Clopidogrel is a prodrug anticoagulant with active metabolites that irreversibly inhibit the plat... more Clopidogrel is a prodrug anticoagulant with active metabolites that irreversibly inhibit the platelet surface GPCR P2Y12 and thus inhibit platelet activation. However, gaining an understanding of patient response has been limited due to imprecise understanding of metabolite activity and stereochemistry, and a lack of acceptable analytes for quantifying in vivo metabolite formation. Methods for the production of all bioactive metabolites of clopidogrel, their stereochemical assignment, and the development of stable analytes via three conceptually orthogonal routes are disclosed.
A series of dimeric macrocyclic compounds were prepared and evaluated as antagonists for inhibito... more A series of dimeric macrocyclic compounds were prepared and evaluated as antagonists for inhibitor of apoptosis proteins. The most potent analogue 11, which binds to XIAP and c-IAP proteins with high affinity and induces caspase-3 activation and ultimately cell apoptosis, inhibits growth of human melanoma and colorectal cell lines at low nanomolar concentrations. Furthermore, compound 11 demonstrated significant antitumor activity in the A875 human melanoma xenograft model at doses as low as 2 mg/kg on a q3d schedule.
Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters, Jan 23, 2015
This Letter describes synthesis, SAR, and biological activity of (2-oxo-1,4-benzodiazepin-3-yl)-s... more This Letter describes synthesis, SAR, and biological activity of (2-oxo-1,4-benzodiazepin-3-yl)-succinamides as inhibitors of γ-secretase mediated signaling of Notch receptors. Optimization of this series led to the identification of BMS-871 (compound 30) which displayed robust in vivo efficacy in Notch-dependent leukemia and solid tumor xenograft models.
Structure-activity relationships in a series of (2-oxo-1,4-benzodiazepin-3-yl)-succinamides ident... more Structure-activity relationships in a series of (2-oxo-1,4-benzodiazepin-3-yl)-succinamides identified highly potent inhibitors of γ-secretase mediated signaling of Notch1/2/3/4 receptors. On the basis of its robust in vivo efficacy at tolerated doses in Notch driven leukemia and solid tumor xenograft models, 12 (BMS-906024) was selected as a candidate for clinical evaluation.
The chiral recognition mechanism for a successful enantioseparation on polysaccharide stationary ... more The chiral recognition mechanism for a successful enantioseparation on polysaccharide stationary phases are still poorly understood. In this series of papers, we aim to provide some insight into the retention and separation mechanisms occurring in enantioselective supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC). This paper presents a thorough investigation on chlorinated polysaccharide chiral stationary phases (CSP) comprising five coated and three immobilized phases from different manufacturers. The columns are also compared to four non-chlorinated phases to unravel the most significant differences brought about by the introduction of electron-withdrawing atoms on the aromatic ligands. Chemometrics are used to (i) get an overview of all columns (cluster analysis), (ii) describe retention (modified solvation parameter model) and (iii) describe enantioseparation (discriminant analysis). Sample applications are provided to support the discussion.
The crystallization behavior of an amorphous Fe 77.5 Si 13.5 B 9 alloy was studied by means of DS... more The crystallization behavior of an amorphous Fe 77.5 Si 13.5 B 9 alloy was studied by means of DSC, XRD, TEM, EDX and VSM techniques. Crystallization induced by heat treatment resulted in the formation of a Fe-Si phase with an unusual morphology: the branches of the dendrite were composed of closely spaced crystals, the spacing of such crystals was of the order of nanometer. Due to this dendritic morphology, the products of secondary crystallization grew not only among the dendritic branches but also within the dendrites at the interfaces of the closely spaced crystals. The products of secondary crystallization have a striped morphology and consist of the Fe-Si phase with B2 ordered structure and the Fe 3 B phase. The final products of crystallization were the striped structure composed of the Fe-Si, Fe 2 B and the Fe 3 B phases. The Fe-Si phase was also found in the form of large crystals. The magnetization values showed little change as annealing time and temperatures were increased while the coercivity increased significantly due to the formation of the Fe 3 B and Fe 2 B phase.
Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, 2006
Three low-level subsidiary color impurities (A, B, and C) often present in batches of the color a... more Three low-level subsidiary color impurities (A, B, and C) often present in batches of the color additive D&C Red No. 33 (R33, Acid Red 33, Colour Index No. 17200) were separated from a portion of R33 by spiral high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC). The separation involved use of a very polar solvent system, 1-BuOH/5mM aq. (NH4)2SO4. Addition of ammonium sulfate to the lower phase forced partition of the components into the upper phase, thereby eliminating the need to add a hydrophobic counterion as was previously required for separations of components from sulfonated dyes. The very polar solvent system used would not have been retained in a conventional multi-layer coil HSCCC instrument, but the spiral configuration enabled retention of the stationary phase, and thus, the separation was possible. A 1g portion of R33 enriched in A, B, and C was separated using the upper phase of the solvent system as the mobile phase. The retention of the stationary phase was 38.1%, and the separation resulted in 4.8 mg of A of >90% purity, 18.3mg of B of >85% purity, and 91 mg of C of 65-72% purity. A second separation of a portion of the C mixture resulted in 7 mg of C of >94% purity. The separated impurities were identified by high-resolution mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopic techniques as follows: 5-amino-3-biphenyl-3-ylazo-4-hydroxy-naphthalene-2,7-disulfonic acid, A; 5-amino-4-hydroxy-6-phenyl-3-phenylazo-naphthalene-2,7-disulfonic acid, B; and 5-amino-4-hydroxy-3,6-bis-phenylazo-naphthalene-2,7-disulfonic acid, C. The isomers A and B are compounds reported for the first time. Application of the spiral HSCCC method resulted in the additional benefit of yielding 930 mg of the main component of R33, 5-amino-4-hydroxy-3-phenylazo-naphthalene-2,7-disulfonic acid, of >97% purity.
Substituted N-(4-(2-aminopyridin-4-yloxy)-3-fluoro-phenyl)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-oxo-1,2-dihydropy... more Substituted N-(4-(2-aminopyridin-4-yloxy)-3-fluoro-phenyl)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-oxo-1,2-dihydropyridine-3-carboxamides were identified as potent and selective Met kinase inhibitors. Substitution of the pyridine 3-position gave improved enzyme potency, while substitution of the pyridone 4-position led to improved aqueous solubility and kinase selectivity. Analogue 10 demonstrated complete tumor stasis in a Met-dependent GTL-16 human gastric carcinoma xenograft model following oral administration. Because of its excellent in vivo efficacy and favorable pharmacokinetic and preclinical safety profiles, 10 has been advanced into phase I clinical trials.
Further exploration of the cycloalkanol ethylamine scaffold, of which venlafaxine ( 1) is a membe... more Further exploration of the cycloalkanol ethylamine scaffold, of which venlafaxine ( 1) is a member, was undertaken to develop novel and selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (NRIs) for evaluation in a variety of predictive animal models. These efforts led to the discovery of a piperazine-containing analogue, 17g (WY-46824), that exhibited potent norepinephrine reuptake inhibition, excellent selectivity over the serotonin transporter, but no selectivity over the dopamine transporter. Synthesis and testing of a series of cyclohexanol ethylpiperazines identified ( S)-(-)- 17i (WAY-256805), a potent norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (IC 50 = 82 nM, K i = 50 nM) that exhibited excellent selectivity over both the serotonin and dopamine transporters and was efficacious in animal models of depression, pain, and thermoregulatory dysfunction.
The stereoselective determination of stereoisomers in biological samples provides vital informati... more The stereoselective determination of stereoisomers in biological samples provides vital information on stereospecific metabolism and pharmacokinetic profiles of the drugs. Despite the unique advantage and the great success of normal-phase (NP) HPLC for the separations of drug stereoisomers using polysaccharide-type chiral stationary phases (CSPs), the technique is rarely applied to quantitative HPLC-MS-MS bioanalysis. This is, at least in part, due to the incompatibility between the usual mobile phase (n-hexane or n-heptane) in normal-phase HPLC and the MS ionization sources which poses a potential detonation hazard. An environmentally friendly and nonflammable alternative solvent, ethoxynonafluorobutane (ENFB), was reported previously to potentially provide an ideal solution for combining the powers of stereoselective NP chromatographic separation and MS-MS detection. In this study, a stereoselective NP-HPLC-MS-MS method was developed using ENFB to quantify a pair of Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) proprietary drug stereoisomers and their ketone metabolite for an in vitro study, which demonstrated, for the first time, the practical applicability and utility of ENFB for bioanalysis in pharmaceutical industry. The effects of different organic modifiers and temperature, as well as the comparison between ENFB and the usual solvent, heptane, for the separation, are discussed. The resolution of the stereoisomers was achieved using 63% of 3:1 mixture of ethanol and methanol with 37% ENFB on a Chiralpak AD-H column at 50 degrees C. High sensitivity was obtained using the MS-MS detection in the positive ion atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) mode. The lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) for the first stereoisomer and the ketone metabolite was 5 ng/mL, and was 10 ng/mL for the second isomer in the human liver microsome-potassium phosphate buffer matrix. The linear dynamic range of 5-1000 ng/mL for both isomers and 10-1000 ng/mL for the metabolite were demonstrated with R2 > or =0.997. The precision of the analysis was <5% R.S.D. at or above the nominal concentration of 80 ng/mL, and <20% R.S.D. at 8 ng/mL. The mean bias was less than 15%. Extraction recovery and acceptable matrix interference were demonstrated using one isomer and the ketone, and better than 75% recovery and less than 25% ion suppression or interference were found. The method was successfully implemented for an in vitro intrinsic metabolic clearance study.
Since the expiration of the patent protection of Chiralcel OD, similar chiral stationary phases (... more Since the expiration of the patent protection of Chiralcel OD, similar chiral stationary phases (CSPs), all based on the same chiral selector, have been introduced on the market with the promise to reproduce or improve the performance of the original cellulose tris-(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) CSP. We report here-in an in-depth evaluation of four generic versions of Chiralcel OD (CelluCoat, RegisCell, Lux Cellulose-1, Reprosil-OM) and the immobilized version (Chiralpak IB) in comparison to the original Chiralcel OD in terms of retention and enantioselectivity, with the help of chemometrics. First of all, the CSPs are compared based on the retentions of 230 achiral compounds. Agglomerative hierarchical clustering and quantitative structure-retention relationships based on a modified version of the solvation parameter model are used to assess the differences in non-enantioselective interactions contributing to retention. Secondly, the CSPs are compared based on the separation factors measured for 130 racemates. Discriminant analysis is then used to unravel the structural features contributing to the successful enantioselective separations. Chiralcel OD is shown to be the most versatile of the six tested CSPs, and involves a unique and unequalled mechanism to achieve enantioseparation.
Enantioselectivity of chiral selectors is often relatively low in chiral HPLC. For difficult chir... more Enantioselectivity of chiral selectors is often relatively low in chiral HPLC. For difficult chiral separations, often only partial resolution is obtained rather quickly by column and mobile phase screening, and, by trial-and-error, additional method optimization is required to achieve complete resolution. This paper describes the development of a novel column-switching technique called "simulated moving columns" (SMC) to quickly achieve complete chiral resolution on columns with limited enantioselectivity. The simulated moving columns (SMC) technique uses two (2) or three (3) short chiral HPLC columns connected in series, and forces the unresolved enantiomers to recycle exclusively through the columns until sufficient resolution is attained. In effect, SMC helps to achieve chiral resolution by virtually multiplying the column length, thus enhancing separation efficiency and resolution, without increasing backpressure. Comparison of the standard non-SMC approach with SMC, and selected applications of chiral separations of pharmaceutical drug molecules are presented. Through measurement and calculation, evaluation of off-column band broadening resulting from a two-column SMC system is provided. The results clearly indicate that SMC eliminates the significant band broadening that is inevitable in the closed-loop recycling techniques currently used in preparative chromatography. Furthermore, SMC is not only useful to enhance resolution for analytical and preparative chiral separation, but also has great potential to enhance recovery and purity for difficult chiral preparative chromatography.
A novel strategy for rapid chiral method development has been implemented using sample pooling an... more A novel strategy for rapid chiral method development has been implemented using sample pooling and supercritical fluid chromatography-mass spectrometry (SFC-MS) on four chiral stationary phases, namely Chiralpak AD and AS, and Chiralcel OJ and OD, and eight different modifier concentrations (5 to 40% methanol-0.2% isopropylamine). The screening is performed under an outlet pressure of 110 bar at 35 degrees C, and at a flow-rate of 2.5 ml/min for the initial 20 min and then ramped up to 4 ml/min and held for 4.5 min to elute all solutes from the column. The entire process is fully automated from injection to data processing, and operates unattended for 15 h overnight to obtain optimal chiral separation for multiple compounds. A unique feature of using SFC-MS to monitor chiral synthesis is the negligible interferences from achiral impurities. In addition, with SFC-MS, enantiomeric excess can be determined with much lower detection limits than UV and much shorter analysis times compared to normal-phase/reversed-phase liquid chromatography.
The most obvious difference of packed column supercritical fluid chromatography (pSFC) from HPLC ... more The most obvious difference of packed column supercritical fluid chromatography (pSFC) from HPLC is the use of CO(2) with an elevated column back pressure. However, how back pressure affects SFC separations using methanol/CO(2) binary mobile phase has neither been thoroughly studied experimentally, nor well understood in theory. We studied the effects of back pressure for the most widely applied SFC enantiomeric separation. The impacts of back pressure on dead time (t(0)), solute retention (k), selectivity (α), efficiency (N) and resolution (R(s)) were studied on 10 chiral columns using 11 pairs of drug-like enantiomers covering the common retention time range using the mobile phase of 20/80 methanol/CO(2). Increased apparent t(0) was observed at an increased column back pressure. Careful analysis of the experimental data indicated that t(0) depends not only on the relative density change along the column length, but also on the adsorption of modifier (methanol) onto the stationary phase. The measured k over pressure was found to follow a linear relationship. Moreover, a linear correlation was derived between the k and the rate of retention change with pressure, dk/dP. The resulting empirical equation not only is universally applicable for all 10 tested columns, but also successfully explains the constant selectivity observed with column back pressure changing from 100 to 200 bar under the mobile phase condition. The observed slight efficiency loss due to pressure increase was found to be statistically significant. The combined effects of pressure from all the SFC attributes (t(0), k, α and N) on resolution were confirmed by the experimental results from 48 enantiomeric resolutions. As the column back pressure increased from 100 to 200 bar, resolution decreased only slightly, on average 6%, due mainly to the retention and efficiency decrease. The importance and possible application of our study results will also be discussed.
Tanaproget is a first-in-class nonsteroidal progesterone receptor agonist that is being investiga... more Tanaproget is a first-in-class nonsteroidal progesterone receptor agonist that is being investigated for use in contraception. A major in vitro and in vivo metabolite of tanaproget formed in humans was initially characterized as a glucuronide of tanaproget. However, whether the glucuronide was linked to the nitrogen or sulfur of the benzoxazine-2-thione group in tanaproget could not be determined by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) and LC-tandem mass spectrometry analysis. To obtain additional structural details for this metabolite, additional quantities were generated from rat liver microsomal incubations and purified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for NMR analysis. The NMR data for the metabolite confirmed that the glucuronide was covalently bound to either the sulfur or the nitrogen of the benzoxazine-2-thione moiety. The lack of key through-bond (scalar) and through-space (dipolar) one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) NMR couplings and correlations in the metabolite spectra (due primarily to low sample concentration) precluded an unambiguous structure elucidation. Subsequent synthesis of the S- and N-glucuronides of tanaproget from tanaproget facilitated the unambiguous regio- and stereochemical assignment of the metabolite by comparison of 1D NMR chemical shifts and scalar coupling constants, 2D NMR correlations, and HPLC and LC/MS characteristics between the synthetic compounds and the metabolite. From extensive comparison of the spectral and chromatographic data of the microsomally derived metabolite and the synthetic compounds, the metabolite has been determined to be the S-(beta)-D-glucuronide of tanaproget.
Molecular chirality is a fundamental consideration in drug discovery, one necessary to understand... more Molecular chirality is a fundamental consideration in drug discovery, one necessary to understand and describe biological targets as well as to design effective pharmaceutical agents. Enantioselective chromatography has played an increasing role not only as an analytical tool for chiral analyses, but also as a preparative technique to obtain pure enantiomers from racemates quickly from a wide diversity of chemical structures. Different enantioselective chromatography techniques are reviewed here, with particular emphasis on the most widespread high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and the rapidly emerging supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) techniques. This review focuses on the dramatic advances in the chiral stationary phases (CSPs) that have made HPLC and SFC indispensable techniques for drug discovery today. In addition, screening strategies for rapid method development and considerations for laboratory-scale preparative separation are discussed and recent achievements are highlighted.
The application of Chiral Technology, or the (extensive) use of techniques or tools for the deter... more The application of Chiral Technology, or the (extensive) use of techniques or tools for the determination of absolute stereochemistry and the enantiomeric or chiral separation of racemic small molecule potential lead compounds, has been critical to successfully discovering and developing chiral drugs in the pharmaceutical industry. This has been due to the rapid increase over the past 10-15 years in potential drug candidates containing one or more asymmetric centers. Based on the experiences of one pharmaceutical company, a summary of the establishment of a Chiral Technology toolbox, including the implementation of known tools as well as the design, development, and implementation of new Chiral Technology tools, is provided. Chirality 19:658-682, 2007. V V C 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. KEY WORDS: Chiral Technology; chiral separations; enantiomeric separations; determination of absolute stereochemistry; supercritical fluid chromatography; asymmetric transformations using enzymes; chiral salt resolution; vibrational circular dichroism; electronic circular dichroism; exciton coupling; optical rotation; modified Mosher's or Trost NMR method; chiral liquid crystal NMR asymmetric transformations, but not asymmetric transformations themselves. The terms Chiral Technology and Chirotechnology have often been used as a general category for asymmetric transformations using enzymes, chiral building blocks, chiral auxiliaries, and chiral catalysts, as well as chiral salt resolution. 1-13 Carl Balibar is currently at Harvard
This article describes a very useful extension of an unique column switching technique called ''S... more This article describes a very useful extension of an unique column switching technique called ''Simulated Moving Columns'' (SMC) that was previously reported for chiral high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) (Zhang and McConnell, Journal of Chromatography A 2004;1028:227-238). SMC uses two or three short chiral columns connected in series, and enables the unresolved enantiomers to separate repeatedly and exclusively through each of the columns until sufficient resolution is attained. The technique is significantly enhanced through the use of supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC). The supercritical or near critical carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) used in the mobile phase of SFC possesses the properties of a liquid as well as a gas, and usually results in much sharper peaks compared to HPLC. Consequently, by combining SMC with SFC (SMC-SFC), we were able to dramatically increase the number of SMC cycles with significantly less band broadening compared to HPLC. For the first time, an enantioselective SFC separation was demonstrated by increasing the column from the actual 20 cm length to reach a half meter virtual length with remarkably enhanced efficiency. Off-column band broadening resulting from a two-column SMC system was measured, and its impact on the enantioselectivity of SMC-SFC was found to be much less than in SMC-HPLC. Chirality 19:683-692, 2007. V V C 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The enantiomers of 3,3,3&... more The enantiomers of 3,3,3',3'-tetramethyl-1,1'-spirobi[3 H,2,1]benzoxaselenole have been separated on a chiral preparative chromatographic column. The experimental vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra have been obtained for both enantiomers in CH(2)Cl(2). The theoretical VCD spectra have been obtained by means of density functional theoretical calculations with the B3 LYP density functional. From a comparison of experimental and theoretical VCD spectra, the absolute configuration of an enantiomer with positive specific rotation in CH(2)Cl(2) at 589 nm is determined to be R. This conclusion has been verified by comparing results of experimental optical rotatory dispersion (ORD) and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) to predictions of the same properties using the B3 LYP functional for the title compound.
Clopidogrel is a prodrug anticoagulant with active metabolites that irreversibly inhibit the plat... more Clopidogrel is a prodrug anticoagulant with active metabolites that irreversibly inhibit the platelet surface GPCR P2Y12 and thus inhibit platelet activation. However, gaining an understanding of patient response has been limited due to imprecise understanding of metabolite activity and stereochemistry, and a lack of acceptable analytes for quantifying in vivo metabolite formation. Methods for the production of all bioactive metabolites of clopidogrel, their stereochemical assignment, and the development of stable analytes via three conceptually orthogonal routes are disclosed.
A series of dimeric macrocyclic compounds were prepared and evaluated as antagonists for inhibito... more A series of dimeric macrocyclic compounds were prepared and evaluated as antagonists for inhibitor of apoptosis proteins. The most potent analogue 11, which binds to XIAP and c-IAP proteins with high affinity and induces caspase-3 activation and ultimately cell apoptosis, inhibits growth of human melanoma and colorectal cell lines at low nanomolar concentrations. Furthermore, compound 11 demonstrated significant antitumor activity in the A875 human melanoma xenograft model at doses as low as 2 mg/kg on a q3d schedule.
Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters, Jan 23, 2015
This Letter describes synthesis, SAR, and biological activity of (2-oxo-1,4-benzodiazepin-3-yl)-s... more This Letter describes synthesis, SAR, and biological activity of (2-oxo-1,4-benzodiazepin-3-yl)-succinamides as inhibitors of γ-secretase mediated signaling of Notch receptors. Optimization of this series led to the identification of BMS-871 (compound 30) which displayed robust in vivo efficacy in Notch-dependent leukemia and solid tumor xenograft models.
Structure-activity relationships in a series of (2-oxo-1,4-benzodiazepin-3-yl)-succinamides ident... more Structure-activity relationships in a series of (2-oxo-1,4-benzodiazepin-3-yl)-succinamides identified highly potent inhibitors of γ-secretase mediated signaling of Notch1/2/3/4 receptors. On the basis of its robust in vivo efficacy at tolerated doses in Notch driven leukemia and solid tumor xenograft models, 12 (BMS-906024) was selected as a candidate for clinical evaluation.
The chiral recognition mechanism for a successful enantioseparation on polysaccharide stationary ... more The chiral recognition mechanism for a successful enantioseparation on polysaccharide stationary phases are still poorly understood. In this series of papers, we aim to provide some insight into the retention and separation mechanisms occurring in enantioselective supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC). This paper presents a thorough investigation on chlorinated polysaccharide chiral stationary phases (CSP) comprising five coated and three immobilized phases from different manufacturers. The columns are also compared to four non-chlorinated phases to unravel the most significant differences brought about by the introduction of electron-withdrawing atoms on the aromatic ligands. Chemometrics are used to (i) get an overview of all columns (cluster analysis), (ii) describe retention (modified solvation parameter model) and (iii) describe enantioseparation (discriminant analysis). Sample applications are provided to support the discussion.
The crystallization behavior of an amorphous Fe 77.5 Si 13.5 B 9 alloy was studied by means of DS... more The crystallization behavior of an amorphous Fe 77.5 Si 13.5 B 9 alloy was studied by means of DSC, XRD, TEM, EDX and VSM techniques. Crystallization induced by heat treatment resulted in the formation of a Fe-Si phase with an unusual morphology: the branches of the dendrite were composed of closely spaced crystals, the spacing of such crystals was of the order of nanometer. Due to this dendritic morphology, the products of secondary crystallization grew not only among the dendritic branches but also within the dendrites at the interfaces of the closely spaced crystals. The products of secondary crystallization have a striped morphology and consist of the Fe-Si phase with B2 ordered structure and the Fe 3 B phase. The final products of crystallization were the striped structure composed of the Fe-Si, Fe 2 B and the Fe 3 B phases. The Fe-Si phase was also found in the form of large crystals. The magnetization values showed little change as annealing time and temperatures were increased while the coercivity increased significantly due to the formation of the Fe 3 B and Fe 2 B phase.
Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, 2006
Three low-level subsidiary color impurities (A, B, and C) often present in batches of the color a... more Three low-level subsidiary color impurities (A, B, and C) often present in batches of the color additive D&C Red No. 33 (R33, Acid Red 33, Colour Index No. 17200) were separated from a portion of R33 by spiral high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC). The separation involved use of a very polar solvent system, 1-BuOH/5mM aq. (NH4)2SO4. Addition of ammonium sulfate to the lower phase forced partition of the components into the upper phase, thereby eliminating the need to add a hydrophobic counterion as was previously required for separations of components from sulfonated dyes. The very polar solvent system used would not have been retained in a conventional multi-layer coil HSCCC instrument, but the spiral configuration enabled retention of the stationary phase, and thus, the separation was possible. A 1g portion of R33 enriched in A, B, and C was separated using the upper phase of the solvent system as the mobile phase. The retention of the stationary phase was 38.1%, and the separation resulted in 4.8 mg of A of >90% purity, 18.3mg of B of >85% purity, and 91 mg of C of 65-72% purity. A second separation of a portion of the C mixture resulted in 7 mg of C of >94% purity. The separated impurities were identified by high-resolution mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopic techniques as follows: 5-amino-3-biphenyl-3-ylazo-4-hydroxy-naphthalene-2,7-disulfonic acid, A; 5-amino-4-hydroxy-6-phenyl-3-phenylazo-naphthalene-2,7-disulfonic acid, B; and 5-amino-4-hydroxy-3,6-bis-phenylazo-naphthalene-2,7-disulfonic acid, C. The isomers A and B are compounds reported for the first time. Application of the spiral HSCCC method resulted in the additional benefit of yielding 930 mg of the main component of R33, 5-amino-4-hydroxy-3-phenylazo-naphthalene-2,7-disulfonic acid, of >97% purity.
Substituted N-(4-(2-aminopyridin-4-yloxy)-3-fluoro-phenyl)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-oxo-1,2-dihydropy... more Substituted N-(4-(2-aminopyridin-4-yloxy)-3-fluoro-phenyl)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-oxo-1,2-dihydropyridine-3-carboxamides were identified as potent and selective Met kinase inhibitors. Substitution of the pyridine 3-position gave improved enzyme potency, while substitution of the pyridone 4-position led to improved aqueous solubility and kinase selectivity. Analogue 10 demonstrated complete tumor stasis in a Met-dependent GTL-16 human gastric carcinoma xenograft model following oral administration. Because of its excellent in vivo efficacy and favorable pharmacokinetic and preclinical safety profiles, 10 has been advanced into phase I clinical trials.
Further exploration of the cycloalkanol ethylamine scaffold, of which venlafaxine ( 1) is a membe... more Further exploration of the cycloalkanol ethylamine scaffold, of which venlafaxine ( 1) is a member, was undertaken to develop novel and selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (NRIs) for evaluation in a variety of predictive animal models. These efforts led to the discovery of a piperazine-containing analogue, 17g (WY-46824), that exhibited potent norepinephrine reuptake inhibition, excellent selectivity over the serotonin transporter, but no selectivity over the dopamine transporter. Synthesis and testing of a series of cyclohexanol ethylpiperazines identified ( S)-(-)- 17i (WAY-256805), a potent norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (IC 50 = 82 nM, K i = 50 nM) that exhibited excellent selectivity over both the serotonin and dopamine transporters and was efficacious in animal models of depression, pain, and thermoregulatory dysfunction.
The stereoselective determination of stereoisomers in biological samples provides vital informati... more The stereoselective determination of stereoisomers in biological samples provides vital information on stereospecific metabolism and pharmacokinetic profiles of the drugs. Despite the unique advantage and the great success of normal-phase (NP) HPLC for the separations of drug stereoisomers using polysaccharide-type chiral stationary phases (CSPs), the technique is rarely applied to quantitative HPLC-MS-MS bioanalysis. This is, at least in part, due to the incompatibility between the usual mobile phase (n-hexane or n-heptane) in normal-phase HPLC and the MS ionization sources which poses a potential detonation hazard. An environmentally friendly and nonflammable alternative solvent, ethoxynonafluorobutane (ENFB), was reported previously to potentially provide an ideal solution for combining the powers of stereoselective NP chromatographic separation and MS-MS detection. In this study, a stereoselective NP-HPLC-MS-MS method was developed using ENFB to quantify a pair of Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) proprietary drug stereoisomers and their ketone metabolite for an in vitro study, which demonstrated, for the first time, the practical applicability and utility of ENFB for bioanalysis in pharmaceutical industry. The effects of different organic modifiers and temperature, as well as the comparison between ENFB and the usual solvent, heptane, for the separation, are discussed. The resolution of the stereoisomers was achieved using 63% of 3:1 mixture of ethanol and methanol with 37% ENFB on a Chiralpak AD-H column at 50 degrees C. High sensitivity was obtained using the MS-MS detection in the positive ion atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) mode. The lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) for the first stereoisomer and the ketone metabolite was 5 ng/mL, and was 10 ng/mL for the second isomer in the human liver microsome-potassium phosphate buffer matrix. The linear dynamic range of 5-1000 ng/mL for both isomers and 10-1000 ng/mL for the metabolite were demonstrated with R2 > or =0.997. The precision of the analysis was <5% R.S.D. at or above the nominal concentration of 80 ng/mL, and <20% R.S.D. at 8 ng/mL. The mean bias was less than 15%. Extraction recovery and acceptable matrix interference were demonstrated using one isomer and the ketone, and better than 75% recovery and less than 25% ion suppression or interference were found. The method was successfully implemented for an in vitro intrinsic metabolic clearance study.
Since the expiration of the patent protection of Chiralcel OD, similar chiral stationary phases (... more Since the expiration of the patent protection of Chiralcel OD, similar chiral stationary phases (CSPs), all based on the same chiral selector, have been introduced on the market with the promise to reproduce or improve the performance of the original cellulose tris-(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) CSP. We report here-in an in-depth evaluation of four generic versions of Chiralcel OD (CelluCoat, RegisCell, Lux Cellulose-1, Reprosil-OM) and the immobilized version (Chiralpak IB) in comparison to the original Chiralcel OD in terms of retention and enantioselectivity, with the help of chemometrics. First of all, the CSPs are compared based on the retentions of 230 achiral compounds. Agglomerative hierarchical clustering and quantitative structure-retention relationships based on a modified version of the solvation parameter model are used to assess the differences in non-enantioselective interactions contributing to retention. Secondly, the CSPs are compared based on the separation factors measured for 130 racemates. Discriminant analysis is then used to unravel the structural features contributing to the successful enantioselective separations. Chiralcel OD is shown to be the most versatile of the six tested CSPs, and involves a unique and unequalled mechanism to achieve enantioseparation.
Enantioselectivity of chiral selectors is often relatively low in chiral HPLC. For difficult chir... more Enantioselectivity of chiral selectors is often relatively low in chiral HPLC. For difficult chiral separations, often only partial resolution is obtained rather quickly by column and mobile phase screening, and, by trial-and-error, additional method optimization is required to achieve complete resolution. This paper describes the development of a novel column-switching technique called "simulated moving columns" (SMC) to quickly achieve complete chiral resolution on columns with limited enantioselectivity. The simulated moving columns (SMC) technique uses two (2) or three (3) short chiral HPLC columns connected in series, and forces the unresolved enantiomers to recycle exclusively through the columns until sufficient resolution is attained. In effect, SMC helps to achieve chiral resolution by virtually multiplying the column length, thus enhancing separation efficiency and resolution, without increasing backpressure. Comparison of the standard non-SMC approach with SMC, and selected applications of chiral separations of pharmaceutical drug molecules are presented. Through measurement and calculation, evaluation of off-column band broadening resulting from a two-column SMC system is provided. The results clearly indicate that SMC eliminates the significant band broadening that is inevitable in the closed-loop recycling techniques currently used in preparative chromatography. Furthermore, SMC is not only useful to enhance resolution for analytical and preparative chiral separation, but also has great potential to enhance recovery and purity for difficult chiral preparative chromatography.
A novel strategy for rapid chiral method development has been implemented using sample pooling an... more A novel strategy for rapid chiral method development has been implemented using sample pooling and supercritical fluid chromatography-mass spectrometry (SFC-MS) on four chiral stationary phases, namely Chiralpak AD and AS, and Chiralcel OJ and OD, and eight different modifier concentrations (5 to 40% methanol-0.2% isopropylamine). The screening is performed under an outlet pressure of 110 bar at 35 degrees C, and at a flow-rate of 2.5 ml/min for the initial 20 min and then ramped up to 4 ml/min and held for 4.5 min to elute all solutes from the column. The entire process is fully automated from injection to data processing, and operates unattended for 15 h overnight to obtain optimal chiral separation for multiple compounds. A unique feature of using SFC-MS to monitor chiral synthesis is the negligible interferences from achiral impurities. In addition, with SFC-MS, enantiomeric excess can be determined with much lower detection limits than UV and much shorter analysis times compared to normal-phase/reversed-phase liquid chromatography.
The most obvious difference of packed column supercritical fluid chromatography (pSFC) from HPLC ... more The most obvious difference of packed column supercritical fluid chromatography (pSFC) from HPLC is the use of CO(2) with an elevated column back pressure. However, how back pressure affects SFC separations using methanol/CO(2) binary mobile phase has neither been thoroughly studied experimentally, nor well understood in theory. We studied the effects of back pressure for the most widely applied SFC enantiomeric separation. The impacts of back pressure on dead time (t(0)), solute retention (k), selectivity (α), efficiency (N) and resolution (R(s)) were studied on 10 chiral columns using 11 pairs of drug-like enantiomers covering the common retention time range using the mobile phase of 20/80 methanol/CO(2). Increased apparent t(0) was observed at an increased column back pressure. Careful analysis of the experimental data indicated that t(0) depends not only on the relative density change along the column length, but also on the adsorption of modifier (methanol) onto the stationary phase. The measured k over pressure was found to follow a linear relationship. Moreover, a linear correlation was derived between the k and the rate of retention change with pressure, dk/dP. The resulting empirical equation not only is universally applicable for all 10 tested columns, but also successfully explains the constant selectivity observed with column back pressure changing from 100 to 200 bar under the mobile phase condition. The observed slight efficiency loss due to pressure increase was found to be statistically significant. The combined effects of pressure from all the SFC attributes (t(0), k, α and N) on resolution were confirmed by the experimental results from 48 enantiomeric resolutions. As the column back pressure increased from 100 to 200 bar, resolution decreased only slightly, on average 6%, due mainly to the retention and efficiency decrease. The importance and possible application of our study results will also be discussed.
Tanaproget is a first-in-class nonsteroidal progesterone receptor agonist that is being investiga... more Tanaproget is a first-in-class nonsteroidal progesterone receptor agonist that is being investigated for use in contraception. A major in vitro and in vivo metabolite of tanaproget formed in humans was initially characterized as a glucuronide of tanaproget. However, whether the glucuronide was linked to the nitrogen or sulfur of the benzoxazine-2-thione group in tanaproget could not be determined by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) and LC-tandem mass spectrometry analysis. To obtain additional structural details for this metabolite, additional quantities were generated from rat liver microsomal incubations and purified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for NMR analysis. The NMR data for the metabolite confirmed that the glucuronide was covalently bound to either the sulfur or the nitrogen of the benzoxazine-2-thione moiety. The lack of key through-bond (scalar) and through-space (dipolar) one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) NMR couplings and correlations in the metabolite spectra (due primarily to low sample concentration) precluded an unambiguous structure elucidation. Subsequent synthesis of the S- and N-glucuronides of tanaproget from tanaproget facilitated the unambiguous regio- and stereochemical assignment of the metabolite by comparison of 1D NMR chemical shifts and scalar coupling constants, 2D NMR correlations, and HPLC and LC/MS characteristics between the synthetic compounds and the metabolite. From extensive comparison of the spectral and chromatographic data of the microsomally derived metabolite and the synthetic compounds, the metabolite has been determined to be the S-(beta)-D-glucuronide of tanaproget.
Molecular chirality is a fundamental consideration in drug discovery, one necessary to understand... more Molecular chirality is a fundamental consideration in drug discovery, one necessary to understand and describe biological targets as well as to design effective pharmaceutical agents. Enantioselective chromatography has played an increasing role not only as an analytical tool for chiral analyses, but also as a preparative technique to obtain pure enantiomers from racemates quickly from a wide diversity of chemical structures. Different enantioselective chromatography techniques are reviewed here, with particular emphasis on the most widespread high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and the rapidly emerging supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) techniques. This review focuses on the dramatic advances in the chiral stationary phases (CSPs) that have made HPLC and SFC indispensable techniques for drug discovery today. In addition, screening strategies for rapid method development and considerations for laboratory-scale preparative separation are discussed and recent achievements are highlighted.
The application of Chiral Technology, or the (extensive) use of techniques or tools for the deter... more The application of Chiral Technology, or the (extensive) use of techniques or tools for the determination of absolute stereochemistry and the enantiomeric or chiral separation of racemic small molecule potential lead compounds, has been critical to successfully discovering and developing chiral drugs in the pharmaceutical industry. This has been due to the rapid increase over the past 10-15 years in potential drug candidates containing one or more asymmetric centers. Based on the experiences of one pharmaceutical company, a summary of the establishment of a Chiral Technology toolbox, including the implementation of known tools as well as the design, development, and implementation of new Chiral Technology tools, is provided. Chirality 19:658-682, 2007. V V C 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. KEY WORDS: Chiral Technology; chiral separations; enantiomeric separations; determination of absolute stereochemistry; supercritical fluid chromatography; asymmetric transformations using enzymes; chiral salt resolution; vibrational circular dichroism; electronic circular dichroism; exciton coupling; optical rotation; modified Mosher's or Trost NMR method; chiral liquid crystal NMR asymmetric transformations, but not asymmetric transformations themselves. The terms Chiral Technology and Chirotechnology have often been used as a general category for asymmetric transformations using enzymes, chiral building blocks, chiral auxiliaries, and chiral catalysts, as well as chiral salt resolution. 1-13 Carl Balibar is currently at Harvard
This article describes a very useful extension of an unique column switching technique called ''S... more This article describes a very useful extension of an unique column switching technique called ''Simulated Moving Columns'' (SMC) that was previously reported for chiral high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) (Zhang and McConnell, Journal of Chromatography A 2004;1028:227-238). SMC uses two or three short chiral columns connected in series, and enables the unresolved enantiomers to separate repeatedly and exclusively through each of the columns until sufficient resolution is attained. The technique is significantly enhanced through the use of supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC). The supercritical or near critical carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) used in the mobile phase of SFC possesses the properties of a liquid as well as a gas, and usually results in much sharper peaks compared to HPLC. Consequently, by combining SMC with SFC (SMC-SFC), we were able to dramatically increase the number of SMC cycles with significantly less band broadening compared to HPLC. For the first time, an enantioselective SFC separation was demonstrated by increasing the column from the actual 20 cm length to reach a half meter virtual length with remarkably enhanced efficiency. Off-column band broadening resulting from a two-column SMC system was measured, and its impact on the enantioselectivity of SMC-SFC was found to be much less than in SMC-HPLC. Chirality 19:683-692, 2007. V V C 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The enantiomers of 3,3,3&... more The enantiomers of 3,3,3',3'-tetramethyl-1,1'-spirobi[3 H,2,1]benzoxaselenole have been separated on a chiral preparative chromatographic column. The experimental vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra have been obtained for both enantiomers in CH(2)Cl(2). The theoretical VCD spectra have been obtained by means of density functional theoretical calculations with the B3 LYP density functional. From a comparison of experimental and theoretical VCD spectra, the absolute configuration of an enantiomer with positive specific rotation in CH(2)Cl(2) at 589 nm is determined to be R. This conclusion has been verified by comparing results of experimental optical rotatory dispersion (ORD) and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) to predictions of the same properties using the B3 LYP functional for the title compound.
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Papers by Yingru Zhang