Efficient Synthesis of Norbuprenorphines Coupled with Enkephalins and Investigation of Their Permeability

Introduction

The ability to design small molecules possessing the key structural and functional elements of biologically active peptides is a central goal in drug discovery (1,2). Enkephalins 2 ,1 are endogenous peptides with opioid activity. They are highly flexible pentapeptides that can exist in numerous conformations (3). Structure–activity relationship (SAR) studies showed that additional amide bonds and also existence of aromatic groups enhanced receptor affinity and also the lipophilicity of the synthesized peptides (4-9).

As shown in Figure 1, thebaine 3 is the main opiate alkaloid extracted from Papaver bracteatum (Iranian poppy) (10, 11). Thebaine 3 is used for preparation of a variety of medicines including naltrexone, oxycodone, nalbuphine, naloxone, oxymorphone, buprenorphine, and etorphine (12-14). Buprenorphine, as a semisynthetic opioid, is a mixed partial agonist opioid receptor modulator which is applied in lower dosages to control moderate acute and chronic pains, and in higher dosages to treat opioid addiction (15). Norbuprenorphine 4 (Figure 1) is the main active metabolite of the buprenorphine with very limited blood-brain-barrier penetration (15, 16). Continuing our previous studies (17-21), in this research we report the synthesis of norbuprenorphines coupled with Met- and Leu-enkephalins enkephalins neuropeptides. The purpose of this study is to investigate the permeability of the norbuprenorphine coupled to enkephalins across the blood-brain-barrier compared to

enkephalins.

Experimental

General

The reagents were purchased from Merck and were used without purification unless otherwise stated. Flash column chromatography was carried out using silica Gel 60 (particle size 0.04–0.06 mm/230–400 mesh). The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectra were recorded on an ABB FT-IR (FTLA 2000) on KBr plate. High-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) was recorded on a Mass-ESI-POS (Apex Qe-FT-ICR instrument). Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra were recorded at BRUKER AVANCE DRX-500 (for ¹H-NMR) and DRX-125 MHz (for ¹³C-NMR) in DMSO-d₆ using tetramethylsilane (TMS) as internal standard. For purification and investigation of purified compounds, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was performed using a preparative HPLC pump 1800 (KNAUER). Acetonitrile and water with a ratio of 70:30, respectively, in the presence of NaH₂PO₄ (10 mM) were used as eluent of HPLC. A Freeze-dryer (CHRIST) was used for drying the products. All synthesized compounds, including intermediates and products, were analyzed by FT-IR, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, HPLC, and HRMS.

Synthetic procedures

General procedure for the preparation of Boc-Tyr (t-Bu)-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met-OH

The reaction was done using 2-CTC resin (1 g) following the standard Fmoc/t-Bu strategy. Fmoc Met-OH (0.74 g, 2 mmol) was attached to 2-Chlorotrityl resins (2-CTC) with N,N-Diisopropylethylamine (DIPEA) (1.4 mL, 8 mmol) in anhydrous dichloromethane (DCM): dimethylformamide (DMF) (10 mL, 1:1) during 2 h at room temperature. After filtration, the remaining trityl chloride groups were capped using a solution of DCM/MeOH/DIPEA (17:2:1, 120 mL) for 30 min in three portions. Then, it was washed with DCM (5 mL × 1), DMF (5 mL × 4), and MeOH (5 mL × 5). The loading capacity of the resin was determined by weight after drying under vacuum. The resin-bound Fmoc-amino acid was washed with DMF (3 × 5 mL) and treated with 25% piperidine in DMF (13 mL) for 30 min and the resin was then washed with DMF (3 × 5 mL). In this step, a solution of Fmoc-Phe-OH (0.77 g, 2 mmol), TBTU (0.64 g, 2 mmol), and DIPEA (0.8 mL, 4.7 mmol) in 6.5 mL DMF was added to the resin-Met-OH and shaken for 1 h at ambient temperature. When the coupling was completed, the resin was washed with DMF (4 × 5 mL).

The coupling route was repeated for other amino acids of their sequences. In all cases, the Kaiser Test was applied in order to detect the presence or absence of free primary amino groups. Fmoc was determined using UV spectroscopy method. By coupling reactions, the resin was also washed with DMF (4 × 5 mL). The peptide was cleaved from resin in the presence of TFA (1%) in DCM (70 mL) while neutralized with pyridine (4%) in MeOH (12 mL). The solvent was removed under reduced pressure and the peptide precipitated in water. The crude peptide was filtered and dried under the reduced pressure at 40 °C (22-24).

General procedure for the preparation of Boc-Tyr(t-Bu)-Gly-Gly-Phe-Leu-OH

It was synthesized with the same procedure to the Boc-Tyr(t-Bu)-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met-OH except in the first step, i.e. Fmoc-Leu-OH (0.71 g, 2 mmol) was used to attach the 2-CTC resin.

Synthesis of norbuprenorphine4

Norbuprenorphine 4 was synthesized from thebaine 3 through five reaction steps (Scheme 2). Thebaine 3 (1 mol, 311 g) was firstly reacted with methyl vinyl ketone 5 (1.35 mol, 95 g) in toluene 80 °C for 4-8 h.

The obtained compound 6 was then converted to compound 7 by catalytic hydrogenation (Pd/C in ethanol). The reaction followed by addition of t-BuLi in dry toluene and ether. Compound 8 reacted with cyanogen bromide in chloroform under reflux condition for 5 h, and then it was treated with KOH in diethylene glycol as solvent at 170 °C for 2 h to gain the product 4 (25).

Synthesis of succinic acid derivative of norbuprenorphine10

Norbuprenorphine 4 (0.2 mmol, 850 mg) and succinic anhydride 9 (3 mmol, 300 mg) were stirred in EtOAc (10 mL) at room temperature for 12 h. The mixture was then kept for 2 h at 4 °C and after this time, the precipitate was filtered and dried (820 mg, 78%) (26).

Synthesis of phthalic acid derivative of norbuprenorphine 12

Norbuprenorphine 4 (0.2 mmol, 850 mg) and phthalic anhydride 11 (3 mmol, 444 mg) were stirred in EtOAc (10 mL) at room temperature for 12 h. The mixture was then kept for 2 h at 4 °C and after this time, the precipitate was filtered and dried (992 mg, 86%) (26).

General procedure for the preparation of norbuprenorphine-enkephalins 14, 15, 17, 18

For this aim, Met-enkephalin (146 mg, 0.2 mmol) or Leu-enkephaline (142 mg, 0.2 mmol) was added to a mixture of norbuprenorphine 4 (85 mg, 0.2 mmol), N,N,N′,N′-Tetramethyl-O-(benzotriazol-1-yl) uronium tetrafluoroborate (TBTU) (70 mg, 0.22 mmol), Hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBT) (27 mg, 0.2 mmol), and DIPEA (77 mg, 0.6 mmol) in EtOAc (6 mL) as solvent and the reaction was started at room temperature for 20 h. The reaction progress was monitored by TLC. When the reaction was completed, the work-up procedure was accomplished by dissolving the mixture in EtOAc (5 mL) and washing with citric acid (3×8 mL, 20%), solution of sodium bicarbonate (3×10 mL, 3%), and distilled water (10 mL). After decantation, EtOAc was evaporated and the pure product was obtained. In order to deprotecting the product, it was dissolved in a mixture of TFA/TES/H₂O (4.4 mL) in a ratio of 94:1:5 and stirred well at ambient temperature for 2 h. Then, the volume of mixture was decreased to 1 mL and Et₂O (15 mL) added to it. After 2 h, the precipitate was filtered, washed with a minimum amount of ether and dried under reduced pressure at 40 °C. The products were purified using HPLC.

General procedure for the preparation of succinic acid derivative of norbuprenorphine-Leu-enkephalin23

Succinic acid derivative of norbuprenorphine 10 (1.05 mg, 2 mmol) was added to [Leu(Boc)-enkephalin-resin] in the presence of TBTU (640 mg, 2 mmol) and DIPEA (0.8 mL, 4.7 mmol) in DMF (6.5 mL) and well mixed at room temperature. After the completion of the coupling reaction , monitored by Kaiser Test, it was filtered and washed well with DMF and DCM. In order to separate resin from the peptide-enkephalin, TFA (40 mL, 1%) was added to the dissolved resin-peptide-enkephaline 19 in DCM in some portions. Then, the separated peptide from resin was neutralized with pyridine (12 mL, 4%) in MeOH. Following, the solvent was approximately evaporated and water (7 mL) was added to it. After 1 h, the precipitate was filtered and dried under the reduced pressure at 40 °C. To deprotect norbuprenorphine moiety, the peptide 21 (216 mg) was dissolved in a mixture of TFA/TES/H₂O (4.4 mL) in a ratio of 94:1:5 and stirred well at ambient temperature for 2 h. Then, the volume of mixture was decreased to 1 mL and Et₂O (15 mL) added to it. After 2 h, the precipitate was filtered, washed with a minimum amount of ether and dried under reduced pressure at 40 °C.

The origin of thebaine and its further use for synthesis of norbuprenorphine

Figure 1

Amino acid sequence of Met- and Leu- enkephalins

Figure 2

HPLC chromatogram of crude norbuprenorphine and Leu-enkephalin

Figure 3

The expanded initial peak of product 14 in HPLC analysis

Figure 4

The expanded initial peak of product 15 in HPLC analysis

Figure 5

The procedure for the preparation of Met- and Leu-enkephalin

Scheme 1

Synthesis of norbuprenorphine and its derivatives

Scheme 2

Synthesis of Met-enkephalin-norbuprenorphine

Scheme 3

Synthesis of Leu-enkephalin-norbuprenorphine

Scheme 4

Synthesis of Leu-enkephalin-norbuprenorphine derivatives with linkers

Scheme 5

General procedure for the preparation of phthalic acid derivative of norbuprenorphine-Leu-enkephalin 24

The procedure of this synthesis was completely the same as the method of succinic acid derivative of norbuprenorphine-Leu-enkephalin 23.

Procedure for Parallel Artificial Membrane Permeability Assay (PAMPA) evaluation of norbuprenorphine-enkephalin derivatives

The PAMPA was used to determine the capacity of compounds to cross a model of the BBB by passive diffusion. The effective permeability of the compounds was measured at an initial concentration of 200 μM. The buffer solution was prepared from a concentrated one commercialized by PION, and the manufacturer’s instructions were followed. The pH was adjusted to 7.4 using a 0.5 M NaOH solution. The compound of interest was dissolved in buffer solution and 1-propanol (20%, cosolvent) to the desired concentration (200 μM).

The PAMPA sandwich was separated, and the donor well was filled with 195 μL of the compound solution of interest. The acceptor plate was placed into the donor plate, ensuring that the underside of the membrane was in contact with buffer. An amount of 4 μL of the mixture of phospholipids (20 mg/mL) in dodecane was added to the filter of each well, and 160 μL of buffer solution and 40 μL of 1-propanol were added to the each acceptor well.

The plate was covered and incubated at room temperature in a saturated humidity atmosphere for 4 h agitation at 25 μm of UWL in the GUT-BOX apparatus. Upon the completion of this time, 150 μL/well from the donor plate and 150 μL/well from the acceptor plate were transferred to HPLC vials and an amount of 100 μL for acceptor pools, 5 μL for donor pools and 5 μL for T₀ samples were injected in a HPLC reverse-phase symmetry C18 column (150 mm × 4.6 mm × 5 μm, 100 Å, Waters). Transport was also confirmed by HPLC-MS and MALDI-TOF spectrometry in order to be sure the compound had kept its integrity.

The phospholipid mixture used was a porcine polar brain lipid extract. Composition was 12.6% phosphatidylcholine (PC), 33.1% phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), 18.5% phosphatidylserine (PS), 4.1% phosphatidylinositol (PI), 0.8% phosphatidic acid, and 30.9% of the other compounds.

Analysis of PAMPA assay was done using HPLC. Donor and Acceptor pools of each sample were analyzed by triplicate. Thus, a series of HPLC analysis for each sample were performed injecting those quantities and averaging both T₀ analysis using a 8 minute 0 to 100 gradient (H₂O, MeCN) in a Symmetry C18 column (150 mm x 4.6 mm x 5 μm, 100 Å, Waters): Integration of area peaks was carried out, normalization of areas was done and calculations of transport (%) and permeability were performed (27, 28).

Results and Discussion

Our goal is to conjunct norbuprenorphine with Met- and Leu- enkephalin peptides. To access this goal, the conjunction was made through amidation between the free carboxylic acid of the Met- and Leu-enkephalin and the amine group of norbuprenorphine using a suitable coupling reagent.

Synthesis of enkephalins

Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis (SPPS) method was used to synthesize Met- and Leu-enkephalins.

Scheme 1 shows the process for the synthesis of the peptide moieties (Met- and Leu-enkephalin).

Synthesis of norbuprenorphine and its derivatives

In the next stage (Scheme 2), norbuprenorphine 4 was synthesized from thebaine 3 as the starting material. Accordingly, thebaine 3 was reacted with methyl vinyl ketone 5 followed by hydrogenation process in the presence of Pd/C. This solution was gradually added to the organolithium reagent (t-BuLi) in toluene, which was then treated with cyanogen bromide. Finally, the norbuprenorphine 4 was obtained in the presence of KOH in ethylene glycol as solvent at 170 °C for 2 h. Furthermore, succinic acid and phthalic acid derivatives of norbuprenorphine (10 and 12) were synthesized by treating 4 with succinic anhydride 9 and phthalic anhydride 11, respectively.

Synthesis of norbuprenorphine-enkephalin derivatives

In the last stage, norbuprenorphine 4 and its derivatives (10 and 12) were coupled to the Met-enkephalin and Leu-enkephalin in the presence of TBTU as coupling reagent. In this regards, norbuprenorphine 4 was coupled with the carboxylic acid moiety of Boc-protected Met-enkephalin (Scheme 3) and/or Leu-enkephalin from its -NH functional group (Scheme 4). Then, the obtained compounds (13 and 16) were deprotected in the presence of TFA/TES/H₂O with a ratio of 94:1:5 and then, purified using preparative HPLC (Figures 2-4). According to the HR-ESI-MS spectrum of the norbuprenorphine-Met-enkephalin (see Scheme 3), since the molecular mass was m/z = 964.47630, it was found that intermediate was dehydrated in the presence of TFA which led to formation of a stable alkene with two conformational isomers of cis and trans (14 and 15). This result is in accordance with the HPLC peaks (Figures 3 and 4) and fragmentation of MS analysis. Furthermore, the same results were obtained for norbuprenorphine-Leu-enkephalin but after deprotection, in addition to dehydration, demethylation also occurred (see compound 17 and 18).

Next, in order to create enough space between the norbuprenorphine and peptide, and to reduce the steric hindrance, succinic and phthalic acids were applied to form amide bonds as spacers and linkers. For this purpose, after deprotection of amine group on the resin, amide bond was formed between the carboxylic acid functional groups of succinic and phthalic acid derivatives of norbuprenorphine (10 and 12) and NH₂ group of tyrosine presence in the resin-Leu-enkephalin. These reactions were performed in the presence of coupling agents (TBTU). After completion of the reaction, the peptide was cleaved from the surface of the resin using TFA (1%) and in this case dehydration was not observed. Final deprotection was then accomplished in the presence of TFA/TES/H₂O (94:5:1). As mentioned before, deprotection of compounds led to dehydration and demethylation and therefore, mixture of cis and trans isomers of alkenes 23, 24 were obtained (Scheme 5). The products were purified using preparative HPLC.

PAMPA evaluation of norbuprenorphine-enkephalin derivatives

After synthesis of the target molecules, the permeability of these conformations was evaluated. For this aim, an artificial lipid membrane was used. Initially, a given concentration of peptide (200 μM) in the buffer solution and co-solvent (1-propanol, 20%), at pH 7.4 was prepared. Then, it was inserted on the donor well and on another side, the buffer solution and co-solvent (pH 7.4) were placed in the acceptor well. The concentration of peptide in acceptor was then monitored as a function of time. It was found that the concentration was zero at beginning of the process, while it was increased by time as determined by HPLC.

According to the PAMPA results which are summarized in Table 1, it was found that:

1. Coupling of norbuprenorphine to the peptide increased the permeability of all synthetic norbuprenorphine-enkephalin derivatives. Compound 14 (0.77×10^-6 (cm/s)) and compound 15 (1.42×10^-6 (cm/s)) showed increased permeability compared to the standard Met-enkephalin (0.09×10^-6 (cm/s)).

2. Permeability of Leu-enkephalin and its norbuprenorphine derivatives was greater than Met-enkephalin and its norbuprenorphine derivatives. Compound 17 (3.46×10^-6 (cm/s)) and compound 18 (2.13×10^-6 (cm/s)) showed increased permeability compared to standard Leu-enkephalin (0.38×10^-6 (cm/s)).

3. Succinic and phthalic acid derivatives of norbuprenorphine-Leu-enkephalin (compounds 23, 24) showed lower permeability than norbuprenorphine-Leu-enkephalin.

Conclusion

Thebaine 3 (Figure 1) is the main opiate alkaloid extracted from Papaver bracteatum (Iranian poppy) which is used for preparation of buprenorphine and norbuprenorphine. Norbuprenorphine 4 is the main active metabolite of the buprenorphine with very limited blood-brain-barrier penetration. In this research, norbuprenorphine was synthesized from thebaine and then, its succinic and phthalic acid derivatives were prepared. Furthermore, in order to increase their permeability to biological barriers through passive diffusion, norbuprenorphine and its derivatives were coupled with the Leu-enkephalin and Met-enkephalin. After PAMPA studies, it was found that the permeability of all norbuprenorphin-enkephalin derivatives was increased; however, succinic and phthalic acid derivatives showed higher permeability than norbuprenorphine-Leu-enkephalin.