Acid catalysed degradation of some spiramycin derivatives found in the antibiotic bitespiramycin.

Bitespiramycin is a novel antibiotic containing a number of 4''-acylated spiramycin derivatives (isovalerylspiramycins I-III, butanoylspiramycin III, propanoylspiramycin III and acetylspiramycin III) as major components. These spiramycin derivatives are susceptible to degradation in acid solution. Liquid chromatography-ion trap mass spectrometry (LC/MS(n)) was used to study the degradation of these spiramycin derivatives in simulated gastric fluid at 37 degrees C. All derivatives degraded by first-order reactions for which rate constants (k) and half-lives (t(1/2)) were calculated. Acyl groups at position 3 had less effect on acid-stability of spiramycin derivatives than acyl groups at position 4''. The introduction of 4''-acyl groups enhanced the acid-stability of spiramycin derivatives and altered the degradation pathway in simulated gastric fluid such that loss of forosamine rather than loss of mycarose becomes the major degradation pathway.