Degradation chemistry of a Vitamin D analogue (ecalcidene) investigated by HPLC-MS, HPLC-NMR and chemical derivatization

J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2006 Mar 3;40(4):850-63. doi: 10.1016/j.jpba.2005.07.052. Epub 2005 Oct 20.

Abstract

Ecalcidene (1-[(1alpha,3beta,5Z,7E,20S)-1,3-dihydroxy-24-oxo-9,10-secochola-5,7,10(19)-trien-24-yl]-piperidine) is a new 1-hydroxyvitamin D analogue. In this report, the thermal degradation, acid induced degradation and iodine induced degradation of ecalcidene were investigated using HPLC-MS, HPLC-NMR and chemical derivatization. In solution ecalcidene was thermally and reversibly transformed to a pre-Vitamin D type isomer 1 which subsequently produced the dehydrated pyrocalciferol and isopyrocalciferol type isomers 2 and 3 by cyclization and dehydration at elevated temperatures. Acidic conditions resulted in the formation of a novel C9-hydroxylated isomer 4 of ecalcidene, possibly via a tachysterol type intermediate, followed by the acid facilitated nucleophilic addition of water. In the presence of iodine, cis/trans isomerization of both ecalcidene and its pre-Vitamin D type isomer 1 occurred. The results may shed light on the stability and metabolism of ecalcidene, provide useful information for its potential pharmaceutical development, and enrich the knowledge of Vitamin D chemistry.

MeSH terms

  • Bone Density Conservation Agents / chemistry*
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / methods
  • Drug Stability
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Iodine
  • Isomerism
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
  • Temperature
  • Vitamin D / analogs & derivatives*
  • Vitamin D / chemistry

Substances

  • Bone Density Conservation Agents
  • Vitamin D
  • ecalcidene
  • Iodine