Stereoselective syn epoxidation of the dihydrodiols of dibenz[a,h] anthracene and 7-methylbenz[a] anthracene

Epoxidation of the bay region dihydrodiols of the title hydrocarbons affords stereoselectively the corresponding syn diol epoxides rather than the anticipated isomeric anti diol epoxides, indicative of a dominant cis-directing effect of the benzylic vs the allylic axial hydroxyl groups.     

Mass spectrometric analysis of 7-sulfoxymethyl-12-methylbenz[a]anthracene and related electrophilic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites

The Meso-region theory of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) carcinogenesis predicts that the development of pronounced carcinogenicity depends on the introduction of a good leaving group on alkyl side-chains attached to the exceptionally reactive meso-anthracenic or L-region positions of PAHs. Thus, the first step in carcinogenesis by methylated PAHs such as 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) would be the hydroxylation of the L-region methyl groups, particularly the 7-methyl group. The second would be the formation of a metabolite, e.g. a sulfate ester, which is expected to be a good leaving group capable of generating a highly reactive benzylic carbocation. 7-Hydroxymethyl-12-methylbenz[a]anthracene (7-HMBA) is a metabolite of DMBA, and sulfation of 7-HMBA to a 7-sulfoxymethyl metabolite (7-SMBA) is a known Phase II metabolic process designed to facilitate excretion, but actually enabling more destructive side-reactions. These side-reactions occur with generation of an electrophilic 7-methylene carbonium ion, and/or by in vivo halide exchange to provide neutral side-products more capable of entering cells, especially those of DMBA target tissues. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (MS) enabled us to visualize 7-SMBA as an intact m/z 351 conjugate anion by negative mode, and as a released m/z 255 carbonium ion by positive mode. Upon prolonged refrigeration, 7-SMBA accumulated an m/z 383 photooxide, which appeared capable of re-evolving the starting material as visualized by tandem quadrupole MS, or MS/MS. The 7-SMBA carbonium ion provided interpretable fragments when studied by fragment ion MS/MS, including those representing the loss of up to several protons. Subtle differences in this property were encountered upon perturbing 7-SMBA, either by warming it at 37 degrees C for 2 h or by substituting the initial sulfoxy group with an iodo group. Side-reactions accounting for such proton losses are proposed, and are of interest whether they occur in the mass spectrometer, in solution or both; these proposals include acidity at the 12-methyl position and cyclization between the 12-methyl group and the adjacent C-1 position. It is also suggested that such side-reactions may comprise one route to relieving steric strain arising between the 12-methyl group and the angular benzo ring of 7-SMBA.     

Photochemical reaction of 9-nitro-substituted anthracene-like molecules 9-methyl-10-nitroanthracene and 12-methyl-7-nitrobenz[a]anthracene

Photolysis of 9-methyl-10-nitroanthracene in chloroform or methanol produces mainly two products 9-methyl-9-nitrosoanthracen-10-one and 9,10-anthraquinone in about 4:1 ratio under ambient air. The formation of 9-methyl-9-nitrosoanthracen-10-one confirms the proposed excited state rearrangement reaction of the nitro group peri to two hydrogens and perpendicular to the aromatic rings. The nitro group rearranges to a nitrite, followed by breaking of the N–O bond producing NO radical. The NO radical further forms a bond with the carbon on the opposite site of the benzene ring through radical recombination. Photolysis of 12-methyl-7-nitrobenz[a]anthracene produced several nitroso ketone-like compounds which further convert to an aldehyde. Photolysis of the desmethyl nitro compounds, 9-nitroanthracene and 7-nitrobenz[a]anthracene, produced the respective quinones.     

Synthesis of 14-Aryl-14H-7-thiadibenzo[a,j]anthracene

Abstract

Preparation methods of dibenzoxanthene derivatives are surveyed alongside the synthesis of some of the titled compounds, which are the sulfur analogues of dibenzoxanthenes. Our new procedure for the conversion of phenols to thiophenols was used to prove the structure of such sulfur analogues.     

Properties of 4-Chloromethyl-2,2-dimethyl-1,2-dihydrobenzo[f]isoquinoline

We have shown that 2,2-dimethyl-4-chloromethyl-1,2-dihydrobenzo[f]isoquinoline, which displays the properties of an enamine, reacts with oxalyl chloride with annelation of the dioxopyrroline ring. At the same time, this compound reacts with S-, O-, and CN-nucleophiles.     

Synthesis of 5,12-diazadibenz[a,h]anthracene

5, 12-Diazadibenz[a,h]anthracene ( 20 ) was synthesized in 21% overall yield for seven steps. Salient features of the synthesis include the initial, one-step conversion of trans, trans-1,4-bis-(β-nitrovinyl)benzene into 2,2″-dinitro-p-terphenyl by Diels-Alder condensation plus elimination, monocyclization of the derived 2,2″-diformylamino-p-terphenyl to give 8-(2-amino-1-phenyl)-phenanthridine ( 10 ) in the presence of fortified polyphosphoric acid, and accomplishment of a second cyclization step only after reduction of the heteroring in 10 (by means of diisobutyl-aluminum hydride) plus formylation. The 6-methyl and 6,13-dimethyl derivatives of 20 were prepared similarly.     

Selective syntheses of [7]-[12]cycloparaphenylenes using orthogonal suzuki-miyaura cross-coupling reactions

The divergent, selective syntheses of [7]-[12]cycloparaphenylenes have been accomplished utilizing sequential, orthogonal Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions from two late-stage intermediates. Quantum yields decrease dramatically as cycloparaphenylene size decreases, highlighting the unique photophysical behavior of the smaller cycloparaphenylenes.     

Reactivity and adduct formation of a polyaromatic hydrocarbon, 7-bromomethylbenz[a]anthracene, with chromatin histone proteins

The alkylation of histones by the direct-acting carcinogen 7-bromomethylbenz[a]anthracene was demonstrated both in vivo and in vitro. The relative molar reactivity for mouse liver histones in vivo was H3 greater than H1 greater than H2b greater than H4 greater than H2a. The in vitro modification of histone H3 was examined in detail. Amino acid adducts stable to acid hydrolysis were separated after acetylation by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and characterized using ultraviolet absorbance spectra and synthetic amino acid adduct standards. Three major adducts were observed and tentatively identified as cysteinyl, lysyl and histidinyl adducts of histone H3.