Comparative studies on the DNA-binding properties of linear and angular dibenzoquinolizinium ions

The interaction of the linear dibenzo[b,g]quinolizinium (5a) and the angular dibenzo[a,f]quinolizinium (6) with DNA was studied in detail in order to evaluate the influence of the shape of polycyclic quinolizinium ions on their DNA-binding properties. First, the synthesis and the thermally induced dimerization of 5a were reinvestigated because the preparation and isolation of the bromide salt of 5a according to literature procedures turned out to be problematic. The dibenzo[b,g]quinolizinium bromide [5a(Br)] tends to dimerize in solution with a highly selective and unprecedented formation of the corresponding anti-head-to-head dimer. Nevertheless, it was observed that careful exclusion of bromide ions from the reaction mixture suppresses the formation of the dimer. Moreover, the dimer may be transformed to the monomer by a remarkably rapid photoinduced electron-transfer reaction with 1-methoxynaphthalene. The association of 5a and 6 with nucleic acids was investigated by spectrophotometric and spectrofluorimetric DNA titrations, CD and LD spectroscopy, DNA thermal denaturation studies, and competition-dialysis techniques. Both dibenzoquinolizinium ions 5a and 6 exhibit an intercalative mode of binding to double-stranded DNA with moderate binding constants (K = 1-7 x 10(5) M(-1)) and a slight preference for association with GC-rich DNA regions. The structures of the intercalation complexes were calculated by molecular modeling methods. Competition-dialysis studies reveal that the isomers 5a and 6 bind selectively to triple-helical DNA (poly[dA]-poly[dT]2) as compared to selected synthetic and native double-stranded nucleic acids. Notably, the selectivity of the linear dibenzo[b,g]quinolizinium 5a toward triplex DNA is higher than the one of the angular derivative 6. In contrast, the DNA thermal denaturation studies reveal a higher stabilization of triple-helical DNA in the presence of 6 (DeltaTm3-->2 = 28 degrees C at r = 0.5) as compared to the stabilization by 5a (DeltaTm3-->2 = 14 degrees C at r = 0.5). This comparison emphasizes the importance of the extended pi system for the interaction of annelated quinolizinium ions with DNA. Moreover, the comparison between 5a and 6 demonstrates the significant influence of the shape of the pi system on the duplex- and triplex-stabilizing properties of the dibenzoquinolizinium ions.     

N-aryl-9-amino-substituted acridizinium derivatives as fluorescent "light-up" probes for DNA and protein detection

[reaction: see text] N-Arylamino-substituted acridizinium (benzo[b]quinolizinium) derivatives are almost nonfluorescent in water or organic solvents; however, upon addition of calf thymus DNA or bovine serum albumin the fluorescence intensity increases by a factor of 10 to 50. Thus, these dyes exhibit ideal properties to be used as DNA- and protein-sensitive "light-up probes".     

Influence of micellar media on the fluorescence of various benzo- and methyl-quinolizinium salts

The bebaviour of several different micelar systems (anionic, cationic and non-ionic) on the fluorescence of quinolizinium salts is studied. Important factors, such as pH and ionic strength that influence fluorescence parameters, are discussed. Fourteen quinolizinium salts (benzo and methyl derivatives) are examined as fluorescent probes in micellar media. All of them showed a marked increase of fluorescence intensity when sodium dodecyl sulfate solutions of critical micelle concentration (CMC) are added. The presence of non-ionic surfactants did not change the fluorescent emission of the probes. The emission intensity is much decreased when N-cetyl-N,N,N- trimethylammonium bromide concentrations are above the CMC. Changes in pH ido not significantly affect the fluorescence intensity of the benzo derivatives. Increasing the ionic strength decreases the fluorescence. For 9-cyanobenzo[a]phenanthro [9,10-g] quinolizinium chloride, the spectrum changes when the surfactant concentration is high than the CMC thereforre this compound is considered to be a good fluorescent probe in icell     

Study of the lumiescence properties of a new series of quinolizinium salts and their interaction with DNA

The spectrofluorimetric characteristic of a new group of benzo- and methyl- quinolizinium salts at room temperature and 77 LK are reported. At room temperature, linear calibration is wide; 10^-9 M 9-cyanobenzo [a] phenathro [9,10-g] quinolizinium chloride can be detected in methanolic solution and 10^-7 M in aqueous solution. The polynuclear compounds show the most intense luminescence bands, and a significant hypsochromic shift of the fluorenscence emission maximum was observed at 77 K compared with room temperature. For the 2,3-diphenyl derivatives, the presence of a methoxy substituent produces a marked Stoke's shift, because it causes a decrease in the planarity of the molecule. The benzo compounds are similar in structure to the alkaloid coralyne, which has significant antileuikemic activity. The fused planar aromatic compounds are shown to bind with DNA.     

Reduction of bowl-shaped hydrocarbons: dianions and tetraanions of annelated corannulenes

[structure: see text] The reduction of several annelated corannulene derivatives was undertaken using lithium and potassium metals. It was found that annelation affects the annulenic character of corannulene by changing its charge distribution; the dianions of derivatives that are annelated with six-membered rings have less annulenic character and are less paratropic than corannulene dianion. This effect is even more pronounced in corannulenes that are peri-annelated with five-membered rings. The alkali metal used in the reduction process has a great influence on the outcome, especially on the degree of reduction. Most derivatives get reduced to tetraanions only with potassium, and not with lithium, the exception being systems that can stabilize the tetraanion with lithium by special means, such as aggregation or dimerization. One such system is cyclopenta[bc]corannulene (acecorannulylene), which gives a coordinative dimer that consists of two cyclopentacorannulene tetraanions, bound together in a convex-convex fashion by lithium cations. The points of contact in this dimer are two rehybridized carbons from each cyclopentacorannulene unit, which are bridged together by two lithium cations.     

Synthesis of 6-amino-3,4-dihydroisoquinolinium derivatives by ring-opening reactions of acridizinium ions

The reaction of the 9-fluoroacridizinium (9-fluorobenzo[b]quinolizinium) or the 9-aminoacridizinium (9-aminobenzo[b]quinolizinium) ion with primary alkyl amines gives with high diastereoselectivity 6-amino-3,4-dihydroisoquinolinium derivatives as main products, which exhibit pronounced absorption and fluorescence properties. It is proposed that the reaction proceeds via a nucleophilic ring-opening followed by an aza Diels-Alder reaction.     

Efficient functionalization of quinolizinium cations with organotrifluoroborates in water

An efficient functionalization of the quinolizinium system is reported. The reaction of the four isomeric bromoquinolizinium salts with different organotrifluoroborates afforded alkyl-, vinyl-, aryl-, and heteroaryl quinolizinium derivatives in moderate or good yields. Reactions are carried out in water using a counterion exchange for the isolation of the cationic-coupled compounds.     

Fluorimetric detection of Mg2+ and DNA with 9-(alkoxyphenyl)benzo[b]quinolizinium derivatives

A benzo[b]quinolizinium-benzo-15-crown-5 ether conjugate 2a is presented that enables the fluorimetric detection of Mg(2+) and DNA by a significant light-up effect, along with a change of the emission wavelength with different analytes (Mg(2+): 495 nm; DNA: 550 nm). The mechanism of the excited-state deactivation of 2a was investigated by steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy in media of varied viscosity and compared with the photophysical properties of methoxyphenyl-substituted benzo[b]quinolizinium 2b (m,p-diOMe), 2c (m-OMe), and 2d (p-OMe) as reference compounds. Compounds 2a-c, which share the m-alkoxyphenyl substituent as the common feature, have low emission quantum yields (Φ(F) < 10(-2) in water) but exhibit a significant increase of their fluorescence intensity in viscous glycerol solutions. In contrast, the viscosity of the medium does not influence the emission properties of the parent phenyl-substituted benzo[b]quinolizinium 2e and of the p-methoxyphenyl-substituted derivative 2d. Based on these observations it is concluded that the excited-state deactivation in 2a-c is mainly due to the rotation of the m-alkoxy group about the C(ar)-O bond. The interaction of 2a-c with DNA or Mg(2+) ions was studied by spectrophotometric titrations and CD spectroscopy. Notably, the association of 2a or 2b with DNA or 2a with Mg(2+) ions induces a strong fluorescence enhancement (15- and 40-fold for DNA, 450-fold for Mg(2+)), which is rationalized by the suppression of the torsional-relaxation of the alkoxy-substituent in the excited state. Additionally, the cation-induced light-up effect of 2a is selective towards Mg(2+) ions as compared with other cations such as NH(4)(+), Li(+), Na(+), K(+) and Ba(2+).     

13C NMR spectra of some monosubstituted quinolizinium bromides

Chemical shifts are reported for quinolizinium bromide and 12 monosubstituted derivatives, carrying a bromohydroxy, diethylamino or piperidino group as the substituent. In addition, ¹J(CH) values and long-range coupling constants are given.     

2-Methylpyridinium salts as 1,4-dinucleophiles. II. Westphal condensation with substituted pyridinium substrates

Condensation of α-methylpyridinium, quinolinium and isoquinolinium salts with 1,2-dicarbonyls in the presence of base, yielded quinolizinium derivatives. In an analogous process, α-benzyl derivatives produced 2,3-dihydroindolizin-2-ones by intramolecular cyclisation.     

Reaction of 2-polyfluoroalkylchromones with 1,3,3-trimethyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinolines and methylketimines as a direct route to zwitterionic axially chiral 6,7-dihydrobenzo[a]quinolizinium derivatives and 2,6-diaryl-4-polyfluoroalkylpyridines

[reaction: see text] 2-Polyfluoroalkylchromones react with 1,3,3-trimethyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinolines to give zwitterionic axially chiral 6,7-dihydrobenzo[a]quinolizinium derivatives in high yields. In addition, performing this reaction with aromatic methylketimines is a simple and convenient synthesis of 2,6-diaryl-4-polyfluoroalkylpyridines.     

The synthesis of new tetrabenzo- and tetranaphthoporphyrins via the addition reactions of 4,7-dihydroisoindole

The double bond in 4,7-dihydroisoindole derivatives was shown to be a useful reaction site to afford new porphyrinogenic pyrrolic precursors bearing substituted annelated rings via various addition reactions. These precursors are further used to afford new extended porphyrins substituted in the annelated rings. The Sharpless osmium-catalyzed dihydroxylation of dihydroisoindole system was shown to be useful in the synthesis of non-ionogenic water-soluble porphyrin, as well as tetrabenzoporphyrin bearing acetoxy-substituents in benzo-rings. The reverse electron-demand Diels-Alder reaction with tetrachlorothiophene-1,1-dioxide afforded new polychlorosubstituted tetranaphthoporphyrin.     

PHOTOSENSITIZED SPLITTING OF PYRIMIDINE DIMERS IN DNA BY INDOLE DERIVATIVES AND TRYPTOPHAN-CONTAINING PEPTIDES

Abstract —Indole derivatives, such as serotonin or the oligopeptide Lys-Trp-Lys, are able to photosensitize the splitting of thymine dimers in DNA. These indole derivatives have to be bound to DNA in order to efficiently photosensitize the splitting reaction. Serotonin may also induce the photosensitized formation of thymine-containing dimers in native DNA. In this case, an equilibrium is reached when 5 per cent of the total thymines are dimerized. In both cases (splitting and dimer formation), the formation of electron donor-acceptor complexes between either dimers or two adjacent thymine monomers, and excited indole rings, could be an intermediate step in the reactions. Thymine-dimer splitting would then result from an electron transfer reaction involving the indole ring as the electron donor. These results are discussed with respect to the mechanism of action of the photoreactivating enzyme.     

Synthesis and reactions of methylbenzo[c]quinolizinium salts

Six isomers of the methylbenzo[c]quinolizinium salt 3 including four new monomethyl derivatives were synthesized by thermal-intramolecular quaternization of the cis-methyl-substituted 2-[2-(2-chlorophenyl)-vinyl]pyridines 4 or by the irradiation of trans- 4 with selected wavelengths (290 < λ < 340 nm and λ > 400 nm) in acetonitrile. Among the regioisomeric monomethyl derivatives 3 , the 1-, 3-, and 6-methyl derivatives 3b, 3d , and 3g reacted with p-methoxybenzaldehyde in the presence of bis(l-piperidino)-(p-methoxyphenyl)-methane 7 to yield trans-(p-methoxystyryl)benzo[c]quinolizinium salts 6 . The reactivity of 3 and methylbenzo[a]quinolizinium salts 1 was discussed on the basis of their π-electron energy.     

Cycloaromatization of α-oxoketene dithioacetals with 2-picolyllithium: A facile quinolizinium cation annelation

α-Oxoketene dithioacetals derived from various cyclic and acyclic ketones are shown to be useful intermediates for the synthesis of substituted and fused quinolizinium derivatives by reaction with 2-picolyllithium followed by cyclization in the presence of borontrifluoride etherate.     

Evaluation of inhibitory effects of benzothiazole and 3-amino-benzothiazolium derivatives on DNA topoisomerase II by molecular modeling studies

There has been considerable interest in DNA topoisomerases over the last decade, as they have been shown to be one of the major cellular targets in anticancer drug development. Previously we synthesized some benzothiazole derivatives and corresponding benzothiazolium forms, and tested their DNA inhibitory activity to develop novel antitumor agents. Among the 12 prepared compounds, compound BM3 (3-aminobenzothiazole-3-ium 4-methylbenzene sulfonate) exhibited extreme topoisomerase II inhibitory activity compared with the reference drug etoposide. We also tried to determine the DNA and enzyme binding abilities of BM3 and found that BM3 acted on topoisomerase II first at low doses, while it had also showed DNA minor groove binding properties at higher doses. In this study the interactions between DNA topoisomerase II and the compounds were examined in detail by molecular modelling studies such as molecular docking and pharmacophore analysis performed using Discovery Studio 3.5. As a result, it was found that benzothiazolium compounds exhibited a totally different mechanism than benzothiazoles by binding to the different amino acids at the active site of the protein molecule. 3-Aminobenzothiazoliums are worthy of carrying onto anticancer studies; BM3 especially would be a good anticancer candidate for preclinical studies.     

ROLE OF COMPLEX FORMATION IN THE PHOTOSENSITIZED DEGRADATION OF DNA INDUCED BY N'-FORMYLKYNURENINE

Abstract— N'-Formylkynurenine derivatives efficiently bind to DNA or polynucleotides. Homopolynucleotides and DNA display marked differences in the binding process. Association constants are derived which indicate that the oxidized indole ring is more strongly bound to DNA than the unoxidized one. Irradiation of such complexes with wavelengths greater than 320 nm induces pyrimidine dimer formation as well as DNA chain breaks. Complex formation is shown to play an important role in these photosensitized reactions.
The photodynamic action of N'-formylkynurenine on DNA constituents is negligible at neutral pH but guanine and xanthine derivatives are sensitizable at higher pH. Thymine dimer splitting can occur in aggregated frozen aqueous solutions of N'-formylkynurenine and thymine dimer but this photosensitized splitting is negligible in liquid solutions at room temperature.     

Extending Pummerer reaction chemistry: studies in the palau'amine synthesis area

Exploratory oxidative cyclization studies on cyclopentanelated and cyclohexenelated oroidin derivatives utilized Pummerer chemistry to generate pentacyclic structures related to the palau'amine family of sponge metabolites. Stereochemical issues were paramount, and appropriate choice of annelated ring size led to formation of the pentacyclic framework with complete diastereoselectivity for all of the core bonds.     

Applied biological and physicochemical activity of isoquinoline alkaloids: oxoisoaporphine and boldine

The aim of this study was to determine the electronic influence of substituent groups and annelated rings such as oxazole-oxazinone on the physicochemical and photoprotection, antioxidant capacity, toxicity and singlet oxygen photosensitization biological properties of isoquinoline alkaloid frameworks. Thus, oxoisoaporphine derivatives 1-5 and 3-azaoxoisoaporphine (6), some of them with phenolic structures, did not present any antioxidant capacity, possibly either by formation of keto-enol tautomerism species or the formation of unstable free radicals. Due to the singlet oxygen quantum yields (F_D) near to unity, and greater photostability than phenalenone, oxoisoaporphines 4-6 may be considered as photosensitizers for singlet oxygen production and can be used as new universal study tools. The biological application as antibacterial agents is an important and possible tool in the study of compounds with low cytotoxicity and high reactivity in antineoplastic chemotherapy. On the other hand, when boldine and its annelated derivatives B1-4 are irradiated, a photoprotector effect is observed (SPF = 2.35), even after 30 minutes of irradiation. They also act as photoprotectors in cell fibroblast cultures. No hemolysis was detected for boldine hydrochloride and its salts without irradiation. In solutions irradiated before incubation (at concentrations over 200 ppm) photoproducts were toxic to the nauplii of Artemia salina.     

Photosensitized DNA damage and its protection via a novel mechanism

UVA, which accounts for approximately 95% of solar UV radiation, can cause mutations and skin cancer. Based mainly on the results of our study, this paper summarizes the mechanisms of UVA-induced DNA damage in the presence of various photosensitizers, and also proposes a new mechanism for its chemoprevention. UVA radiation induces DNA damage at the 5'-G of 5'-GG-3' sequence in double-stranded DNA through Type I mechanism, which involves electron transfer from guanine to activated photosensitizers. Endogenous sensitizers such as riboflavin and pterin derivatives and an exogenous sensitizer nalidixic acid mediate DNA photodamage via this mechanism. The major Type II mechanism involves the generation of singlet oxygen from photoactivated sensitizers, including hematoporphyrin and a fluoroquinolone antibacterial lomefloxacin, resulting in damage to guanines without preference for consecutive guanines. UVA also produces superoxide anion radical by an electron transfer from photoexcited sensitizers to oxygen (minor Type II mechanism), and DNA damage is induced by reactive species generated through the interaction of hydrogen peroxide with metal ions. The involvement of these mechanisms in UVA carcinogenesis is discussed. In addition, we found that xanthone derivatives inhibited DNA damage caused by photoexcited riboflavin via the quenching of its excited triplet state. It is thus considered that naturally occurring quenchers including xanthone derivatives may act as novel chemopreventive agents against photocarcinogenesis.