM). In contrast, the (?)-(S)- 7 isomer displayed a significantly lower affinity to the 5-HT_1A receptor (K_d > 10 nM). Thus, (+)-(R)-[¹²⁵I]trans-8-OH-PIPAT, (+)-(R)- 7 , an iodinated stereoselective 5-HT_1A receptor agonist, is potentially useful for study of in vivo and in vitro function and pharmacology of 5-HT_1A receptors in the central nervous system. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Synthesis and plant growth inhibitory activities of (+)- and (−)-(2Z,4E)-5-(1′,2′-epoxy-2′,6′,6′-trimethylcyclohexyl)-3-methyl-2,4-pentadienoic acid

Chiral (+)- and (?)-enantiomers of (2Z,4E)-5-(1′,2′-epoxy-2′,6′,6′-trimethylcyclohexyl)-3-methyl-2,4-pentadienoic acid have been synthesized from the chiral epoxy alcohols (+)- and (?)-1′,2′-dihydro-1′,2′-epoxy-β-ionone, which were prepared by Katsuki-Sharpless' asymmetric epoxidation of β-cyclogeraniol. The (+)-enantiomer showed strong inhibitory activity in a rice seedling and lettuce germination assay, whereas the (?)-enantiomer was 10³-times less active.     

Bidirectional chiral inversion of the enantiomers of the nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug oxindanac in dogs

The nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug oxindanac exists as two enantiomers, with most of its pharmacological activity residing in the (S)-isomer. The behavior of its enantiomers was investigated in dogs. Bidirectional inversion occurred in heparinised plasma and blood, with a ratio of enantiomers [S:R] of 7.3:1 being achieved at equilibrium after incubation for 24 h at 37°C. There was no detectable inversion of either isomer in plasma incubated at 4°C for up to 8 h or in aqueous solution at 37°C for up to 36 h. Bidirectional inversion also occurred in vivo, with a ratio of plasma AUC (0 ∞)s [S:R] of 8.1:1. The ratio of enantiomers reached equilibrium within 2 hr following (S)- or rac-oxindanac, and within 8 h following (R)-oxindanac. Elimination t^½s of the isomers were the same (R, 12.1 h, S, 13.3 h). There were no differences in the ratio of enantiomers following oral or intravenous application, suggesting that a systemic site for inversion was predominant. Although concentrations of the respective isomers were similar at equilibrium following administration of either (R)-, (S)-, or rac-oxindanac, AUC (0 ∞)s differed due to the delay in reaching equilibrium. The extent of inversion to the (S)-isomer was 100, 73.2, and 60.7% after administration of (S)-, rac-, and (R)-oxindanac, respectively. Although pharmacological activity might be equivalent at equilibrium following administration of either (R)-, (S)-, or rac-oxindanac; efficacy at early time points should be superior in the order (S) > racemate > (R). In conclusion both enantiomers of oxindanac undergo conversion to their respective antipodes in dogs, although the inversion of R to S is more efficient than that of S to R. This bidirectional inversion occurred in vivo, and in vitro in plasma and blood. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Integrated bioprocess for the stereospecific production of linalool oxides from linalool with Corynespora cassiicola DSM 62475

Linalool oxides are of interest to the flavour industry because of their lavender notes. Corynespora cassiicola DSM 62475 has been identified recently as a production organism because of high stereoselectivity and promising productivities [Mirata et al. (2008) J Agric Food Chem 56(9):3287–3296]. In this work, the stereochemistry of this biotransformation was further investigated. Predominantly (2R)-configured linalool oxide enantiomers were produced from (R)-(?)-linalool. Comparative investigations with racemic linalool suggest that predominantly (2S)-configured derivatives can be expected by using (S)-(+)-configured substrate. Substrate and product inhibited growth even at low concentrations (200?mg?l^?1). To avoid toxic effects and supply sufficient substrates, a substrate feeding product removal (SFPR) system based on hydrophobic adsorbers was established. Applying SFPR, productivity on the shake flask scale was increased from 80 to 490?mg?l^?1?day^?1. Process optimisation increased productivity to 920?mg?l^?1?day^?1 in a bioreactor with an overall product concentration of 4.600?mg?l^?1 linalool oxides.