Computational Study on Molecular Orbital’s, Excited State Properties and Geometry Optimization of Anti-benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Drug,

N- (1,1-dimethylethyl)-3-oxo-(5α,17β)-4-azaandrost-1-ene-17-carboxamide (Finasteride)

 

I.E. Otuokere1 and C.O. Alisa2

1Department of Chemistry, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria

2Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria 

*Corresponding Author E-mail: tosmanbaba@yahoo.com

 

ABSTRACT:

Finasteride, N-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-3-oxo-(5α, 17β)-4-azaandrost-1-ene-17-carboxamide is a synthetic drug for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and male pattern baldness (MPB). The electronic excited-state calculations were carried out by ZINDO semi-empirical method using ArgusLab 4.0.1 software. Conformational analysis (geometry optimization) of finasteride was carried out using PM3 semi-empirical QM parameterization according to Hartree-Fock calculation method by ArgusLab 4.0.1 software. All the results obtained from molecular orbital’s, electronic excited state properties and  electrostatic potential map  suggested the active charged groups in the molecule where  interaction with the receptor 5α – reductase is probable. The geometry convergence map of finasteride  clearly showed a decrease in potential energy with the progress of rotation. The minimum potential energy was calculated to be -100315.73 kcal/mol (-159.86 au). The best conformation of  finasteride was found to be   -100315.73 kcal/mol  which is the minimum potential energy calculated by geometry convergence function using ArgusLab software; performed according to Hartree-Fock calculation method. The most feasible position for finasteride to inhibit the receptor 5α – reductase  was found to be -100315.73 kcal/mol.

 

KEYWORDS: Finasteride, ArgusLab 4.0.1 software, benign prostatic hyperplasia, geometry optimization, potential energy.

 

 


INTRODUCTION:

Finasteride, N-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-3-oxo-(5α, 17β)-4-azaandrost-1-ene-17-carboxamide is a synthetic drug for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and male pattern baldness (MPB). It is a type II 5α – reductase inhibitor. 5α – reductase is an enzyme that converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT)1. Finasteride may improve the symptoms associated with BPH such as difficulty urinating, getting up during night to urinate, hesitation at the start of urination and decreased urinary flow 2. Finasteride is sometimes used in hormone replacement therapy for male to female transsexuals in combination with a form of estrogen due to its anti-androgen properties3.

 

Oral finasteride promotes scalp hair growth and prevents further hair loss in significant proportions for men with male pattern hair loss 4. Sexual effects were the most common type of adverse reaction 5,6. The FDA has added a warning to 5α – reductase inhibitors concerning an increased risk of high-grade prostrate cancer 6. The effect of finasteride on the risk of developing prostrate cancer has not been established, evidence suggests it may temporarily reduce the growth and prevalence of benign prostrate tumors, but could mask the early detection of prostrate cancer 7. There are case reports of persistent diminished libido or erectile dysfunction, even after stopping the drug 8. Mood disorders were not observed as an important adverse effect in the phase 3 trials leading to regulatory approval of finasteride for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) 9. Nonetheless, a variety of small studies have suggested a possible connection 10, 11. 

 

Electronic excitations resulting from energy absorption in the UV/visible region usually involves changes in the electronic state of a molecule leading to the promotion of electron from either π bonding or non bonding orbital in ground-state  to the π* antibonding orbital (i.e. π→π* or n→π* transitions respectively) in excited states 11,12. The geometry of a molecule has a great impact on its energy level, physical and chemical properties. As the molecule rotates, it adopts different conformations and spatial arrangements to achieve one of the stable states of lowest energy 13. The total molecular energy can be evaluated in terms of potential energy surface as a sum of energies associated with each type of bonded interactions i.e. bond length, bond angle and dihedral angle as well as non-bonded interactions (van der Waals and electrostatic) taking place in a molecule and on atomic properties of a molecule 14. In molecular mechanics, potential energy is calculated using force field where the atoms move without breaking of bonds until the energy of the molecule reaches to a minimum also referred as energy minimization. These minimum energy structures are equilibrium structures representing minima on the potential energy surface 15.

 

The present work describes the computer aided molecular orbital’s, excited state properties and geometry optimization of finasteride by ArgusLab4.0.1 software.

 

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

The electronic excited-state calculations were carried outby ZINDO semi-empirical method 17 which is parameterized for low energy excited-states of organic and organo-metallic molecules. The structure of  finasteride was drawn and constructed using window based program of ArgusLab 16 and ACD Lab Chem Sketch software. Conformational analysis (geometry optimization) of finasteride was carried out using PM3 semi-empirical QM parameterization 18 according to Hartree-Fock calculation method by ArgusLab 4.0.1 software 16. Geometry of the molecule converged after the molecule was drawn and cleaned in ArgusLab. The program computed the energies and cycles.

 

RESULTS:

The prospective view, active conformations, Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital, Lowest Unoccupied Molecular Orbital, electronic excited states, potential energy geometry convergence graph and  electrostatic potential mapped electron density of finasteride are presented in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 respectively. The geometry optimized atomic coordinates, bond length, and bond angles of finasteride are presented in Tables 1, 2, and 3 respectively.

 


 

Table 1: Atomic Coordinates of Finasteride

Atom Nos

x

y

z

1     C

7.625600 

9.997943  

0.005119

2     C

7.625600

11.410257 

0.005119

3     C

6.473700 

9.332943 

0.162898

4     N

6.473700

12.075257  

0.162898

5     C

5.321900 

9.997943 

0.162898

6     C

5.321900

11.410257  

0.162898

7     C

9.917175

10.060103  

0.001759

8     C

9.929300

11.369100 

0.168017

9     C

8.789525 

9.353097  

0.334274

10   C

8.777400

12.034100 

0.168017

11   C

11.069075 

8.023104 

0.003574

12   C

11.093325 

9.395096  

0.003574

13   C

9.917175 

7.400103 

0.166258

14   C

8.789625 

8.023097  

0.166258

15   C

12.346000 

7.591101  

0.162683

16   C

13.127800 

8.751099 

0.162683

17   C

12.346200 

9.743101  

0.162683

18   O

4.170100

12.034100  

0.000000

19   C

7.625500

12.699100  

0.000000

20   C

8.715200

10.567800  

0.000000

21   C

11.220200

10.696800  

0.000000

22   C

7.625600 

8.709100  

0.000000

23  C

9.929300 

8.709100  

0.000000

24  C

11.220200 

6.721400  

0.000000

25  C

12.757100 

6.368200  

0.000000

26  N

14.058000 

6.091700  

0.000000

27  O

11.867100 

5.379800  

0.000000

28  C

14.947900 

7.080100  

0.000000

29  C

16.248900 

6.803700  

0.000000

30  C

14.536900 

8.345000  

0.000000

31  C

15.359000 

5.815300  

0.000000

 

Table 2: Bond lengths of Finasteride

Atom Numbers

Bond Lengths

Alternate Bond Lengths

1  3

(C)

(C)

1.489000

367.716672

1  9

(C)

(C)

1.514000

349.799987

1  2

(C)

(C)

1.514000

349.799987

1  22

(C)

(C)

1.489000

367.716672

2  4

(C)

(N)

1.447870

532.154321

2  10

(C)

(C)

1.489000

367.716672

2  19

(C)

(C)

1.489000

367.716672

3  5

(C)

(C)

1.328833

517.352113

4  6

(N)

(C)

1.422764

560.825517

5  6

(C)

(C)

1.464000

386.878134

6  18

(C)

(O)

1.410739

520.112242

7  8

(C)

(C)

1.489000

367.716672

7  12

(C)

(C)

1.514000

349.799987

7  9

(C)

(C)

1.514000

349.799987

7  23

(C)

(C)

1.489000

367.716672

8  10

(C)

(C)

1.464000

386.878134

9  14

(C)

(C)

1.489000

367.716672

9  20

(C)

(C)

1.463000

387.672001

11  13

(C)

(C)

1.489000

367.716672

11  15

(C)

(C)

1.489000

367.716672

11  12

(C)

(C)

1.514000

349.799987

11  24

(C)

(C)

1.489000

367.716672

12  17

(C)

(C)

1.489000

367.716672

12  21

(C)

(C)

1.489000

367.716672

13  14

(C)

(C)

1.464000

386.878134

15  16

(C)

(C)

1.464000

386.878134

15  25

(C)

(C)

1.464000

386.878134

16  17

(C)

(C)

1.464000

386.878134

25  26

(C)

(N)

1.346235

662.009133

25  27

(C)

(O)

1.260307

729.470867

26  28

(N)

(C)

1.447870

532.154321

28  29

(C)

(C)

1.489000

367.716672

28  30

(C)

(C)

1.489000

367.716672

28  31

(C)

(C)

1.489000

367.716672

 

Table 3: Bond Angles of Finasteride

Atom Numbers

Bond Angles

Alternate Bond Angles

3  1  9

(C)

(C)

(C)

109.470000

219.577891

3  1  2

(C)

(C)

(C)

109.470000

219.577891

3  1  22

(C)

(C)

(C)

109.470000

225.183707

1  3  5

(C)

(C)

(C)

120.000000

207.955672

9  1  2

(C)

(C)

(C)

109.470000

214.211821

9  1  22

(C)

(C)

(C)

109.470000

219.577891

1  9  7

(C)

(C)

(C)

109.470000

214.211821

1  9  14

(C)

(C)

(C)

109.470000

219.577891

1  9  20

(C)

(C)

(C)

109.470000

225.286699

2  1  22

(C)

(C)

(C)

109.470000

219.577891

1  2  4

(C)

(C)

(N)

109.470000

304.253928

1  2  10

(C)

(C)

(C)

109.470000

219.577891

1  2  19

(C)

(C)

(C)

109.470000

219.577891

4  2  10

(N)

(C)

(C)

109.470000

312.267092

4  2  19

(N)

(C)

(C)

109.470000

312.267092

2  4  6

(C)

(N)

(C)

120.000000

197.498361

10  2  19

(C)

(C)

(C)

109.470000

225.183707

2  10  8

(C)

(C)

(C)

120.000000

181.430228

3  5  6

(C)

(C)

(C)

120.000000

213.837163

4  6  5

(N)

(C)

(C)

120.000000

258.357159

4  6  18

(N)

(C)

(O)

120.000000

328.721534

5  6  18

(C)

(C)

(O)

120.000000

236.478255

8  7  12

C)

(C)

(C)

109.470000

219.577891

8  7  9

(C)

(C)

(C)

109.470000

219.577891

8  7  23

(C)

(C)

(C)

109.470000

225.183707

7  8  10

(C)

(C)

(C)

120.000000

181.430228

12  7  9

(C)

(C)

(C)

109.470000

214.211821

12  7  23

(C)

(C)

(C)

109.470000

219.577891

7  12  11

(C)

(C)

(C)

109.470000

214.211821

7  12  17

(C)

(C)

(C)

109.470000

219.577891

7  12  21

(C)

(C)

(C)

109.470000

219.577891

9  7  23

(C)

(C)

(C)

109.470000

219.577891

7  9  14

(C)

(C)

(C)

109.470000

219.577891

7  9  20

(C)

(C)

(C)

109.470000

225.286699

14  9  20

(C)

(C)

(C)

109.470000

231.152617

9  14  13

(C)

(C)

(C)

120.000000

181.430228

13  11  15

(C)

(C)

(C)

109.470000

225.183707

13  11  12

(C)

(C)

(C)

109.470000

219.577891

13  11  24

(C)

(C)

(C)

109.470000

225.18377

11  13  14

(C)

(C)

(C)

120.000000

181.430228

15  11  12

(C)

(C)

(C)

109.470000

219.577891

15  11  24

(C)

(C)

(C)

109.470000

225.183707

11  15  16

(C)

(C)

(C)

120.000000

181.430228

11  15  25

(C)

(C)

(C)

120.000000

181.430228

12  11  24

(C)

(C)

(C)

109.470000

219.577891

11  12  17

(C)

(C)

(C)

109.470000

219.577891

11  12  21

(C)

(C)

(C)

109.470000

219.577891

17  12  21

(C)

(C)

(C)

109.470000

225.183707

12  17  16

(C)

(C)

(C)

120.000000

181.430228

16  15  25

(C)

(C)

(C)

120.000000

186.134654

15  16  17

(C)

(C)

(C)

120.000000

186.134654

15  25  26

(C)

(C)

(N)

120.000000

279.479738

15  25  27

(C)

(C)

(O)

120.000000

275.966448

26  25  27

(N)

(C)

(O)

120.000000

421.698151

25  26  28

(C)

(N)

(C)

120.000000

213.828263

26  28  29

(N)

(C)

(C)

109.470000

312.267092

26  28  30

(N)

(C)

(C)

109.470000

312.267092

26  28  31

(N)

(C)

(C)

109.470000

312.267092

29  28  30

(C)

(C)

(C)

109.470000

225.183707

29  28  31

(C)

(C)

(C)

109.470000

225.183707

30  28  31

(C)

(C)

(C)

109.470000

225.183707

 

DISCUSSIONS:

The Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital, HOMO  (Figure 3) is a non bonding type that is in the plane of the molecule while the Lowest Unoccupied Molecular Orbitals, LUMO (Figure 4) is a π molecular orbital perpendicular to the plane of the molecule. The positive and negative charges are indicated by blue and red color, respectively.                                          

 

The UV/visible electronic absorption spectrum of finasteride is shown in Figure 5. The spectrum showed intense peak at 324 nm, while relatively low intensity peaks appeared at 250, 270 and 700 nm representing the strength of transitions of the compound. These transitions have been assigned i.e. π→π*, π→π*,  π→π* and n→π* transitions respectively 19.

 

The geometry convergence map of finasteride  (Figure 6), clearly showed a decrease in potential energy with the progress of rotation. The minimum potential energy was calculated to be   -100315.73 kcal/mol  (-159.86 au). The best conformation of  finasteride was found to be   -100315.73 kcal/mol  which is the minimum potential energy calculated by geometry convergence function using ArgusLab software; performed according to Hartree-Fock calculation method. The most feasible position for finasteride to inhibit the receptor 5α – reductase  was found to be -100315.73 kcal/mol. The geometry optimized atomic coordinates, bond lengths and bond angles of finasteride have been presented in Tables 1, 2, and 3 respectively.

 

ArgusLab software generated mapped surface of finasteride (Figure 7).  The electrostatic potential (ESP) was mapped onto the surface of the electron density.  In the ESP-mapped density surface, the electron density surface gave the shape of the surface while the value of the ESP on that surface gave the colors 16.  The electrostatic potential is the potential energy felt by a positive "test" charge at a particular point in space. The colors are the values of the ESP energy (in Hartrees) at the points on the electron density surface. The red color indicated the enhanced electron density representing the most negative regions of the ESP (region of highest stability) for a positive test charge where it would have favorable interaction energy. On the other hand the magenta/blue color, showed the region of least stability for the positive test charge indicating the unfavorable interaction energy. Thus an ESP-mapped density surface can be used to show the regions of a molecule that might be more favourable to nucleophilic or electrophilic attack, making these types of surfaces useful for the qualitative interpretations.

 

All the results obtained from molecular orbitals, electronic excited state properties and  electrostatic potential map  represent the active sites with charged groups of the molecule where interaction with the receptor, 5α – reductase is probable. Such calculations are applicable in determining reaction mechanisms, conducting spectroscopic analysis and in the understanding of the excited-state phenomena 11. Results of the geometry convergence map showed the most feasible position for finasteride to inhibit the receptor 5α – reductase.

 

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Received on 01.11.2014          Accepted on 25.11.2014        

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Asian J. Res. Pharm. Sci. 4(4): Oct.-Dec. 2014; Page 169-173