ISSN:
0899-0042
Keywords:
N-ethyl-N-methylaniline N-oxide
;
chiral nitrogen centre
;
flavin-containing monooxygenase
;
stereoselective metabolic N-oxidation
;
Chemistry
;
Organic Chemistry
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
Notes:
The prochiral tertiary amine N-ethyl-N-methylaniline (EMA) is known to be stereoselectively N-oxygenated in the presence of hepatic microsomal preparations. This biotransformation is thought to be mediated predominantly by the flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO) enzyme system. In order to characterise this reaction further, the in vitro metabolism of EMA in the presence of hepatic microsomal preparations derived from a number of laboratory species has been examined. EMA N-oxide formation was stereoselective with respect to the (-)-S-enantiomer in the presence of microsomal preparations from all species examined, with the degree of selectivity decreasing in the order of rabbit 〉 rat ∼ LACA mouse ∼ DBA/2Ha mouse 〉 guinea-pig 〉 dog. The enantiomeric composition of the metabolically derived EMA N-oxide appeared to be determined solely by the differential rate of formation of the two enantiomers as opposed to any differences in affinities for the substrate in its pro-R and pro-S conformations. The use of enzyme inhibitors, activators and inducers indicated that EMA N-oxide formation was predominantly mediated by FMO in the presence of rabbit hepatic microsomes and that these agents did not generally affect the stereochemical outcome of the biotransformation. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Additional Material:
3 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource