Mini Review of Sulfur Heterocyclization from π-Electron Deficient Quinones via Charge-Transfer Interaction

Abstract

This survey is mainly concerned with selected reactions of 2,3-dichloro-1,4-naphthoquinone (DHNQ), 3,4,5,6-tetrachloro-1,2-benzoquinone (o-CHL), 2,3,5,6-tetrachloro-1,4-benzoquinone (p-CHL), and 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ) as π-deficient quinones that are used or offer potential use for sulfur heterocyclic synthesis. Reaction of various donors with the π-deficient quinones are studied, especially those via charge-transfer complex formation.     

New NH-substituted 1,4-naphtho- and 1,4-benzo- quinones: Synthesis,characterization and potential antiproliferative effect against MDA-MB-231 cells

Abstract

Eleven new alkyl and aryl amino quinones were synthesized from quinones (2,3-dibromo-1,4-naphthoquinone 1, 2-bromo-1,4-naphthoquinone 2, p-benzoquinone 3 or 2,6-dichloro-1,4-benzoquinone 8) with primary amines. The structures of all compounds were characterized by spectroscopic technics and elemental analysis. The structure of 2-((6,6-Dimethylbicyclo[3.1.1]heptan-2-yl)methylamino)-3-bromonaphthalene-1,4-dione (5a) was established by single crystal diffraction. 2-(2-(Ethylthio)ethylamino)naphthalene-1,4-dione (6b) was found to have noteworthy antiproliferative effect against MDA-MB-231 cells.     

Aktivierte Chinone: Substitution von Azulenen,Benzofuran und Indolen durch 2-Methoxycarbonyl-1,4-benzochinon. Regiospezifische Synthesen von Polymethoxy-fluorenonen und eine neue Synthese des 2,6-Dihydro-naphtho[1,2,3-cd]indol-6-on-Systems

Activated quinones: substitution reactions by methoxy-carbonyl-1,4-benzoquinone of azulenes, benzofuran and indoles; regiospecific syntheses of polymethoxy-fluorenones; a new synthesis of the 2,6-dihydro-naphtho[1,2,3-cd]indol-6-one system. We present new electrophilic substitution reactions of azulenes and 5-membered heterocyclics by methoxy-carbonyl-1,4-benzoquinone. Hydroquinones 3a and 5 are prepared from azulene, and 3b from guaiazulene (see Scheme 1). Benzofuran undergoes α- and β-substitution (hydroquinones 9 10 ) (see Scheme 2). Only β-substitution is observed with indole (hydroquinone 20 ) (see Scheme 4). After methylation, saponification and intramolecular acylation of the substituted indoles 22c, 22d , derivatives of 2,6-dihydro-naphtho[1,2,3-cd]indol-6-one have been obtained. Spectral data prove the presence of the methylidenequinone tautomer. By protonation or alkylation at the carbonyl group of 23 , the violet, highly delocalized 16π-electron systems 25 are generated. Analogously, polymethoxy-fluorenones have been prepared from methoxylated diphenylquinones 15 (see Scheme 3). They also are transformed by protonation and alkylation to the highly coloured and delocalized 12 π-electron systems 18 . By contrast, anthracene is not substituted by methoxycarbonyl-1,4-benzoquinone, but undergoes cycloaddition to the triptycene derivative 1 (see Scheme 1). A summary is presented of previously described reactions of activated quinones.     

Chemiluminescence assay for quinones based on generation of reactive oxygen species through the redox cycle of quinone

A sensitive and selective chemiluminescence assay for the determination of quinones was developed. The method was based on generation of reactive oxygen species through the redox reaction between quinone and dithiothreitol as reductant, and then the generated reactive oxygen was detected by luminol chemiluminescence. The chemiluminescence was intense, long-lived, and proportional to quinone concentration. It is concluded that superoxide anion was involved in the proposed chemiluminescence reaction because the chemiluminescence intensity was decreased only in the presence of superoxide dismutase. Among the tested quinones, the chemiluminescence was observed from 9,10-phenanthrenequinone, 1,2-naphthoquinone, and 1,4-naphthoquinone, whereas it was not observed from 9,10-anthraquinone and 1,4-benzoquinone. The chemiluminescence property was greatly different according to the structure of quinones. The chemiluminescence was also observed for biologically important quinones such as ubiquinone. Therefore, a simple and rapid assay for ubiquinone in pharmaceutical preparation was developed based on the proposed chemiluminescence reaction. The detection limit (blank + 3SD) of ubiquinone was 0.05 μM (9 ng/assay) with an analysis time of 30 s per sample. The developed assay allowed the direct determination of ubiquinone in pharmaceutical preparation without any purification procedure. Figure Chemiluminescence generated through the redox cycle of quinone     

Site-specific binding of quinones to proteins through thiol addition and addition-elimination reactions

Ubiquinone-0, menaquinone-0, and 2,3,5-trimethyl-1,4-benzoquinone were site-specifically bound to free cysteine of proteins (yeast iso-1 cytochrome c as a model protein) through thioether bond formation. Model thioether quinone conjugates showed unexpected reactivity to cysteine of proteins as their parent quinones by thiol addition-elimination reaction. Cyclic voltammetry studies of the model compounds showed only minor differences in their redox potentials as compared to their parent quinones. Thioether ligation provides a general, simple, and fast method to construct model quinone protein systems. In addition, these studies also contribute to the understanding of biological activities, toxicity, and anti-cancer mechanism of quinones and thioether quinone adducts.     

Anomalous behavior in the two-step reduction of quinones in acetonitrile

The electrochemical reduction of eight quinones, 9,10-anthraquinone (1), duroquinone (2), 2,6-di-tert-butyl-1,4-benzoquinone (3), 2,6-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone (4), 9,10-phenanthrenequinone (5), tetrachloro-1,2-benzoquinone (6), tetrabromo-1,2-benzoquinone (7) and 3,5-di-tert-butyl-1,2-benzoquinone (8), have been studied in acetonitrile. In every case it was found that cyclic voltammograms differed in significant ways from those expected for simple stepwise reduction of the quinone to its radical anion and dianion. The various types of deviations for the eight quinones have been cataloged and some speculation is offered concerning their origins.     

Effects of noncovalently bound quinones on the ground and triplet states of zinc chlorins in solution and bound to de novo synthesized peptides

The Qy absorption band of two chlorophyll derivatives, zinc chlorin e6 (ZnCe6) and zinc pheophorbide a (ZnPheida), in aqueous solution is bathochromically shifted on addition of quinones, e.g., 1,4-benzoquinone (BQ), with a corresponding shift of the fluorescence band. This is due to a complex formation of zinc chlorins induced by BQs and subsequent rearrangement. The time-resolved absorption spectra after laser pulse excitation show triplet quenching of the pigments by BQ and other quinones via electron transfer. The effects of electron transfer to noncovalently bound BQs were also studied with de novo synthesized peptides, into which ZnCe6 and ZnPheida were incorporated as model systems for the primary steps of photosynthetic reaction centers. Whereas the photophysical properties are similar to those of the unbound zinc chlorins, no BQ-mediated complex formation was observed.     

Photoreactions of p-quinones with dimethyl sulfide and dimethyl sulfoxide in aqueous acetonitrile. goerner@mpi-muelheim.mpg.de

The effects of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) on the photoreactions of 1,4-benzoquinone (BQ), 1,4-naphthoquinone (NQ), 9,10-anthraquinone (AQ) and several derivatives in acetonitrile/water were studied. The observed triplet state of the quinones is quenched and the rate constant is close to the diffusion-controlled limit for reactions of most quinones with DMS and lower with DMSO. Semiquinone radical anions (Q*-) produced by electron transfer from sulfur to the triplet quinone were detected. For both DMS and DMSO the yield of Q*- is similar, being generally low for BQ and NQ, substantial for AQ and largest for chloranil. The specific quencher concentrations and the effects of quinone structure and redox potentials on the time-resolved photochemical properties are discussed.     

Preparation and electrochemical properties of palladium(0) complexes coordinated by quinones and 1,5-cyclooctadiene

The complexes Pd(quinone)(COD) (COD = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) are prepared by a ligand substitution reaction of Pd₂(DBA)₃ (DBA = dibenzylideneacetone) in the presence of both quinone and COD. Palladium(0) complexes coordinated by quinones only are formed in the reaction in the absence of COD. The cyclic voltammetric behavior of Pd(quinone)(COD) has been studied. The reduction potentials for quinones shifted toward negative values on coordination to palladium(0). The oxidation potentials for the central palladium(0) in Pd(quinone)(COD) depend on the electron-withdrawing ability of the free quinones, and are in the following series: quinone = p-benzoquinone < 5,8-dihydro-1,4-naphthoquinone ～ 1,4-naphthoquinone < duroquinone. The shift of oxidation potentials for Pd(quinone)(COD) on changing the quinones as ligands is in contrast to that of Pd(quinone)(triphenylphosphine)₂.     

New method for detection and spectrophotometric determination of quinones

The reaction between 3-phenylthiazolidine-2,4-dione (I) and p-benzoquinone (II), tetrachloro-p-benzoquinone (III), and 1,4-naphthoquinone (IV) in ammoniacal medium is applied for detection and spectrophotometric determination of quinones. The absorbance-concentration relationship is linear up to 18 μg/ml of quinone concentration. The lower limits of identification in the detection reaction are 2.5, 3.0, and 1 μg for (II), (III), and (IV), respectively, which reflect high sensitivity. The reaction between (I) and quinones is proved to be a condensation reaction and highly selective.     

Photosensitized reduction and DNA covalent binding of aziridinylquinones

Photolysis of anaerobic aqueous mixtures (at wavelength maxima above 600 nm and at pH 7.4) containing either aluminum phthalocyanine tetrasulfonate (AlPcS₄), chlorin e6 (CHLORIN), pheophorbide-a (PHEO) or a novel tetracationic phthalocyanine derivative (TETCHLORIN) in the presence of the quinones diaziquone (AZQ), carboquone (CARBOQ) or 2,5-dicloro-diaziridinyl-1,4-benzoquinone (AZDClQ) produces the corresponding semiquinones. Photolysis of these mixtures under the conditions stated above, but in the presence of DNA and at pH 5.5 produces quinone–DNA covalent adducts. Absorption bands seen in irradiated solutions suggest binding of these quinones to DNA through the open aziridine ring. In general, the quinone CARBOQ yielded the largest amounts of adducts photosensitized by the dyes studied here. No quinone–DNA adducts were detected if samples were irradiated at pH 7.4.Thus, both photoreduction of these quinones and an acidic environment are needed for these quinones to bind DNA. These results suggest a potential mode of therapy with special applications to hypoxic regions in solid tumors which are characterized by an acidic environment.     

Spectrophotometric kinetic and determination of quinones and barbiturates.

The kinetics of 1,3-dimethylbarbituric acid with some quinones, namely 1,4-benzoquinone, 1,4-naphthoquinone and p-chloranil in 50% methyl alcohol-water mixture have been investigated spectrophotometrically at 30-50 degrees C. The reaction follows overall second-order kinetics, first order each in reactant. From the dependence of the rate constants on temperature, activation parameters have been calculated. A plot of deltaH# versus deltaS# for the reaction gave a good straight line with an isokinetic temperature of 387.66 K. The rate of reaction increases with increasing dielectric constant of the medium. Based on this reaction, a spectrophotometric determination method of quinones is described. Beer's law was obeyed within the concentration range 2.7-61.5 microg ml(-1) quinone. The method was applied for determination of barbituric, thiobarbituric and 1,3-dimethylbarbituric acids with 1,4-naphthoquinone within a concentration range of 3.2-39.5 microg ml(-1) barbiturate. The reaction mechanism and reactivity have been discussed.     

Diels-alder reactions with 2-(Arylsulfinyl)-1,4-benzoquinones: effect of aryl substitution on reactivity, chemoselectivity, and pi-facial diastereoselectivity

Diels-Alder reactions of (SS)-2-(2'-methoxynaphthylsulfinyl)-1, 4-benzoquinone (1b), 2-(p-methoxyphenylsulfinyl)-1,4-benzoquinone (1c), and 2-(p-nitrophenylsulfinyl)-1,4-benzoquinone (1d) with cyclopentadiene are reported. These cycloadditions allowed the highly chemo- and stereoselective formation of both diastereoisomeric endo-adducts resulting from reaction on the unsubstituted double bond C(5)-C(6) of quinones working under thermal and Eu(fod)(3)- or BF(3).OEt(2)-catalyzed conditions. The synthesis of endo-adduct [4aS,5S,8R,8aR,SS]-9d resulting from cycloaddition on the substituted C(2)-C(3) double bond was achieved in a chemo- and diastereoselective way from quinone 1d in the presence of ZnBr(2). The reactivity and selectivity of the process proved to be dependent on the electron density of the arylsulfinyl group.     

Photoreduction of p-benzoquinones: effects of alcohols and amines on the intermediates and reactivities in solutions

The photochemistry of 1,4-benzoquinone (BQ) and alkyl-, Cl- and related derivatives, e.g. methyl-, 2,6-dimethyl-, chloro-, 2,5-dichloro-1,4-benzoquinone, duroquinone and chloranil, was studied in nonaqueous solvents by UV-vis spectroscopy using nanosecond laser pulses at 308 nm. The reactivity of the triplet state (3Q*) of the quinones with 2-propanol in the absence of water is largest for BQ and depends mainly on the quinone structure, whereas the rate constant of electron transfer from amines, such as triethylamine (TEA) or 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane, is close to the diffusion-controlled limit for BQ and most derivatives. Photoinduced charge separation after electron transfer from amines to 3Q* and the subsequent charge recombination or neutralization are supported by time-resolved conductivity measurements. The half-life of the decay kinetics of the semiquinone radical (*QH/Q*-) depends significantly on the donor and the medium. The photoconversion into the hydroquinones was measured under various conditions, the quantum yield, lambda(irr) = 254 nm, increases with increasing 2-propanol and TEA concentrations. The effects of quenching of 3Q*, the *QH/Q*- radicals and the photoconversion are outlined. The mechanisms of photoreduction of quinones in acetonitrile by 2-propanol are compared with those by TEA in benzene and acetonitrile, and the specific properties of substitution are discussed.     

Spectrophotometric assay of yeast vitality using 2,3,5,6-tetramethyl-1,4-benzoquinone and tetrazolium salts.

A method for the spectrophotometric assay of yeast vitality was developed using 2,3,5,6-tetramethyl-1,4-benzoquinone and tetrazolium salts. The metabolic efficiency of 2,3,5,6-tetramethyl-1,4-benzoquinone by yeast cells was used as an index of yeast vitality. 2,3,5,6-Tetramethyl-1,4-benzoquinone was reduced to 2,3,5,6-tetramethyl-1,4-hydroquinone by yeast cells. Then, the superoxide anion radicals generated from O2 by reduction with 2,3,5,6-tetramethyl-1,4-hydroquinone under alkaline conditions reduced tetrazolium salts to formazan, which exhibited absorbance maxima at 440 nm. A linear relationship between the absorbance and viable cell density was obtained in the range of 1.0 x 10(5)-2.0 x 10(7) cells/ml for a sample solution. During the cultivation of yeast cells, the absorbance showed almost an anti-parallel change with that of glucose in yeast growth and fermentation, suggesting that the absorbance change reflected the vitality of yeast cells.     

Cyclic voltammetry and theoretical calculations of silyl-substituted 1,4-benzoquinones

Cyclic voltammograms of 2,3,5,6-tetrakis(trimethylsilyl)-1,4-benzoquinone (1a), 2,3,5,6-tetrakis(dimethylvinylsilyl)-1,4-benzoquinone (1b), 2,3,5,6-tetrakis(dimethylsilyl)-1,4-benzoquinone (1c), 4,4,6,6,10,10,12,12-octamethyl-4,6,10,12-tetrasilatricyclo[7.3.0.0^3,7]dodeca-1(9),3(7)-diene-2,8-dione (1d), and 5-t-butyl-2-(pentamethyldisilanyl)-1,4-benzoquinone (5h) showed that the first reduction step was reversible and that the second step was irreversible. The first half-wave reduction potentials of 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d shifted negatively relative to 1,4-benzoquinone by −0.31, −0.24, −0.03, and −0.18 V, respectively. These results demonstrated that the electron-accepting ability of the chair-form quinones 1a and 1b was lower than that of the planar quinones 1c and 1d. The of 5h (−0.93 V vs. Ag/Ag⁺) was quite similar to that of 5-t-butyl-2-trimethylsilyl-1,4-benzoquinone (5a, −0.94 V). A cyclic voltammogram of dimethylsilylene-bridged 1,4-benzoquinone dimer 7 showed two kinds of (−0.76 and −0.94 V). The electrochemical behavior of 7 would be interpreted in terms of near-neighbor interactions between reduced and non-reduced quinone units. Theoretical calculations of the silyl-1,4-benzoquinones reproduced well the solid state structures of the compounds. Also, the computed vibrational frequencies of the silyl-1,4-benzoquinones were in good agreement with the IR absorption frequencies of the CO units in the compounds. The LUMO energy levels of the silyl-1,4-benzoquinones were quantitatively proportional to the .     

Photochemistry of Water-soluble Quinones. Production of a Water-derived Spin Adduct

Abstract— The photolyses of phosphate-buffered (pH 7) air- and nitrogen-saturated solutions containing the water-soluble quinones, 1,4-benzoquinone (BQ), 2-methyl-l,4-ben-zoquinone (MBQ), sodium 1,4-naphthoquinones-sulfonate (NQ2S), 9,10-anthraquinone-2-sulfonate (AQ2S) or 9,10-anthraquinone-l,5-disulfonate (AQDS), and the spin trap 5,5-dimethylpyrroline-l-oxide (DMPO) produce a DMPO-OH adduct. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy of the photolyzed samples in ₁₇0-enriched water demonstrates that this adduct derives almost exclusively from water. With the exception of BQ, quantum yields for the formation of DMPO-OH are larger in air than in nitrogen-saturated samples, thus supporting the idea of the formation of air-oxidized intermediates that enhance the DMPO hydroxylation reaction rate. Evidence has been obtained which suggests that BQ and MBQ, but not AQDS, are able to photoox-idize water, with the consequent production of the free OH radical.     

Formation of dimer-type ketals in the reaction of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol and 2,4,6-trichloro-m-cresol with calcium hypochlorite in methanol: conversion to quinones and other compounds

2,4,6-Trichlorophenol (2) and 2,4,6-trichloro-m-cresol (5) react with calcium hypochlorite (Ca(OCl)(2)) in MeOH to give respectively dimer-type ketals 2-(2',4',6'-trichlorophenoxy)-4,4-dimethoxy-6-chlorocyclohexadien-2,5-one (6) and 2-(3'-methyl-2',4',6'-trichlorophenoxy)-4,4-dimethoxy-5-methyl-6-chlorocyclohexadien-2,5-one (7). Ketal 6, which was too unstable to be isolated, and 7 hydrolyzed in H(2)O/HCl to 2-(2',4',6'-trichlorophenoxy)-6-chloro-1,4-benzoquinone (8) and 2-(3'-methyl-2',4',6'-trichlorophenoxy)-5-methyl-6-chloro-1,4-benzoquinone (9), respectively. Ketal 6 and quinone 8 were also produced when 2 and Ca(OCl)(2) reacted in DMF, followed by addition of MeOH and H(2)O, respectively. The mechanisms of these reactions are examined. Conversion of the ketals and quinones to other products is described.     

Electrocatalytic influence of underpotential Tl,Pb and Bi monolayers on the electrochemical behaviour of rhodizonic acid and tetrahydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone on Pt in acid solutions

The electrochemical behaviour of rhodizonic acid and tetrahydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone on bare Pt and Pt surfaces covered by heavy metal monolayers deposited at underpotentials was studied in aqueous 0.5 M HClO₄ solutions. It was found that Tl, Pb and Bi monolayers catalyse markedly the oxidation of rhodizonic acid and tetrahydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone. The same underpotential layers improve the reversibility of the redox system tetrahydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone/hexahydroxybenzene. The enhancement of the overall oxidation and reduction processes has been interpreted in terms of the change of the reaction mechanism from an “inner sphere” mechanism on bare platinum to an “outer sphere” one of the Pt surfaces covered by underpotential layers. The two-electron oxidation of tetrahydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone to rhodizonic acid is followed by a rapid pseudo-first-order hydration reaction, the kinetics of which were studied by ring-disc experiments.     

Towards configurationally stable [4]helicenes: enantioselective synthesis of 12-substituted 7,8-dihydro[4]helicene quinones

The synthesis of enantiopure C-12 methoxy- or alkyl-substituted 5,7,8,12b-tetrahydro[4]helicene quinones 16 and 17 and the 7,8-dihydroaromatic analogues 4 and 5 has been achieved from (SS)-2-(p-tolylsulfinyl)-1,4-benzoquinone. In the first series, with a structure containing both central and helical chiralities, the R absolute configuration of the stereogenic carbon atom was defined after the asymmetric cycloaddition step, whereas the P or M helicity was shown to be dependent on the nature of the C-12 substituent. The size of this group was also defining the configurational stability of the final (P)-7,8-dihydro[4]helicene quinones 4 and 5. The interconversion barriers between the P and M helimers in the latter, computed with a DFT B3LYP method, matched well with the experimentally observed stability. Our study provided evidence that, in addition to steric effects, a small but significant role of electronic effects is governing the configurational stability of such helical quinones.