Of sulfonamides

In the synthesis of commercial sulfur-heterocycles two interesting reactions are used (i) diphenylamines may be connected by a sulfur bridge in the orfho-positions (ii) the amino grouping of sulfonamides undergoes condensation reactions with neighboring imino- and amide groups. 

Fig. 5. Relationship between antibacterial activity of sulfonamides (log 1/C ) and piC of sulfonamide NH group where represents the concentration...

A monograph (1) covers the pioneering period of sulfa dmg development and describes over 5000 sulfanilamide derivatives, their preparation, properties, trade names, and biological testing. This review is remarkably complete through 1944. Several thousand additional derivatives have been made since, but no comparable coverage is available. A definitive account of medical appHcations up to 1960 has been pubHshed (2), and a review of experimental antibacterial aspects has been made (3). Chapters on general aspects of sulfonamides and sulfones have appeared (4,5). A review of the clinical efficacy of trimethoprim—sulfamethoxazole has been pubHshed (6). 

The sulfa dmgs are stiH important as antimicrobials, although they have been replaced in many systemic infections by the natural and semisynthetic antibiotics. They are of great value in third world countries where problems of storage and lack of medical personnel make appropriate use of antibiotics difficult. They are especially useful in urinary tract infections, particularly the combination of sulfamethoxazole with trimethoprim. Their effectiveness has been enhanced by co-adniinistration with dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors, and the combination of sulfamethoxazole with trimethoprim is of value in treatment of a number of specific microbial infections. The introduction of this combination (cotrimoxazole) in the late 1960s (1973 in the United States) resulted in increased use of sulfonamides. 

The amino group is readily dia2oti2ed in aqueous solution, and this reaction forms a basis for the assay of sulfas. Aldehydes also react to form anils, and the yellow product formed with 4-(dimethylamino)hen2a1dehyde can be used for detection in thiu-layer and paper chromatography. Chromatographic retention values have been deterrnined in a number of thiu layer systems, and have been used as an expression of the lipophilic character of sulfonamides (23). These values have corresponded well with Hansch lipophilic parameters determined in an isobutyl alcohol—water system. 

Development of Resistance. One of the principal disadvantages of sulfonamide therapy is the emergence of dmg-resistant strains of bacteria. Resistance develops by several mechanisms overproduction of PABA (38) altered permeabiUty of the organisms to sulfonamides (39) and reduced affinity of dihydropteroate synthetase for sulfonamides while the affinity for PABA is retained (40). Sulfonamides also show cross-resistance to other sulfonamides but not to other antibacterials. In plasmodia, resistance may occur by means of a bypass mechanism in which the organisms can use preformed foHc acid (41). 

The most common method for the preparation of sulfonamides is by the action of A/-acetylsulfanilyl chloride with the appropriate amine (1). Excess amine or suitable base is used to neutralize the hydrochloric acid formed. 

Blood dyscrasias are quite uncommon, but if they occur may be serious enough to cause discontinuance of the therapy. Both topical and systemic adrninistration of sulfas can cause hypersensitivity reactions, such as urticaria, exfoHative dermatitis, photosensiti2ation, erythema nodosum, and in its most severe form, erythema multiformexudativum. (Stevens-Johnson syndrome). In general, however, use of sulfonamide therapy is considered relatively safe. 

In cases where a large excess of acid is undesirable, chlorosulfonic acid is employed. An excess of chlorosulfonic acid leads to the introduction of a chlorosulfonyl group which is a useful synthon for the preparation of sulfonamides and sulfonate esters. 

Hydroxymethyl-6-methyluracil (1043) was prepared many years ago from 6-methyl-uracil and formaldehyde, or in other ways. Since 1956 it has received much attention in the USSR under the (transliterated) name pentoxyl or pentoxil. It is used in several anaemic and disease conditions. For example, a mixture of folic acid and pentoxyl quickly reduces the anaemia resulting from lead poisoning pentoxyl stimulates the supply of serum protein after massive blood loss it stimulates wound healing it stimulates the immune response in typhus infection and it potentiates the action of sulfonamides in pneumococcus infections (70MI21300). 

Aminoisoxazoles can be determined photometrically by reaction with sodium 1,2-naph-thoquinone-4-sulfonate and selective extraction of the resulting dye into CCI4 for absorbance measurements. This class of compound can be determined in the presence of sulfonamides, sulfanilamides, hydroxylamines and other select amines (74MI41610). 

Sulfonamides (R2NSO2R ) are prepared from an amine and sulfonyl chloride in the presence of pyridine or aqueous base. The sulfonamide is one of the most stable nitrogen protective groups. Arylsulfonamides are stable to alkaline hydrolysis, and to catalytic reduction they are cleaved by Na/NH3, Na/butanol, sodium naphthalenide, or sodium anthracenide, and by refluxing in acid (48% HBr/cat. phenol). Sulfonamides of less basic amines such as pyrroles and indoles are much easier to cleave than are those of the more basic alkyl amines. In fact, sulfonamides of the less basic amines (pyrroles, indoles, and imidazoles) can be cleaved by basic hydrolysis, which is almost impossible for the alkyl amines. Because of the inherent differences between the aromatic — NH group and simple aliphatic amines, the protection of these compounds (pyrroles, indoles, and imidazoles) will be described in a separate section. One appealing proj>erty of sulfonamides is that the derivatives are more crystalline than amides or carbamates. 

The possible amino-imino tautomerism of sulfonamides 98 [76AHC(S1), p. 438] and hydrazones 99 [76AHC(S1), p. 438] has been previously discussed. 

Each era of medicinal chemistry has been marked by intensive concentration on some structural type in a large number of laboratories. One need only look back in this book to the tables of sulfonamides, barbiturates, and thiazide diuretics, noting the small time span covered by the references to each list. The benzodiazepines have provided such a focus for the past decade. 

Then, as described in U.S. Patent 2,55416, the 2-acetylamido-5-mercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole is converted to the sulfonyl chloride by passing chlorine gas into a cooled (5°-10°C) solution in 33% acetic acid (66 parts to 4 parts of mercapto compound) used as a reaction medium. Chlorine treatment is continued for two hours. The crude product can be dried and purified by recrystallization from ethylene chloride. The pure compound is a white crystalline solid, MP l94°C,with decomposition, when heated rapidly. The crude damp sulfonyl chloride is converted to the sulfonamide by addition to a large excess of liquid ammonia. The product is purified by recrystallization from water. The pure compound is a white, crystalline solid, MP 259°C, with decomposition. The yield of sulfonamide was 85% of theory based on mercapto compound. 

Conjugate additions of alkylcopper- boron trifluoride to enoates of sulfonamide-shielded alcohols (6 and 7) quite generally proceeded with >99% de and >90% yield30. The following general trend has emerged from the reactions of 6 and 7. 

Accessory DHPS enzymes confer resistance to sulfonamides. Two different types encoded by the genes sull (located on transposons) and sulll (located on plasmids) have been described. These resistance determinants are often genetically linked to trimethoprim resistance genes. Therefore, the combination of sulfonamide antibiotics with trimethoprim does not prevent resistance selection. 

The sulfonamides (sulfa) drug s were the first antibiotic dragp developed that effectively treated infections. Although the use of sulfonamides began to decline after the introduction of more effective anti-infectives, such as the penicillins and other antibiotics, these drug s still remain important for the treatment of certain types of infections. 

Sulfonamides are antibacterial agents, meaning they are active against bacteria Another term that may be used to describe the general action of these drugs is anti-infective because they are used to treat infections caused by certain bacteria Sulfadiazine, sulfisoxazole, and sulfamethizole are examples of sulfonamide preparations. 

These are examples of a serious adverse reaction. If any of these occur, discontinuation of sulfonamide therapy may be required. 

Amides can also be alkylated with diazo compounds, as in 10-49. Salts of sulfonamides (ArS02NH ) can be used to attack alkyl halides to prepare N-alkyl sulfonamides (ArS02NHR) that can be further alkylated to ArS02NRR. Hydrolysis of the latter is a good method for the preparation of secondary amines. Secondary amines can also be made by crown ether assisted alkylation of F3CCONHR (R = alkyl or aryl) and hydrolysis of the resulting F3CCONRR. ... 

Feldman reported a route to dihydropyrroles, pyrroles, and indoles via the reaction of sulfonamide anions with alkynyliodonium triflates <96JOC5440>. Thus, upon nucleophilic addition of the anion of 91 to the p-carbon of the alkynyliodonium salt, the alkylidene carbene 92 is generated which can the undergo C-H insertion to the desired product 93. 

The macrolide erythromycin inhibits protein synthesis and resistance is induced by N -dimethyl-ation of adenine within the 23S rRNA, which results in reduced affinity of ribosomes for antibiotics related to erythromcin (Skinner et al. 1983). Sulfonamides function by binding tightly to chromosomal dihydropteroate synthetase and resistance to sulfonamides is developed in the resistance plasmid through a form of the enzyme that is resistant to the effect of sulfonamides. 

Rh-catalysed cyclopropanations of alkenes with phenyldiazoacetate in the presence of sulfonamide ligands. 

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