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Advances in the stereoselective synthesis of antifungal agents and ...

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Chapter 1 6<strong>agents</strong>, antihystam<strong>in</strong>ica, <strong>and</strong> prescription drugs be<strong>in</strong>g considered foreventual over <strong>the</strong> counter sale (OTC's).This <strong>the</strong>sis will focus on <strong>the</strong> syn<strong>the</strong>sis <strong>of</strong> <strong>antifungal</strong> <strong>agents</strong> <strong>and</strong> nonsteroidal <strong>in</strong>hibitors <strong>of</strong> aromatase.These two classes <strong>of</strong> drugs share generalchemical structures <strong>and</strong> mechanisms <strong>of</strong> action. In fact both <strong>in</strong>hibit twodifferent cytochrome P-450 dependent enzymes hav<strong>in</strong>g a protoporphyr<strong>in</strong>heme as catalytic site. They present (Fig. 1.5) an heterocyclic moiety suchas an imidazole or triazole <strong>in</strong> a benzylic or benzhydrilic position.Fur<strong>the</strong>rmore <strong>the</strong> asymmetric centre is <strong>the</strong> benzhydrilic or benzylic carbonwich is <strong>the</strong> core <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> molecules connect<strong>in</strong>g all o<strong>the</strong>r parts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> molecule.Aromatic MoietyAromatic MoietyImidazole or TriazoleBenzylic or BenzhydrylicChiral CentreFigure 1.5: General structure <strong>of</strong> <strong>antifungal</strong> <strong>agents</strong> <strong>and</strong> non steroidal aromatase <strong>in</strong>hibitors.Even though <strong>the</strong>se classes <strong>of</strong> drugs have very simple structures, <strong>the</strong>yhave never been syn<strong>the</strong>sized <strong>in</strong> enantiopure form.1.2. Enzymes conta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> C<strong>of</strong>actor Cytochrome P-450.Cytochrome P-450 dependent enzymes constitute a family <strong>of</strong> enzymeswhich catalyze <strong>the</strong> oxidation <strong>of</strong> a large range <strong>of</strong> biological substrates. TheP-450 dependent enzymes are divided <strong>in</strong>to 10 groups <strong>and</strong> 18 subgroupsbased on sequence alignment with groups shar<strong>in</strong>g greater than 30%sequence homology <strong>and</strong> subgroups with homology greater than 46% 6,8 .The enzymes b<strong>in</strong>d dioxygen <strong>and</strong> through a stepwise cleavage <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> O 2double bond <strong>in</strong>corporate one oxygen atom <strong>in</strong>to non activated C-H

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