TEST AGENTS AND INDICATORS FOR THE DETECTION OF THIOL GROUPS AND PROCESSES FOR THEIR PREPARATION

Abstract: Test agents for the detection of thiol groups, containing as the indicator for the thiol groups compounds of the general formula I wherein X represents hydrogen or -SO₂R¹, Y represents hydrogen or -NO₂, R¹ represents -O-R² or and R² and R³ independently of one another represent hydrogen or C₁-C₄-alkyl, which can be substituted by halogen, -COOH, cyano, C₁-C₄-alkoxy, hydroxyl, -OSO₃H, -SO₃H or amino, it being possible for the amino group in turn to be substituted by C₁-C₄-alkyl which is optionally substituted by halogen, hydroxyl, cyano, -OSO₃H or -SO₃H, or by phenyl or benzyl groups, or R² and R³, together with the N atom, represent a pyrrolidine, pyrazoline, piperidine, piperazine or morpholine ring, which can be substituted by C₁- to C₄-alkyl or phenyl.

Description: The invention relates to indicators and agents for the detection of thiol groups which are present in a system or are formed in a step prior to the detection reaction. Processes for the preparation of the indicators are also described. The thiol groups can be formed by chemical reactions, such as, for example, reduction of disulphides, or biochemical reactions. The preferred biochemical reactions which lead to the formation of thiol groups are illustrated by the following equation: Numerous methods are known for the detection of compounds containing thiol groups. A method which is mentioned particularly frequently is that described by G.H. Ellman in "Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 1959, 82, 70-77", which is based on the formation of the yellow anion of 3-mercapto-6-nitro-benzoic acid formed by reaction between a thiol and 3,3′-dithio-bis-6-nitro-benzoic acid (Ellman's reagent). The reaction is sensitive and fast. However, the anion of Ellman's reagent is very sensitive towards oxidation and the coloration formed is therefore unstable. Furthermore, Ellmann's reagent is very sparingly soluble in polar solvents, such as, for example, water, and therefore can be used to only a limited degree for some thiol solutions, especially those which are prepared biochemically in aqueous systems. The compounds according to the invention, of the general formula I wherein X represents hydrogen or -SO₂R¹, Y represents hydrogen or -NO₂, R¹ represents -O-R² or and R² and R³ independently of one another represent hydrogen or C₁-C₄-alkyl, which can be substituted by halogen, -COOH, cyano, C₁-C₄-alkoxy, hydroxyl, -OSO₃H, -SO₃H or amino, it being possible for the amino group in turn to be substituted by C₁-C₄-alkyl which is optionally substituted by halogen, hydroxyl, cyano, -OSO₃H or -SO₃H, or by phenyl or benzyl groups, or R² and R³, together with the N atom, represent a pyrrolidine, pyrazoline, piperidine, piperazine or morpholine ring, which can be substituted by C₁- to C₄-alkyl or phenyl, do not have these disadvantages. Particularly preferred compounds are those of the general formula II wherein X, Y and R¹ have the abovementioned meaning. Compounds which are of particular interest are those of the general formula III wherein X, Y and R¹ have the abovementioned meaning. Especially preferred compounds are those of the general formula IV wherein R¹ has the abovementioned meaning. If R¹ represents -O-R² or wherein R² is other than hydrogen but R² and R³ otherwise have the same meaning as mentioned above, the compounds as such are new. Compounds which are of special interest are those of the general formula V wherein R² and R³ have the meaning given in the case of formula I. Especially preferred compounds are those of the general formula VI wherein R² and R³ have the meaning described in the case of formula I. The compounds I are prepared by processes which are known in the individual steps The compounds of the formula I are prepared by a process in which a chloro-nitro-benzenesulphonyl chloride of the formula is converted with an amine or alcoholate of the formula H-R¹, wherein R¹ has the abovementioned meaning, into the corresponding chloro-nitro-benzenesulphonic acid derivative and a chloride/sulphide replacement reaction is then carried out in the presence of Na₂S, followed by oxidation, a symmetric disulphide being obtained. Asymmetric disulphides of the formula I are prepared by a process in which a mercapto-nitro-benzene-sulphonic acid derivative obtained by chloride/sulphide replacement reaction, of the formula wherein R¹ has the abovementioned meaning, is reacted with a substituted phenylsulphenyl chloride of the formula wherein X and Y have the abovementioned meaning. The following equation shows both routes of the synthesis: a) Symmetric disulphides b) Asymmetric disulphides The compounds of the general formula I are particularly suitable for use as indicators in test agents for thiols or thiol precursors, such as, for example, lipoic amide, glutathione or coenzyme A. Test agent or test system in the context of the present invention are to be understood, for example, as those which can be measured in a cell. In addition to the compounds of the general formula (I), the test agents contain all the reagents necessary for the of the particular analysis substance, such as enzymes, substrates, coenzymes, effectors, antigens, antibodies and the like. These test agents can furthermore also contain non-reacting substances, such as, for example, buffers, wetting agents and stabilizers. Enzymes which form thiol groups and which may be mentioned are thioglycosidases, thioether hydrolases and also esterases, such as, for example, choline esterase. There may also be mentioned enzymes which form thiol groups with the aid of NADH and NADPH as the coenzyme, such as lipoic amide dehydrogenase and glutathione reductase. The enzymes last mentioned can be used in test systems in which NADH or NADPH is formed. Such reactions are the known dehydrogenase-catalyzed oxidations of substrates. From the reagents and substances mentioned, it is possible to prepare reagent combinations which are mixed as a solution or powder or are in the form of tablets or a lyophilisate. The reagent combination (if it is not already present as a solution) is taken up in water or another suitable solvent and a reagent solution is prepared. If the reagent combination consists of individual components, these are to be mixed with one another. After mixing the sample (for example substrate solution, enzyme solution, blood, serum, plasma or urine) with an aliquot portion of the reagent mixture, the resulting colour is measured on a photometer and the particular concentration or substrate concentration is calculated via the molar extinction coefficients and the volumes of reagent and sample added. Both kinetic and end point measurements are possible. The compounds of the general formula (I) can also be impregnated, together with the reagent or reagents necessary for the particular parameter detection or other enzymes, the buffer system, if appropriate wetting agents and activators as well as other auxiliaries, onto absorbent reagent carriers, such as paper, nonwoven materials and the like. For this, one or more impregnating solutions can be prepared in the form of aqueous or organic or mixed solutions, depending on how the reagents or auxiliaries dissolve. Absorbent or swellable carriers, preferably filter paper or absorbent nonwoven glass or plastic, are impregnated or sprayed with these solutions. The system is then dried. The reagent carriers thus prepared can be used either as rapid diagnostics for direct determination of the contents of liquids (for example in body fluids, such as blood, urine or saliva, or in foodstuffs, for example fruit juices, milk or the like). The liquid is thereby applied directly to the reagent carrier or this is immersed briefly in the liquid. Semi-quantitative determination is possible by allocating the resulting colour a comparison colour. Quantitative evaluation can be carried out by reflectance photometry. It is also possible to introduce the compounds of the general formula (I) into carrier matrices which have been prepared from casting solutions. Cellulose, cellulose derivatives, gelatine, gelatine derivatives or even plastics, such as polyurethanes and acrylamide, may be mentioned as examples here. It is advantageous if the compounds of the general formula (I) and if appropriate the other reagents required are added directly to the casting solution, whereupon it is possible for the test device, consisting of carrier and reagents, to be produced in one operation. A reagent solution with which substrates or enzymes can be determined in the cell on the photometer as described above can be prepared by eluting the above-mentioned reagents from the absorbent carrier with water or a buffer or serum. Suitable buffers for the test agents mentioned are phosphate, citrate, borate and GOOD buffers with alkali metal or ammonium counterions. However, other systems can also be used. pH values which are to be aimed for are 6 to 10, in particular 6.5 to 7.5. Wetting agents are, in particular, anionic and cationic wetting agents which undergo ionic interactions with the compounds according to the invention. However, non-ionic wetting agents which activate the enzymes can also be used. Sodium lauryl-sulphate, dioctyl sodium sulphosuccinate and alkylaryl polyether-alcohols are preferred. The effectors to be employed are those known for the particular enzymatic reaction. Other auxiliaries which may be appropriate are customary thickeners, solubilizing agents, emulsifiers, optical brighteners, contrast agents and the like, such as are known in corresponding tests with other chromogens. Example 1 130 g of the sodium salt of 2-chloro-5-nitrobenzenesulphonic acid are added to a solution of 120 g of sodium sulphide.9H₂O in 750 ml of water. The mixture is stirred at room temperature for 10 hours and the solution is acidified. The hydrogen sulphide formed is removed with the aid of nitrogen. A pH value of 10 is then established with sodium hydroxide solution and the oxidation is carried out with 125 g of iodine to give the disulphide. During the addition of iodine, the pH value must be continuously adjusted with sodium hydroxide solution. When the oxidation has ended, a pH value of 7.5 is established and the following compound is salted out with 20% of sodium chloride. Example 2 101 g of 3,4-dinitro-chlorobenzene are heated under reflux in a solution of 500 ml of water and 126 g of sodium sulphite for 30 hours. The mixture is allowed to cool and the yellow precipitate which has separated out, of the following formula, is recrystallized from water. 25.9 g of the sodium 3-chloro-6-nitro-benzenesulphonate prepared above are added to a solution of 25.0 of sodium sulphide.9H₂O in 250 ml of water at room temperature. After a reaction time of 5 hours (thin layer chromatography control), the solution is acidified, the hydrogen sulphide which has formed is removed with nitrogen and the solution is then clarified over active charcoal. The yellow filtrate containing the mercapto compound of the following structure is then brought to pH 10 with sodium hydroxide solution and oxidized with 25 g of iodine. The pH value is maintained during the oxidation by addition of sodium hydroxide solution. The disulphide formed is salted out with sodium chloride and recrystallized from water. It is characterized by the following ¹³C-NMR spectrum. Example 3 50.0 g of N-methyl-piperazine are dissolved in 300 ml of chloroform. After addition of 69 ml of triethylamine, 128 g of 2-chloro-5-nitrobenzenesulphonyl chloride are introduced at room temperature. After 5 hours, the mixture is poured onto ice and the sulphonamide formed, of the following formula, is extracted with chloroform. A freshly prepared sodium disulphide solution obtained from 48.0 g of sodium sulphide.9H₂O in 250 ml of ethanol with 6.4 g of sulphur is added dropwise to a solution of 63.9 g of the nitro compound prepared above in 300 ml of ethanol. The mixture is boiled under a reflux condenser for 2 hours and is then poured into 1 l of ice-water. The pale yellow product which has precipitated is filtered off with suction and crystallized from ethanol to give a melting point of 205°C. Example 4 25.9 g of the sodium salt of 3-chloro-6-nitrobenzenesulphonic acid are added in portions to a mixture of 50 ml of phosphorus oxychloride and 25 g of phosphorus pentachloride at 80°C. After 2 hours, the evolution of HCl has subsided. The solution is concentrated on a rotary evaporator, the residue is taken up in toluene, the toluene phase is washed with ice-water and the extract is dried and evaporated again on a rotary evaporator. The sulphochloride of the following formula remains as a pale crystalline mass. 25.6 g of 3-chloro-6-nitrobenzenesulphonyl chloride, dissolved in 100 ml of chloroform, are added dropwise to 250 ml of chloroform containing a mixture of 10.0 g of N-methylpiperazine and 11 ml of triethylamine at room temperature. When the reaction has ended, the mixture is poured onto ice and extracted with chloroform and the following sulphonamide is thus isolated. 31.95 g of the sulphonamide prepared above are then added to a suspension of 25.0 g of sodium sulphide. 9H₂O in 100 ml of dimethylformamide at room temperature. After 1 hour, the chloride/sulphide replacement reaction has ended. The reaction mixture is poured onto ice, acidified and filtered with suction. 27.3 g of the following mercapto compound are obtained. 15.85 g of the mercapto compound prepared above are dissolved in a mixture of 200 ml of ethanol and 50 ml of triethylamine and 12.5 g of iodine are then added in portions. The end of the reaction is indicated by the change in colour from red-brown to yellow. The reaction product is poured onto ice and the pale yellow precipitate is filtered off with suction. The disulphide of the following structure, recrystallized from chloroform/ethanol, melts from 173°C (decomposition) Example 5 58.0 g of sodium phenolate are dissolved in 300 ml of water. 128 g of 4-chloro-5-nitrobenzenesulphonyl chloride are added in portions at room temperature. The mixture is stirred overnight and the product of the following formula which has precipitated is filtered off with suction. 25.0 g of sodium sulphide.9H₂O are suspended in 100 ml of dimethylformamide and 91.3 g of phenyl 4-chloro-5-nitro-benzenesulphonate are then added at room temperature. After 1 hour, the mixture is poured onto ice and acidified and the mercapto compound is filtered off with suction. 15.55 g of the mercapto compound prepared above are dissolved in 200 ml of ethanol and 50 ml of triethylamine. The mercapto compound is converted into the disulphide by addition of 12.0 g of iodine. The compound of the following formula melts at 148 - 151°C. Example 6 A solution of 19.0 g of 4-nitrobenzenesulphenyl chloride in 200 ml of chloroform is added dropwise to a solution of 27.9 g of phenyl 4-mercapto-5-nitro-benzenesulphonate in 500 ml of chloroform at 0°C. Removal of the HCl gas formed is taken care of with a dry stream of nitrogen. When the reaction has ended, the mixture is evaporated on a rotary evaporator and the residue is recrystallized from ethanol. 39.8 g of the following disulphide are obtained. Example 7 3.04 g of the 3-mercapto-6-nitrobenzenesulphonic acid morpholide prepared according to Example 4 are dissolved in 50 ml of methylene chloride. A solution of 2.0 g of 4-nitrobenzenesulphenyl chloride in 30 ml of methylene chloride are added dropwise, while cooling with ice. The HCl gas formed is removed with a stream of nitrogen. When the reaction has ended, the methylene chloride is stripped off in vacuo and the residue is recrystallized from acetonitrile. 4.5 g of the following compound are obtained. The following disulphides have been prepared by the methods described in Examples 1 to 7. Example 37 To test the compound from Example 2 as an indicator for NADH in the test system described, the compound was dissolved in water to give a 20 mM solution. The following reagent constituents were pipetted into a cell together: 1,810 µl of buffer (0.1 M/l of Tris, pH 7), 100 µl of the compound from Example 2 (20 mmol/l in H₂O), 50 µl of lipoic amide (50 mmol/l) and 20 µl of lipoic amide dehydrogenase (1,200 kU/l). After measurement of the reagent blank value, the reaction was started by addition of 20 µl of NADH. The extinction maximum measured is at 400 nm. Kinetic investigations showed a stable end point (change in extinction within 20 minutes <1%) after a reaction time of only 1 minute. To test for functionality and linearity, NADH concentrations in the range from 1 to 10 mmol/l were measured in the test mixture. The extinction differences measured at 400 nm are summarized in Table 1. Table 2 shows the results of the test for interference by ascorbic acid. For this test, 20 µl of an NADH solution (5 mmol/l) and also 20 µl of an ascorbic acid solution of 1 mmol/l are added to the above mixture and the resulting extinctions are measured. The values measured in the presence of ascorbic acid are on average 0.7% above the values measured in the absence of ascorbic acid. The present test is not influenced by ascorbic acid. Example 38 Testing of the compound from Example 1. The same reaction conditions as in Example 37 were chosen. However, 0.1 M Tris pH 9 was chosen as the buffer, since a faster reaction (end point within 1 minute) was achieved with this substance at pH 9 than at pH 7. The absorption maximum measured is at 425 nm. The coloration is stable within the period measured (20 minutes). The test for ascorbic acid interference was carried out analogously to Example 37. Table 3 shows the results. In the presence of ascorbic acid, the values are on average 0.2% higher. Ascorbic acid does not interfere with the present test. Table 4 shows the function and linearity testing after addition of NADH concentrations in the range from 1 to 10 mmol/l. Example 39 To determine the extinction maxima, further compounds were dissolved in dimethylformamide and in each case 2 ml of 0.1 M/l Tris buffer pH 9 and 10 µl of mercaptoethanol were added to 50 µl of the solution. The extinction maxima are shown in Table 5. Extinction maximum Example 34 420 nm Example 36 434 nm Example 35 464 nm Example 16 445 nm

Claims: Test agents for the detection of thiol groups, containing as the indicator for the thiol groups compounds of the general formula I wherein X represents hydrogen or -SO₂R¹, Y represents hydrogen or -NO₂, R¹ represents -O-R² or and R² and R³ independently of one another represent hydrogen or C₁-C₄-alkyl, which can be substituted by halogen, -COOH, cyano, C₁-C₄-alkoxy, hydroxyl, -OSO₃H, -SO₃H or amino, it being possible for the amino group in turn to be substituted by C₁-C₄-alkyl which is optionally substituted by halogen, hydroxyl, cyano, -OSO₃H or -SO₃H, or by phenyl or benzyl groups, or R² and R³, together with the N atom, represent a pyrrolidine, pyrazoline, piperidine, piperazine or morpholine ring, which can be substituted by C₁- to C₄-alkyl or phenyl. Agents according to Claims 1 containing compounds of the general formula IV wherein R¹ has the meaning given in Claim 1. Agents according to Claims 1 to 2, containing compounds of the general formula V wherein R² and R³ have the meaning given in Claim 1. Agents according to Claims 1 to 3, additionally containing one or more substances from the group comprising enzymes, substrates, coenzymes, effectors, antigens, antibodies, buffers, wetting agents and stabilizers. Use of the agent according to Claims 1 to 4 for the detection of thiol groups in a sample. Compounds of the general formula I wherein X represents hydrogen or -SO₂R¹, Y represents hydrogen or -NO₂, R¹ represents -O-R² or R³ represents hydrogen or C₁-C₄-alkyl, which can be substituted by halogen, -COOH, cyano, C₁-C₄-alkoxy, hydroxyl, -OSO₃H, -SO₃H or amino, it being possible for the amino group in turn to be substituted by C₁-C₄-alkyl which is optionally substituted by halogen, hydroxyl, cyano, -OSO₃H or -SO₃H, or by phenyl or benzyl groups, and R² has the same meaning as R³, apart from hydrogen, or R² and R³ together with the N atom, represent a pyrrolidine, pyrazoline, piperidine, piperazine or morpholine ring, which can be substituted by C₁- to C₄-alkyl or phenyl. Compounds of the general formula IV wherein R¹ has the meaning given in Claim 6. Compounds of the general formula V wherein R² and R³ have the meaning given in Claim 6. Compounds of the general formula VI wherein R² and R³ have the meaning described in Claim 6. Process for the preparation of compounds of the general formula I wherein X represents hydrogen or -SO₂R¹, Y represents hydrogen or -NO₂, R¹ represents -O-R² or R³ represents hydrogen or C₁-C₄-alkyl, which can be substituted by halogen, -COOH, cyano, C₁-C₄-alkoxy, hydroxyl, -OSO₃H, -SO₃H or amino, it being possible for the amino group in turn to be substituted by C₁-C₄-alkyl which is optionally substituted by halogen, hydroxyl, cyano, -OSO₃H or -SO₃H, or by phenyl or benzyl groups, and R² has the same meaning as R³, apart from hydrogen, or R² and R³ together with the N atom, represent a pyrrolidine, pyrazoline, piperidine, piperazine or morpholine ring, which can be substituted by C₁- to C₄-alkyl or phenyl, characterized in that a chloro-nitro-benzenesulphonyl chloride of the formula is converted with an amine or alcoholate of the formula H-R¹, wherein R¹ has the abovementioned meaning, into the corresponding chloro-nitro-sulphonic acid derivative and a chloride/sulphide replacement reaction is then carried out in the presence of Na₂S, followed by oxidation, a symmetric disulphide being obtained, or in that a mercapto-nitro-benzene-sulphonic acid derivative obtained by chloride/sulphide replacement reaction, of the formula wherein R¹ has the abovementioned meaning, is reacted with a substituted phenylsulphenyl chloride of the formula wherein X and Y have the abovementioned meaning, whereupon an asymmetric disulphide is obtained.

Inventors: HEIDENREICH, HOLGER, DR., WEHLING, KLAUS, DR.
Applicants: MILES INC.
Application year: 1987
Main classification: C07C323
IPC codes: C07C67, C07D295, G01N33, G01N31, C12Q1, C07C323, C07C319, C07D231, C07C313, C07D401