Electrochemistry in the mimicry of oxidative drug metabolism

PhD ceremony: Mr. E. Nouri Nigjeh, 14.30 uur, Aula Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen

Dissertation: Electrochemistry in the mimicry of oxidative drug metabolism

Promotor(s): prof. R.P.H. Bischoff

Faculty: Mathematics and Natural Sciences

Throughout the research of Eslam Nouri Nigjeh new electrochemical techniques are developed to cover more of the oxidative drug metabolism. Electrochemistry in combination with mass spectrometry (EC/MS) is emerging as a versatile analytical technique in the study of oxidative drug metabolism. However, electrochemistry is mainly capable of promoting the oxidation reactions initiated by electron transfer, whereas it is proved to be difficult to imitate the oxidation reactions initiated by hydrogen atom transfer or oxygen atom insertion. Nouri has found that higher yields of oxidation reactions initiated by electron transfer can be generated through using square-wave potential pulses, where the tuning of the pulse time can determine the selectivity of the oxidation toward N-dealkylation or para-hydroxylation [1]. Electrochemical reduction of molecular oxygen can generate N-oxidation product of lidocaine, through generation of hydrogen peroxide and decomposition of a complex peroxide intermediate [2]. Electrocatalytic activation of hydrogen peroxide on a platinum electrode might generate putative platinum-oxo species capable of promoting oxygen insertion reactions, which leads to the generation of meta-hydroxylidocaine, a product which is not obtainable by direct electrochemical oxidation [3]. Therefore, within his research new electrochemical techniques are developed by Nouri that can be used as new tools to extend the application of EC/MS in the imitation of oxidative drug metabolism.