EXAM 2 - Functional Groups in Drug Molecules (part 1) Flashcards
What is the significance of the functional group in a drug molecule?
Individual functional groups determine many properties of molecule in chemical, biochemical, and pharmacological terms.
* chemical properties explain pharmacological properties
What factors may functional groups have on drug molecules? (5)
1) part of PHARMOCOPHORE - interact directly with the target
2) control PHYSIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES
3) part of SCAFFOLD - provide structural elements
4) part of PRODRUG - be lost prior to activation
5) NO CONTRIBUTION to overall pharmacological profile
What is a pharmacophore?
Anything that is neccessary for a drug’s interaction.
Name the key parameters for each functional group:
Basic chemical properties
- polarization
- reactivity
- acid-base behavior
- stability
Types of non-covalent interactions for binding
- van der Waals contacts
- ionic interactions
- H-bonding (accepting/donating)
- steric clashes
Physiological properties
- role of solubility
- metabolism
- potential toxicity
How are functional groups altered?
Through metabolism
Explain the process of metabolizing drugs.
Drugs are metabolized in the body as foreign substances
Involves increasing water solubility of drug –> so it can be excreted by the kidneys
* phase 1 (modification): carried out by CYPs, usually oxidation (makes more polar)
* phases 2 (conjugation): transfer of polar groups, usually nucleophilic attack (gluoronidation, sulfonation)
*key component of overall bioavailability
Where does most metabolism occur?
Mostly in the liver, but also the kidneys, GI tract, and lungs
Which of the following is not a key parameter to consider for functional groups?
A) key interactions
B) routes of metabolism
C) acid-base interactions
D) chemical reactivity
E) atomic number
Atomic number
Alkanes and alkenes
Key interactions:
Role for solubility:
Metabolism:
Significant acid-base:
Chemical reactivity:
- linear or cyclic
- very common in many drugs (form basic scaffold of drug)
Key interactions: van der Waals (hydrophobic packing)
Role for solubility: increase lipophilicity
Metabolism: oxidation by CYP
Significant acid-base: none
Chemical reactivity: low (with exceptions)
Explain the difference between an alkane and alkene.
Both hydrocarbons
alkanes - only have single bonds
alkenes - have at least one double bond
What does it mean to be alipahtic?
Have full saturation; no double bonds
Identify the different alkyl chains
What effect does additional carbon (alkyl chain) have on logP?
Each additional carbon adds about 0.5 to logP (octanol/water)
Adding an isopropyl functional group to a drug scaffold will likely have what effect (most prominently)?
a) increase acidity
b) increase absorption through cell membranes
c) increase water solubility
d) increase reactivity
b) increase absorption through cell membranes
- more carbon = more hydrophobic
What are the two more common ring sizes in drug molecules? Why?
- cyclohexane
- cyclopentyl
* bc of their bond angles
* cyclohexane is able to form a conformation with almost no ring strain