Species variability in the stereoselective N-oxidation of pargyline.

The monoamine oxidase inhibitor pargyline (N-benzyl-N-methyl-2-propynylamine) is known to undergo extensive in vitro microsomal N-oxidation, thought to be mediated predominantly by the flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO) enzyme system. Formation of the pargyline N-oxide (PNO) metabolite creates a chiral nitrogen centre and thus asymmetric oxidation is possible. This study describes a reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for the quantitation of PNO and a chiral-phase HPLC method for the determination of the enantiomeric ratio of PNO. In vitro microsomal N-oxidation of pargyline was found to be highly stereoselective in a number of species, with the (+)-enantiomer being formed preferentially. This metabolic transformation was stereospecific when purified porcine hepatic FMO was used as the enzyme source.