Comparisons of phosphorothioate with phosphate transfer reactions for a monoester,diester, and triester: isotope effect studies

Phosphorothioate esters are sometimes used as surrogates for phosphate ester substrates in studies of enzymatic phosphoryl transfer reactions. To gain better understanding of the comparative inherent chemistry of the two types of esters, we have measured equilibrium and kinetic isotope effects for several phosphorothioate esters of p-nitrophenol (pNPPT) and compared the results with data from phosphate esters. The primary (18)O isotope effect at the phenolic group ((18)k(bridge)), the secondary nitrogen-15 isotope effect ((15)k) in the nitro group, and (for the monoester and diester) the secondary oxygen-18 isotope effect ((18)k(nonbridge)) in the phosphoryl oxygens were measured. The equilibrium isotope effect (EIE) (18)k(nonbridge) for the deprotonation of the monoanion of pNPPT is 1.015 +/- 0.002, very similar to values previously reported for phosphate monoesters. The EIEs for complexation of Zn(2+) and Cd(2+) with the dianion pNPPT(2-) were both unity. The mechanism of the aqueous hydrolysis of the monoanion and dianion of pNPPT, the diester ethyl pNPPT, and the triester dimethyl pNPPT was probed using heavy atom kinetic isotope effects. The results were compared with the data reported for analogous phosphate monoester, diester, and triester reactions. The results suggest that leaving group bond fission in the transition state of reactions of the monoester pNPPT is more advanced than for its phosphate counterpart pNPP, while alkaline hydrolysis of the phosphorothioate diester and triester exhibits somewhat less advanced bond fission than that of their phosphate ester counterparts.     

Metal-catalyzed phosphodiester cleavage: secondary 18O isotope effects as an indicator of mechanism

Information about the transition states of metal-catalyzed hydrolysis reactions of model phosphate compounds has been obtained through determination of isotope effects (IEs) on the hydrolysis reactions. Metal complexation has been found to significantly alter the transition state of the reaction from the alkaline hydrolysis reaction, and the transition state is quite dependent on the particular metal ion used. For the diester, ethyl p-nitrophenyl phosphate, the nonbridge 18O effect for the hydrolysis reactions catalyzed by Co(III) 1,5,9-triazacyclononane and Eu(III) were 1.0006 and 1.0016, respectively, indicative of a slightly associative transition state and little net change in bonding to the nonbridge oxygen. The reaction catalyzed by Zn(II) 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane had an 18O nonbridge IE of 1.0108, showing the reaction differs significantly from the reaction of the noncomplexed diester and resembles the reactions of triesters. Reaction with Co(III) 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane showed an inverse effect of 0.9948 reflecting the effects of bonding of the diester to the Co(III). Lanthanide-catalyzed hydrolysis has been observed to have unusually large 15N effects. To further investigate this effect, the 15N effect on the reaction catalyzed by Ce(IV) bis-Tris propane solutions at pH 8 was determined to be 1.0012. The 15N effects were also measured for the reaction of the monoester p-nitrophenyl phosphate by Ce(IV) bis-Tris propane (1.0014) and Eu(III) bis-Tris propane (1.0012). These smaller effects at pH 8 indicate that a smaller negative charge develops on the nitrogen during the hydrolysis reaction.     

Thermodynamic origin of the increased rate of hydrolysis of phosphate and phosphorothioate esters in DMSO/water mixtures

The hydrolysis rates of the dianions of phosphate and phosphorothioate esters are substantially accelerated by the addition of polar aprotic solvents such as DMSO and acetonitrile. The activation barrier DeltaG is smaller due to a lower enthalpy of activation. The enthalpy of transfer of p-nitrophenyl phosphate (pNPP) and p-nitrophenyl phosphorothioate (pNPPT), from water to 0.6 (mol) aq DMSO (60 mol % water in DMSO) were measured calorimetrically. The enthalpies of activation for the hydrolysis reactions in the two solvents permitted the calculation of the enthalpy of transfer of the transition states. This transfer is thermodynamically favorable for both the reactants and the transition states but is more favorable for the transition states. In the case of pNPP, the enthalpy of transfer of the reactant is -23.9 kcal/mol, compared to -28.3 for the transition state. The difference is greater for pNPPT, where the enthalpy of transfer of the reactant is -23.2 kcal/mol and that for the transition state is -35.3. The results show that the reduced enthalpies of activation in both hydrolysis reactions arise not from a destabilization of the reactants in the mixed solvent, but from the fact that the enthalpy of transfer of the transition states to the mixed solvent is significantly more negative than the enthalpy of transfer of the reactants.     

Altered mechanisms of reactions of phosphate esters bridging a dinuclear metal center

Kinetic isotope effects in the nucleophile and leaving group were obtained for the reaction of p-nitrophenyl phosphate monoester coordinated to a dinuclear Co(III) complex. The metal complex of the p-nitrophenyl phosphate monoester was found to hydrolyze by a single-step concerted mechanism, with significant nucleophilic participation in the transition state. By contrast, the hydrolysis of uncomplexed p-nitrophenyl phosphate occurs by a very loose transition state with little bond formation to the nucleophile. Previously, the metal complex of the diester methyl-p-nitrophenyl phosphate was found to hydrolyze via a two-step addition-elimination mechanism, in contrast to the concerted hydrolysis mechanism followed by uncomplexed diesters with the p-nitrophenolate leaving group. These results show that coordination to a metal complex can significantly alter the mechanism of phosphoryl transfer.     

Probing potential medium effects on phosphate ester bonds using 18O isotope shifts on 31P NMR

Dipolar aprotic cosolvents, such as DMSO and acetonitrile, accelerate the rates of hydrolysis of phosphate monoester dianions. It has been speculated that the rate acceleration arises from the disruption of hydrogen bonding to the phosphoryl group. An aqueous solvation shell can stabilize the dianionic phosphoryl group by forming hydrogen bonds to the phosphoryl oxygens, whereas solvents such as DMSO are incapable of forming such bonds. It has been proposed that the loss of stabilization could result in a weakened P-OR ester bond, contributing to the observed faster rate of hydrolysis. Computational results support this notion. We have used the 18O-induced perturbation to the 31P chemical shift to ascertain whether solvent changes result in alterations to the P-O(R) bond. We have studied 16O18O-labeled methyl, ethyl, phenyl, p-nitrophenyl, diethyl p-nitrophenyl, triphenyl, and di-tert-butyl ethyl phosphate in the solvents water, methanol, chloroform, acetonitrile, dioxane, and DMSO. The results suggest no significant solvent-induced weakening of the phosphate ester bonds in any of the solvents tested, and this is unlikely to be a significant source for the acceleration of hydrolysis in mixed solvents.     

The case for the intermediacy of monomeric metaphosphate analogues during oxidation of H-phosphonothioate, H-phosphonodithioate, and H-phosphonoselenoate monoesters: mechanistic and synthetic studies

Studies on the reaction of H-phosphonothioate, H-phosphonodithioate, and H-phosphonoselenoate monoesters with iodine in the presence of a base led to identification of a unique oxidation pathway, which consists of the initial oxidation of the sulfur or selenium atom in these compounds, followed by oxidative elimination of hydrogen iodide to generate the corresponding metaphosphate analogues. The intermediacy of the latter species during oxidation of the investigated H-phosphonate monoester derivatives with iodine was supported by various diagnostic experiments. The scope and limitation of these oxidative transformations for the purpose of the synthesis of nucleoside phosphorothioate, nucleoside phosphorodithioate, and nucleoside phosphoroselenoate diesters was also investigated.     

SYNTHESIS OF ALKYL- AND ARYLPHOSPHONIC ACID MONOESTERS BY DIRECT ESTERIFICATION OF DIBASIC PHOSPHONIC ACIDS IN THE PRESENCE OF AN ARSONIC ACID CATALYST

Partial hydrolysis of a diester, hydrolysis of the monochloro monoester, or alcoholysis of a phosphonic acid anhydride generally is used to prepare monoesters of alkyl- and arylphosphonic acids. Limited cases have been reported for the esterification of a dibasic phosphonic acid to yield the monoester, and none of these methods are as simple as the analogous method for preparing carboxylic acid esters, in which the carboxylic acid is esterified with an alcohol in the presence of an acid catalyst. Described is a method for preparing monoesters of alkyl- and arylphosphonic acids by direct esterification with an alcohol in the presence of a catalytic amount of phenylarsonic acid. The water formed during the reaction is removed azeotropically. For example, methylphosphonic acid was esterified in good yield to give its isopropyl, butyl, cyclohexyl, bornyl, and octadecyl monoesters. Similarly prepared are the ethyl, butyl, hexyl, and 2-(ethylthio)ethyl monoesters of phenylphosphonic acid, as well as 2-isopropoxyethyl hydrogen ethylphosphonate and 2-methoxyethyl hydrogen benzylphosphonate.     

Alkaline phosphatase mono- and diesterase reactions: comparative transition state analysis

Enzyme-catalyzed phosphoryl transfer reactions have frequently been suggested to proceed through transition states that are altered from their solution counterparts. Previous work with Escherichia coli alkaline phosphatase (AP), however, suggests that this enzyme catalyzes the hydrolysis of phosphate monoesters through a loose, dissociative transition state, similar to that in solution. AP also exhibits catalytic promiscuity, with a low level of phosphodiesterase activity, despite the tighter, more associative transition state for phosphate diester hydrolysis in solution. Because AP is evolutionarily optimized for phosphate monoester hydrolysis, it is possible that the active site environment alters the transition state for diester hydrolysis to be looser in its bonding to the incoming and outgoing groups. To test this possibility, we have measured the nonenzymatic and AP-catalyzed rate of reaction for a series of substituted methyl phenyl phosphate diesters. The values of beta(lg) and additional data suggest that the transition state for AP-catalyzed phosphate diester hydrolysis is indistinguishable from that in solution. Instead of altering transition state structure, AP catalyzes phosphoryl transfer reactions by recognizing and stabilizing transition states similar to those in aqueous solution. The AP active site therefore has the ability to recognize different transition states, a property that could assist in the evolutionary optimization of promiscuous activities.     

Activation of acyl phosphate monoesters by lanthanide ions: enhanced reactivity of benzoyl methyl phosphate

Acyl phosphate monoesters are intermediates in many biochemical acylation reactions, such as those involving aminoacyl adenylates. Benzoyl methyl phosphate, a typical acyl phosphate monoester, is slowly hydrolyzed in neutral solutions but reacts rapidly with amines. Since biochemical processes of acyl phosphate monoesters involve accelerated reactions with oxygen-centered nucleophiles, we sought catalysts for hydrolysis and methanolysis of benzoyl methyl phosphate to mimic the biochemical outcome. Lanthanide ions are particularly effective catalysts, accelerating reactions much more than comparable levels of magnesium ion. Detailed kinetic analysis of the hydrolysis reactions reveals formation of a 1:1 complex, followed by rapid reaction with a nucleophile. The hydroxide-dependent hydrolysis rate in the europium complex is about 10(5) times that of free substrate with hydroxide. A mechanism that accounts for the data and observed behavior involves bidentate coordination of the metal ion by the acyl phosphate through phosphate and carbonyl oxygens, lowering the energy of the tetrahedral addition intermediate and the associated transition states. The dependence of the metal ion catalyzed process on the concentration of hydroxide ion is consistent with coordinated hydroxide acting as a nucleophile. The reaction of benzoyl methyl phosphate with methanol to form methyl benzoate and methyl phosphate is 30 000 times more rapid in the presence of 0.0001 M lanthanum triflate (in the absence of the metal ion k(obs) = 2.1 x 10(-7) s(-1), at 25 degrees C). Thus, the combination of acyl phosphate esters and lanthanide salts appears to be a promising method for biomimetic acylation of hydroxyl groups.     

Esterification of borate with NAD+ and NADH as studied by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and 11B NMR spectroscopy

This paper describes for the first time the direct measurement of boric acid (B(OH)(3)) and borate (B(OH)(4) (-)) adduction to NAD(+) and NADH by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and (11)B NMR spectroscopy. The analysis demonstrates that borate binds to both cis-2,3-ribose diols on NAD(+) forming borate monoesters (1 : 1 addition), borate diesters (1 : 2 addition) and diborate esters (2 : 1 addition), whereas, only borate monoesters were formed with NADH. MS in the negative ion mode showed borate was bound to a cis-2,3-ribose diol and not to the hydroxyl groups on the phosphate backbone of NAD(+), and MS/MS showed that the 1 : 1 addition monoester contained borate bound to the adenosine ribose. Boron shifts of borate monoesters and diesters with NAD(+) were observed at 7.80 and 12.56 ppm at pH 7.0 to 9.0. The esterifications of borate with NAD(+) and NADH were pH dependent with maximum formation occurring under alkaline conditions with significant formation occurring at pH 7.0. Using ESI-MS, the limit of detection was 50 micro M for NAD(+) and boric acid (1 : 1) to detect NAD(+)-borate monoester at pH 7.0. These results suggest esterification of borate with nicotinamide nucleotides could be of biological significance.     

Generality of solvation effects on the hydrolysis rates of phosphate monoesters and their possible relevance to enzymatic catalysis

Previous work by Kirby and co-workers revealed a significant acceleration of the rate of hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl phosphate by added dipolar solvents such as DMSO. Activation parameters and kinetic isotope effects have been measured to ascertain the origin of this effect. The generality of this phenomenon was examined with a series of esters with more basic leaving groups. Computational analyses of the effects of desolvation of dianionic phosphate monoesters were carried out, and the possible effect of the transfer from water to the active site of alkaline phosphatase was modeled. The results are consistent with a desolvation-induced weakening of the P-O ester bond in the ground state. Other aryl phosphate esters show similar rate accelerations at high fractions of DMSO, but phenyl and methyl phosphates do not, and their hydrolysis reactions are actually slowed by these conditions.     

Copper(II) complexes of novel N-alkylated derivatives of cis,cis-1,3,5-triaminocyclohexane. 2. Metal-promoted phosphate diester hydrolysis

Aqueous copper(II) N,N',N' '-trimethyl-cis,cis-1,3,5-triaminocyclohexane (Cu(tach-Me(3))(2+)(aq)) promotes the hydrolysis of activated phosphate diesters in aqueous medium at pH 7.2. This complex is selective for cleavage of the phosphate diester sodium bis(p-nitrophenyl) phosphate (BNPP), the rate of hydrolysis of the monoester disodium p-nitrophenyl phosphate being 1000 times slower. The observed rate acceleration of BNPP hydrolysis is slightly greater than that observed for other Cu(II) complexes, such as [Cu([9]aneN(3))Cl(2)] ([9]aneN(3) identical with 1,4,7-triazacyclononane). The rate of hydrolysis is first-order in phosphate ester at low ester concentration and second-order in [Cu(tach-Me(3))](2+)(aq), suggesting the involvement of two metal complexes in the mechanism of substrate hydrolysis. The reaction exhibits saturation kinetics with respect to BNPP concentration according to a modified Michaelis-Menten mechanism: 2CuL + S <==> LCu-S-CuL --> 2CuL + products (K(M) = 12.3 +/- 1.8 mM(2), k(cat) = (4.0 +/- 0.4) x 10(-)(4) s(-1), 50 degrees C) where CuL (triple bond) [Cu(tach-Me(3))](2+), S (triple bond) BNPP, and LCu-S-CuL is a substrate-bridged dinuclear complex. EPR data indicate that the dicopper complex is formed only in the presence of BNPP; the active LCu-S-CuL intermediate species then slowly decays to products, regenerating monomeric CuL.     

Probing the origin of the compromised catalysis of E. coli alkaline phosphatase in its promiscuous sulfatase reaction

The catalytic promiscuity of E. coli alkaline phosphatase (AP) and many other enzymes provides a unique opportunity to dissect the origin of enzymatic rate enhancements via a comparative approach. Here, we use kinetic isotope effects (KIEs) to explore the origin of the 109-fold greater catalytic proficiency by AP for phosphate monoester hydrolysis relative to sulfate monoester hydrolysis. The primary 18O KIEs for the leaving group oxygen atoms in the AP-catalyzed hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl phosphate (pNPP) and p-nitrophenylsulfate (pNPS) decrease relative to the values observed for nonenzymatic hydrolysis reactions. Prior linear free energy relationship results suggest that the transition states for AP-catalyzed reactions of phosphate and sulfate esters are "loose" and indistinguishable from that in solution, suggesting that the decreased primary KIEs do not reflect a change in the nature of the transition state but rather a strong interaction of the leaving group oxygen atom with an active site Zn2+ ion. Furthermore, the primary KIEs for the two reactions are identical within error, suggesting that the differential catalysis of these reactions cannot be attributed to differential stabilization of the leaving group. In contrast, AP perturbs the KIE for the nonbridging oxygen atoms in the reaction of pNPP but not pNPS, suggesting a differential interaction with the transferred group in the transition state. These and prior results are consistent with a strong electrostatic interaction between the active site bimetallo Zn2+ cluster and one of the nonbridging oxygen atoms on the transferred group. We suggest that the lower charge density of this oxygen atom on a transferred sulfuryl group accounts for a large fraction of the decreased stabilization of the transition state for its reaction relative to phosphoryl transfer.     

Theoretical studies of the hydroxide-catalyzed P-O cleavage reactions of neutral phosphate triesters and diesters in aqueous solution: examination of the changes induced by H/Me substitution

DFT calculations and dielectric continuum methods have been employed to map out the lowest activation free-energy profiles for the alkaline hydrolysis of representative phosphate triesters and diesters, including trimethyl phosphate (TMP), dimethyl 4-nitrophenyl phosphate (DMNPP), dimethyl hydrogen phosphate (DMHP), and the dimethyl phosphate anion (DMP-). The reliability of the calculations is supported by the excellent agreement observed between the calculated and the experimentally determined activation enthalpies for phosphate triesters with poor (TMP) and good (DMNPP) leaving groups. The results obtained for the OH- + DMHP and OH- + DMP- reactions are also consistent with all the available experimental information concerning the hydrolysis reaction of dimethyl phosphate anion at pH > 5. By performing geometry optimizations in the dielectric field (epsilon = 78.39), we found that OH- can attack the phosphorus atom of DMHP without capturing its proton only if the O-H bond of DMHP is oriented opposite the attacking OH- group. In these conditions, the rate for OH- attack on DMHP was found to be approximately 10(3)-fold faster than that for OH- attack on TMP. The calculated rate acceleration induced by the phosphoryl proton corresponds to the maximum rate effect expected from kinetic studies. Overall, our calculations performed on the dimethyl phosphate ester predict that, contrary to what is generally observed for RNA and aryl phosphodiesters, the water-promoted P-O cleavage reaction of DNA should dominate the base-catalyzed reaction at pH 7. These results are suggestive that nucleases may be less proficient as catalysts than has recently been suspected.     

Molecular Composition of Nonionic Vesicles Prepared from Span 80 or Span 85 by a Two‐Step Emulsification Method

The molecular compositions of the commercial nonionic surfactants Span 80 and Span 85 were analyzed by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Both surfactants are mixtures of fatty acid esters, containing monoesters, diesters, triesters, and tetraesters. While diesters dominate in the case of Span 80, Span 85 contains mainly tetraesters. Vesicles were prepared from Span 80 (or Span 85) by a two‐step emulsification method that involved homogenization and separation steps in which a portion of the surfactants was removed. The composition of the vesicles was analyzed by HPLC with respect to the different esters present. Although commercial Span 80 and Span 85 differ considerably in their molecular compositions, the ester profiles of the vesicles formed were in both cases rather similar and dominated by diesters. Therefore, the particular vesicle preparation method leads to a molecular selection of mainly those components that are prone to form bilayers.     

Examination of P-OR bridging bond orders in phosphate monoesters using (18)O isotope shifts in 31P NMR

Evidence indicates that phosphate monoesters undergo hydrolysis by a loose transition state with extensive bond fission to the leaving group. It has been proposed that part of the high dependence of the rate on the leaving group pKa (betalg = -1.23) arises from weaker ester bonds in the reactants as the pKa of the leaving group decreases, on the basis of X-ray structures and calculations. In contrast, IR and Raman studies suggest that the leaving group has little effect on the length of the P-OR bridging bond in solution. To gather additional data on this issue, we have used (18)O isotopic shifts in 31P NMR to monitor the bond order of P-O bonds in a range of phosphate esters with different leaving groups. Using this technique, we have been able to evaluate whether significant changes are observed in the P-O bond orders for the bridging and nonbridging positions of methyl, ethyl, phenethyl, propargyl, phenyl, and p-nitrophenyl phosphate using [(16)O(18)O] labeled species in deuterium oxide. The results indicate that the bridging and nonbridging bond orders to phosphorus in phosphate monoesters are not significantly altered by differences in the pKa of the leaving group or by the counterion of the phosphate ester dianion.     

HYDROLYSE DE SPIROPHOSPHORANES II. Derives de l'Octamethyl-2,2,3,3,7,7,8,8 Tetraoxa 1,4,6,9 Phospha V-5 Spiro 4,4 Nonane

Abstract

L'étude de l'hydrolyse de tetraoxaspirophosphoranes dérivés du pinacol et [sgrave] liaison P–C extracyclique a permis de mettre en évidence des équilibres esters cycliques–esters acycliques dépendant de différents facteurs (substituants, solvant, température, nature du milieu etc….). Les réactions d'hydrolyse peuvent ětre orientées sélectivement vers la formation soit de diesters soit de monoesters phosphoniques, cycliques ou acycliques.

Cyclic-acyclic esters equilibria have been found in the study of pinacol derivated tetraoxaspirophosphorans hydrolysis. These equilibria depend on different factors (substituents, solvent, temperature, basicity etc….). Hydrolysis reactions can be directed towards the formation of either diesters or cyclic and acyclic phosphonic monoesters.     

Mechanistic study of protein phosphatase-1 (PP1), a catalytically promiscuous enzyme

The reaction catalyzed by the protein phosphatase-1 (PP1) has been examined by linear free energy relationships and kinetic isotope effects. With the substrate 4-nitrophenyl phosphate (4NPP), the reaction exhibits a bell-shaped pH-rate profile for kcat/KM indicative of catalysis by both acidic and basic residues, with kinetic pKa values of 6.0 and 7.2. The enzymatic hydrolysis of a series of aryl monoester substrates yields a Br?nsted beta(lg) of -0.32, considerably less negative than that of the uncatalyzed hydrolysis of monoester dianions (-1.23). Kinetic isotope effects in the leaving group with the substrate 4NPP are (18)(V/K) bridge = 1.0170 and (15)(V/K) = 1.0010, which, compared against other enzymatic KIEs with and without general acid catalysis, are consistent with a loose transition state with partial neutralization of the leaving group. PP1 also efficiently catalyzes the hydrolysis of 4-nitrophenyl methylphosphonate (4NPMP). The enzymatic hydrolysis of a series of aryl methylphosphonate substrates yields a Br?nsted beta(lg) of -0.30, smaller than the alkaline hydrolysis (-0.69) and similar to the beta(lg) measured for monoester substrates, indicative of similar transition states. The KIEs and the beta(lg) data point to a transition state for the alkaline hydrolysis of 4NPMP that is similar to that of diesters with the same leaving group. For the enzymatic reaction of 4NPMP, the KIEs are indicative of a transition state that is somewhat looser than the alkaline hydrolysis reaction and similar to the PP1-catalyzed monoester reaction. The data cumulatively point to enzymatic transition states for aryl phosphate monoester and aryl methylphosphonate hydrolysis reactions that are much more similar to one another than the nonenzymatic hydrolysis reactions of the two substrates.     

固相萃取-气相色谱-质谱法分析尿液中邻苯二甲酸单酯和双酯

建立了固相萃取-气相色谱-质谱测定尿液中邻苯二甲酸单酯和双酯的分析方法。尿液经 β-葡萄糖苷酸酶酶解后进行固相萃取净化,用乙腈、乙酸乙酯和乙醚-正己烷(1: 19, v/v)分别洗脱,合并洗脱液,氮气吹干后,用N,O-双三甲基硅基三氟乙酰胺(BSTFA)对邻苯二甲酸单酯进行硅烷化处理,使用气相色谱-质谱法检测。邻苯二甲酸单酯和双酯的线性范围为5~1000 μ g/L,检出限为0.3~1.1 μ g/L,回收率为77.9%~97.7%,相对标准偏差为3.7%~10.9%。应用该方法对50份尿液进行检测,检出邻苯二甲酸二(2-乙基己基)酯(DEHP)等7种邻苯二甲酸单酯和双酯类物质,平均质量浓度为6.0~142.7 μ g/L。该方法准确、可靠、灵敏度高,适用于尿液中邻苯二甲酸单酯和双酯的同时测定。     

Esters of pyromellitic acid. Part I. Esters of achiral alcohols: regioselective synthesis of partial and mixed pyromellitate esters, mechanism of transesterification in the quantitative esterification of the pyromellitate system using orthoformate esters, and a facile synthesis of the ortho pyromellitate diester substitution pattern

Mild conditions and reversible anhydride formation allow a relative differentiation to be made of the four equivalent carbonyl groups of pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA, benzene-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylic dianhydride) in esterification, leading to regioselective methods to generate a wide range of partially or totally esterified products or products bearing differing esterifying groups at the different positions. Pyromellitate monoester anhydrides form efficiently in dichloromethane/triethylamine from 1 equiv of the alcohol. Under the same conditions, two different alcohols can be made to react sequentially. With 2 equiv of an alcohol, the usual mixture of meta and para diesters is obtained, separated by crystallization from HOAc. Meta and para dibenzyl pyromellitates served as regiospecific sources of other diesters, by further esterification followed by hydrogenolysis. Refluxing orthoformate triesters were found to effect quantitative esterification of the pyromellitate system under autocatalytic conditions; minor ester exchange with pre-existing esters (0-5% of total product) was ascribed to reversible anhydride formation. For general esterification with alcohols, partial ester acid chlorides were obtained using oxalyl chloride. Pyromellitate triesters afforded the ortho diester anhydrides upon distillation, thereby providing facile entry into the mostly novel ortho substitution pattern in this system. The requisite triesters were prepared by selective saponification or by the prior incorporation of one benzyl ester substituent, which could be removed by catalytic hydrogenolysis. The various benzyl esters of pyromellitates hydrogenolyzed smoothly to release the carboxylic acid groups without disturbance of pyromellitate aromaticity.