Model systems for metabolism studies. Biomimetic oxidation of acetaminophen and ellipticine derivatives with water-soluble metalloporphyrins associated to potassium monopersulfate.

Some original water-soluble metalloporphyrins/KHSO5 systems were developed to mimic the metabolic biooxidation of drugs. Oxidation of acetaminophen and various ellipticine derivatives were used as model reactions. Oxidative products (mainly quinone-imine structures) were obtained in good yield after 2 min of reaction, for a catalyst/substrate ratio of 0.04. Iron(III) derivative of tetrasodium meso-tetrakis(p-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin and manganese(III) derivative of tetraacetate meso-tetrakis(4-N-methyl-pyridiniumyl)-porphyrin were the best catalysts for the oxidation of acetaminophen and ellipticine compounds, respectively. At low catalyst concentration, initial turnover rates could rise up to 8 catalytic cycles/sec. In some conditions, these catalytic systems are nearly as efficient as horseradish peroxidase/H2O2. They might have a real future as oxidation catalysts, in complement to the use of purified monooxygenase and peroxidases, to predict the possible in vivo oxidative metabolite pathways.