Gregory A. Nemeth

The isolation and identification of a toxic impurity in XP315 drug substance.

In early safety assessment studies with the experimental anti-neoplastic drug XP315, a toxic reaction was observed in dogs immediately after intravenous (iv) infusion. The reaction was characterized by severe erythema around the ears, eyes, face and body; ocular hyperemia; head shaking; swelling around the eyes, face, paws, head, neck and legs; scratching; and reddened gums, which lasted several hours after dosing. By fractionating the drug substance using preparative HPLC and then infusing the residues into dogs by iv, this reaction was traced to an impurity in the drug substance. Following the preparative isolation of the toxic impurity, characterization was performed using a combination of NMR and mass spectral methods. The proposed impurity was found to be structurally related and nearly twice the molecular weight of XP315, resulting from a dimerization by ring fusion of two 3-aminonaphthalene fragments during the synthetic process. This paper details the steps taken to isolate the toxic impurity and characterize its structure using off-line methods.

FACILE PREPARATION OF CHLOROMETHYLARYL SOLID SUPPORTS USING METHANESULFONYL CHLORIDE AND HUNIG'S BASE

Abstract Several commercially available hydroxymethylaryl resins were converted to their corresponding chloromethyl analogs by simple treatment with methanesulfonyl chloride and Hunigs base in DMF at 25 °C over 3 days. This mild method gave quantitative conversions as determined by elemental analysis and 13C NMR.

Solubility Enhancement of a Bisnaphthalimide Tumoricidal Agent, DMP 840, Through Complexation

The purpose of this research was to enhance the aqueous solubility of DMP 840 by complexation with water-soluble and nontoxic agents, and to understand the nature of the interactions involved in complex formation using nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR). The solubility of DMP 840 in water, saline, acetate buffers, and cosolvent mixtures was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography, and the effect of nicotinamide and pyridoxine concentrations on the solubility of DMP 840 was examined by the phase solubility method. 1H-NMR spectra were acquired in deuterated acetate buffer at 400 MHz on a Varian Unity-400 spectrometer. The aqueous solubility of DMP 840 was sensitive to the presence of chloride and acetate anions in solution, and did not improve in the presence of cosolvents. The use of the nontoxic and water-soluble complex-forming agents nicotinamide and pyridoxine, however, resulted in a linear increase in the aqueous solubility of DMP 840 with both ligands. The solubilization appears to be due to formation of 1:1 complexes between DMP 840 and the bioorganic ligands. The complexation constants were 15.57 M-1 for the DMP 840:nicotinamide complex and 13.36 M-1 for the DMP 840:pyridoxine complex. The NMR results indicate that the interaction is a result of vertical or plane-to-plane stacking and the complexation constants were in agreement with that obtained by phase solubility. The results suggest that the aqueous solubility of a poorly water soluble drug substance such as DMP 840 can be significantly enhanced by its complexation with water-soluble and nontoxic agents.

A spectroscopic investigation of DuP 747 polymorphs

DuP 747, a selective kappa agonist analgesic, was found to have at least two polymorphic forms, and this was confirmed by X-ray powder diffraction. DSC and thermomicroscopic studies indicated the polymorphic pair to be monotropic. Solubility studies suggested the relative stability of the two forms to be similar. The infrared (IR) and Raman spectra of the two crystal forms were significantly different, and their complementary nature was shown from the differences in peak intensities. Solid-state 13C-NMR data of the polymorphs showed only minor differences between the two forms. When viewed on the molecular level through the use of vibrational and NMR spectroscopies, the conformation of the molecule in the two polymorphs appears to be roughly equivalent. The magnitude of the spectral differences of the two polymorphs is, however, consistent with those that can be expected for two crystal forms that have resulted from different modes of packing, as caused by the solvent environment.

Chapter 27. Existing and emerging strategies for the analytical characterization and profiling of compound libraries

Publisher Summary This chapter presents existing and emerging strategies for the analytical characterization and profiling of compound libraries. Combinatorial chemistry, parallel solution phase, and solid phase organic synthesis (SPOS) are a new wave of chemistry technologies that have revolutionized the drug discovery process. True combinatorial libraries are synthesized as mixtures on polymeric resins. Although each library may contain a mixture of thousands to millions of molecules, each individual bead is synthesized containing a unique synthetic product. The techniques of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier transform-infrared and mass spectrometry have been used routinely for the characterization of combinatorial libraries. The application of 2-dimensional NMR experiments in magic angle spinning (MAS) gel NMR of resins has been extensively explored. Improvements in resolution have been achieved by using the 2D J resolved spectrum and projecting onto the chemical shift axis the untilted spectrum. The basic layout of a tubeless NMR consists of a standard NMR equipped with a flow cell, also called a direct inject, NMR probe. Sample handling is done typically by a liquid handler, such as the Gilson 215. Neat or prepared samples are contained in 96 well microtiter plates on the liquid handle and are transferred to the NMR with one of a variety of plumbing configurations.

Degradation Kinetics of BMP 777, an Elastase Inhibitor

AbstractPurpose. The objective was to evaluate the degradation profile of the elastase inhibitor DMP 777 and lay the foundation for formulation development. Methods. The pKa was determined by potentiometric titration in mixed-aqueous solvents. The degradation kinetics were studied as a function of pH, buffer concentration, ionic strength, methanol concentration and temperature using a stability-indicating HPLC assay. The degradation products were identified by LC-MS, NMR, and by comparison with authentic samples. Results. The pKa for the protonated piperazine nitrogen was estimated to be 7.04. The pH-rate profile is described by specific acid-, water-, and specific base-catalyzed pathways. The pH of maximum stability is in the range of 4 to 4.5 where water is the principal catalyst in the reaction. Buffer catalysis, primary salt effects and medium effects were observed. The proposed mechanism for acid catalyzed degradation is the rarely observed AAL1 which involves alkyl-nitrogen heterolysis. The driving force for the reaction appears to lie in the stability of the benzylic carbocation. The proposed mechanism for base catalyzed degradation is BAC2 which involves β-lactam ring opening. The β-lactam ring of DMP 777, a monolactam, appears to be as reactive as that in benzylpenicillin in the kOH controlled region where a similar mechanism of hydrolysis should be operative. A contributing factor to this increased reactivity may lie in the reduced basicity of the β-lactam nitrogen making it a good leaving group. Conclusions. The degradation profile indicates that development of a solution dosage form of DMP 777 with adequate shelf-life stability at room temperature is feasible.

Thermal decomposition of matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors: Evidence of solid state dimerization

The thermal properties of three matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitors were investigated using a variety of instrumental methods. Differential scanning calorimetry revealed highly exothermic processes for all compounds above 200°C, and thermogravimetric analysis resulted in significant step-wise weight losses at the temperatures corresponding to the exothermic transitions. Hot stage microscopy observations for several compounds showed evolution of gas bubbles from crystals at temperatures that correlated with the exotherms. Thermal decomposition involving the hydroxamic acid functional group was suspected and further evaluated using various analytical techniques including reversed-phase HPLC, LC-MS-MS, TGA-FTIR and NMR. The mechanism proposed in the thermal decomposition involves a Lossen Rearrangement to form a dimeric species containing a urea linkage.

Stabilization of an anthrapyrazole antitumour agent, DuP 937, on complexation with heptakis(2,6-di-O-methyl)-β-cyclodextrin in aqueous solution

DuP 937, an anthrapyrazole antitumour agent that is chemically unstable in aqueous solution, was shown, by absorption spectroscopy, to form an inclusion complex with heptakis(2,6-di-O-methyl)-beta-cyclodextrin (DM beta CD) in aqueous solution. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to determine the stoichiometry and association constant of the complex. The 1:1 stoichiometry of the complex was established by the continuous variation method by following changes in the chemical shifts of aromatic protons of DuP 937. The complex association constants determined by different techniques used in this study were in the same order of magnitude. The kinetics of degradation of DuP 937 in aqueous solution were investigated as a function of DM beta CD concentration at pH 5.5 and 60 degrees C. The results indicated about a seven-fold increase in the stability of DuP 937 in the presence of DM beta CD in aqueous solution.

NMR characterization of a novel bile acid sequestrant, DMP 504.

DMP 504, a potential bile acid sequestrant for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia, is a highly insoluble, cross-linked polymer which does not lend itself to ordinary means of characterization used for drug substances in the pharmaceutical industry. Therefore, alternative characterization techniques have been sought. As part of an effort into extensive characterization of DMP 504 drug substance, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) was employed to provide insight into details of the DMP 504 polymer structure. The primary motivation for determining the structure of the polymer chain is to relate the DMP 504 structure to its performance properties as a bile acid sequestrant. Characterization of the polymer chain and understanding of the structural basis of its properties is essential in optimizing and controlling the manufacture of reproducible drug substance. NMR has proven a versatile tool for the description of polymer structure and dynamics because of the wide range of nuclear interactions affecting the NMR signal. This allows the design of experiments to elicit information about specific polymer interactions or properties. The methods of sample preparation utilized to obtain NMR spectra of the insoluble polymer, as well as a discussion and comparison of results for the characterization of DMP 504 obtained using several different NMR techniques will be presented.