N-Alkyl-N-alkyloxycarbonylaminomethyl (NANAOCAM) prodrugs of carboxylic acid containing drugs

Synthesis and hydrolysis in aqueous buffers of novel N-alkyl-N-alkyloxycarbonylaminomethyl (NANAOCAM) and N-aryl-N-alkyloxycarbonylaminomethyl (NArNAOCAM) derivatives of carboxylic acid containing drugs were carried out. The hydrolysis follows a SN1 type mechanism and is dependent on the nucleofugacity of the leaving group. Topical delivery of the NANAOCAM derivative of naproxen from IPM across hairless mice skin was examined in in vitro diffusion cell experiments. The prodrug was 4.5-fold less lipid soluble, 2.4-fold less water soluble and 3.6-fold less permeable than the parent drug.