Fluoroquinolone Antimicrobials: Singlet Oxygen, Superoxide and Phototoxicity

The fluoroquinolone antibacterial agents possess photo-sensitizing properties that lead to phototoxic responses in both human and animal subjects. The phototoxicity order reported in humans is: fleroxacin > lomefloxacin, pefloxacin > ciprofloxacin ? enoxacin, norfloxacin and ofloxacin. Studies both in vivo and in vitro have related this phototoxicity to the generation of reactive oxygen species including hydrogen peroxide and the hydroxyl radical. We determined the quantum yields of singlet oxygen generation (φ_Δ,) by detection of the singlet oxygen (¹O₂) luminescence at 1270 tun for several fluoroquinolones, naphthyridines and other structurally related compounds. All the fluoroquinolones examined have low φ_Δ values ranging from 0.06 to 0.09 in phosphate buffer at pD 7.5. We also determined the ¹O₂ quenching constants for these compounds and their values were on the order of 10⁶M^?1 s¹, except for lomefloxacin whose rate constant was 1.8 × 10⁷M^?1 s^?1. The φ_Δ values were significantly decreased in a solvent of lower polarity such as methanol (0.007 ≤φ_Δ≤ 0.02). The production of ¹O₂ by these antibiotics did not correlate with the order reported for their phototoxicity. We also measured the photogeneration (λ > 300 nm) of superoxide by these antibacterials in dimethylsulfoxide using electron paramagnetic resonance and the spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-l-pyrroiine N-oxide. Although there is not a one-to-one correspondence between the relative rates of superoxide generation and the phototoxicity ranking of the fluoroquinolones, the more phototoxic compounds tended to produce superoxide at a faster rate. Nevertheless, the magnitudes of the observed differences do not appear sufficient to explain the range of fluoroquinolone phototoxicity potencies in human and animal subjects in general and the high activity of fleroxacin and lomefloxacin in particular. For these latter drugs the photoinduced loss of the F₈ atom as fluoride and the concomitant generation of a highly reactive carbene at C-8 provide a more plausible mechanism for their potent phototoxic and photocarcinogenic properties.     

A SPIN TRAPPING STUDY OF THE PHOTOCHEMISTRY OF 5,5-DIMETHYL-1-PYRROLINE N-OXIDE (DMPO)

The photochemistry of 5,5-dimethyl-l-pyrroline N -oxide (DMPO) has been studied in benzene, cyclohexane and aqueous buffer solutions (pH 7.4) by means of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and the spin trapping technique. Ultraviolet irradiation of DMPO in aqueous buffer with unfiltered UV radiation from a Xe arc lamp results in photoionization of the spin trap and the generation of the DMPO cation radical, DMPO⁺. The aqueous electron, e_aq⁻, was trapped by DMPO and detected as the DMPO/H adduct. The DMPO⁺- reacted with the water to yield the DMPO/OH adduct. Ultraviolet irradiation of DMPO in nitrogen-saturated benzene gave an unidentified carbon-centered DMPO adduct that was replaced by hydroperoxyl and alkoxyl adducts of DMPO when oxygen was present. Experiments employing ¹⁷O₂ gas indicated that the oxygen in the DMPO alkoxyl adduct was derived from molecular oxygen. However, UV irradiation of DMPO in cyclohexane yielded the cyclohexyl and cyclohexyloxyl adducts of DMPO in nitrogen-saturated and air-saturated solutions, respectively. These observations suggest that in aprotic solvents UV irradiation of DMPO generates a carbon-centered radical (R⁻), derived from the trap itself, which in benzene reacts with oxygen to yield an alkoxyl radical (RO⁻), possibly via a peroxyl radical (ROO⁻) intermediate. In cyclohexane R⁻ abstracts a hydrogen atom from the solvent to yield the cyclohexyl radical in the absence of oxygen and the cyclohexyloxyl radical in the presence of oxygen. These findings indicate that when DMPO is used as a spin trap in studies employing short-wavelength UV radiation (λ < 300 nm) the photochemistry of DMPO cannot be ignored.     

Iron chelation properties of an extracellular siderophore exochelin MN

The coordination chemistry of an extracellular siderophore produced by Mycobacterium neoaurum, exochelin MN (ExoMN), is reported along with its pK(a) values, Fe(III) and Fe(II) chelation constants, and aqueous solution speciation as determined by spectrophotometric and potentiometric titration techniques. Exochelin MN is of particular interest as it can efficiently transport iron into pathogenic M. leprae, which is responsible for leprosy, in addition to its own parent cells. The Fe(III) coordination properties of ExoMN are important with respect to understanding the Fe(III) acquisition and uptake mechanism in pathogenic M. leprae, as the siderophores from this organism are very difficult to isolate. Exochelin MN has two hydroxamic acid groups and an unusual threo-beta-hydroxy-l-histidine available for Fe(III) chelation. The presence of threo-beta-hydroxy-l-histidine gives rise to a unique mode of Fe(III) coordination. The pK(a) values for the two hydroxamic acid moieties, the histidine imidazole ring and the alkylammonium groups on ExoMN, correspond well with the literature values for these moieties. Proton-dependent Fe(III)- and Fe(II)-ExoMN equilibrium constants were determined using a model involving sequential protonation of the Fe(III)- and Fe(II)-ExoMN complexes. These data were used to develop a model whereby deprotonation reactions on the surface of the complex in the second coordination shell result in first coordination shell isomerization. The overall formation constants were calculated: log beta(110) = 39.12 for Fe(III)-ExoMN and 16.7 for Fe(II)-ExoMN. The calculated pFe value of 31.1 is one of the highest among all siderophores and their synthetic analogues and indicates that ExoMN is thermodynamically capable of removing Fe(III) from transferrin. The E(1/2) for the Fe(III)ExoMN/Fe(II)ExoMN(-) couple was determined to be -595 mV from quasi-reversible cyclic voltammograms at pH = 10.8, and the pH-dependent E(1/2) profile was used to determine the Fe(II)-ExoMN protonation constants.     

Non-empirical LCAO-MO-SCF calculations of the electronic structure of SiF2

Non-empirical LCAO-MO-SCF calculations on SiF₂ using two Gaussian basis sets are reported. The larger basis set gives a calculated geometry in good agreement with experiment. The effect on the energy and population analysis of optimization of the Si 3d exponent was investigated. 3d orbitals are found to be much less important in the bonding than in the isoelectronic molecule SO₂.     

Simplified electron ejection in Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry by suspended trapping

Suspended trapping is used to eject electrons in negative-ion Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometric experiments. In contrast to electron ejection by resonant excitation of the trapping motion, suspended trapping involves allowing the electrons to escape along the z-axis (perpendicular to the trap plates) while the trapping potential is briefly removed. The duration of this event is sufficiently short (～10 μs) so that ion losses are negligible; the overall effect is that of a ‘high-pass mass filter’. Suspended trapping is simpler to implement and more generally applicable to various cell geometries than resonant electron ejection. The effectiveness of the suspended trapping technique is not compromised by the anharmonicity of the potential well in ‘elongated’ ICR traps, but depends simply on the time it takes the electrons to escape the cell. Finally, a small, positive offset potential (～+0.25 V) applied to the trap plates during the suspended trapping event increases the efficiency of the ejection.     

Organosilicon compounds : LI. Further studies of the base-catalysed solvolysis of N-(triorganosilyl)anilines

Relative rates of solvolysis of some N-triorganosilylanilines in mixtures of ethanol and aqueous potassium hydroxide have been determined, with results as follows. (i) For XC₆H₄NHSiEt₃ compounds in MeOH (5 vol) + aq. alkali (2 vol) at 50°: (X =) H, 1.0;p-Me, 0.80;p-OMe, 0.83;m-Me, 0.90; o-Me, 0.87; p-SMe, 1.90; p-F, 1.7; p-Cl, 2.8; o-Cl, 14; m-Cl, 4.2; m-NO₂, 18; p-CN, ca. 43; p-NO₂, ca. 120. (ii) For PhNHSi(C₆H₄Y)₃ compounds in MeOH (10 vol) + aq. alkali (1 vol) at 50°: (Y =) H, 1.0; p-OMe, 0.12; p-Cl, ca. 32; m-Cl, ca. 84. (iii) For PhNHSiR₃ compounds in MeOH (5 vol) + aq. alkali (2 vol) : (R₃ =) Et₃, 1.0; Et₂Me, 18 (at 30°); Me₂-i-Pr, 8 (at 30°);Me₂-t-Bu, 0.012 (at 50°);i-Pr₃, 0.006 (at 50°). In series (i) the relative rates correlate with σ, or where appropriate σ^?-constants, with a ? value of 1.6. It is suggested that in the transition state of the rate-determining step the OSi bond is fully formed, or almost so, the SiN bond approximately 20—50% broken, and the bond between the nitrogen atom and a proton from the solvent ca. 10—30% formed.     

Aquation of K2 TcBr6 in dilute acid solutions

The photochemical aquation of K₂ TcBr₆ in 2M HRr, 1M HClO₄ and 1M H₂SO₄ has been studied. The absorption spectra of the various Tc(IV) species were measured after the electrophoretic separation. The spectrophotometric changes and the yield of each species as a function of the UV irradiation time were determined. After 25 hours of irradiation of HBr and HClO₄ solutions the main species were the cationic ones (80%) but in H₂SO₄ solution the neutral species reached a yield of 90%. The oxidation of Tc(IV) species to TcO ₄ ^– proceeded more rapidly and extensively in HClO₄ than in HBr and H₂SO₄.     

The protection of uracil and guanine residues in oligonucleotide synthesis

The protection of uracil and 2-$\text{N}$-acyl guanine residues with 4-$\text{O}$-phenyl [or 4-$\text{O}$-(2,4-dimethylphenyl)] and 6-$\text{O}$-(2-nitrophenyl) groups as in $\text{7a}$ [or $\text{7b}$] and $\text{9}$, respectively, is described. These $\text{O}$-aryl protecting groups, which appear to withstand the usual conditions of oligonucleotide synthesis, may readily be removed by treatment with 2-nitrobenzaldoximate ions.     

A simplified synthesis of the hexamethylplatinate(IV) ion

Tetra-n-butylammonium hexachloroplatinate (IV) reacts with lithium methyl/lithium iodide in ether to give a solution containing lithium hexamethylplatinate (IV). With lithium methyl/lithium bromide in ether however, tetrabutylammonium hexamethylplatinate (IV) is precipitated together with lithium halides. Solid [Bu₄N)₂[Pt(Ch₃)₆] is stable under nitrogen at room temperature, but ether solutions of [Pt(Ch₃)₆]^2- decompose in a few minutes at room temperature in the absence of excess lithium methyl.     

A traceless solid-phase synthesis of pteridines

The linking of pyrimidines to polystyrene supports via either a 2- or 4-thioether provides access to pteridines through solid-phase synthesis. Oxidative cleavage (dimethyldioxirane) followed by nucleophilic substitution by amines, azide, or water completes a traceless synthesis of pteridines.