Homocoenzyme B12 and bishomocoenzyme B12: covalent structural mimics for homolyzed, enzyme-bound coenzyme B12

Efficient electrochemical syntheses of "homocoenzyme B(12)" (2, Co(beta)-(5'-deoxy-5'-adenosyl-methyl)-cob(III)alamin) and "bishomocoenzyme B(12)" (3, Co(beta)-[2-(5'-deoxy-5'-adenosyl)-ethyl]-cob(III)alamin) are reported here. These syntheses have provided crystalline samples of 2 and 3 in 94 and 77 % yield, respectively. In addition, in-depth investigations of the structures of 2 and 3 in solution were carried out and a high-resolution crystal structure of 2 was obtained. The two homologues of coenzyme B(12) (2 and 3) are suggested to function as covalent structural mimics of the hypothetical enzyme-bound "activated" (that is, "stretched" or even homolytically cleaved) states of the B(12) cofactor. From crude molecular models, the crucial distances from the corrin-bound cobalt center to the C5' atom of the (homo)adenosine moieties in 2 and 3 were estimated to be about 3.0 and 4.4 A, respectively. These values are roughly the same as those found in the two "activated" forms of coenzyme B(12) in the crystal structure of glutamate mutase. Indeed, in the crystal structure of 2, the cobalt center was observed to be at a distance of 2.99 A from the C5' atom of the homoadenosine moiety and the latter was found to be present in the unusual syn conformation. In solution, the organometallic moieties of 2 and 3 were shown to be rather flexible and to be considerably more dynamic than the equivalent group in coenzyme B(12). The homoadenosine moiety of 2 was indicated to occur in both the syn and the anti conformations.     

B12-retro-riboswitches: guanosyl-induced constitutional switching of B12 coenzymes

Complete B12 derivatives are natural "molecular switches" as a result of the coordinative switch ("base on" or "base off") of the natural nucleotide base. Certain predesigned B12-nucleotide conjugates were shown recently to behave as "retro riboswitches", in which the nucleotide environment modified the equilibrium between these two isomeric B12 structures. In contrast, the "reverse" situation has been discovered in natural B12 riboswitches, in which the binding of coenzyme B12 induces a conformational switch in the RNA species. The first (predesigned) B12-retro-riboswitches were DNA conjugates of methylcobalamin. We describe herein two representative B12-retro-riboswitches, in which an appended (RNA) nucleotide is used to destabilize the base-on form and induce the base-on to base-off switch. Through use of heterogeneous solid-phase synthetic methods, Co(beta)-cyanocobalamin-(3'-->2')-2'-methoxyguaninyl-3'-ate was prepared first as the crucial covalent RNA conjugate of vitamin B12. This cyanocorrinoid opened the door to two organometallic B12-nucleotide conjugates, which were made by electrosynthetic means: the cyanocorrinoid was cleanly methylated or adenosylated at the cobalt center to furnish covalent RNA conjugates of the organometallic B12 cofactors methylcobalamin and coenzyme B12, respectively. At room temperature, aqueous solutions of both of these organometallic RNA-B12 conjugates exhibited properties indicative of significant weakening of the axial (Co--N) bond (of their base-on forms) and of an enhanced formation of the base-off species. The base-on to base-off switch was studied by UV/Vis and NMR spectroscopic studies, which showed that the switch was very temperature-dependent and was accentuated with increasing temperatures. Thermodynamic data of the two organometallic RNA-B12 conjugates revealed an important contribution of entropic effects to the observed base-on to base-off switch. The two organometallic RNA-B12 conjugates thus acted as B12-retro-riboswitches and allowed the observation of a temperature-dependent reverse switch in the B12 cofactor moiety, induced by the appended nucleotide moiety. This behavior may be of interest in the "RNA-world" hypothesis, in which (simple) B12 derivatives are thought to act as possible catalytic enhancers ("cofactors") in RNA-based "B12 ribozymes".     

Darstellung und spektroskopische Charakterisierung der Monofluorohydro-closo-Borate [B6H5F]2− und [B12H11F]2−

Preparation and Spectroscopic Characterization of the Monofluorohydro-closo-borates [B₆H₅F]^2? and [B₁₂H₁₁F]^2? By treatment of [B₆H₆]^2? with 1-(chloromethyl)-4-fluoro-1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane-bis(tetrafluoroborate)in acetonitrile monofluorohydro-closo-hexaborate [B₆H₅F]^2? ( 1 ) is formed in good yields. [B₁₂H₁₂]^2? reacts with unhydrous HF yielding the monofluorododecaborate [B₁₂H₁₁F]^2? ( 2 ). These compounds are separated by ion exchange chromatography on diethylaminoethyl(DEAE) cellulose from by-products. The ¹¹B nmr spectra exhibit the characteristic patterns (1 : 4 : 1) of a monosubstituted B₆ octahedron and (1 : 5 : 5 : 1) of a monosubstituted B₁₂ icosahedron with strong downfield shifts of the ipso-B nuclei at +9.3 ppm ( 1 ) and at +9.0 ppm ( 2 ). The ¹⁹F nmr spectra reveal quartets at ?212 ppm ( 1 ) and ?209 ppm ( 2 ) proving a B? F bonding. In the i.r. spectra, for ( 1 ) in the Raman spectrum too, cage vibrations depending on the F substituent at 1195 ( 1 ) and at 1182/1154 cm^?1 ( 2 ) are observed. The Raman spectra show the B₆F stretching mode at 535 cm^?1 and the B₁₂F stretching vibration at 445 cm^?1.     

Homocoenzyme B12 and Bishomocoenzyme B12: Covalent Structural Mimics for Homolyzed,Enzyme‐Bound Coenzyme B12

Efficient electrochemical syntheses of “homocoenzyme B₁₂” ( 2 , Co_β‐(5′‐deoxy‐5′‐adenosyl‐methyl)‐cob(III )alamin) and “bishomocoenzyme B₁₂” ( 3 , Co_β‐[2‐(5′‐deoxy‐5′‐adenosyl)‐ethyl]‐cob(III )alamin) are reported here. These syntheses have provided crystalline samples of 2 and 3 in 94 and 77 % yield, respectively. In addition, in‐depth investigations of the structures of 2 and 3 in solution were carried out and a high‐resolution crystal structure of 2 was obtained. The two homologues of coenzyme B₁₂ ( 2 and 3 ) are suggested to function as covalent structural mimics of the hypothetical enzyme‐bound “activated” (that is, “stretched” or even homolytically cleaved) states of the B₁₂ cofactor. From crude molecular models, the crucial distances from the corrin‐bound cobalt center to the C5′ atom of the (homo)adenosine moieties in 2 and 3 were estimated to be about 3.0 and 4.4 Å, respectively. These values are roughly the same as those found in the two “activated” forms of coenzyme B₁₂ in the crystal structure of glutamate mutase. Indeed, in the crystal structure of 2 , the cobalt center was observed to be at a distance of 2.99 Å from the C5′ atom of the homoadenosine moiety and the latter was found to be present in the unusual syn conformation. In solution, the organometallic moieties of 2 and 3 were shown to be rather flexible and to be considerably more dynamic than the equivalent group in coenzyme B₁₂. The homoadenosine moiety of 2 was indicated to occur in both the syn and the anti conformations.     

The electronic structure ofα-B12, B12P2 and B12AS2

The electronic band structures of the rhombohedral-based boron compounds -B₁₂, B₁₂P₂ and B₁₂ As₂ have been investigated along all symmetry directions. The calculations show that the band gap, in all cases, is of the order of 2 eV, which correlates with the known color of -rhombohedral boron. The materials should be intrinsic semi-conductors, as has recently been shown experimentally. The states around the band gap in -B₁₂ are dominated by the boron 2p atomic states. The bonding in the icosahedra, as illuminated by cluster calculations, is shown to be rather similar to that in the isolated B₁₂ icosahedron. Of the intericosahedron interactions, those between B(2) and B(2) atoms are the strongest and have a bond index just above unity. In B₁₂P₂ the orbitals of the P₂ moiety make a significant contribution to the valence band edge states and the conduction band edge states also incorporate considerable (55%) phosphorus 3d orbital character. In B₁₂As₂ the arsenic 4d orbitals do not have as much effect in that crystal as do the 3d orbitals in B₁₂P₂.     

Infrarotspektroskopische Untersuchung des Borcarbids und seiner isotypen Derivate B12O2, B12P2 und B12As2

Infrared Spectra of Boron Carbide and its Isotypic Derivatives B₁₂O₂, B₁₂P₂, and B₁₂As₂ From very finely powdered samples of B₄C [ = B₁₁C(CBC)], B₁₂O₂, B₁₂P₂, and B₁₂As₂ infrared spectra with very well shaped bands could be obtained. The spectrum of B₁₂O₂ with the smallest number of bands was assigned with the aid of a normal coordinate analysis. This gave a good basis for the interpretation of the spectra of normal and ¹⁰B-enriched B₄C and of B₁₂P₂. Both are exhibiting some bands in addition to those expected for the ideal structures, which are explained by the assumption of disordering within the C? B? C resp. P? P groups. At boron carbide this disorder seems to depend on the ratio B:C within its range of homogeneity.     

The [U2F12]2− Anion of Sr[U2F12]

The D_2h‐symmetric dinuclear complex anion [U₂F₁₂]^2? of pastel green Sr[U₂F₁₂] shows a hitherto unknown structural feature: The coordination polyhedra around the U atoms are edge‐linked monocapped trigonal prisms, the U^V atoms are therefore seven‐coordinated. This leads to a U–U distance of 3.8913(6) Å. A weak U^V–U^V interaction is observed for the dinuclear [U₂F₁₂]^2? complex and described by the antiferromagnetic exchange J_exp of circa ?29.9 cm^?1. The crystalline compound can be easily prepared from SrF₂ and β‐UF₅ in anhydrous hydrogen fluoride (aHF) at room temperature. It was studied by means of single crystal X‐ray diffraction, IR, Raman and UV/VIS spectroscopy, magnetic measurements, and by molecular as well as by solid‐state quantum chemical calculations.     

Pb3Al2F12: Crystal structure of a cyclo-fluoroaluminate related to Ba3Al2F12

Pb₃Al₂F₁₂ is a fluorometalate obtained in single-crystal form by hydrothermal synthesis. It crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P 2₁/n, with a = 9.435(6) Å, b = 9.610(5) Å, c = 10.100(9) Å, β = 90.59(5)°, V = 915.7(2) ų, Z = 4. The structure was solved from single crystal using 3 044 unique reflections (MoKα, λ = 0.71073 Å), R = 0.0463, R_w = 0.0465. The structure exhibits isolated tetrameric groups of octahedra encaged in a subnetwork of independent fluoride polyhedra and is related to that of Ba₃Al₂F₁₂. A discussion about the existence and the structure of A₃M₂F₁₂ compounds is given.     

Cyanide-bridged vitamin B12-cisplatin conjugates

cis-[PtCl(OH2)(NH3)2]+, the monoactivated form of cisplatin, reacts with the cyano ligand of cobalt in vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) to form a Co-C[triple chemical bond]N-Pt conjugate (1). Compound 1 is prepared in good yield directly in aqueous solution. The remaining chloride ligand of Pt(II) is labile. It hydrolyzes slowly in aqueous solution and can be exchanged by stronger coordinating ligands, such as 9-methylguanine or 2'-deoxyguanosine, to yield vitamin B12-nucleobase conjugates. X-ray structures of the vitamin B12-cisplatin conjugate 1 as well as of the product with coordinated 9-methylguanine (2) are presented. The coordination geometry at Pt(II) is almost perfectly square-planar. The structure of the cobalamin compound remains essentially unchanged when compared with the original B(12) structure. The guanine moiety of compound 2 binds in a 45 degrees angle to the cisplatin molecule and interacts with neighboring molecules by means of pi stacking and hydrogen bonds.