Aromatic substitution reaction of 2-chloropyridines catalyzed by microsomal glutathione S-transferase 1

We investigated the substitution reaction of a series of 2-chloropyridine derivatives catalyzed by rat liver microsomal glutathione S-transferase 1. Various 2-chloropyridine derivatives were metabolized to the corresponding substituted glutathione conjugates via displacement of chlorine atom with glutathione. The reaction was affected by the electron-withdrawing strength and position of the substituents. Molecular orbital calculations on the change in Gibbs free energy between the initial and transition states verified the presence of a Meisenheimer complex and its influence on the reaction rate.