Stereoselective reduction of acetohexamide in cytosol of rabbit liver

The stereoselective reduction of acetohexamide, an oral antidiabetic drug, was studied by using the cytosol of rabbit liver. A major metabolite of acetohexamide was isolated in 41.5% yield from the enzyme reaction mixture, and identified as (-)-hydroxyhexamide by techniques including the melting point, thin-layer chromatography, infrared spectrometry and optical rotation. The enantiomeric purity of (-)-hydroxyhexamide was determined on the basis of the proton nuclear magnetic resonance (400 MHz) spectrum of ester (diasteromer) derived by the reaction of (-)-hydroxyhexamide with (R)-(+)-alpha-methoxy-alpha-trifluoromethylphenylacetyl chloride. The (-)-hydroxyhexamide isolated from the enzyme reaction mixture was almost 100% in that enantiomeric form. The metabolic reduction of acetohexamide in the cytosol of rabbit liver appeared to be catalyzed by some enzymes with the same stereoselectivity.