N-dealkylations

Morphine and its derivatives continue to be considered the gold standard for alleviating pain. Morphine is metabolized in the liver via N-dealkylation and glu-coronidation at the third (M3G) or sixth position (M6G). Although M3G are the most common metabolites (accounts for 50% of the metabolites produced), they elicit no biological activity when bound to MOR. It is the M6G metabolite (accounts for 10% of the metabohtes produced) that elicits the nociceptive/analgesic effect upon binding to the p opioid receptor (Dahan et al. 2008). M6G is predominately eliminated via renal excretion. 

N-Dealkylation of dinitramine to l,3-diamino-2,4-dinitro-6-triflnoromethylbenzene (Olson et al. 1977) by carp (Cyprinus carpio) (Figure 2.15). 

Tetrandrine Cunninghamella echinulata NRRL 3655 Cunninghamella bainieri ATCC 9244 N dealkylation [28]... 

Flurazepam (Dal mane ) 8 10-30 15-30 Oxidation N-dealkylation Hydroxyethylflurazepam Flurazepam aldehyde N-DAF High risk of hangover and residual effects... 

A new and interesting chioroformate reagent, a-chloroethyl chioroformate, was recently introduced for selective N-dealkylation of tertiary amines (106). When it was applied to the demethylation of 3a-acetoxytropane (2), the corresponding nor salt (198) was obtained in 97% yield (Scheme 20). 

A great number of transformations has been performed on narceine imide (116) by Czech researchers. Oxidation with potassium permanganate in acetone or with nitric acid caused the cleavage of the alkaloid, giving rise to hemipinic imide (127). A similar result was noted by Rdnsch (129,130) during Lemieux-Johnson oxidation of ene lactam 152 (129,130) in this reaction the basic component (156) was isolated as well. The use of hydrogen peroxide in acetone converted 116 to (Z)-narceine imide N-oxide, which under the action of acetic anhydride underwent N-dealkylation (135). 

Upon recrystallization, [Ni(tpzlmtacn)]2+ affords [Ni(L)(MeCN)]2+ (L = l,4-bis(pyrazol-l-ylmethyl)-l,4,7-triazacyclononane) via a N-dealkylation reaction and loss of a pendent arm.1420 More rational routes to Ni complexes of tacn ligands with only one or two pendent arms have been developed.1431,1432 In [Ni(L)(X) ]x (e.g., L= l-(3-aminopropyl)-l,4,7-triazacyclononane (n = 2) or l-(l-methylimidazol-2-ylmethyl)-l,4,7-triazacyclononane (n = 2) or l,4-bis(l-methyl-imidazol-2-ylmethyl)-l,4,7-triazacyclononane (n = 1), the coordination sphere is completed by additional ligands that bind either terminal (X = C1 , H20) or bridge two metal ions (X = N3 , OH, oxalate). The Ni11 complex of l,4-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-l,4,7-triazacyclononane has been shown to be extremely inert to ligand dissociation in aqueous solution.1433 In (562), the tacn ligand provides a single bidentate arm.1434... 

Quazepam (Doral) 2 39 7.5-15 Oxidation, N-dealkylation 2-Oxo-quazepam, N-desalkylflurazepamc... 

Smith and Rosazza have suggested that microbial transformation experiments could best be carried out by using a series of perhaps 10 metabolitically prodigious microorganisms as microbial models. Microorganisms for such work may be selected on the basis of considerable literature precedence for their abilities to catalyze the desired biotransformation reaction (i.e., O-dealkylation, N-dealkylation, aromatic hydroxylation, and reductions). The alkaloid substrate... 

Scheme 2. Simplified scheme for oxidative N-dealkylation incorporating a cytochrome P-450 perferryl oxygen intermediate and substrate radicals.

Scheme 31. N-Dealkylation of codeine by cell-free extracts of Cunninghammella bainieri. 

Nicotine Resolution of racemates N-Demethylation, pyrrole oxidation N-Dealkylation, pyrrole oxidation, iminium formation... 

In the second example, N-dealkylation, oxidation of the carbon next to the nitrogen leads to a carbinolamine. This spontaneously leads to formaldehyde and an amine. The mechanism involves loss of a proton with electrons moving toward the electronegative nitrogen atom. The negative charge on the nitrogen is neutralized due to the addition of a proton from the environment. 

N-dealkylation, O-dealkylation, oxidative dehalogenation, and oxidation of aryl and alkyl methyl groups. 

FIGURE 4.50 Cytochrome P450-catalyzed oxidative N-dealkylation of Mdocaine. 

FIGURE 4.51 Mechanism for cytochrome P450-catalyzed N-dealkylation via an initial single electron pathway, SET, or via the hydrogen atom abstraction pathway, HAT. 

N-Dealkylation reactions are not restricted to tertiary amines. Secondary amines as well as primary amines can also be dealkylated although both types are less favored than tertiary amines. In the case of primary amines, the lone pair of electrons of the amino group can interact and complex with the Fe3+ of heme. Thus primary amines tend to be inhibitors of P450 activation and for that reason are generally poor substrates. Secondary amines have metabolic properties intermediary between those of tertiary amines and primary amines. They are less-effective inhibitors because of increased steric hindrance to complex formation but are also better substrates because they are less-effective inhibitors and thereby increase the effective concentration of enzyme. 

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