HPLC and TLC characterisation of ecdysteroid alkyl ethers

J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci. 2009 Oct 1;877(27):2996-3002. doi: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2009.07.014. Epub 2009 Jul 17.

Abstract

Semi-synthetic ecdysteroid alkyl ethers have increased potential over natural ecdysteroids as actuators of ligand-inducible gene-expression systems based on the ecdysteroid receptor for in vivo applications. However, a scalable synthesis of these compounds has yet to be developed. We report a set of reversed-phase (RP; C(18) and C(6)) and normal-phase (NP; diol) HPLC systems which can be used to analyse and separate ecdysteroid ethers with single or multiple O-methyl substitutions at the 2alpha-, 3beta-, 14alpha-, 22- and 25-positions. The elution order of methyl ether analogues of the prototypical ecdysteroid 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) was 3-methyl<2-methyl<14-methyl<25-methyl<22-methyl with both C(18)- and C(6)-RP-HPLC, when eluted with methanol/water mixtures. Further, the elution order of 20E 22-O-alkyl ethers was methyl<ethyl<allyl<n-propyl<benzyl<n-butyl with both C(18)- and C(6)-RP-HPLC. Moreover, the ecdysteroid alkyl ethers can also be adequately resolved by NP-HPLC and silica HPTLC. On the latter, detection of ecdysteroid O-alkyl ethers with the p-anisaldehyde/sulphuric acid reagent distinguishes 22-O-alkyl ethers from non-22-O-alkyl ether analogues by the colour of the resulting spot.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / methods*
  • Chromatography, Thin Layer / methods*
  • Ecdysteroids / chemistry*
  • Ecdysteroids / metabolism
  • Ecdysterone / analogs & derivatives
  • Ecdysterone / chemistry

Substances

  • Ecdysteroids
  • muristerone A
  • Ecdysterone
  • ponasterone A