Metabolism and Toxicity of Fluorine Compounds.

Fluorine has many beneficial features and applications but can cause toxicity at high doses. Herein, we describe its chemical properties and benefits to agrochemical design as well as potential metabolic liabilities and exposure assessment in vivo.

Pro-neurogenic, Memory-Enhancing and Anti-stress Effects of DF302, a Novel Fluorine Gamma-Carboline Derivative with Multi-target Mechanism of Action.

A comparative study performed in mice investigating the action of DF302, a novel fluoride-containing gamma-carboline derivative, in comparison to the structurally similar neuroprotective drug dimebon. Drug effects on learning and memory, emotionality, hippocampal neurogenesis and mitochondrial functions, as well as AMPA-mediated currents and the 5-HT6 receptor are reported. In the step-down avoidance and fear-conditioning paradigms, bolus administration of drugs at doses of 10 or 40 mg/kg showed that only the higher dose of DF302 improved long-term memory while dimebon was ineffective at either dosage. Short-term memory and fear extinction remained unaltered across treatment groups. During the 5-day predation stress paradigm, oral drug treatment over a period of 2 weeks at the higher dosage regimen decreased anxiety-like behaviour. Both compounds supressed inter-male aggression in CD1 mice, the most eminent being the effects of DF302 in its highest dose. DF302 at the higher dose decreased floating behaviour in a 2-day swim test and after 21-day ultrasound stress. The density of Ki67-positive cells, a marker of adult neurogenesis, was reduced in the dentate gyrus of stressed dimebon-treated and non-treated mice, but not in DF302-treated mice. Non-stressed mice that received DF302 had a higher density of Ki67-positive cells than controls unlike dimebon-treated mice. Similar to dimebon, DF302 effectively potentiated AMPA receptor-mediated currents, bound to the 5-HT6 receptor, inhibited mitochondrial permeability transition and displayed cytoprotective properties in cellular models of neurodegeneration. Thus, DF302 exerts multi-target effects on the key mechanisms of neurodegenerative pathologies and can be considered as an optimized novel analogue of the neuroprotective agent dimebon.

Complete Defluorination of Perfluorinated Compounds by Hydrated Electrons Generated from 3-Indole-acetic-acid in Organomodified Montmorillonite.

Here we describe a unique process that achieves complete defluorination and decomposition of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) which comprise one of the most recalcitrant and widely distributed classes of toxic pollutant chemicals found in natural environments. Photogenerated hydrated electrons derived from 3-indole-acetic-acid within an organomodified clay induce the reductive defluorination of co-sorbed PFCs. The process proceeds to completion within a few hours under mild reaction conditions. The organomontmorillonite clay promotes the formation of highly reactive hydrated electrons by stabilizing indole radical cations formed upon photolysis, and prevents their deactivation by reaction with protons or oxygen. In the constrained interlayer regions of the clay, hydrated electrons and co-sorbed PFCs are brought in close proximity thereby increasing the probability of reaction. This novel green chemistry provides the basis for in situ and ex situ technologies to treat one of the most troublesome, recalcitrant and ubiquitous classes of environmental contaminants, i.e., PFCs, utilizing innocuous reagents, naturally occurring materials and mild reaction conditions.

Gold nanoparticles protected by fluorinated ligands for 19F MRI.

Gold nanoparticles coated with fluorinated ligands (F-MPCs) present features suitable for (19)F MRI as observed from phantom experiments. Cellular uptake, by HeLa cells, and toxicity of fluorescent dye-decorated F-MPCs are presented together with their ability to bind hydrophobic molecules allowing for a potential combination of targeting, delivery and imaging features.

In-situ molecular-level elucidation of organofluorine binding sites in a whole peat soil.

The chemical nature of xenobiotic binding sites in soils is of vital importance to environmental biogeochemistry. Interactions between xenobiotics and the naturally occurring organic constituents of soils are strongly correlated to environmental persistence, bioaccessibility, and ecotoxicity. Nevertheless, because of the complex structural and chemical heterogeneity of soils, studies of these interactions are most commonly performed indirectly, using correlative methods, fractionation, or chemical modification. Here we identify the organic components of an unmodified peat soil where some organofluorine xenobiotic compounds interact using direct molecular-level methods. Using (19)F→(1)H cross-polarization magic angle spinning (CP-MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, the (19)F nuclei of organofluorine compounds are used to induce observable transverse magnetization in the (1)H nuclei of organic components of the soil with which they interact after sorption. The observed (19)F→(1)H CP-MAS spectra and dynamics are compared to those produced using model soil organic compounds, lignin and albumin. It is found that lignin-like components can account for the interactions observed in this soil for heptafluoronaphthol (HFNap) while protein structures can account for the interactions observed for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). This study employs novel comprehensive multi-phase (CMP) NMR technology that permits the application of solution-, gel-, and solid-state NMR experiments on intact soil samples in their swollen state.

Triflate-catalyzed (trans)esterification of lipids within carbonized algal biomass.

This study demonstrates the utility of rare-earth metal triflate catalysts (i.e., Sc(OTf)(3) and In(OTf)(3)) in the (trans)esterification of oleic acid as well as the lipids contained within carbonized algal biomass using ethanol in the presence of water. Both catalysts are highly active between 200 and 235°C with an ethanol:fatty acid (EtOH:FA) molar ratio of 10-20:1 and showed a high tolerance for moisture. Lipids within hydrochars produced by reacting Chlorella protothecoides paste (25% solids) in high temperature water (220-250°C) were successfully converted into fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE). The highest FAEE yields (85-98%) were obtained when hydrochars were reacted for 60 min at 215°C with about 11-13 mol% Sc(OTf)(3), a 17-19:1 EtOH:FA molar ratio, and without water. FAEE yields remained as high as 93% in the presence of 9 wt.% water. Our preliminary results warrant further work to optimize triflate-catalyzed in situ (trans)esterification at low catalyst and ethanol loadings.

7-fluoroindole as an antivirulence compound against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The emergence of antibiotic resistance has necessitated new therapeutic approaches for combating persistent bacterial infection. An alternative approach is regulation of bacterial virulence instead of growth suppression, which can readily lead to drug resistance. The virulence of the opportunistic human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa depends on a large number of extracellular factors and biofilm formation. Thirty-one natural and synthetic indole derivatives were screened. 7-fluoroindole (7FI) was identified as a compound that inhibits biofilm formation and blood hemolysis without inhibiting the growth of planktonic P. aeruginosa cells. Moreover, 7FI markedly reduced the production of quorum-sensing (QS)-regulated virulence factors 2-heptyl-3-hydroxy-4(1H)-quinolone, pyocyanin, rhamnolipid, two siderophores, pyoverdine and pyochelin. 7FI clearly suppressed swarming motility, protease activity and the production of a polymeric matrix in P. aeruginosa. However, unlike natural indole compounds, synthetic 7FI did not increase antibiotic resistance. Therefore, 7FI is a potential candidate for use in an antivirulence approach against persistent P. aeruginosa infection.

Study of IspH, a key enzyme in the methylerythritol phosphate pathway using fluoro-substituted substrate analogues.

IspH, a [4Fe-4S]-cluster-containing enzyme, catalyzes the reductive dehydroxylation of 4-hydroxy-3-methyl-butenyl diphosphate (HMBPP) to isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) and dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP) in the methylerythritol phosphate pathway. Studies of IspH using fluoro-substituted substrate analogues to dissect the contributions of several factors to IspH catalysis, including the coordination of the HMBPP C(4)-OH group to the iron-sulfur cluster, the H-bonding network in the active site, and the electronic properties of the substrates, are reported.

Fluorinated substrates result in variable leakage of a reaction intermediate during catalysis by dehydroquinate synthase.

Incubation of (3S)-3-fluoro-3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate 7-phosphate with dehydroquinate (DHQ) synthase from three phylogenetically distinct sources resulted in the production of (6S)-6-fluoroDHQ and its epimer 1-epi-(6S)-6-fluoroDHQ. The differences in the product ratios of the reactions catalysed by each enzyme imply that 1-epi-(6S)-6-fluoroDHQ formation occurs by an unusual partial leakage of a reaction intermediate from the enzyme.

Biodegradation of polyfluorinated biphenyl in bacteria.

Fluorinated aromatic compounds are significant environmental pollutants, and microorganisms play important roles in their biodegradation. The effect of fluorine substitution on the transformation of fluorobiphenyl in two bacteria was investigated. Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes KF707 and Burkholderia xenovorans LB400 used 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobiphenyl and 4,4'-difluorobiphenyl as sole sources of carbon and energy. The catabolism of the fluorinated compounds was examined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and fluorine-19 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (19F NMR), and revealed that the bacteria employed the upper pathway of biphenyl catabolism to degrade these xenobiotics. The novel fluorometabolites 3-pentafluorophenyl-cyclohexa-3,5-diene-1,2-diol and 3-pentafluorophenyl-benzene-1,2-diol were detected in the supernatants of biphenyl-grown resting cells incubated with 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobiphenyl, most likely as a consequence of the actions of BphA and BphB. 4-Fluorobenzoate was detected in cultures incubated with 4,4'-difluorobiphenyl and 19F NMR analysis of the supernatant from P. pseudoalcaligenes KF707 revealed the presence of additional water-soluble fluorometabolites.

Metabolism of fluoroorganic compounds in microorganisms: impacts for the environment and the production of fine chemicals.

Incorporation of fluorine into an organic compound can favourably alter its physicochemical properties with respect to biological activity, stability and lipophilicity. Accordingly, this element is found in many pharmaceutical and industrial chemicals. Organofluorine compounds are accepted as substrates by many enzymes, and the interactions of microorganisms with these compounds are of relevance to the environment and the fine chemicals industry. On the one hand, the microbial transformation of organofluorines can lead to the generation of toxic compounds that are of environmental concern, yet similar biotransformations can yield difficult-to-synthesise products and intermediates, in particular derivatives of biologically active secondary metabolites. In this paper, we review the historical and recent developments of organofluorine biotransformation in microorganisms and highlight the possibility of using microbes as models of fluorinated drug metabolism in mammals.

Experimental and computational study of the thermochemistry of the fluoromethylaniline isomers.

The standard (po = 0.1 MPa) molar enthalpies of formation in the condensed phase of seven isomers of fluoromethylaniline were derived from the standard molar energies of combustion, in oxygen, to yield CO2(g), N2(g) and HF.10H2O(l), at T = 298.15 K, measured by rotating bomb combustion calorimetry. The standard molar enthalpies of vaporization or sublimation of these compounds, also at T = 298.15 K, were determined using Calvet microcalorimetry, while the enthalpies of fusion of the solid compounds were determined by differential scanning calorimetry. The standard molar enthalpies of formation in the gaseous phase, at T = 298.15 K, were derived from the former two experimental quantities. G3MP2//B3LYP calculations were performed for all possible fluoromethylanilines allowing the estimation of data for the isomers that were not studied experimentally. The Cox scheme was applied with two different approaches for the estimation of the standard molar enthalpies of formation of all the isomers studied, and this led to the conclusion that the literature values for the enthalpies of formation of the meta and para isomers of methylaniline seem to be not reliable. Further G3MP2//B3LYPs calculations on the methylaniline isomers yielded new values for the standard molar enthalpies of formation of the isomers of methylaniline, which have been tested under the Cox scheme, resulting in better estimates.

Structure of the Escherichia coli heptosyltransferase WaaC: binary complexes with ADP and ADP-2-deoxy-2-fluoro heptose.

Lipopolysaccharides constitute the outer leaflet of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria and are therefore essential for cell growth and viability. The heptosyltransferase WaaC is a glycosyltransferase (GT) involved in the synthesis of the inner core region of LPS. It catalyzes the addition of the first L-glycero-D-manno-heptose (heptose) molecule to one 3-deoxy-D-manno-oct-2-ulosonic acid (Kdo) residue of the Kdo2-lipid A molecule. Heptose is an essential component of the LPS core domain; its absence results in a truncated lipopolysaccharide associated with the deep-rough phenotype causing a greater susceptibility to antibiotic and an attenuated virulence for pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria. Thus, WaaC represents a promising target in antibacterial drug design. Here, we report the structure of WaaC from the Escherichia coli pathogenic strain RS218 alone at 1.9 A resolution, and in complex with either ADP or the non-cleavable analog ADP-2-deoxy-2-fluoro-heptose of the sugar donor at 2.4 A resolution. WaaC adopts the GT-B fold in two domains, characteristic of one glycosyltransferase structural superfamily. The comparison of the three different structures shows that WaaC does not undergo a domain rotation, characteristic of the GT-B family, upon substrate binding, but allows the substrate analog and the reaction product to adopt remarkably distinct conformations inside the active site. In addition, both binary complexes offer a close view of the donor subsite and, together with results from site-directed mutagenesis studies, provide evidence for a model of the catalytic mechanism.

The gene cluster for fluorometabolite biosynthesis in Streptomyces cattleya: a thioesterase confers resistance to fluoroacetyl-coenzyme A.

A genomic library of Streptomyces cattleya was screened to isolate a gene cluster encoding enzymes responsible for the production of fluorine-containing metabolites. In addition to the previously described fluorinase FlA which catalyzes the formation of 5'-fluoro-5'-deoxyadenosine from S-adenosylmethionine and fluoride, 11 other putative open reading frames have been identified. Three of the proteins encoded by these genes have been characterized. FlB was determined to be the second enzyme in the pathway, catalyzing the phosphorolytic cleavage of 5'-fluoro-5'-deoxyadenosine to produce 5-fluoro-5-deoxy-D-ribose-1-phosphate. The enzyme FlI was found to be an S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase, which may act to relieve S-adenosylhomocysteine inhibition of the fluorinase. Finally, flK encodes a thioesterase which catalyzes the selective breakdown of fluoroacetyl-CoA but not acetyl-CoA, suggesting that it provides the producing strain with a mechanism for resistance to fluoroacetate.

Excited state hydrogen transfer in fluorophenol.ammonia clusters studied by two-color REMPI spectroscopy.

Two-color (1 + 1') REMPI mass spectra of o-, m- and p-fluorophenol.ammonia (1 ration) clusters were measured with a long delay time between excitation and ionization lasers. The appearance of NH(4)(NH(3))(n-1)(+) with 100 ns delay after exciting the S(1) state is a strong indication of generation of long-lived species via S(1). In analogy with the phenol.ammonia clusters, we conclude that an excited state hydrogen transfer reaction occurs in o-, m- and p-fluorophenol.ammonia clusters. The S(1)-S(0) transition of o-, m- and p-fluorophenol.ammonia (1 : 1) clusters were measured by the (1 + 1') REMPI spectra, while larger (1 ration) cluster (n = 2-4) were observed by monitoring the long-lived NH(4)(NH(3))(n-1) clusters action spectra. The vibronic structures of m- and p-fluorophenol.ammonia clusters are assigned based on vibrational calculations in S(0). The o-fluorophenol.ammonia (1 : 1) cluster shows an anharmonic progression that is analyzed by a one-dimensional internal rotational motion of the ammonia molecule. The interaction between the ammonia molecule and the fluorine atom, and its change upon electronic excitation are suggested. The broad action spectra observed for the o-fluorophenol.ammonia (1 : n) cluster (n>== 2) suggest the excited state hydrogen transfer is faster than in m- and p-fluorophenol.ammonia clusters. The different reaction rates between o-, m- and p-fluorophenol.ammonia clusters are found from comparison between the REMPI and action spectra.

Synthesis of 4-aryl-2-pyrrolidones and beta-aryl-gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA) analogues by Heck arylation of 3-pyrrolines with arenediazonium tetrafluoroborates. Synthesis of (+/-)-rolipram on a multigram scale and chromatographic resolution by semipreparative chiral simulated moving bed chromatography.

We report herein a new, practical, and economic synthesis of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor Rolipram on a multigram scale as well as the synthesis of new 4-aryl pyrrolidones and beta-aryl-gamma-amino butyric acids (GABA derivatives) employing an efficient Heck-Matsuda arylation of 3-pyrroline with aryldiazonium tetrafluoroborates. Racemic Rolipram was resolved into its enantiomers using chiral simulated moving bed chromatography having the low-cost microcrystalline cellulose triacetate as a chiral stationary phase.

A novel imaging probe for in vivo detection of neuritic and diffuse amyloid plaques in the brain.

Extensive deposition of neuritic and diffuse amyloid plaques in the brain is a critical event for the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and considered to start before the appearance of clinical symptoms. In vivo detection of these brain beta-amyloid (Abeta) deposits using positron emission tomography (PET), therefore, would be a useful marker for presymptomatic detection of AD. To develop a new agent for PET probe of imaging neuritic and diffuse amyloid deposits, novel fluorescent compounds, including styryl-fluorobenzoxazole derivatives, were examined. These compounds showed a high binding affinity for both synthetic Abeta1-40 and Abeta1-42 aggregates. Some of these compounds also displayed distinct staining of neuritic and diffuse amyloid plaques in AD brain sections. A biodistribution study of styryl-fluorobenzoxazole derivatives in normal mice exhibited excellent brain uptakes (4.5-5.5% injected dose/g at 2 min postinjection). Furthermore, iv administration of BF-145, a styryl-fluorobenzoxazole derivative, demonstrated specific in vivo labeling of compact and diffuse amyloid deposits in an APP23 transgenic mouse brain, in contrast to no accumulation in a wild-type mouse brain. These findings suggest that BF-145 is a potential candidate as a probe for imaging early brain pathology in AD patients.

Enzymatic assay for perfluoro-tagged metabolites of l-DOPA using crude lysate from E. coli transformed with pKKAADCII.

Isomers of l-DOPA and dopamine with a nine-atom 19F atom tag were exposed to aromatic acid decarboxylase (AADC) in the lysate of Escherichia coli JM109 that had been transformed with the plasmid pKKAADCII. The resulting samples were analyzed with HPLC. The first study investigated the conversion of the tagged l-DOPA into tagged dopamine, using the tagged dopamine as a standard. A second study was undertaken to identify the source of peaks seen in the enzymatic assays. l-DOPA with the tag bonded at position 5 served as the best substrate for AADC. Isomers that fit into the active site of AADC are likely to follow the biosynthetic path for dopamine in vivo and are potentially useful in magnetic resonance studies. The enzymatic assay described here provides an efficient and cost-effective tool for screening new compounds for use in the fluorine imaging of neural pathways.