An MO study of regioselective amine addition to ortho-quinones relevant to melanogenesis

Energy profiles for alternative intramolecular cyclisations of 4-(aminoalkyl)-ortho-quinones have been calculated using the AM1 method and ab initio energies of the transition states are determined. In all the cases cyclisation at position 5 occurs via a significantly lower energy transition state than cyclisation at position 3. This is consistent with experimental observations. Optimal trajectories for attack have been determined from a study of the reactions of methylamine with 4-methyl-ortho-quinone. For cyclisation of aminoalkyl derivatives deviation from the optimal direction is less for reaction at position 5 but constraint on angle of attack only partially accounts for the regioselectivity. Intrinsic differences in the electronic energies of the alternative transition states are the main contributor to regioselectivity. The relative energies of transition states can be modified by variation of the substituent at position 4. The calculations suggest that seven-membered ring formation may occur via a boat transition state and steric hindrance in the seven-membered transition states may account for the experimentally observed influence of N-substituents on the mode of reaction.