Toxicologically important DDT metabolites : Synthesis, enantioselective analysis and kinetics

Sammanfattning: DDT was extensively and globally used as a pesticide in agriculture and for malaria vector control from the 1940’s until the 1970’s. Due to its heavy use, DDT became ubiquitously distributed throughout the environment. DDT and several DDT metabolites are persistent organic pollutants. Two DDT metabolites, 3-MeSO2-DDE and o,p’-DDD have been proved to be tissue specific toxicants in the adrenal cortex. They are bioactivated to reactive intermediates which bind covalently to the adrenal cortex causing cell death. Due to its tissue specific toxicity o,p’-DDD has been used as a chemotherapy drug for adrenal cancer in humans. The efficacy and potency is however low and o,p’-DDD treatment is associated with serious side effects. 3-MeSO2-DDE has been suggested as a potential alternative therapeutic agent.A key aim of this thesis has been to improve the understanding of the kinetics of the two adrenocorticolytic compounds o,p’-DDD, its two enantiomers and 3-MeSO2-DDE. To meet this objective chemical synthesis and enantioselective analysis were required. Furthermore, in vitro toxicity of o,p’-DDD enantiomers and diastereomers were performed.An 11 step synthesis of 3-SH-DDE has been developed to promote both labelled and unlabelled synthesis of 3-alkylsulfonyl-DDE. Toxicokinetic studies showed that 3-MeSO2-DDE and o,p’-DDD were accumulated in tissues and retained in adipose tissue in minipigs. 3-MeSO2-DDE however had a twice as long biological t1/2 and a considerably lower Vd compared to o,p’-DDD. Suckling offspring were more exposed to 3-MeSO2-DDE than their mothers who were given 3-MeSO2-DDE orally. Interindividual differences in enantiomer kinetics in minipigs were observed suggesting polymorphism among the minipigs. Preparative isolation of the o,p’-DDD enantiomers is presented allowing determination of the absolute structures of the o,p’-DDD enantiomers by X-ray. The pure enantiomer of o,p’-DDD showed significant differences in toxicity in human adrenocortical cells.