Biosynthesis of mercapturic acids from allyl alcohol, allyl esters and acrolein

1. 3-Hydroxypropylmercapturic acid, i.e. N-acetyl-S-(3-hydroxypropyl)-l-cysteine, was isolated, as its dicyclohexylammonium salt, from the urine of rats after the subcutaneous injection of each of the following compounds: allyl alcohol, allyl formate, allyl propionate, allyl nitrate, acrolein and S-(3-hydroxypropyl)-l-cysteine. 2. Allylmercapturic acid, i.e. N-acetyl-S-allyl-l-cysteine, was isolated from the urine of rats after the subcutaneous injection of each of the following compounds: triallyl phosphate, sodium allyl sulphate and allyl nitrate. The sulphoxide of allylmercapturic acid was detected in the urine excreted by these rats. 3. 3-Hydroxypropylmercapturic acid was identified by g.l.c. as a metabolite of allyl acetate, allyl stearate, allyl benzoate, diallyl phthalate, allyl nitrite, triallyl phosphate and sodium allyl sulphate. 4. S-(3-Hydroxypropyl)-l-cysteine was detected in the bile of a rat dosed with allyl acetate.     

Biochemical studies of toxic agents. The isolation of premercapturic acids from the urine of animals dosed with chlorobenzene and bromobenzene

1. A premercapturic acid, i.e. a compound that yields a mercapturic acid when decomposed by acid, was isolated as a dicyclohexylammonium salt from the urine of rats and rabbits that had been dosed with bromobenzene. 2. Another premercapturic acid was isolated as its dicyclohexylammonium salt from the urine of rats that had been dosed with chlorobenzene. 3. When decomposed by acid, the premercapturic acid from the urine of animals dosed with bromobenzene gave p-bromophenylmercapturic acid, m-and p-bromophenol and NN'-diacetylcystine. 4. The premercapturic acid derived from chlorobenzene gave the corresponding chloro compounds together with NN'-diacetylcystine when decomposed by acid. 5. On the basis of these and other observations it is suggested that the premercapturic acid formed in the metabolism of bromobenzene is N-acetyl-S-(4-bromo-1,2-dihydro-2-hydroxyphenyl)-l-cysteine. 6. It is also suggested that the premercapturic acid derived from chlorobenzene has an analogous structure.     

The metabolism of S-methyl-l-cysteine

1. Methylsulphinylacetic acid, 2-hydroxy-3-methylsulphinylpropionic acid and methylmercapturic acid sulphoxide (N-acetyl-S-methyl-l-cysteine S-oxide) were isolated as their dicyclohexylammonium salts from the urine of rats after they had been dosed with S-methyl-l-cysteine. 2. A fourth sulphoxide was isolated but not identified. 3. The excretion of sulphate in the urine of rats dosed with S-methyl-l-cysteine was measured. 4. The metabolism of S-methyl-l-cysteine by the hamster and guinea pig was examined chromatographically. 5. The preparation of the following compounds is reported: (−)-dicyclohexylammonium methyl-mercapturate sulphoxide; the dicyclohexylammonium salts of the optically inactive forms of 2-hydroxy-3-methylthiopropionic acid, 2-hydroxy-3-methyl-sulphinylpropionic acid and methylsulphinylacetic acid.     

Biochemical studies of toxic agents. The metabolic formation of 1- and 2-menaphthylmercapturic acid

1. Various derivatives of 1- and 2-methylnaphthalene, of the type C(10)H(7).CH(2)X, were administered to rats and the urines of the dosed animals were examined for the presence of 1- and 2-menaphthylmercapturic acid by chromatographic and isolation procedures. A similar, but more limited, series of experiments was carried out with rabbits. 2. All the compounds were administered by subcutaneous injection with the exception of S-(1- and 2-menaphthyl)-l-cysteine, which were added to the food. 3. 1-Menaphthylmercapturic acid was isolated from the urine of rats after the administration of 1-menaphthyl chloride, bromide, alcohol, acetate and benzoate, S-(1-menaphthyl)-l-cysteine and S-(1-menaphthyl)glutathione. 4. 2-Menaphthylmercapturic acid was isolated from rat urine after administration of 2-menaphthyl chloride, S-(2-menaphthyl)-l-cysteine and S-(2-menaphthyl)-glutathione, and was detected chromatographically after injecting 2-menaphthyl bromide. 5. The corresponding mercapturic acids were isolated after administering 1- and 2-menaphthyl chloride and 1-menaphthyl acetate to rabbits, but not after giving 1- and 2-menaphthyl bromide and 1-menaphthyl alcohol, although chromatographic evidence of mercapturic acid excretion was obtained after injecting these compounds.     

Some metabolites of 1-bromobutane in the rabbit and the rat

1. Rabbits and rats dosed with 1-bromobutane excrete in urine, in addition to butylmercapturic acid, (2-hydroxybutyl)mercapturic acid, (3-hydroxybutyl)mercapturic acid and 3-(butylthio)lactic acid. 2. Although both species excrete both the hydroxybutylmercapturic acids, only traces of the 2-isomer are excreted by the rabbit. The 3-isomer has been isolated from rabbit urine as the dicyclohexylammonium salt. 3. 3-(Butylthio)lactic acid is formed more readily in the rabbit; only traces are excreted by the rat. 4. Traces of the sulphoxide of butylmercapturic acid have been found in rat urine but not in rabbit urine. 5. In the rabbit about 14% and in the rat about 22% of the dose of 1-bromobutane is excreted in the form of the hydroxymercapturic acids. 6. Slices of rat liver incubated with S-butylcysteine or butylmercapturic acid form both (2-hydroxybutyl)mercapturic acid and (3-hydroxybutyl)mercapturic acid, but only the 3-hydroxy acid is formed by slices of rabbit liver. 7. S-Butylglutathione, S-butylcysteinylglycine and S-butylcysteine are excreted in bile by rats dosed with 1-bromobutane. 8. Rabbits and rats dosed with 1,2-epoxybutane excrete (2-hydroxybutyl)mercapturic acid to the extent of about 4% and 11% of the dose respectively. 9. The following have been synthesized: N-acetyl-S-(2-hydroxybutyl)-l-cysteine [(2-hydroxybutyl)mercapturic acid] and N-acetyl-S-(3-hydroxybutyl)-l-cysteine [(3-hydroxybutyl)mercapturic acid] isolated as dicyclohexylammonium salts, N-toluene-p-sulphonyl-S-(2-hydroxybutyl)-l-cysteine, S-butylglutathione and N-acetyl-S-butylcysteinyl-glycine ethyl ester.     

Biochemical studies of toxic agents. Metabolic ring-fission of cis- and trans-acenaphthene-1,2-diol

1. The metabolism of cis- and trans-acenaphthene-1,2-diol has been studied after the administration of these compounds to rats by subcutaneous injection and by stomach tube. 2. 1,8-Naphthalic acid has been isolated as its anhydride from the urine of the dosed animals. 3. A spectrophotometric method for the determination of free and conjugated 1,8-naphthalic acid in urine has been developed and has been used in the study of the metabolism of the acenaphthene-1,2-diols. 4. The urine of rats dosed with cis-acenaphthene-1,2-diol by subcutaneous injection was shown by paper chromatography to contain both cis- and trans-acenaphthene-1,2-diol. Similar findings were obtained after the subcutaneous injection of trans-acenaphthene-1,2-diol.     

The metabolism of phenethyl bromide, styrene and styrene oxide in the rabbit and rat

1. The chief sulphur-containing metabolite of styrene and sytrene oxide in the rabbit and rat is chromatographically identical with N-acetyl-S-(beta-hydroxyphenethyl)-l-cysteine and this compound is also formed, together with N-acetyl-S-phenethyl-l-cysteine, as a metabolite of phenethyl bromide. 2. The amounts of the phenethylmercapturic acid and its hydroxy derivative excreted in the urine of animals dosed with phenethyl bromide, styrene, styrene oxide, phenyl glycol, S-phenylethylcysteine and phenethylmercapturic acid have been determined. 3. Liver slices convert phenethylcysteine and phenethylmercapturic acid into N-acetyl-S-(beta-hydroxyphenethyl)-l-cysteine. 4. Methods for the determination by gas-liquid chromatography of mandelic acid and hippuric acid, which are metabolites of some of the compounds studied, are described.     

Biochemical studies of toxic agents. The metabolism of 1- and 2-bromopropane in rats

1. (+)-n-Propylmercapturic acid sulphoxide, i.e. (+)-N-acetyl-S-n-propyl-l-cysteine S-oxide, was prepared as the dicyclohexylammonium salt, (-)-n-propyl-mercapturic acid sulphoxide was prepared as the free acid, and S-isopropyl-l-cysteine and isopropylmercapturic acid were also prepared. 2. The metabolism of 1- and 2-bromopropane was studied by radiochromatographic examination of the urine excreted by rats that had been fed with a diet containing (35)S-labelled yeast and then injected subcutaneously with these compounds. In addition to n-propyl-mercapturic acid and 2-hydroxypropylmercapturic acid, the excretion of which has already been reported, n-propylmercapturic acid sulphoxide was shown to be a metabolite of 1-bromopropane. Sulphur-containing metabolites of 2-bromopropane, if present in the urine at all, were there in very small amounts. 3. n-Propylmercapturic acid and isopropylmercapturic acid were isolated from the urine of rats that had been injected subcutaneously with S-n-propyl-l-cysteine and S-isopropyl-l-cysteine respectively.     

The metabolism of cis- and trans-indane-1,2-diol

1. The metabolism of cis-indane-1,2-diol, trans-indane-1,2-diol, indene epoxide and 2-hydroxyindan-1-one in rats has been studied. The substances were administered to the animals by subcutaneous injection. 2. The urine of the dosed animals was examined for the presence of free and conjugated cis- and trans-dihydrodiols, and for each compound it was possible to isolate both cis and trans forms of indane-1,2-diol from the urine. 3. The urines were also examined by paper chromatography for ketones and two ketonic metabolites were detected in the urine of rats dosed separately with cis-indane-1,2-diol, trans-indane-1,2-diol, 2-hydroxyindan-1-one and indene epoxide. The ketones were provisionally identified as (1-oxoindan-2-yl glucosid)uronic acid and 1-oxoindan-2-yl sulphuric acid. 4. (1-Oxoindan-2-yl glucosid)uronic acid was isolated as the 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone from the urine of rats dosed separately with cis-indane-1,2-diol and trans-indane-1,2-diol. 5. Possible mechanisms for the interconversion of cis- and trans-indane-1,2-diol are discussed.     

Formation of mercapturic acids in rats after the administration of aralkyl esters

1. Benzylmercapturic acid and hippuric acid were isolated from the urine of rats that had been injected subcutaneously with benzyl acetate. 2. 1-Menaphthylmercapturic acid and 1-naphthoic acid were isolated from the urine of rats after the subcutaneous injection of each of the following compounds: 1-menaphthyl alcohol and its acetate, propionate, butyrate and benzoate esters. 3. A quantitative method for determining 1-menaphthylmercapturic acid in urine was developed and used to measure the excretion of this compound in the urine of rats in the 4-day period after the subcutaneous injection of 1-menaphthyl alcohol and its acetate, propionate, butyrate and benzoate esters. 4. Chromatographic evidence was obtained for the presence of S-(1-menaphthyl)glutathione and S-(1-menaphthyl)-l-cysteine in bile collected from rats with cannulated bile ducts after the animals had been injected subcutaneously with each of the following compounds: S-(1-menaphthyl)glutathione, 1-menaphthyl acetate, propionate and butyrate. 5. Benzylmercapturic acid and 1-menaphthylmercapturic acid were isolated from the urine of rats that had been injected with sodium benzyl sulphate and sodium 1-menaphthyl sulphate respectively.     

Stereoselectivity of the aliphatic hydroxylation of 6-n-propylchromone-2-carboxylic acid in rat and guinea pig

Following administration of 6-n-propylchromone-2-carboxylic acid (6-n-PCCA) (500 μmol/kg) to male rats, three metabolic products were detected and isolated from the 0–24 h urine. All were identified as resulting from oxidation exclusively along the 6-n-propyl moiety. Some 66% of the dose was excreted in the 0–24 h urine, 55% of which was 6-PCCA, with 15% as (6-1′-hydroxypropyl)chromone-2-carboxylic acid (6-1′-HPCCA), 22% as 6-(2′-hydroxypropyl)chromone-2-carboxylic acid (6-2′-HPCCA), and 4% as (6-3′-carboxypropyl)chromone-2-carboxylic acid (6-3′-CPCCA). Derivatization of the methyl esters of the hydroxylated metabolities with S-α-methoxy-α-(trifuloromethyl)-phenylacetyl chloride (Mosher's reagent) allowed the evaluation of urinary enantiomeric composition by HPLC and assignment of their absolute configurations by NMR. This was found to be 90:10 (R/S) for 6-2′-HPCCA, and 7:93 (R/S) for 6-1′-HPCCA. When rats were dosed with the racemic 1′- and 2-hydroxy metabolites; no stereoselective metabolism or excretion was observed. Administration of 6-n-PCCA to male guinea pigs revealed that this species was unable to metabolise this compound. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Biochemical studies of toxic agents. The metabolism of iodomethane

1. The metabolism of iodomethane has been studied after the administration of the compound to rats by subcutaneous injection. 2. The urinary excretion of S-methylcysteine, methylmercapturic acid, methylthioacetic acid and N-(methylthioacetyl)glycine has been demonstrated by paper chromatography. 3. Methylmercapturic acid and N-(methylthioacetyl)glycine have been isolated from the urine of the dosed animals. 4. The methylthio compounds detected represented about 2% of the iodomethane administered.     

The synthesis of novel 6,5- and 6,6-membered fused heterocyclic compounds derived from thymine

Novel pyrimido[1,2-a]pyrimidinones 14, 15 and 16 and imidazo[1,2-a] pyrimidinones 19 and 20, designed as conformationally constrained analogues of 1-(3-amino-2-hydroxypropyl)thymine and 1-(2-amino-3-hydroxypropyl)thymine, respective ly, were synthesized by the ring-opening/ ring-closure rearrangement of the corresponding byciclic oxygen-containing amino compounds 12 and 17.     

Effect of various co-substrates on 1,2-epoxypropane formation from propene by ethene-utilizing Mycobacteria

Summary Ethanol, ethylacetate and ethene were tested as no-substrates to improve prolonged 1,2-epoxypropane formation from propene by immobilized cells of three strains (Eu1, 2W, E3) of ethene-utilizing Mycobacteria. Cells grown either on ethene or on both ethene and ethanol were immobilised on lava and the effect of co-substrates on 1,2-epoxypropane formation from propene was recorded in a gas/solid bioreactor. The rate of 1,2-epoxypropane formation by immobilized cells of strains Eu1 and 2W was significantly enhanced when ethanol or ethylacetate were supplied simultaneously with propene, while biocatalysis during a prolonged period of time was achieved in the presence of ethylacetate. Co-substrates had no beneficial effect on 1,2-epoxypropane formation by strain E3. It was possible to increase the 1,2-epoxypropane formation rate by immobilized cells over a period of three weeks of operation by supplying propene and ethene alternately.     

Antifungal activity of some 3-phenoxy-l,2-epoxypropane derivatives

To protect polymers from microbial attack it is most advantageous to use compounds chemically related to the polymers. In the course of solving the problem of protection of epoxide polymers it was found that, in addition to their insecticidal activity, some of the chlorinated derivatives of 3-phenoxy-1, 2-epoxypropane possessed a pronounced fungistatic activity. The most efficient of these compounds was 3-(2,6-dichlorophenoxy)-l,2-epoxypropane, followed by 3-(2-chlorophenoxy)-l,2-epoxypropane, 3-phe-noxy-l,2-epoxypropane and 3-(2,4,6-triehlorophenoxy)-l,2-epoxypropane, all of which completely blocked the growth of a test fungus at concentrations below 0.05%. 3-(4-chlorophenoxy)-l,2-epoxypropane inhibited at a concentration of 0.1%, 3-pentachlorophenoxy-l,2-epoxypropane at a concentration of 2%.     

The Synthesis of Novel 6,5- and 6,6-Membered Fused Heterocyclic Compounds Derived from Thymine

Abstract

Novel pyrimido[1,2-a]pyrimidinones 14, 15 and 16 and imidazo[1,2-a] pyrimidinones 19 and 20, designed as conformationally constrained analogues of 1-(3-amino-2-hydroxypropyl)thymine and 1-(2-amino-3-hydroxypropyl)thymine, respectively, were synthesized by the ring-opening/ ring-closure rearrangement of the corresponding byciclic oxygen-containing amino compounds 12 and 17.     

Studies on flavonoid metabolism. Biliary and urinary excretion of metabolites of (+)-[U-14C]catechin

1. The biliary and urinary excretion of (+)-[U-(14)C]catechin was studied in normal male rats after a single injection of the flavonoid. 2. In rats large amounts of radioactivity (33.6-44.3% of the dose in 24h) were excreted in the bile as two glucuronide conjugates [one of which was a (+)-catechin conjugate] and three other unconjugated metabolites. 3. Excretion of radioactivity in the urine when the bile duct was not cannulated amounted to 44.5% of the dose. 4. In both the urine and bile the new metabolites showed maximum excretion in the (1/2)-1(1/2)h after intravenous injection of [(14)C]catechin. 5. The metabolites m-hydroxyphenylpropionic acid, p-hydroxyphenylpropionic acid, delta-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-gamma-valerolactone and delta-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-gamma-valerolactione originate from the action of the intestinal micro-organisms on the biliary-excreted metabolites of (+)-catechin. These phenolic acid and lactone metabolites are then reabsorped and excreted in the urine. 6. It is proposed that, depending on the route of administration of (+)-catechin, there exists an alternative pathway, involving biliary excretion, for the metabolism of (+)-catechin.     

Stereospecific formation of 1,2-epoxypropane, 1,2-epoxybutane and 1-chloro-2,3-epoxypropane by alkene-utilizing bacteria

Resting cells of ethene grown Mycobacterium 2W produced 1,2-epoxypropane stereospecifically from propene as revealed by optical rotation, ¹H n.m.r. using a chiral shift reagent, and also by complexation gas chromatography involving a glass capillary column coated with an optically active metal chelate. The gas-liquid chromatography method allowed the rapid screening of 11 strains with regard to stereospecific formation of 1,2-epoxypropane, 1,2-epoxybutane and 1-chloro-2,3-epoxypropane. Bacteria grown on either ethene, propene or butadiene all predominantly produced the R form of 1,2-epoxypropane from propene and 1,2-epoxybutane from 1-butene while the strains tested for 1-chloro-2,3-epoxypropane production from 3-chloro-1-propene predominantly accumulated the S enantiomer.     

The biochemistry of aromatic amines: The metabolism of 2-naphthylamine and 2-naphthylhydroxylamine derivatives

1. 2-Naphthylhydroxylamine and 2-nitrosonaphthalene were present in urine of dogs but not of guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits or rats dosed with 2-naphthylamine. N-Acetyl-2-naphthylhydroxylamine and its O-sulphonic acid and O-glucosiduronic acid were not detected in the urine of any of these species. 2. Bile from rats dosed with 2-naphthylamine contained (2-naphthylamine N-glucosid)uronic acid and 6- and 5,6-substituted derivatives of 2-acetamidonaphthalene. 2-Amino-1-naphthyl and 2-acetamido-1-naphthyl derivatives, 2-naphthylhydroxylamine and its N-acetyl derivative or conjugates of these were not detected. Bile from a dog dosed with 2-naphthylamine contained no 2-amino-1-naphthyl derivatives. 3. 2-Naphthylhydroxylamine was metabolized by the dog, rat and guinea pig to the same products as those formed by these species from 2-naphthylamine. Rabbits formed mainly 2-amino-1-naphthyl derivatives; these are minor metabolites of 2-naphthylamine in this species. 4. (N-Acetyl-2-naphthylhydroxylamine O-glucosid)uronic acid was excreted in the urine and the bile of rats and in the urine of guinea pigs and rabbits dosed with N-acetyl-2-naphthylhydroxylamine. 5. After the administration of 2-acetamidonaphthalene, (N-acetyl-2-naphthylhydroxylamine O-glucosid)uronic acid was detected in the urine of dogs, but not in the urine of other species. The dog excreted an acid-labile cysteine derivative of 2-acetamidonaphthalene, but only traces of the corresponding mercapturic acid. 6. After dosing with N-acetyl-2-naphthylhydroxylamine-O-sulphonic acid, rats excreted derivatives of 2-amino-1-naphthol. 7. 2-Nitrosonaphthalene, N-acetyl-2-naphthylhydroxylamine, N-acetyl-2-naphthylhydroxylamine-O-sulphonic acid, 2-naphthylhydroxylamine-N-sulphonic acid, N-benzyloxycarbonyl-2-naphthylhydroxylamine and N-benzyloxycarbonyl-2-naphthylhydroxylamine-O-sulphonic acid were synthesized.     

Stereoselective metabolism of the optical isomers of trans-1,2-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydrophenanthrene to bay-region diol epoxides by rat liver microsomes

Enantiomerically pure isomers of trans-1,2-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydrophenanthrene have been obtained by chromatographic separation of their diastereomeric bis esters with (?)-α-methoxy-α-trifluoromethylphenylacetic acid. Liver microsomes from control rats, as well as rats treated with phenobarbital or 3-methylcholanthrene, metabolize these dihydrodiols to a pair of diastereomerically related bay-region 1,2-diol-3,4-epoxides in which the benzylic hydroxyl group and the epoxide oxygen are either cis (isomer-1) or trans (isomer-2) to each other. In general, diol epoxide-1 was the major metabolite of the (+)-(1S,2S)-dihydrodiol, whereas diol epoxide-2 was the major metabolite of the (?)-(1R-2R)-dihydrodiol. The extent of this stereoselectivity is dependent on the source of the microsomes and is greatest for liver microsomes from 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rats; the ratio of diol epoxide-1 relative to diol epoxide-2 was 5.6 : 1 with the (+)-enantiomer as substrate and 1 : 5.5 with the (?)-enantiomer as substrate. For a given microsomal preparation, rates of metabolism were independent of the enantiomer composition of the substrate. Relative to microsomes from control animals, treatment of rats with 3-methylcholanthrene enhanced rates of metabolism by about 40%, whereas treatment with phenobarbital decreased rates to a similar extent when the amounts of metabolites formed per nanomole of cytochrome P?450 were compared. The failure of treatment by 3-methylcholanthrene to enhance markedly the rate of metabolism of a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon substrate is unusual.