Partition coefficients of some purine derivatives and its application to pharmacokinetics.

Metazathioprine (MAZA), a methylated derivative of azathioprine (AZA), demonstrated the greatest values of apparent and specific partition coefficients in n-octanol/phosphate buffer at pH 5.7 and pH 7.4 among purine derivatives such as 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP), 6-thioguanine (6-TG) and AZA. Introduction of a methyl group into the imidazole ring of AZA increases lipophilic properties of MAZA compared to AZA. Mass balance of purine derivatives in n-octanol and in phosphate buffer indicated their chemical stability in those media.