Abstract

Metabolism of prazepam [PZ, 7-chloro-1,3-dihydro-5-phenyl-1- (cyclopropylmethyl)-2H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one] and halazepam [HZ,7- chloro-1,3-dihydro-5-phenyl-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-2H-1,4- benzodizepin-2-one] was investigated in microsomes prepared from the livers of two male and one female subjects who died of head injuries. PZ (or HZ) and its metabolites were analyzed by normal phase and chiral stationary phase HPLC. The relative amount of products formed in the metabolism of PZ was found to be N-desalkylprazepam (NDZ, also known as N-desmethyldiazepam and nordiazepam) greater than 3-hydroxy-PZ (3-OH-PZ) much greater than oxazepam (OX). In contrast, the relative amount of products formed in the metabolism of HZ was found to be 3-OH-HZ much greater than NDZ greater than OX. Enantiomers of 3-OH-PZ and 3-OH-HZ were resolved by HPLC on an analytical column packed with the chiral stationary phase R-N-(3,5-dinitrobenzoyl)phenylglycine covalently bound to spherical particles of gamma-aminopropylsilanized silica. The 3-OH-PZ formed in the metabolism of PZ by three human liver microsomal preparations were found to have 3R/3S enantiomer ratios of 65:35, 61:39, and 62:38. In the metabolism of HZ, the enzymatically formed 3-OH-HZ had 3R/3S enantiomer ratios of 67:33, 60:40, and 62:38. N-Dealkylations of racemic 3-OH-PZ and 3-OH-HZ by human liver microsomal preparations were substrate-enantioselective; 3S-OH-PZ and 3R-OH-HZ were each N-dealkylated slightly faster than the corresponding antipode. The results indicated that both C3-hydroxylation of PZ and HZ as well as N-dealkylation of 3-OH-PZ and 3-OH-HZ catalyzed by human liver microsomes were stereoselective, resulting in the formation of a C3-hydroxylated product enriched (60-67%) in the 3R-enantiomer.