Biotransformation oxidative

Fig. 1.5 Initial biotransformation (oxidative reactions) of ketamine. Both the parent drug and, to a lesser extent (10%), metabolite I are pharmacologically active.

Biotransformation reactions can be classified as phase 1 and phase 11. In phase 1 reactions, dmgs are converted to product by processes of functionalization, including oxidation, reduction, dealkylation, and hydrolysis. Phase 11 or synthetic reactions involve coupling the dmg or its polar metaboHte to endogenous substrates and include methylation, acetylation, and glucuronidation (Table 1). 

The toxic effect depends both on lipid and blood solubility. I his will be illustrated with an example of anesthetic gases. The solubility of dinitrous oxide (N2O) in blood is very small therefore, it very quickly saturates in the blood, and its effect on the central nervous system is quick, but because N,0 is not highly lipid soluble, it does not cause deep anesthesia. Halothane and diethyl ether, in contrast, are very lipid soluble, and their solubility in the blood is also high. Thus, their saturation in the blood takes place slowly. For the same reason, the increase of tissue concentration is a slow process. On the other hand, the depression of the central nervous system may become deep, and may even cause death. During the elimination phase, the same processes occur in reverse order. N2O is rapidly eliminated whereas the elimination of halothane and diethyl ether is slow. In addition, only a small part of halothane and diethyl ether are eliminated via the lungs. They require first biotransformation and then elimination of the metabolites through the kidneys into the... 

The numerous biotransformations catalyzed by cytochrome P450 enzymes include aromatic and aliphatic hydroxylations, epoxidations of olefinic and aromatic structures, oxidations and oxidative dealkylations of heteroatoms and as well as some reductive reactions. Cytochromes P450 of higher animals may be classified into two broad categories depending on whether their substrates are primarily endogenous or xenobiotic substances. Thus, CYP enzymes of families 1-3 catalyze... 

A related situation is found in the case of P-substituted cycloketones here, the electronic difference between the two a-carbons is almost insignificant, resulting in unselective migration upon chemical oxidation. BVMOs have a particularly different behavior, as they can influence the stereo- and/or regioselectivity of the biooxidation. In the latter case, the distribution of proximal and distal lactones is affected by directing the oxygen insertion process either into the bond close or remote to the position of the P-substituent. Consequently, a regioisomeric excess (re) can be defined for this biotransformation, similar to enantiomeric excess or diastereomeric excess values [143]. 

The oxidation of heteroatoms and, in particular, the conversion of sulfides to asymmetric sulfoxides has continued to be a highly active field in biocatalysis. In particular, the diverse biotransformations at sulfur have received the majority of attention in the area of enzyme-mediated heteroatom oxidation. This is particularly due to the versatile applicability of sulfoxides as chiral auxiliaries in a variety of transformations coupled with facile protocols for the ultimate removal [187]. 

Cyclic dithioketals and acetals represent another important class of sulfur containing chiral auxiliaries, which are available in chiral form by biooxidation. Biotransformations were performed on a preparative scale using whole-cells (wild type and recombinant) and isolated enzyme. Again, enantiocomplementary oxidation of unsubstituted dithianes (linear and cyclic, R = H) was observed when using and CPMOcomo (Scheme 9.28) [211,212]. Oxygenation of functionalized substrates (R = substituted alkyl) with gave preferably trans... 

BVMOs were also reported to facilitate mild and chemoselective conversion of boronic acids to borates, which usually hydrolyze upon biotransformation conditions using isolates protein [217]. Additionally selenium oxidation has been described in analogy to sulfoxidations [218]. 

The site of dihydroxylation in heterocycles depends on the nature of the heteroaromatic system (Scheme 9.31) usually, electron-rich heterocycles like thiophene are readily biooxidized but give conformationally labile products, vhich may undergo concomitant sulfoxidation [241]. Electron deficient systems are not accepted only pyridone derivatives give corresponding cis-diols [242]. Such a differentiated behavior is also observed for benzo-fused compounds biotransformation of benzo[b] thiophene gives dihydroxylation at the heterocyclic core as major product, while quinoline and other electron-poor systems are oxidized at the homoaromatic core, predominantly [243,244]. 

Technical-grade endosulfan contains at least 94% a-endosulfan and (3-endosulfan. The a- and (3-isomers are present in the ratio of 7 3, respectively. The majority of the studies discussed below used technical-grade endosulfan. However, a few examined the effects of the pure a- and (3-isomers. Endosulfan sulfate is a reaction product found in technical-grade endosulfan as a result of oxidation, biotransformation, or photolysis. There is very little difference in toxicity between endosulfan and its metabolite, endosulfan sulfate. However, the a-isomer has been shown to be about three times as toxic as the P-isomer of endosulfan. 

Technical-grade endosulfan contains at least 94% of two pure isomers, a- and P-endosulfan (Maier-Bode 1968 NRCC 1975). The a- and p-isomers of endosulfan are present in the ratio of 7 3, respectively. Technical-grade endosulfan may also contain up to 2% endosulfan alcohol and 1% endosulfan ether. Endosulfan sulfate is a reaction product found in technical endosulfan it is also found in the environment due to photolysis and in organisms as a result of oxidation by biotransformation (EPA 1979 Coleman and Dolinger 1982). The chemical formula, structure, synonyms, and identification numbers for endosulfan, a-endosulfan, p-endosulfan, and endosulfan sulfate are listed in Tables 3-1, 3-2, 3-3, and 3-4, respectively. 

In phase 1, the pollutant is converted into a more water-soluble metabolites, by oxidation, hydrolysis, hydration, or reduction. Usually, phase 1 metabolism introduces one or more hydroxyl groups. In phase 2, a water-soluble endogenous species (usually an anion) is attached to the metabolite— very commonly through a hydroxyl group introduced during phase 1. Although this scheme describes the course of most biotransformations of lipophilic xenobiotics, there can be departures from it. 

One other biotransformation deserving mention is the oxidation of p,p -DDT to kelthane, a molecule that has been used as an acaricide. This biotransformation occurs in certain DDT-resistant arthropods, but does not appear to be important in vertebrates. 

PAHs can be bioconcentrated or bioaccumulated by certain aquatic invertebrates low in the food chain that lack the capacity for effective biotransformation (Walker and Livingstone 1992). Mollusks and Daphnia spp. are examples of organisms that readily bioconcentrate PAH. On the other hand, fish and other aquatic vertebrates readily biotransform PAH so, biomagnification does not extend up the food chain as it does in the case of persistent polychlorinated compounds. As noted earlier, P450-based monooxygenases are not well represented in mollusks and many other aquatic invertebrates (see Chapter 4, Section 4.2) so, this observation is not surprising. Oxidation catalyzed by P450 is the principal (perhaps the only) effective mechanism of primary metabolism of PAH. 

The oxidation of OPs can bring detoxication as well as activation. Oxidative attack can lead to the removal of R groups (oxidative dealkylation), leaving behind P-OH, which ionizes to PO . Such a conversion looks superficially like a hydrolysis, and was sometimes confused with it before the great diversity of P450-catalyzed biotransformations became known. Oxidative deethylation yields polar ionizable metabolites and generally causes detoxication (Eto 1974 Batten and Hutson 1995). Oxidative demethy-lation (0-demethylation) has been demonstrated during the metabolism of malathion. 

As mentioned in the introductory part, stereochemical course of the conversion of isocitric acid to a-ketoglutaric acid in TCA cycle is completely enantiose-lective although the reaction does not form an asymmetric carbon in the usual metabolic path. If such type of oxidative decarboxylation can be applied to synthetic compounds, it is expected that an entirely new type of asymmetric biotransformation will be developed. 

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