Evaluation of paclitaxel rearrangement involving opening of the oxetane ring and migration of acetyl and benzoyl groups

J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2007 Feb 19;43(3):1141-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jpba.2006.08.026. Epub 2006 Oct 6.

Abstract

The stability of drug is a critical factor in quality control, drug efficacy, safety, storage, and production conditions. The rearrangement of paclitaxel, which involves opening of the oxetane ring and migration of acetyl group occurred on heating a powder of purified paclitaxel. Subsequently, the unusual migration of benzoyl groups progressed rapidly in organic solvents. These rearrangement derivatives were isolated carefully. The structures of the intermediate derivative A and the product derivative B were confirmed using (1)H NMR, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and mass spectrometry. We proposed the rearrangement pathway here for the first time. Neither derivative exhibited bioactivity in SKOV3 (ovarian cancer) or MDA-MB-435 (breast cancer) cell culture assays.

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / chemistry*
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Indicators and Reagents
  • KB Cells
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Paclitaxel / analogs & derivatives*
  • Paclitaxel / chemistry*
  • Paclitaxel / pharmacology
  • Tetrazolium Salts
  • Thiazoles

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Indicators and Reagents
  • Tetrazolium Salts
  • Thiazoles
  • thiazolyl blue
  • Paclitaxel