A study of the relationship between the structure of homologous series of oxprenolol at various pH values.

Stability of series of O-acyl esters of oxprenolol prepared as potential pro-drugs, is investigated over the pH range 0.4-10 at 37 degrees C. Maximum stability of all esters occurred at pH 3-4. The most stable derivative was found to be pivaloyl ester. The relationship between Charton Steric parameters (v) and the catalytic rate constant of hydrolysis is investigated.

Physico-chemical properties and hydrolysis of oxprenolol octanoyl and benzoyl esters.

The kinetics of hydrolysis of octanoyl ester of oxprenolol (O-OXP) and benzoyl ester of oxprenolol (Benz-OXP) has been investigated in aqueous solution at 310 K over the pH range 0.42-9.5. The decomposition was followed by UV spectral method. At the pH range 0.42 to 9.5, hydrolysis of oxprenolol esters (E-OXP) consists of hydrolysis of BH+ molecules catalyzed by hydrogen ions, spontaneous hydrolysis of BH+ molecules and hydrolysis of BH+ and B molecules catalyzed by hydroxide ions. Various buffer substances were found to exhibit general acid and base catalysis of the degradation.

How an increase in the carbon chain length of the ester moiety affects the stability of a homologous series of oxprenolol esters in the presence of biological enzymes.

beta-Blockers including timolol and propranolol are administered in eye-drops for the treatment of glaucoma. Due to high incidence of cardiovascular and respiratory side-effects, their therapeutic value is limited. As a result of poor ocular bioavailability, many ocular drugs are applied in high concentrations, which give rise to both ocular and systemic side-effects. Therefore, some methods have been employed to increase ocular bioavailability such as (a) the development of drug delivery devices designed to release drugs at controlled rates, (b) the use of various vehicles that retard precorneal drug loss, and (c) the conversion of drugs to biologically reversible derivatives (prodrugs) with increased corneal penetration properties, from which the active drugs are released by enzymatic hydrolysis. A series of structurally related oxprenolol esters were synthesized and investigated as potential prodrugs for improved ocular use. The stability of each ester was studied in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4), also in the presence of (a) 30% human plasma, (b) aqueous humor, and (c) corneal extract at pH 7. 4 and at 37 degreesC. An account is given of how the stability of a homologous series of oxprenolol esters in the presence of biological enzymes is affected by an increase in the carbon chain length of the ester moiety.

A study of the relationship between the structure and physicochemical parameters of a homologous series of oxprenolol esters at various pH values and temperatures.

A number of beta-adrenergic blockers, including timolol and propranolol, are administered in eyedrops for the treatment of glaucoma, but their therapeutic value is limited by a relatively high incidence of cardiovascular and respiratory side effects. Because of poor ocular bioavailability, many ocular drugs are applied in high concentrations, which give rise to both ocular and systemic side effects. Methods to increase ocular bioavailability include (a) the development of drug delivery devices designed to release drugs at controlled rates, (b) the use of various vehicles that retard precorneal drug loss, and (c) the conversion of drugs to biologically reversible derivatives (prodrugs) with increased corneal penetration properties, from which the active drugs are released by enzymatic hydrolysis. A homologous series of aliphatic esters of oxprenolol were synthesized and investigated as potential prodrugs for ocular use. The stability of each O-acyl derivative was investigated in aqueous solutions over the pH range 2.2-9.0 at 37 degrees C. The observed rate constants (k[obs]), shelf-lives (t90), lipophilicities, and Arrhenius parameters were determined for each ester. A study of the relationship between the structure and physicochemical parameters of the homologous series of oxprenolol esters at various pH values and temperatures was made.

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of the genotoxicity of N-nitrosooxprenolol.

N-nitrosooxprenolol (NO-oxprenolol) might be formed in the stomach of patients taking the beta-adrenergic blocking drug, oxprenolol. This nitroso derivative has previously been shown to induce DNA damage and repair in both rat and human cultured hepatocytes. The results of the present study show that in the presence of co-cultured rat hepatocytes, 0.03 mM NO-oxprenolol produced a significant increase in the frequency of 6-thioguanine-resistant but not of ouabain-resistant mutants. No mutagenic activity was detected in the absence of metabolic activation. In mice, NO-oxprenolol (1 g/kg) increased the incidence of micronucleated cells in the liver but not in the bone marrow and the spleen. These results suggest that NO-oxprenolol, consistent with its chemical nature of nitrosamine, is biotransformed into short-lived reactive species.

Determination of oxprenolol and its glucuronide metabolite in plasma and urine using high-performance liquid chromatography.

A HPLC assay is presented for the determination of oxprenolol (1) and its glucuronic acid conjugate (2) in human plasma and urine. The procedure employs a selective re-extraction using alprenolol (3) as the internal standard, followed by reversed-phase chromatography and UV-detection. The minimal detectable concentration is 10 ng/ml in plasma and 50 ng/ml in urine, using 1.0 and 0.5 ml of plasma and urine, respectively. Within-run and day-to-day variations are below 10% at all concentrations examined. Plasma and urine samples of either healthy volunteers or patients with renal failure are free of interferences from endogenous compounds and drugs frequently used in these patients. The glucuronic acid conjugate of oxprenolol is determined as the parent compound after hydrolytic cleavage with beta-glucuronidase/arylsulfatase. The specificity and selectivity of this cleavage are also demonstrated.

Synthesis of 4'- and 5'-hydroxyoxprenolol:pharmacologically active ring-hydroxylated metabolites of oxprenolol.

Synthesis and preliminary pharmacological activity data for 4'- and 5'-hydroxyoxprenolol (2 and 3) are reported. The synthetic routes make use of the isomeric 2-pyranyl monoether derivatives of 4-hydroxysalicylaldehyde and 2,5-dihydroxyacetophenone. The corresponding O-allyl ethers were converted to substituted phenols by Baeyer-Villiger oxidation and the propanolamine side chain elaborated using epichlorohydrin, followed by oxirane ring opening with isopropylamine. Each of the hydroxylated metabolites is about ten times less potent than oxprenolol as an antagonist to the isoproterenol-induced relaxation of guinea pig tracheal strips.

Aromatic hydroxylation of beta-adrenergic antagonists. Formation of 4'- and 5'-hydroxy-1-(isopropylamino)-3-[2'-allyloxy)phenoxy]-2-propanol from oxprenolol.

The metabolic aromatic hydroxylation of oxprenolol [1-(isopropylamino)-3-[2'-(allyloxy)phenoxy]-2-propanol] in rats was examined. Synthesis of the isomeric ring methoxyoxprenolols (3b-6b) was accomplished from the isomeric methoxysalicylaldehydes by O-allylation, followed by Baeyer-Villiger oxidation. The propanolamine side chain was elaborated by O-alkylation of the Bayer-Villiger product with epichlorohydrin and subsequent oxirane opening with isopropylamine. Gas chromatography-mass spectra of the trifluoroacetyl derivatives of these standards was compared with urinary metabolites obtained from the rat, after methylation with diazomethane and derivatization with trifluoroacetic anhydride. Both 4'- and 5'-hydroxyoxprenolol (4a and 5a) were present in an approximate 4:1 ratio. No 3'- or 6'-hydroxyoxprenolol (3a and 6a) was detected. The metabolites obtained from a human urine treated in the same manner gave similar results with both 4a and 5a present.

Metabolism of beta-adrenergic antagonists. Evidence for an arene oxide-NIH shift pathway in the aromatic hydroxylation of oxprenolol.

The metabolic hydroxylation of 4'-deuteriooxprenolol [1-(isopropylamino)-3-[2'-(allyloxy)-4'-deuteriophenoxy]-2-propanol] prepared from the 4'-bromo compound was examined in the rat (in vivo). GC-MS analysis of the 4'-and 5'-hydroxyoxprenolol obtained showed 65% retention of deuterium in each of the metabolites. The results indicate that an arene oxide-NIH shift pathway is operative in these hydroxylation processes. The equal magnitude of deuterium retention is supportive of a 4',5'-arene oxide as a major contributor to their formation.