[Structural analysis of vinorelbine in solution determined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry]

An active partnership between the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and the laboratories Pierre Fabre is underpinning the development of a new molecule, vinorelbine, whose tartrate received marketing authorization in France in 1989, under the name of Navelbine. This medicine was first recommended for the treatment of bronchial cancer "not small cell", then, in 1991, for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. In 1994, its registration in United States was granted for the treatment of bronchial cancer "not small cell". Vinorelbine is obtained by hemisynthesis using two antecedent monomeric alkaloids, catharanthine and vindoline, followed by a modification of the catharanthine nucleus, so as to produce the first 5' nor vinca-alkaloid. The chemical structure of vinorelbine has been examined in our laboratory using nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry. Bearing in mind their complexity, the total attribution of the proton spectrum and the carbon-13 spectrum has required experiments for homonuclear (1H-1H) and heteronuclear (1H-13C and 1H-15N) correlation. These experiments have been carried out using a BRUKER spectrometer operating at the nominal proton frequency of 200 MHz in direct detection mode, then with a 400 MHz spectrometer equipped with the reverse detection mode. The chemical structure has thus been analyzed with no ambiguity. The results of this structural study will be presented in due course. We have also undertaken a comparative conformational study between base vinorelbine in chloroform solution and ditartrate vinorelbine (Navelbine) in methanolic solution. The conformation of the vinorelbine molecule in solution in these different solvents have been studied with NOESY (Nuclear Overhauser Effect Spectroscopy) experiments. The results of these experiments have been confirmed by data stemming from molecular modelization.