title: Synthesis and stability study of a new major metabolite of γ-hydroxybutyric acid.
abstract: γ-Hydroxybutanoic acid (GHB) is used as a date-rape drug, which renders the victims unconscious and defenceless. Intoxications are very difficult to detect for forensic scientists due to rapid metabolism to endogenous levels of GHB. We recently discovered a new major metabolite, 2, of GHB (1) that could potentially extend the analytical detection window for GHB intoxications. Herein we disclose synthetic procedures based on a Koenigs-Knorr glucuronidation approach that provides GHB glucuronide 2 and a deuterium-labelled analogue d 4-2 of high purity suitable for analytical chemistry. In addition, we have assessed the stability of GHB glucuronide 2 by mimicking the natural pH range for urine, which is of importance in the development of new analytical methods. Using NMR we show that GHB glucuronide 2 is highly stable towards aqueous hydrolysis within the pH range normally observed for urine even at elevated temperature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Ida
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nymann Petersen
authors.forename: Jesper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Langgaard Kristensen
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tortzen
authors.forename: Torben
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Breindahl
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sejer Pedersen
keywords: analytical chemistry; cabohydrate chemistry; forensic chemistry; glucuronide; metabolite; γ-hydroxybutyric acid