In situ preparation and fate of cis-4-hydroxycyclophosphamide and aldophosphamide: 1H and 31P NMR evidence for equilibration of cis- and trans-4-hydroxycyclophosphamide with aldophosphamide and its hydrate in aqueous solution

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jm00370a010

cis-4-Hydroxycyclophosphamide (2) and aldophosphamide (4) were generated in aqueous phosphate or cacodylate buffer by dimethyl sulfide reduction of cis-4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide and by sodium periodate cleavage of 3,4-dihydroxybutyl N,N-bis(2-chloroethyl)phosphorodiamate, respectively; the reactions of 2 and 4 were examined by ¹H and ³¹P NMR. Within 30-60 min (pH or pD 7.0, 25 °C) the same pseudoequilibrium mixture was established in both reactions, with cis- and trans-4-hydroxycyclophosphamide (2 and 3), aldophosphamide (4), and its hydrate (5) present in the approximate ratio of 4:2:0.3:1. Structures of the intermediates were assigned unambiguously based upon analysis of the chemical shifts and coupling constants in the proton spectra determined in D₂O buffers, and the ³¹P assignments followed by correlation of component ratios at equilibrium. Free energy differences of 0.4, 0.4, and 0.7 kcal/mol at 25 °C were estimated between 2, 3, 5, and 4, respectively, with 2 being the most stable. The aldehyde 4 reacted most rapidly with water to give hydrate 5; cyclization of 4 to 3 occurred faster than to 2. Compound 5 is formed much faster than 3 from the diol cleavage, but 5 and 3 are produced at comparable rates from 2, suggesting that conversion of 2 to 3 can proceed by a mechanism other than ring opening. The rate of equilibration appears to be independent of buffer structure, indicating that bifunctional catalysis is not important in the ring-opening reaction. β-Elimination from 4 is rate limiting for the production of acrolein, and the rate for phosphate is 2- to 3-fold faster than for cacodylate under identical conditions. These results provide the first definitive evidence for the stability of the elusive aldehyde 4 in aqueous solution and for the existence of a preequilibrium among 2-5 prior to rate-limiting expulsion of phosphoramide mustard from 4.