Facile entry to (-)-(R)- and (+)-(S)-mexiletine

hERG stereoselective modulation by mexiletine-derived ureas: Molecular docking study, synthesis, and biological evaluation

Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a disorder of cardiac electrophysiology resulting in life-threatening arrhythmias; nowadays, only a few drugs are available for the management of LQTS. Focusing our attention on LQT2, one of the most common subtypes of LQTS caused by mutations in the human ether-à-go-go-related gene (hERG), in the present work, the stereoselectivity of the recently discovered mexiletine-derived urea 8 was investigated on the hERG potassium channel. According to preliminary in silico predictions, in vitro studies revealed a stereoselective behavior, with the meso form showing the greatest hERG opening activity. In addition, functional studies on guinea pig isolated left atria, aorta, and ileum demonstrated that 8 does not present any cardiac or intestinal liability in our ex vivo studies. Due to its overall profile, (R,S)-8 paves the way for the design and development of a new series of compounds potentially useful in the treatment of both congenital and drug-induced forms of LQTS.

Resolution of Racemic Aryloxy-Propan-2-yl Acetates via Lipase-Catalyzed Hydrolysis: Preparation of Enantiomerically Pure/Enantioenriched Mexiletine Intermediates and Analogs

The lipase kinetic resolution (KR) of aryloxy-propan-2-yl acetates, via hydrolysis, produced enantiomerically pure/enantioenriched mexiletine intermediates and analogs. Racemic acetates rac-1-(2,6-dimethylphenoxy)propan-2-yl acetate (rac-5a), rac-1-(2,4-dimethylphenoxy)propan-2-yl acetate (rac-5b), rac-1-(o-tolyloxy)propan-2-yl acetate (rac-5c) and rac-1-(naphthalen-1-yloxy)propan-2-yl acetate (rac-5d) were used as substrates. A preliminary screening (24 h, phosphate buffer pH 7.0 with 20% acetonitrile as co-solvent, 30 °C and enzyme:substrate ratio of 2:1, m:m) was carried out with twelve lipases using acetate 5a as substrate. Two enzymes stood out in the KR of 5a, the Amano AK lipase from Pseudomonas fluorescens and lipase from Thermomyces lanuginosus (TLL) immobilized on Immobead 150. Under these conditions, both the (R)-1-(2,6-dimethylphenoxy)propan-2-ol [(R)-4a] and the remaining (S)-1-(2,6-dimethylphenoxy)propan-2-yl acetate [(S)-5a] were obtained with enantiomeric excess (ee) > 99%, 50% conversion and enantiomeric ratio (E) > 200. The KR study was expanded to racemic acetates 5b-d, leading to the corresponding chiral remaining acetates with ≥95% ee, and the alcohols 4b-d with ≥98% ee, and conversion values close to 50%. The best conditions for KRs of rac-5b-d involved the use of lipase from P. fluorescens or TLL immobilized on Immobead 150, 24 or 48 h and 30 °C. These intermediates had their absolute configurations determined using 1H NMR spectroscopy (Mosher’s method), showing that the KRs of these acetates obeyed the Kazlauskas’ rule. Molecular docking studies corroborated the experimental results, indicating a preference for the hydrolysis of (R)-5a-d.

Enantiodivergent syntheses of (+)- and (-)-1-(2,6-dimethylphenoxy)propan-2-ol: A way to access (+)- and (-)-mexiletine from D-(+)-mannitol

Chiron approach was used to acquire optically pure (R)- and (S)-1-(2,6-dimethylphenoxy)propan-2-ol, immediate precursors of (S)- and (R)-mexiletines, respectively. Two different routes were followed from a D-mannitol-derived optically pure common precursor to get the enantiomeric alcohols separately. Comparison of their specific rotation values with the corresponding literature values as well as exact mirror-image relationship between their CD curves proved their high enantiopurity. These alcohols were then transformed to the corresponding amine-drugs in an efficient one-step process instead of two steps described in the literature.

Asymmetric hydrolytic kinetic resolution with recyclable macrocyclic Co(III)-salen complexes: a practical strategy in the preparation of (R)-mexiletine and (S)-propranolol

A chiral cobalt(III) complex (1e) was synthesized by the interaction of cobalt(II) acetate and ferrocenium hexafluorophosphate with a chiral dinuclear macrocyclic salen ligand that was derived from 1R,2R-(-)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane with trigol bis-aldehyde. A variety of epoxides and glycidyl ethers were suitable substrates for the reaction with water in the presence of chiral macrocyclic salen complex 1e at room temperature to afford chiral epoxides and diols by hydrolytic kinetic resolution (HKR). Excellent yields (47% with respect to the epoxides, 53% with respect to the diols) and high enantioselectivity (ee>99% for the epoxides, up to 96% for the diols) were achieved in 2.5-16 h. The Co(III) macrocyclic salen complex (1e) maintained its performance on a multigram scale and was expediently recycled a number of times. We further extended our study of chiral epoxides that were synthesized by using HKR to the synthesis of chiral drug molecules (R)-mexiletine and (S)-propranolol.

Deracemization of mexiletine biocatalyzed by omega-transaminases

(S)- as well as (R)-mexiletine [1-(2,6-dimethylphenoxy)-2-propanamine], a chiral orally effective antiarrhythmic agent, was prepared by deracemization starting from the commercially available racemic amine using omega-transaminases in up to >99% ee and conversion with 97% isolated yield by a one-pot two-step procedure. The absolute configuration could be easily switched to the other enantiomer, just by switching the order of the applied transaminases. The cosubstrate pyruvate needed in the first oxidative step was recycled by using an amino acid oxidase.

New potent mexiletine and tocainide analogues evaluated in vivo and in vitro as antimyotonic agents on the myotonic ADR mouse

The antimyotonic activity of chiral derivatives of mexiletine and tocainide, selected as potent use-dependent blockers of skeletal muscle sodium channels, was evaluated in vivo acutely in myotonic ADR mice. The compounds had either aromatic (Me4 and Me6) or branched isopropyl groups (Me5 and To1) on the asymmetric centre, or had this latter one methylene apart from the amino group (Me2). Therapeutic doses of mexiletine (5-10 mg/kg) and tocainide (7-20 mg/kg) significantly reduced the long time of righting reflex (TRR), typical of ADR mice. Me4, Me5 and Me6 were 2-fold more potent than mexiletine. To1 fully normalised the TRR at 7 mg/kg. The electromyographic analysis confirmed a muscle-based activity for drug effectiveness on TRR. All the compounds reduced the myotonic hyperexcitability of intercostal muscle fibres when tested in vitro by current-clamp recordings, with a potency correlated with their action on sodium channels. On stimulus-evoked firing, the isopropyl analogues were 2-4-fold more potent than parent compounds, while the aromatic analogues were about 10-fold more potent than mexiletine. Patch-clamp recordings confirmed a normal-like pharmacological sensitivity of sodium channels of native ADR muscle fibres. Finally, the in vivo antimyotonic activity is due to the block of sodium channels and divergences with in vitro potency can be related to structure-based changes in drug pharmacokinetics.

Optically Active Mexiletine Analogues as Stereoselective Blockers of Voltage-Gated Na+ Channels

Optically active mexiletine analogues were synthesized and evaluated in vitro as use-dependent blockers of skeletal muscle sodium channels. The mexiletine analogues were obtained by replacing either the methyl group on the stereogenic center of mexiletine [1-(2,6-dimethylphenoxy)propan-2-amine] with a phenyl group or modifying the phenoxy moiety (by removal of one or both of the methyl groups, or introducing a chlorine atom), or both. The voltage clamp recordings showed that, regardless of the substitution pattern of the aryloxy moiety, all the compounds bearing a phenyl group on the stereogenic center (3a-f) were more active than mexiletine both in tonic and phasic block. This observation was in contrast with what was observed for mexiletine, where the removal of both methyls from the aryloxy moiety caused a dramatic reduction of potency. The most potent congener, (R)-2-(2-methylphenoxy)-1-phenylethanamine [(R)-3b], was 27-fold more potent than (R)-mexiletine in producing a tonic block, i.e., the reduction of peak sodium current in resting conditions after application of the compound. (R)-3b maintained a use-dependent behavior, being 23-fold more potent in condition of high frequency of stimulation (phasic block). Despite what was observed with mexiletine, the stereoselectivity held in phasic block conditions. Stereoselectivity indexes were generally low, ranging from 1 to 4, but except for that of the 2,6-xylyloxy congener 3c, they were higher for the congeners bearing a phenyl ring on the stereogenic center than for mexiletine and its strictly related analogue 1-methyl-2-phenoxyethanamine (1). This finding was in agreement with Pfeiffer's rule. The introduction of a chlorine atom in the 4-position of the aryloxy moiety caused a reduction of potency and a reversal of stereoselectivity as well. On the basis of the model to date accepted for the sodium channel local anesthetic-like molecule receptor, some possible explanations of our observations will be proposed.

Stereoselective chromatography of cardiovascular drugs: an update

This review reports the latest achievements in chromatographic enantioseparations of various classes of cardiovascular drugs and selected applications of these methods in pharmaceutical and clinical analysis. The use of these drugs as test compounds for new chiral stationary phases and different parameters of chromatographic processes is also presented.