Biotransformation of mazindol. I. Isolation and identification of some metabolites from rat urine.

Three metabolites of tritium-labeled mazindol were isolated from rat urine by the inverse isotope-dilution technique in which the labeled metabolites were synthesized by a second, smaller group of rats. These metabolites were isolated by Amberlite XAD-2 chromatography and silica gel column and preparative thin-layer chromatography. The major metabolite (II) was shown by mass spectrometry of its trimethylsilyl derivative. NMR spectroscopy, and degradation studies to be 5-(p-chlorophenyl)-2,5-dihydro-5-hydroxy-3H-imidazol(2,1-a)isoindol-3-one. A comparison of its mass spectrum with that of an authentic sample prepared from 1-(p-chlorophenyl)-3-ethoxy-1-methoxy-1H-isoindole and glycine ethyl ester confirmed the assignment. Metabolite III was shown by its mass spectrum, NMR spectrum, degradation, and analogy with metabolite II to be 5-(p-chlorophenyl)-2,5-dihydro-2,5-dihydroxy-3H-imidazo (2,1-a)isoindol-3-one. Only a small amount of metabolite IV was isolated as an artifact, 3-(p-chlorophenyl)-2-glycyl-3-methoxy-1-isoindolinone, as shown by its mass spectrum and degradation to 2-(p-chlorobenzoy)benzoic acid. The metabolite IV is believed to be the corresponding 3-hydroxy compound. Synthesis of IV by base-catalyzed hydrolysis of metabolite II supports the structural assignment. In addition, the facile conversion of synthetic IV into the corresponding 3-methoxy derivative by acidic methanol was also observed.