Photooxygenolytic Degradation of the Vitamin-B12 Derivative Heptamethyl Coα,Coβ-Dicyanocobyrinate. Efficient Preparation of Bicyclic Fragments

The methylene-blue sensitized photooxygenation of heptamethyl Coα,Coβ-dicyanocobyrinate ( 1 , cobester) at ca. ?45° and in (D₃)acetonitrile solution proceeds readily to the stage of selective double cleavage of the corrin macrocycle. It furnishes the bisected heptamethyl Coα,Coβ-dicyano-5,6:14,15-tetraoxo-5,6:14,15-disecocobyrinate ( 3 ) in 91% yield after warming the photooxygenation mixture to room temperature. Complex 3 is also obtained by photooxygenation of the secocorrinoid oxygenation products of 1 , namely of heptamethyl Coα,Coβ-dicyano-5,6-dioxo-5,6-secocobyrinate ( 2a ) and of its isomer heptamethyl Coα,Coβ-dicyano-14,15-dioxo-14,15-secocobyrinate ( 2b ). When the raw photooxygenation product of 1 is kept at low temperature, 3 is not formed in a significant amount; spectral analysis reveals 4 as intermediate that is transformed into 3 quantitatively upon warm-up and storage at r.t. Compound 4 is assigned the structure of heptamethyl Coα,Coβ-dicyano-5,6-epidioxy-5,6-dihydro-14,15-dioxo-14,15-secocobyrinate, based on NMR-spectral data and since 4 is also formed cleanly in the corresponding low-temperature photooxygenation of 2b . Catalytic reduction of the Co(III) complex 3 (H₂, Pt/C) in the presence of EDTA produces a colourless oil, from which the bicyclic fragments 5 (corresponding to rings A and D of 1 ) and 6 (corresponding to rings B and C of 1 ) are obtained in 99 and 91% yield, respectively, after chromatographic separation.     

The Light-Induced Oxygenation of the B-Didehydrocorrinoid Vitamin-B12 Derivative ‘Pyrocobester’

The didehydrocorrinoid derivative of vitamin B₁₂, ‘pyrocobester’ 1 (hexamethyl Coα, Cob?-dicyano-7-de (carboxymethyl)-7,8-didehydrocobyrinate), is oxygenated in the presence of visible light and molecular oxygen to give the previously unknown ‘5,6-dioxosecopyrocobester’ 3 (hexamethyl Coα, Cob?-dicyano-5,6-dioxo-7-de(carboxymethyl)-7,8-didehydro-5,6-secocobyrinate) under regioselective cleavage of the macrocycle at the 5,6-position. Efficiency and yield of this reaction involving ‘singlet oxygen’ depend on the solvent used: with CCl₄ a 96% yield of 3 is obtained.     

PHOTOOXYGENOLYSIS OF VITAMIN B12 and RELATED CORRINS: COBALT(III)CORRINS AS SUBSTRATES and QUENCHERS FOR SINGLET OXYGEN (1Δg)*

Under photooxygenolytic conditions, vitamin B₁₂ can be degraded to two isomeric dioxosec-ocorrins by a regioselective oxygenolytic cleavage of the corrin macrocycle (preliminary report in Krautler and Stepanek (1985), Angew. Chem. 97 ,71–73; Angew. Chem. Intl. Ed. Engl. 24 ,62–64): irradiation of an oxygen saturated solution of vitamin B₁₂ ( 1 ), of KCN and of methylene blue (molar ratio (1:1:0.005) in CD₃OD at ca 200 K with visible light led to a selective oxygenolysis of the vitamin. The two products, potassium Co_αCo_β-dicyano-5,6-dioxo-5,6-seco-5′6′-dimethylbenzimidazolyl-cobam-idate ( 3 , 10% yield) and potassium Co_αCo_β-dicyano-14,15-dioxo-14,15-seco-5′6′-dimetliylbenzirnida-zolyl-cobamidate (4, 25% yield), and 1 (31% yield) were chromatographically separated and isolated. The structures were established spectroanalytically, and by the help of an acid catalyzed methanolysis of 3 and 4 to the related Co_αCo_β -dicyano-heptamethyl- dioxosecocobyrinates (6 and 7). When irradiated with visible light in any oxygen saturated methanolic solution containing methylene blue, vitamin B₁₂ itself exhibited considerable inertness. Only upon addition of a stoichiometric amount of KCN to such a solution (to afford the adduct 2) did the photolysis lead to oxygenation of the cobaltcorrin within a useful time. The regioselectivity of the oxygenolysis of 2 and the ratio of products formed are comparable to the outcome of the photooxygenolysis of the structurally related heptamethylcobyrinate 5 (Kräutler (1982) Helv. Chim. Acta 65 ,1941–1948). The reaction at the methyl-substituted meso-positions of the corrin macrocycle is indicated to involve singlet oxygen (¹Δ_g). In support of this interpretation, the preparative photolysis of 2 at 200 K also turned out to be about 7 times slower when CH₃OH was used instead of CD₃OD.     

Lipophilic Functionalized Cobyrinic-Acid Derivatives. Part 1. Cobester α-monoacids (α,α,α,β,β,β-hexamethyl α-hydrogen Coα, Coβ-dicyanocobyrinates)

The four α,α,α, β,β,β,-hexamethyl α-hydrogen Coα, Coβ-dicyanocobyrinates 2b, d–f , with a free b-, d-, e-, and f-propionic-acid function, respectively, were prepared by partial hydrolysis of heptamethyl Coα, Coβ-dicyanocobyrinate (cobester; 1 ) in aqueous sulfuric acid. The cobester monoacids 2b, d–f were obtained as a ca. 1:1:1:1 mixture which was separated. The monoacids were purified by chromatography and isolated in crystalline form. The position of the free propionic-acid function was determined by an extensive analysis of 2b, d–f using 2D-NMR techniques; an analysis of the C,H-coupling network topology resulted in an alternative assignment strategy for cobyrinic-acid derivatives, based on pattern recognition. Additional information on the structure of the most polar of the four hexamethyl cobyrinates, of the b-isomer 2b , was also obtained in the solid state from a single-crystal X-ray analysis. Earlier structural assignments based on 1D-NMR spectra of the corresponding regioisomeric monoamides 3b, d–f (obtained from crystalline samples of the monoacids 2b, d–f ) were confirmed by the present investigations.     

Komplementär diastereoselektive Cobalt-Methylierungen des Vitamin-B12-Derivates «Cobester»

Complementary Diastereoselective Cobalt Methylations of the Vitamin-B₁₂ Derivative Cobester Treatment of heptamethyl cob(I)yrinate ( 2 ) in toluene/tetrahydrofurane (ca. 4:1) with methyl p-toluenesulfonate under exclusion of O₂ and with protection from light leads to the selective formation of the heptamethyl Coβ-methylcob(III)yrinate (perchlorate 1b ) in 75% yield. In contrast, methylation of 2 with methyl iodide under the same conditons results in the isomeric heptamethyl Coα-methyulcob(III)yrinate (perchlorate 1a ) in 73% yield, besides 7% of 1b . This complementary diastereoface-selectivity of the methylation at the Co-center results from alkylation under kinetic control and apparently involves two mechanistically distinct alkylation processes. A radical mechanism is considered to account for the stereochemically unusual outcome of the reaction with methyl iodide.     

Drüsenfarbstoffe aus Labiaten: Die polaren Diterpenoide aus Plectranthus argentatus S. T. BLAKE

Polar Diterpenoids from Leaf-Glands of Plectranthus argentatus S. T. B_LAKE From the red leaf-glands of the Australian Plectranthus argentatus the following novel diterpenoids were isolated: coleon-U-quinone ( 1 ), 8α,9α-epoxycoleon-U-quinone ( 3 ), 6β-formyloxy-7α-hydroxyroyleanone ( 7 ), and 5,6-dihydrocoleon U ( 10 ), besides the already known compounds 6β, 7α-dihydroxyroyleanone ( 4 ), 7α-acetoxy-6β-hydroxyroyleanone ( 5 ), and 7α-formyloxy-6β-hydroxyroyleanone ( 6 ). Epoxydation of 1 by perborate led in 32% yield to the epoxyquinone 3 .     

Furopyridines. VIII. Molecular structure and two-dimensional NMR spectral assignment of 2,14-dimethyl-8aβ-hydroxy-7,10-dioxo-5β,6β-(propano)-6α,8α-(ethanoimino)-trans-perhydroisoquinoline

This paper reports the two-dimensional nmr spectral assignment and the X-ray structural determination of 2,14-dimethyl-8β-hydroxy-7,10-dioxo-5β,6β-(propano)-6α,8α-(ethanoimino)-trans-perhydroisoquinoline V which was obtained from 7,10-dimethyl-2β-hydroxy-14-oxo-2,3-(methanoiminoethano)-3β,4β-(propano)-3,4,5,6,7,8-hexahydro-2H-pyrano[2,3-c]pyridine IV by isomerization with hydrochloric acid. Both the compounds IV and V afforded the same dimethiodide IV -2MeI, while the configurational isomer 2,14-dimethyl-8aβ-hydroxy-7,10-dioxo-5α,6β-(propano)-6α,8α-(ethanoimino)-trans-perhydroisoquinoline III gave monomethiodide III -Mel. The structures of these methiodides were also confirmed by X-ray analysis.     

Bile acids LXIX. Selective K-Selectride reduction of 3,7-diketo steroids

The K-Selectride reduction at low temperature (-45°C) of 7-oxo-5α-holestan-3β-yl acetate and methyl 7-oxo-3α-hydroxy-5(β-cholanoate resulted in almost quantitative yield of the 7α-alcohol in the 5α-compound but only moderate yield of the 5β-analog. The simultaneous reduction of two carbonyl groups in the 3 and 7 positions afforded good to excellent yields of the diaxial diol in planar steroids (methyl 3,7-dioxo-5α-cholanoate, 3,7-dioxo-5α-cholestane and methyl 3,7-dioxo-5α-cholestan-27-oate) and only 14% of 3α,7α-(OH)₂ from methyl 3,7-dioxo-5β-cholanoate.     

Coα‐(1H‐Imidazolyl)‐Coβ‐methylcob(III)amide: Model for Protein‐Bound Corrinoid Cofactors

Coα‐(1H‐Imidazol‐1‐yl)‐Coβ‐methylcob(III)amide ( 4 ) was synthesized by methylation with methyl iodide of (1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)cob(I)amide, obtained by electrochemical reduction of Coα‐(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)‐Coβ‐cyanocob(III)amide ( 5 ). The spectroscopic data and a single‐crystal X‐ray structure analysis indicated 4 to exhibit a base‐on constitution in solution and in the crystal. The crucial lengths of the axial Co−N and Co−CH₃ bonds also emerged from the crystallographic data and were found to be smaller by 0.1 and 0.02 Å, respectively, than those in methylcob(III)alamin ( 2 ). The data of 4 support the view, that the `long' axial Co−N bonds as determined by X‐ray crystallography for the B<sub>12</sub>‐dependent methionine synthase, for methylmalonyl‐CoA mutase, and for glutamate mutase represent stretched Co−N bonds. The thermodynamic effect (the `trans influence') of the 1H‐imidazole base in 4 on the organometallic reactivity of this model for protein‐bound organometallic B₁₂ cofactors was examined by studying Me‐group‐transfer equilibria in aqueous solution and using (5′,6′‐dimethyl‐1H‐benzimidazol‐1‐yl)cobamides (cobalamins) as reaction partners (Schemes 2 – 5, Table). In comparison with methylcob(III)alamin ( 2 ), 4 was found to be destabilized for an abstraction of the Co‐bound Me group by a Co^III electrophile. In contrast, the abstraction of the Co‐bound Me group by a radical(oid) Co^II species was not significantly influenced thermodynamically by the exchange of the nucleotide base. Likewise, exploratory Me‐group‐transfer experiments with Me−Co^III and nucleophilic Co^I corrinoids at pH 6.8 provided an apparent equilibrium constant near unity. However, this finding also was consistent with partial protonation of the imidazolylcob(I)amide at pH 6.8, suggesting an interesting pH dependence of the Megroup‐transfer equilibrium near neutral pH. Therefore, the replacement of the 5′,6′‐dimethyl‐1H‐benzimidazole base by an 1H‐imidazole moiety, as observed in methyl transferases and in C‐skeleton mutases, does not by itself strongly alter the inherent reactivity of the B₁₂ cofactors in the crucial homolytic and nucleophilic‐heterolytic reactions involving the organometallic bond, but may help to enhance the control of the organometallic reactivity by protonation/deprotonation of the axial base.     

Synthesis of β3‐Peptides and Mixed α/β3‐Peptides by Thioligation

Five β‐peptide thioesters ( 1 – 5 , containing 3, 4, 10 residues) were prepared by manual solid‐phase synthesis and purified by reverse‐phase preparative HPLC. A β‐undecapeptide ( 6 ) and an α‐undecapeptide ( 7 ) with N‐terminal β³‐HCys and Cys residues were prepared by manual and machine synthesis, respectively. Coupling of the thioesters with the cysteine derivatives in the presence of PhSH (Scheme and Fig. 1) in aqueous solution occurred smoothly and quantitatively. Pentadeca‐ and heneicosapeptides ( 8 – 10 ) were isolated, after preparative RP‐HPLC purification, in yields of up to 60%. Thus, the so‐called native chemical ligation works well with β‐peptides, producing larger β³‐ and α/β³‐mixed peptides. Compounds 1 – 10 were characterized by high‐resolution mass spectrometry (HR‐MS) and by CD spectroscopy, including temperature and concentration dependence. β‐Peptide 9 with 21 residues shows an intense negative Cotton effect near 210 nm but no zero‐crossing above 190 nm, (Figs. 2–4), which is characteristic of β‐peptidic 3₁₄‐helical structures. Comparison of the CD spectra of the mixed α/β‐pentadecapeptide ( 10 ) and a helical α‐peptide (Fig. 5) indicate the presence of an α‐peptidic 3.6₁₃ helix.     

Synthese und Chiralität von (5S, 6R)-5,6-Epoxy-5,6-dihydro-β,β-carotin und (5R, 6R)-5,6-Dihydro-β,β-carotin-5,6-diol,einem Carotinoid mit ungewöhnlichen Eigenschaften

Synthesis and Chirality of (5S,6R)-5,6-Epoxy-5,6-dihydro-β,β-carotene and (5R,6R)-5,6-Dihydro-β,β-carotene-5,6-diol, a Compound with Unexpected Solubility Characteristics Wittig-condensation of azafrinal ( 1e ) with the phosphorane derived from 7 leads to a (1:3)-mixture of (E)-9′- and (Z)-9′-β,β-carotene-diol 3 , from which pure and optically active 3 ((5R,6R)-5,6-dihydro-β,β-carotene-5,6-diol) has been isolated as bright violet leaflets, m.p. 168°. Due to the trans-configuration of the diol moiety and to severe steric hindrance, hydrogen bonding is reduced to such an extent, that 3 behaves much more as a hydrocarbon than as a diol. There is good evidence that the so-called ‘β-oxycarotin’ obtained by Kuhn & Brockmann [15] by chromic acid oxidation of β, β-carotene is the corresponding racemic cis-diol. 3 has been converted into (5S, 6R)-5,6-epoxy-5.6-dihydro-β,β-carotene ( 4 ), m.p. 156°. This transformation establishes for the first time the chirality of a caroteneepoxide (without other O-functions). Full spectral and chiroptical data including a complete assignement of ¹³C-chemical shifts for azafrin methyl ester and 3 are presented.     

Synthese und Chiralität von (5R, 6R)-5,6-Dihydro-β, ψ-carotin-5,6-diol, (5R, 6R, 6′R)-5,6-Dihydro-β, ε-carotin-5,6-diol, (5S, 6R)-5,6-Epoxy-5,6-dihydro-β, ψ-carotin und (5S, 6R, 6′R)-5,6-Epoxy-5,6-dihydro-β,ε-carotin

Synthesis and Chirality of (5R, 6R)-5,6-Dihydro-β, ψ-carotene-5,6-diol, (5R, 6R, 6′R)-5,6-Dihydro-β, ε-carotene-5,6-diol, (5S, 6R)-5,6-Epoxy-5,6-dihydro-β,ψ-carotene and (5S, 6R, 6′R)-5,6-Epoxy-5,6-dihydro-β,ε-carotene Wittig-condensation of optically active azafrinal ( 1 ) with the phosphoranes 3 and 6 derived from all-(E)-ψ-ionol ( 2 ) and (+)-(R)-α-ionol ( 5 ) leads to the crystalline and optically active carotenoid diols 4 and 7 , respectively. The latter behave much more like carotene hydrocarbons despite the presence of two hydroxylfunctions. Conversion to the optically active epoxides 8 and 9 , respectively, is smoothly achieved by reaction with the sulfurane reagent of Martin [3]. These syntheses establish the absolute configurations of the title compounds since that of azafrin is known [2].     

An Alternative Access to (±)-α-Irones and (±)-β-Irone via Acid-Mediated Cyclisation

Acid-mediated cyclisation of trienone 8 , readily available from 2,3-dimethylbutanal ( 1 ; five steps: 47% yield), using fluorosulfonic acid (6.8 mol-equiv.) in 2-nitropropane at ?70°, afforded a 14:9:1 mixture (70% yield) of (±)-cis-α-irone ( 9 ), (±)-trans-α-irone ( 10 ), and (±)-β-irone ( 11 ). Other acidic conditions examined, using 95% aq. H₂SO₄ solution, 85% aq. H₃PO₄ solution, or SnCl₄, gave inferior results.     

Partial Synthesis and Characterization of the Mono-and Diepoxides of β-Cryptoxanthin

β-Cryptoxanthin ( 1 ) was acetylated and then epoxidized with monoperoxyphthalic acid. After hydrolysis, repeated chromatography, and crystallization, (3S,5R,6S)-5,6-epoxy-β-cryptoxanthin ( 3 ), (3S,5S,6R)-5,6-epoxy-β-cryptoxanthin ( 4 ), (3R,5′R,6′R)-5′,6′-epoxy-β-cryptoxanthin ( 5 ), (3S,5R,6S,5′R,6′S)-5,6:5′,6′-diepoxy-β-cryp-toxanthin ( 6 ), and (3S,5S,6R,5′S,6′R)-5,6:5′,6′-diepoxy-β-cryptoxanthin ( 7 ) were isolated as main products and characterized by their UV/VIS, CD, ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR, and mass spectra. The comparison of the carotenoid isolated from yellow, tomato-shaped paprika (Capsicum annuum var. lycopersiciforme flavum) with 3–5 strongly supports the structure of 3 for the natural product.     

On the Reactivity of (−)‐(R)‐Carvone and (−)‐4aα,7α,7aβ‐Nepetalactone: Synthesis of New Heterocycles

The 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of 4‐chlorobenzonitrile oxide to the unsaturated system of (?)‐(R)‐carvone occurred exclusively at C(8) to give a new isoxazoline derivative. This derivative reacts with NH₂OH to yield a new heterocycle, observed for the first time. On the other hand, the addition of 4‐chlorobenzonitrile oxide to the unsaturated lactone (?)‐4aα,7α,7aβ‐nepetalactone gave, in a good yield, also a new heterocycle, again obtained for the first time. The terpenoid (?)‐(R)‐carvone and iridoid (?)‐4aα,7α,7aβ‐nepetalactone were isolated from Moroccan species Mentha viridis (L.) and Nepeta tuberosa (L.), respectively. The new heterocycles obtained were identified by combination of chromatographic and spectroscopic methods.     

Thermal Methyl-Group Transfer between Methylcobalt(III) Corrinates and Cobalt(II) Corrinates. Equilibration Experiments with Heptamethyl Cobyrinates and Cobalamins

Separate neutral aqueous solutions of either (a) methylcob(III)alamin ( 2 ) and (heptamethyl cob(II)yrinate) perchlorate ( 3 ) or of b) cob(II)alamin ( = vitamin B_12r; ( 4 ) and [Coβ-methyl(heptamethyl cob(III)yrinate)] perchlorate ( 5 ) equilibrated thermally at r.t. according to 2 + 3 ? 4 + 5 . The corresponding equilibrium constant K_e was determined (K_e = 0.63 ± 0.15). This equilibration experiment indicates that the coordination of the nucleotide function in methylcob(II)alamin ( 2 ) hardly affects the thermodynamics of the Co? C bond homolysis in aqeous solution when compared to nucleotide-free methylcorrinoids such as 5 .     

Isolation and Absolute Configuration of β,β-Carotene Diepoxide

The 5,6:5′,6′-diepoxy-5,6:5′,6;-tetrahydro-β,β-carotene, isolated from tubers of a white-fleshed variety of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas LAM .) has been assigned the (5R,6S,5′R,6′S)-chirality on the basis of its HPLC, UV/VIS, and CD data.     

Reduktive Co-Alkylierung von Heptamethyl-cobyrinat mit dem Methylthiomalonat (S)-Methyl-3-bromo-2-[(ethylthio) carbonyl]-2-methylpropanoat

Reductive Co Alkylation of Heptamethyl Cobyrinate with the Methylthiomalonate (S)-Methyl 3-Bromo-2-[(ethylthio)carbonyl]-2-methylpropanoate The methylthiomalonate(?)-(S)-Methyl 3-bromo-2-[(ethylthio)carbonyl]-2-methylpropanoate( 5a )was prepared from dimethyl methylmalonate in five steps via the stereospecific cleavage of the (pro-S)-ester group of 1 with pig-liver esterase in an overall yield of 26.5% (Scheme 4a). Reductive Co alkylation of heptamethyl Coβ-perchlorato cob (II)yrinate ( 8 ) with 5a by electrosynthesis lead to the alkylcobalt complex 9a in 40% yield (Scheme 4b). The O2-dependent reactions of the methyhnalonyl fragment produced by photolysis of 9a and its deuterated derivative 9c are reported (Scheme 5).     

Stereoselectivity of the Diels-Alder Reaction of (E)-γ-Oxo-α,β-Unsaturated Thioesters with Cyclopentadiene

The stereoselectivity of the Diels-Alder reaction of (E)-γ-oxo-α,β-unsaturated thioesters 3a-3d with cyclopentadiene is greatly enhanced in the presence of Lewis acids favoring the endo acyl isomers 4a-4d . In the absence of Lewis acid, Diels-Alder reaction of 3a-3d with cyclopentadiene at 25 °C gave two adducts 4a-4d and 5a-5d in a ratio of 1:1 respectively. In the presence of Lewis acids, Diels-Alder reaction of 3a-3d with cyclopentadiene gave 4a-4d and 5a-5d in ratios of 75-94:25-6 respectively. The stereoelectivity was enhanced to ratios of 95-98:5-2 with lowering the reaction temperature. The stereochemistry of the cycloadducts 4 and 5 was confirmed by iodocyclization. Reaction of the endo-thioester 5c with I₂ in aqueous THF at 0 °C gave the novel methylthio group rearranged product 6c in 80% yield, the first example of iodo-lactonization of endo-thioesters. Reaction of the endo-acyl isomer 4b with I₂ under the same reaction conditions gave an isomeric mixture of 7b and 8b in 1:2 ratio. The stereochemistry of the thioester group in 8b was proved by X-ray single-crystal analysis. The solvent effect on the endo selectivity of (Z)-γ-oxo-α,β-unsaturated thioester 2b was also examined.     

Tordanone,un stéroïde replié avec une jonction de cycle A/B β-cis (5β) et B/C α-cis(8α)

Tordanone, a Twice Bent Steroid Structure with Ring A/B β-cis(5β)- and Ring B/C α-cis(8α)-Fused The 3β, 14α, 25-trihydroxy-5β, 8α-cholestan-6-one ( = tordanone; 4 ) has been prepared by stereospecific hydrogenation of 3β, 14α, 25-trihydroxy-5β-cholesta-7,22ξ-dien-6-one ( 5 ). This is the first stereospecific synthesis of a B/C cis-fused steroid belonging to the 5β, 8α -cholestane group with a H-atom at positions 5β (A/B cis-fused) and 8α. The resulting twice bent structure shows a particularly strong steric hindrance of the β-face where CH₃(18) at the C/D ring junction and H_β? C(7) of the B ring are very close to each other. Structural features and mechanistic aspects of the hydrogenation are discussed.