INTRODUCTION
Natural cathinones constitute a pharmacologically important family of compounds, related to the ephedrines and
amphetamines and well recognized as CNS stimulants. Vegetable cathinones are phenylalkylamine alkaloids
naturally present in the khat plant (Catha edulis), an evergreen slow-growing shrub or tree native to Ethiopia and
cultivated in East Africa and South West Arabian Peninsula [1]. The main natural cathinones present in the khat are
cathinone and cathine. Cathinone, the most abundant and powerful, is a beta-keto analog of amphetamine with a
molecular weight of 149.19 g/mol [2]. This molecule, formally named S-(-)-2-amino-1-phenylpropan-1-one, is more
labile in the presence of oxygen and it is oxidized and decomposed within a few days of harvesting or if dried .The
stored product loses activity rapidly, becoming physiologically inactive after about 36 h. It is for this reason that for
maximum power, khat should be picked in the morning and chewed in the afternoon [3]. Like amphetamines,
cathinone is central nervous system (CNS) stimulants, but is potency is less. These alkaloids cause the release of
catecholamines from pre-synaptic storage sites in the central and peripheral nervous system [4-5]. In addition, this
molecule may also have monoamine oxidase inhibition effects [6].
The psychotropic effects of khat start after about 1 h of chewing and they last for approximately 3 h [7]. Peak
plasma levels of cathinone are obtained 1.5–3.5 h after the onset of chewing while it is barely detectable after 8 h.
First-pass metabolism of cathinone in the liver leads to the formation of norephedrine. Only 2% of cathinone is
excreted unmodified in the urine. Cathinone derivatives are nowadays an emerging group of designer drugs, besides
synthetic cannabimimetics and pipera-zines. This group contains derivatives of cathinone itself (β-keto
amphetamines), β-keto analogues of methylene dioxy amphetamines, and pyrrolidino phenones [8–12]. Clinical datahave shown that cathinone determine an increase in blood pressure and heart rate, euphoria, alertness and
psychomotor hyperactivity [13]. Several studies have shown that the chronic use of this plant may produce various
harmful effects such as increased incidence of acute coronary vasospasm and myocardial infarction, esophagitis,
gastritis, oral keratotic lesions and liver toxicity [14]. Furthermore, insomnia, depression, anorexia, psychosis and
impaired working memory have been reported after occasional or chronic use of khat [15]. In particular, khat use
can exacerbate psychotic symptoms in people with pre-existing psychosis and precipitate psychotic disorders in
vulnerable subjects [16]. Literature data suggest that khat use may induce abuse, tolerance and dependence. Despite
khat induced dependence seems to be less likely than amphetamine or cocaine induced dependence, khat alkaloids
have the potential to induce addiction disorders. Khat induced tolerance appear to be more rapid than to that of
amphetamines and there is a cross-tolerance between amphetamines and cathinone [17-18]. Finally, it was reported a
withdrawal syndrome after suspension characterized by insomnia, lack of concentration, craving, nightmares and
slight trembling [14].
Tautomers are structural isomers that are conceptually related by the shift of hydrogen and one or more bonds.
Aldehydes and ketones, which have at least one hydrogen atom, are in equilibrium with an isomer called enol, and
this type of equilibrium between constitutional isomers is called tautomerism. For the past two decades, there has
been considerable interest in studying the tautomerism of heterocyclic compounds to identify the influence of
tautomerism on chemical and biological properties of molecules. The phenomenon of tautomerism is related to
aromaticity and lone pair– lone pair repulsions. The experimental studies on tautomerism are still a challenging
problem in chemistry and molecular biology. Most tautomers are not observed in the experimental studies because
of their low concentration. A detailed analysis of the structure and changes in geometrical and energetic parameters
caused by the migration of hydrogen atom would enable us to understand the different properties of tautomers.
Knowledge of the relative stabilities of tautomeric forms of heterocycles as well as the conversion from one
tautomeric form to another is important from the point of view of structural chemistry.
INTRODUCTION
Natural cathinones constitute a pharmacologically important family of compounds, related to the ephedrines and
amphetamines and well recognized as CNS stimulants. Vegetable cathinones are phenylalkylamine alkaloids
naturally present in the khat plant (Catha edulis), an evergreen slow-growing shrub or tree native to Ethiopia and
cultivated in East Africa and South West Arabian Peninsula [1]. The main natural cathinones present in the khat are
cathinone and cathine. Cathinone, the most abundant and powerful, is a beta-keto analog of amphetamine with a
molecular weight of 149.19 g/mol [2]. This molecule, formally named S-(-)-2-amino-1-phenylpropan-1-one, is more
labile in the presence of oxygen and it is oxidized and decomposed within a few days of harvesting or if dried .The
stored product loses activity rapidly, becoming physiologically inactive after about 36 h. It is for this reason that for
maximum power, khat should be picked in the morning and chewed in the afternoon [3]. Like amphetamines,
cathinone is central nervous system (CNS) stimulants, but is potency is less. These alkaloids cause the release of
catecholamines from pre-synaptic storage sites in the central and peripheral nervous system [4-5]. In addition, this
molecule may also have monoamine oxidase inhibition effects [6].
The psychotropic effects of khat start after about 1 h of chewing and they last for approximately 3 h [7]. Peak
plasma levels of cathinone are obtained 1.5–3.5 h after the onset of chewing while it is barely detectable after 8 h.
First-pass metabolism of cathinone in the liver leads to the formation of norephedrine. Only 2% of cathinone is
excreted unmodified in the urine. Cathinone derivatives are nowadays an emerging group of designer drugs, besides
synthetic cannabimimetics and pipera-zines. This group contains derivatives of cathinone itself (β-keto
amphetamines), β-keto analogues of methylene dioxy amphetamines, and pyrrolidino phenones [8–12]. Clinical datahave shown that cathinone determine an increase in blood pressure and heart rate, euphoria, alertness and
psychomotor hyperactivity [13]. Several studies have shown that the chronic use of this plant may produce various
harmful effects such as increased incidence of acute coronary vasospasm and myocardial infarction, esophagitis,
gastritis, oral keratotic lesions and liver toxicity [14]. Furthermore, insomnia, depression, anorexia, psychosis and
impaired working memory have been reported after occasional or chronic use of khat [15]. In particular, khat use
can exacerbate psychotic symptoms in people with pre-existing psychosis and precipitate psychotic disorders in
vulnerable subjects [16]. Literature data suggest that khat use may induce abuse, tolerance and dependence. Despite
khat induced dependence seems to be less likely than amphetamine or cocaine induced dependence, khat alkaloids
have the potential to induce addiction disorders. Khat induced tolerance appear to be more rapid than to that of
amphetamines and there is a cross-tolerance between amphetamines and cathinone [17-18]. Finally, it was reported a
withdrawal syndrome after suspension characterized by insomnia, lack of concentration, craving, nightmares and
slight trembling [14].
Tautomers are structural isomers that are conceptually related by the shift of hydrogen and one or more bonds.
Aldehydes and ketones, which have at least one hydrogen atom, are in equilibrium with an isomer called enol, and
this type of equilibrium between constitutional isomers is called tautomerism. For the past two decades, there has
been considerable interest in studying the tautomerism of heterocyclic compounds to identify the influence of
tautomerism on chemical and biological properties of molecules. The phenomenon of tautomerism is related to
aromaticity and lone pair– lone pair repulsions. The experimental studies on tautomerism are still a challenging
problem in chemistry and molecular biology. Most tautomers are not observed in the experimental studies because
of their low concentration. A detailed analysis of the structure and changes in geometrical and energetic parameters
caused by the migration of hydrogen atom would enable us to understand the different properties of tautomers.
Knowledge of the relative stabilities of tautomeric forms of heterocycles as well as the conversion from one
tautomeric form to another is important from the point of view of structural chemistry.
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