Methanesulfonate Salt Research Articles

Discovery of an Azabicyclo[2.1.1]hexane Piperazinium Salt and Its Application in Medicinal Chemistry via a Rearrangement.

Herein we report the discovery of an azabicyclo[2.1.1]hexane piperazinium methanesulfonate salt from an unexpected rearrangement reaction in the preparation of ligand-directed degraders (LDDs). This bench-stable compound was found to be a versatile electrophile in a ring-opening reaction with various types of nucleophiles. Its utility as a versatile medicinal chemistry building block is further demonstrated in the synthesis of an LDD compound targeting degradation of the androgen receptor.

SAR study of oxidative DIMs analogs targeting the Nur77-mediated apoptotic pathway of cancer cells

Nur77, an orphan nuclear receptor, is implicated in regulating diverse cellular biological processes including apoptosis and inflammation. We previously identified BI1071 (DIM-C-pPhCF3+MeSO3-), an oxidized methanesulfonate salt of (4-CF3-Ph-C-DIM), was a direct ligand of Nur77, which could activate the Nur77-Bcl-2 apoptotic pathway. To obtain more effective compounds targeting the Nur77-mediated apoptotic pathway, we designed and synthesized a series of BI1071 analogs by introducing various substituent groups in the indolyl-rings of BI1071. Structure-activity relationship study identified A11, B5 and B15 as improved analogs with stronger binding affinity to Nur77 and enhanced apoptotic activity compared to BI1071. Nur77-binding studies demonstrated that A11, B5 and B15 bind to Nur77 with a Kd of 34 nM, 19 nM and 16 nM, respectively. Furthermore, mechanism studies showed that A11, B5 and B15 induced apoptosis through utilizing the Nur77-Bcl-2 pathway.

Design and synthesis of an oral prodrug alalevonadifloxacin for the treatment of MRSA infection

Levonadifloxacin is a parenteral anti-MRSA benzoquinolizine antibacterial drug recently launched as, EMROK in India to treat acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) in hospitalized patients. As a step down therapy an oral form of levonadifloxacin with comparable PK/PD was needed because the levonadifloxacin exhibits very poor oral absorption. To improve the drugability in terms of oral absorption a pro-drug approach was evaluated. Structurally levonadifloxacin provides two sites amenable for ester or amide formation, a carboxyl function of benzoquinolizine pharmacophore and hydroxyl group on piperidine side chain. Several aliphatic, aromatic and amino acid esters of C-2 carboxylic acid, C-4-hydroxyl piperidine and double esters at both C-2, C-4 positions were synthesized. The cleavage of prodrugs was studied in vitro as well as in animal models to access their suitability as prodrug function. Among C-2 carboxylic ester prodrugs, daloxate (WCK 2320) showed highest cleavage in serum as well as in liver enzyme; however its stability in aqueous solution was unfavorable. In contrast, most of the esters at the hydroxyl group like propionyl ester (WCK 2305) and amino acid esters such as l-alanine (WCK 2349), l-valine (WCK 2630) were cleaved readily releasing active drug. Thus, indicating C-4-hydroxyl piperidine was amenable site for enzymatic cleavage over esters of C-2 carboxylic acid. Additionally, amino acid esters provided an opportunity to make salt, facilitating improved aqueous solubility. Methanesulfonate salt of l-alanine ester of levonadifloxacin (WCK 2349) was successfully developed and launched as oral prodrug alalevonadifloxacin (EMROK-O).

V-Shaped Methylpyrimidinium Chromophores for Nonlinear Optics.

A series of four V-shaped methylpyrimidinium salts bearing diphenylamino-electron-donating groups appended at various pyrimidine positions were designed. These chromophores were obtained by regioselective N(1) monomethylation by methyl methanesulfonate of the pyrimidine core. Linear optical properties were studied experimentally and electronic properties were further completed by (TD)-DFT calculations. The second-order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties were also studied using electric field induced second harmonic generation (EFISH) method in chloroform, and all pyrimidinium salts exhibited μβ0 >1000×10-48 esu. The 2,4-disubstituted pyrimidinium core is preferred over 4,6-disubstitution as it enhances the NLO response and increases the dipole moment. (E,E)-2,4-Bis[4-(diphenylamino)styryl]-1-methylpyrimidin-1-ium methanesulfonate appears to be the best NLO-phore in chloroform in the series (μβ0 =2500×10-48 esu) and a figure of merit μβ0 /MW=3.4 10-48 esu mol g-1 .

Optimization of novel oxidative DIMs as Nur77 modulators of the Nur77-Bcl-2 apoptotic pathway.

Nur77, an orphan nuclear receptor, is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily. Nur77 plays important roles in various biological processes. Previously we reported that BI1071(DIM-C-pPhCF3+MeSO3-), an oxidized form and methanesulfonate salt of (4-CF3-Ph-C-DIM), can modulate Nur77's non-genomic apoptotic pathway through that Nur77 translocated from the nucleus to mitochondria to induce cytochrome c releasing and promote apoptosis of cancer cell. Here we report our efforts to further optimize BI1071. A series of BI1071 analogs were designed, synthesized and their apoptosis potency was systematically evaluated. Our preliminary structure-activity relationship study identified compound 10b as a better modulator with strong binding to Nur77 and enhanced apoptotic activity. Binding studies demonstrated that 10b could bind to its target Nur77 with an affinity value of 33nM. Furthermore, mechanism studies reveal that 10b acts as an anticancer agent by utilizing the Nur77-Bcl-2 apoptotic pathway.

Opioid subtype- and cell-type-dependent regulation of inhibitory synaptic transmission in the rat insular cortex

The insular cortex (IC) plays a principal role in the regulation of pain processing. Although opioidergic agonists depress cortical excitatory synaptic transmission, little is known about opioidergic roles in inhibitory synaptic transmission. In the IC, the opioid receptors differentially regulate the excitatory propagation: agonists of the mu (MOR), delta (DOR), and kappa (KOR) exhibit suppressive, facilitative, and little effects, respectively. Thus, we aimed to examine the effects of opioid receptor agonists on unitary inhibitory postsynaptic currents (uIPSCs) in the IC. Pyramidal and GABAergic neurons in the rat IC were recorded by a multiple whole-cell patch-clamp technique. [D-Ala2,N-Me-Phe4,Gly5-ol]-Enkephalin acetate salt (DAMGO), an MOR agonist, reduced uIPSC amplitude by 74% in fast-spiking GABAergic interneuron (FS)→FS connections without a significant effect on FS→pyramidal cell (Pyr) connections. These effects of DAMGO were also observed in non-FS→FS and non-FS→Pyr connections: DAMGO reduced the uIPSC amplitude in non-FS→FS but not in non-FS→Pyr connections. DAMGO-induced depression of uIPSCs was blocked by the MOR antagonist, D-Phe-Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Arg-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH2. The DOR agonist, [D-Pen2,5]-Enkephalin hydrate (DPDPE), reduced uIPSC amplitude by 39% in FS→FS and by 49% in FS→Pyr connections, which was antagonized by the DOR antagonist, naltrindole. However, DPDPE had little effect on non-FS→FS/Pyr connections. (±)-trans-U-50488 methanesulfonate salt (U50488), a KOR agonist, had little effect on uIPSC in FS→FS/Pyr connections. These results suggest that MOR-induced uIPSC depression in FS→FS and non-FS→FS, but not FS→Pyr and non-FS→Pyr connections, results in the depression of excitatory propagation in the IC, which may be an underlying mechanism of the powerful analgesic effects of MOR agonists.

The delivery of arbidol by salt engineering: synthesis, physicochemical properties and pharmacokinetics

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility of using the methanesulfonic salt of arbidol in order to improve its aqueous solubility and thus oral bioavailability. Arbidol mesylate (AM) was synthesized and then characterized using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), infrared spectroscopy (IR), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and its apparent solubility and octanol–water partition coefficient were also studied. The results of NMR, IR, PXRD, SEM and DSC tests confirmed the salt formation. The apparent solubility of AM in water was 32-fold higher than that of the commercial product. A superior pH-dependent profile and an improved dissolution rate of AM were obtained in a variety of solutions with different pH values. In addition, AM exhibited a relatively higher peak plasma concentration (1460 versus 1297 ng/mL) and an increased AUC0–t (2475 versus 1277 ng/mL × h) when comparing with the commercial product, indicating the improved bioavailability of the drug. This study suggests that AM may be able to improve the therapeutic efficacy of arbidol, which rendering it to be a promising candidate for further development.

Evaluation of rucaparib and companion diagnostics in the PARP inhibitor landscape for recurrent ovarian cancer therapy.

Rucaparib camsylate (CO-338; 8-fluoro-2-{4-[(methylamino)methyl]phenyl}-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-azepino[5,4,3-cd]indol-6-one ((1S,4R)-7,7-dimethyl-2-oxobicyclo[2.2.1]hept-1-yl)methanesulfonic acid salt) is a PARP1, 2 and 3 inhibitor. Phase I studies identified a recommended Phase II dose of 600 mg orally twice daily. ARIEL2 Part 1 established a tumor genomic profiling test for homologous recombination loss of heterozygosity quantification using a next-generation sequencing companion diagnostic (CDx). Rucaparib received US FDA Breakthrough Therapy designation for treatment of platinum-sensitive BRCA-mutated advanced ovarian cancer patients who received greater than two lines of platinum-based therapy. Comparable to rucaparib development, other PARP inhibitors, such as olaparib, niraparib, veliparib and talazoparib, are developing CDx tests for targeted therapy. PARP inhibitor clinical trials and CDx assays are discussed in this review, as are potential PARP inhibitor combination therapies and likely resistance mechanisms.

Sulfonate salts of the therapeutic agent dapsone: 4-[(4-aminophenyl)sulfonyl]anilinium benzenesulfonate monohydrate and 4-[(4-aminophenyl)sulfonyl]anilinium methanesulfonate monohydrate.

Dapsone, formerly used to treat leprosy, now has wider therapeutic applications. As is the case for many therapeutic agents, low aqueous solubility and high toxicity are the main problems associated with its use. Derivatization of its amino groups has been widely explored but shows no significant therapeutic improvements. Cocrystals have been prepared to understand not only its structural properties, but also its solubility and dissolution rate. Few salts of dapsone have been described. The title salts, C12H13N2O2S(+)·C6H5O3S(-)·H2O and C12H13N2O2S(+)·CH3SO3(-)·H2O, crystallize as hydrates and both compounds exhibit the same space group (monoclinic, P21/n). The asymmetric unit of each salt consists of a 4-[(4-aminophenyl)sulfonyl]anilinium monocation, the corresponding sulfonate anion and a water molecule. The cation, anion and water molecule form hydrogen-bonded networks through N-H...O=S, N-H...Owater and Owater-H...O=S hydrogen bonds. For both salts, the water molecules interact with one sulfonate anion and two anilinium cations. The benzenesulfonate salt forms a two-dimensional network, while the hydrogen bonding within the methanesulfonate salt results in a three-dimensional network.

P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activation in amygdala mediates κ opioid receptor agonist U50,488H-induced conditioned place aversion

κ opioid receptor agonists produce aversive effects in rodents, however the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) has been discovered to play a critical role in the modulation of affective behaviors. The present study was undertaken to detect the possible involvement of p38 MAPK in the aversive effects induced by κ opioid receptor activation. We found that the κ opioid receptor agonist trans-(±)-3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-[2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl]benzenacetamide methanesulfonate salt (U50,488H) produced significant place aversion in mice as measured by the conditioned place preference procedure, accompanied with significant p38 MAPK activation in the amygdala, but not in the nucleus accumbens and hippocampus. Stereotaxic microinjection of the p38 MAPK inhibitor 4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(4-methylsulfonylphenyl)-5-(4-pyridy-l)-1H-imidazole (SB203580) into amygdala significantly inhibited p38 MAPK activation and completely blocked the conditioned place aversion in mice. Thus, these results suggested that activation of p38 MAPK in the amygdala was required to mediate κ opioid receptor-induced aversive behavior.

Quantitative determination of two polymorphic forms of imatinib mesylate in a drug substance and tablet formulation by X-ray powder diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

Imatinib has been identified as a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that selectively inhibits the Abl tyrosine kinases, including Bcr-Abl. The active substance used in drug product is the mesylate salt form of imatinib, a phenylaminopyrimidine derivative and chemically named as N-(3-(4-(pyridin-3-yl) pyrimidin-2-ylamino)-4-methylphenyl)-4-((4-methylpiperazin-1-yl) methyl)-benzamide methanesulfonic acid salt. It exhibits many polymorphic forms and most stable and commercialized polymorphs are known as α and β forms. Molecules in α and β polymorphic forms exhibit significant conformational differences due to their different intra- and intermolecular interactions, which stabilize their molecular conformations and affect their physicochemical properties such as bulk density, melting point, solubility, stability, and processability. The manufacturing process of a drug tablet included granulation, compression, coating, and drying may cause polymorphic conversions. Therefore, polymorphic content of the drug substance should be controlled during quality control and stability testing. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) methods were evaluated for determination of the polymorphic content of the drug substance and drug product; and PXRD was the most accurate technique and selected as preferred method and validated. Prior to development of a quantification method, pure α and β polymorphs were characterized and used throughout the method development and validation studies. Mixtures with different ratios of α and β forms were scanned using X-ray diffractometer with a scan rate of 0.250°/min over an angular range of 19.5–21.0° 2θ and the peak heights for characteristic peak of β form at 20.5±0.2° 2θ diffraction angle were used to generate a calibration curve. The detection limit of β polymorph in α form imatinib mesylate tablets was found as 4% and the linear regression analysis data for the calibration plots showed good linear relationship with correlation coefficient of 0.992 with respect to relative peak height in the concentration range of 12–75wt% β form containing tablet mixtures. The obtained results at each stage of the validation study proved that the method is specific, repeatable, precise and accurate, and could be used for determination of β polymorph content in tablets produced by using α polymorph of imatinib mesylate. The developed PXRD quantification method was used to monitor the polymorphic purity of α form drug substance and corresponding drug products during the quality control analyses and stability studies, and the results indicated that α form was stable and not converted to β form during the manufacturing process and stability period.

Process Development of an N-Benzylated Chloropurine at the Kilogram Scale

A two-step pharmaceutical manufacturing process was developed for the large-scale preparation of 6-chloro-9-((4-methoxy-3,5-dimethylpyridin-2-yl)methyl)-9H-purin-2-amine methanesulfonic acid salt (4) from commercially available starting materials. In the first step, the benzylpurine free base (3) was prepared by benzylation of 6-chloro-9H-purin-2-amine (1) with 2-(chloromethyl)-4-methoxy-3,5-dimethylpyridine hydrochloride (2). The benzylpurine free base was then directly converted into the methanesulfonic acid salt. It was necessary to charge the pyridine hydrochloride 2 in portions into the mixture of K2CO3 (−325 mesh) and the chloropurine compound 1 in dimethylacetamide (DMA). The major regioisomeric impurity (6), formed by N7 benzylation, and inorganic salts were removed by filtration. Treatment of the DMA filtrate with MsOH afforded the target salt with negligible degradation. In the second step, recrystallization of the crude salt from DMSO–EtOAc with seeding gave crystalline API in high yield and purity despite the hydrolytic instability of the product in solution.

A One-Pot and Efficient Synthesis of Zoledronic Acid Starting from Tert-butyl Imidazol-1-yl Acetate

A one-pot synthesis of zoledronic acid in high yield is described. The procedure involves a non-aqueous ester cleavage of the tert-butyl imidazol-1-yl acetate under dry conditions in the presence of methanesulfonic acid as solubilizer and chlorobenzene as solvent to afford in situ the corresponding imidazolium methanesulfonate salt which yields zoledronic acid upon reaction with phosphoric acid and phosphorus oxychloride. A possible chemical mechanism for the synthesis of this acid is described.

Amine–Amine Exchange in Aminium–Methanesulfonate Aerosols

Aerosol particles are ubiquitous in the atmosphere and have been shown to impact the Earth’s climate, reduce visibility, and adversely affect human health. Modeling the evolution of aerosol systems requires an understanding of the species and mechanisms involved in particle growth, including the complex interactions between particle- and gas-phase species. Here we report studies of displacement of amines (methylamine, dimethylamine, or trimethylamine) in methanesulfonate salt particles by exposure to a different gas-phase amine, using a single particle mass spectrometer, SPLAT II. The variation of the displacement with the nature of the amine suggests that behavior is dependent on water in or on the particles. Small clusters of methanesulfonic acid with amines are used as a model in quantum chemical calculations to identify key structural elements that are expected to influence water uptake, and hence the efficiency of displacement by gas-phase molecules in the aminium salts. Such molecular-level understa...

Charge transport and dielectric relaxation processes in aniline-based oligomers

The aniline-based oligomers were synthesized by oxidation of aniline with p-benzoquinone in the solutions of methanesulfonic acid, 2,5-dianilino-p-benzoquinone methanesulfonate salt being the main product. The synthesized samples were characterized by UV–visible and FTIR spectroscopies and compared with polyaniline base. In order to characterize the electrical properties of materials obtained, the conductivity measurements and broadband dielectric spectroscopy were performed. The dependence of DC conductivity on the acid concentration in the reaction medium was strongly non-linear (percolation-like) thus indicating a significant difference in electrical properties of lowly and highly protonated aniline-based oligomers. This difference is confirmed by dielectric properties exhibiting one common (dipole orientation polarization) and two specific (charge carrier hopping and interfacial polarization) relaxation processes.

Dopamine D2 Receptor Relies upon PPM/PP2C Protein Phosphatases to Dephosphorylate Huntingtin Protein

Striatal dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) relies upon G protein- and β-arrestin-dependent signaling pathways to convey its action on motor control and behavior. Considering that D2R activation inhibits Akt in the striatum and that huntingtin physiological functions are affected by Akt phosphorylation, we sought to investigate whether D2R-mediated signaling could regulate huntingtin phosphorylation. We demonstrate that D2R activation decreases huntingtin phosphorylation on its Akt site. This dephosphorylation event depends upon the Gαi-dependent engagement of specific members of the protein phosphatase metallo-dependent (PPM/PP2C) family and is independent of β-arrestin 2. These observations identify the PPM/PP2C family as a mediator of G protein-coupled receptor signaling and thereby suggest a novel mechanism of dopaminergic signaling.

Temperature-Dependent Deliquescent and Efflorescent Properties of Methanesulfonate Sodium Studied by ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy

Modeling of aerosols and cloud formation processes in the marine boundary layer (MBL) require extensive data on hygroscopic properties of relevant methanesulfonate particles, which are currently scarce. In this work, methanesulfonate sodium (CH3SO3Na, MSA-Na), the most abundant methanesulfonate salt, was selected, and its deliquescent and efflorescent properties at temperatures relevant to the lower troposphere were studied using an ATR-FTIR flow system. To validate the approach, we investigated hygroscopic properties of NaCl particles, and our measured deliquescent relative humidity (DRH) and efflorescent relative humidity (ERH) of the NaCl particles obtained from the changes in integrated absorbance of water peaks in infrared spectra agreed with literature data well. We then reported DRH and ERH of MSA-Na particles as a function of temperature for the first time using both the changes in integrated absorbance of water peaks and the changes in peak position and shape of CH3SO3(-) symmetric and asymmetric vibrational modes. Our experiments showed that MSA-Na particles present quite different temperature-dependent hygroscopic behaviors from NaCl. Both the DRH and ERH of MSA-Na particles increase with decreasing temperatures. Due to the significant differences in temperature-dependent DRH and ERH, NaCl particles, if processed in MBL by methanesulfonic acid, are expected to deliquesce slightly earlier during a hydration process but effloresce at a much earlier stage during a dehydration process, especially at lower temperatures. This could considerably influence phase, size, and water content of sea salt aerosols and consequently their reactivity, lifetime, and impacts on atmospheric chemistry and climate systems.

Catalytic Asymmetric Reduction of a 3,4-Dihydroisoquinoline for the Large-Scale Production of Almorexant: Hydrogenation or Transfer Hydrogenation?

Several methods are presented for the enantioselective synthesis of the tetrahydroisoquinoline core of almorexant (ACT-078573A), a dual orexin receptor antagonist. Initial clinical supplies were secured by the Noyori Ru-catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (Ru-Noyori ATH) of the dihydroisoquinoline precursor. Both the yield and enantioselectivity eroded upon scale-up. A broad screening exercise identified TaniaPhos as ligand for the iridium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation with a dedicated catalyst pretreatment protocol, culminating in the manufacture of more than 6 t of the acetate salt of the tetrahydroisoquinoline. The major cost contributor was TaniaPhos. By switching the dihydroisoquinoline substrate of the Ru-Noyori ATH to its methanesulfonate salt, the ATH was later successfully reduced to practice, delivering several hundreds of kilograms of the tetrahydroisoquinoline, thereby reducing the catalyst cost contribution significantly. The two methods are compared with regard to green and effi...

Methanesulfonic acid salt forms of carbamazepine and 10,11-dihydrocarbamazepine

New methanesulfonic acid salt forms of the anticonvulsant and analgesic active pharmaceutical ingredient carbamazepine and its closely related structural analogue 10,11-dihydrocarbamazepine have been prepared and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction at 120 and 100 K, respectively {namely [(5H-dibenzo[b,f]azepin-5-yl)(hydroxy)methylidene]azanium methanesulfonate, C15H13N2O(+)·CH3SO3(-), and [(10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[b,f]azepin-5-yl)(hydroxy)methylidene]azanium methanesulfonate, C15H15N2O(+)·CH3SO3(-)}. In light of the structural information obtained, the crystal structure of the carbamazepine trifluoroacetic acid monosolvate [dibenzo[b,f]azepine-5-carboxamide-trifluoroacetic acid (1/1), C15H12N2O·CF3COOH] was redetermined at 100 and 270 K, and from this data it was concluded that the protonation state for this solvate species is best described as in an `intermediate state' with the acidic proton located almost at the mid-point between the acid and base.

Metabolism and Disposition of Oral Dabrafenib in Cancer Patients: Proposed Participation of Aryl Nitrogen in Carbon-Carbon Bond Cleavage via Decarboxylation following Enzymatic Oxidation

A phase I study was conducted to assess the metabolism and excretion of [(14)C]dabrafenib (GSK2118436; N-{3-[5-(2-amino-4-pyrimidinyl)-2-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-1,3-thiazol-4-yl]-2-fluorophenyl}-2,6-difluorobenzene sulfonamide, methanesulfonate salt), a BRAF inhibitor, in four patients with BRAF V600 mutation-positive tumors after a single oral dose of 95 mg (80 µCi). Assessments included the following: 1) plasma concentrations of dabrafenib and metabolites using validated ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography--tandem mass spectrometry methods, 2) plasma and blood radioactivity, 3) urinary and fecal radioactivity, and 4) metabolite profiling. Results showed the mean total recovery of radioactivity was 93.8%, with the majority recovered in feces (71.1% of administered dose). Urinary excretion accounted for 22.7% of the dose, with no detection of parent drug in urine. Dabrafenib is metabolized primarily via oxidation of the t-butyl group to form hydroxy-dabrafenib. Hydroxy-dabrafenib undergoes further oxidation to carboxy-dabrafenib, which subsequently converts to desmethyl-dabrafenib via a pH-dependent decarboxylation. The half-lives for carboxy- and desmethyl-dabrafenib were longer than for parent and hydroxy-dabrafenib (18-20 vs. 5-6 hours). Based on area under the plasma concentration-time curve, dabrafenib, hydroxy-, carboxy-, and desmethyl-dabrafenib accounted for 11%, 8%, 54%, and 3% of the plasma radioactivity, respectively. These results demonstrate that the major route of elimination of dabrafenib is via oxidative metabolism (48% of the dose) and biliary excretion. Based on our understanding of the decarboxylation of carboxy-dabrafenib, a low pH-driven, nonenzymatic mechanism involving participation of the aryl nitrogen is proposed to allow prediction of metabolic oxidation and decarboxylation of drugs containing an aryl nitrogen positioned α to an alkyl (ethyl or t-butyl) side chain.