Some reactive properties of chlorooxirane,a likely carcinogenic metabolite of vinyl chloride

We have carried out a computational study of the reactive properties of chlorooxirane, the metabolically produced epoxide of vinyl chloride that is believed to be a direct-acting carcinogenic form of this molecule. An ab initio SCF-MO procedure (GAUSSIAN 70) was used to compute the energy requirements for stretching the C? Cl and both C? O bonds (S_N 1 reactivity) and to determine the course of the epoxide's possible S_N 2 reactions with ammonia, taken as a model for nucleophilic sites on DNA. The epoxide was assumed to be protonated; both the oxygen- and chloro-protonated forms were considered. At each step along the various reaction pathways, the structure of the system was reoptimized. For the oxygen-protonated epoxide, the C₁? O bond has a significantly lower energy barrier to stretching than does the C₂? O. (The carbon bearing the chlorine is designated C₁.) However, both are very much higher than that of the C? Cl bond in the chloro-protonated form, confirming our earlier finding of the relative weakness of this bond. In the S_N 2 processes involving ammonia, intermediate complexes are formed with both carbons of the oxygen-protonated epoxide, the C₂-complex being the more stable. However, the most stable ammonia complex occurs at C₁ of the chloro-protonated epoxide. Our calculated results, both the energies and also the geometry changes, allow us to propose two possible mechanisms for the formation of the 7-N-(2-oxoethyl) derivative of guanine that has been observed to be the major in vivo DNA alkylation product of vinyl chloride and has been suggested as possibly being responsible for its carcinogenicity. One of these mechanisms is S_N 1 and starts with the chloro-protonated epoxide; the other is S_N 2 and involves the oxygen-protonated form.     

Calculated properties of some possible vinyl chloride metabolites

There is considerable evidence indicating that the carcinogenic action of vinyl chloride involves metabolic conversion to the epoxide (chlorooxirane) as the initial step. In order to learn more about its subsequent behavior, we have computed structures, energies and other properties for two different protonated forms of the epoxide, and also for two possible rearrangement products, chloroacetaldehyde and acetyl chloride. An ab initio SCF -MO procedure (GAUSSIAN 70) was used. Oxygen protonation is found to weaken both C? O bonds, the effect being greater for the bond involving the carbon bearing the chlorine. Chlorine protonation leads to a marked weakening of the C? Cl bond; this suggests a possible loss of HCl, leaving behind a carbonium ion (and possible alkylating agent or rearrangement precursor). Thus, while C? O bond breaking is doubtless an important reaction pathway for chlorooxirane, our results indicate that attention should also be focused upon the C? Cl bond; its rupture may conceivably be a key step in the biological action of vinyl chloride.     

Free-radical copolymerizations of 1,2-dichloroethylenes. Evidence for chain transfer by chlorine atom elimination

Trialkylboron–oxygen, an active, low-temperature free-radical initiator, has been employed to investigate the effects of very low temperatures on the copolymerizations of vinyl acetate with cis and trans-1,2-dichloroethylenes. The low temperatures favor the propagation rate relative to the transfer rate, such that high molecular weight copolymers containing substantial quantities of 1,2-dichloroethylene can be prepared. The molecular weights of the copolymers depend only on the amounts of 1,2-dichloroethylene in the copolymers, regardless of the isomer which takes part in the copolymerization. Since the double bond of the trans isomer is about six times as reactive as that of the cis isomer, this indicates that the dominating chain transfer reaction occurs by chlorine atom elimination subsequent to the addition of the dichloroethylene unit to the growing free radical chain. It is suggested that a similar chain-transfer mechanism occurs in the polymerization of vinyl chloride, wherein an infrequent head-to-head placement of monomer unit is followed by ejection of a chlorine atom to form an olefinic bond and termination of that growing chain. The presence of the 1,2-dichloroethylene unit in the copolymer increases the glass transition temperature approximately 1°C per weight per cent copolymerized with the vinyl acetate.     

Solvolysis and Isomerization of cis- and trans-1-Bromo-1-(p-anisyl)-propene (α-Bromoanethole) Mesomeric Vinyl Cations,Part V

The influence of a β-methyl group on the reactivity of two stereoisomeric vinyl bromides has been studied. In 80% ethanol cis-( 8 ) and trans-α-bromoanethole ( 9 ) undergo first order reactions leading to p-methoxypropiophenone ( 15 ), 1-ethoxy-1-(p-anisyl)-propene ( 16 ) and p-anisylpropyne ( 12 ). Solvolysis of the cis isomer 8 is accompanied by isomerization to the more stable trans isomer 9 which is approx. eight times less reactive than 8 . Cis-trans isomerization is also observed in nitrobenzene at 150°. These results are in agreement with the unimolecular substitution-elimination (S_N1?E1) mechanism which competes with cis-trans isomerization at the ion pair stage. The solvolysis rate of 9 is slightly lower and that of 8 somewhat higher than the rate of α-bromo-p-methoxystyrene ( 3c ). In the absence of other effects a β-methyl group therefore slightly depresses the ionization rate, presumably by steric hindrance of solvation. These results confirm the negligible polar influence of a β-methyl substituent on the stability of vinyl cations.     

Mixed cobalt(III) complexes with aromatic amino acids and di­amines. III.

The title compound, [Co(C₉H₁₀NO₃)₂(C₂H₈N₂)]Cl·4H₂O, is one of six possible diastereomers of the (1,2‐di­amino­ethane)­bis(S‐tyrosinato)­cobalt(III) complex. The cobalt(III) ion has an octahedral coordination, with three five‐membered chelate rings which have deformed coordination angles and coordinated O atoms in trans positions. In comparison with the previously reported crystal structure of the Δ‐C₁‐cis(O) diastereomer [Miodragovi?et al. (2001). Enantiomer, 6 , 299–308], the compound presented in this paper has more planar five‐membered amino­carboxyl­ate rings. Complex cations, chloride anions and water mol­ecules of crystallization are linked together by a network of hydrogen bonds. The chloride anions lie approximately between two Co atoms and form hydrogen bonds with all coordinated NH₂ groups. In the crystal structure, there is a weak intermolecular π?π interaction between the phenyl rings.     

Vinyl polymerization initiated by system of organic halides and tertiary amines

A study of the polymerization of vinyl monomers with binary systems of tertiary amines and various organic halides containing chemical bonds such as C? Cl, N? Cl, O? Cl, S? Cl, and Si? Cl has been made at 60°C. Some of the binary systems were found to be effective as radical initiator in the polymerization of methyl methacrylate. The relative initiating activities of the halides in the presence of dimethylaniline were found to be in the following order: tert-C₄H₉OCl > n-C₄H₉NCl₂ > (n-C₄H₉)₂NCl ? CH₃SiCl₃ ? C₆H₅SiCl₃ > C₆H₅SO₂Cl > C₆H₅Cl > C₆H₅PCl₂. Styrene and vinyl acetate polymerized only with the initiator system of dimethylaniline and benzyl chloride. Tri-n-butylamine was less active than dimethylaniline. Pyridine and 4-vinylpyridine, in combination with some organic halides, also initiated the polymerization of methyl methacrylate. The N-vinylcarbazole–benzenesulfonyl chloride system, in the presence of methyl methacrylate, gave only the homopolymer of N-vinylcarbazole.     

A new oxamido-bridged dinuclear copper(II) complex with large antiferromagnetic exchange interactions

A new oxamido-bridged dinuclear compound [Cu₂(µ-pmox)(DMF)₄]?·?2ClO₄ (1) (H₂pmox?=?N,N′-bis-(2-methylpyridyl)oxalamide, DMF?=?dimethylformamide) was synthesized and structurally characterized. The five-coordinate Cu(II) is bridged by oxamido groups and further cross-linked by C–H···O hydrogen bonds between the uncoordinated oxygen of perchlorate and methyl of DMF. The complex was also characterized by infrared spectroscopy and magnetic measurement. The copper complex exhibits strong antiferromagnetic interactions via the trans oxamido bridge with J of ?414?cm^?1, where J is the exchange parameter in the isotropic Hamiltonian H?=??JS₁S₂.     

Structure and reactivity of α,β-unsaturated ethers. VIII. Cationic copolymerizations and acetal additions of propenyl and isobutenyl ethyl ethers

Cationic copolymerizations of cis- and trans-propenyl ethyl ethers (PEE) with isobutenyl ethyl ether (IBEE) were carried out in methylene chloride at ?78°C with the use of boron trifluoride etherate as catalyst. Monomer reactivity ratios were r₁ = 24.0 ± 2.4 and r₂ = 0.02 ± 0.02 for the cis-PEE (M₁)–IBEE (M₂) system and r₁ = 19.1 ± 1.8 and r₂ = 0.04 ± 0.02 for the trans-PEE (M₁)–IBEE (M₂) system, indicative of the reactivity order: cis-PEE > trans-PEE ? IBEE. In separate experiments, these β-methyl-substituted vinyl ethers were allowed to react with various acetals in the presence of boron trifluoride etherate. The relative reactivities of these ethers were generally found to decrease in the order: cis-β-monomethylvinyl > vinyl > trans-β-monomethylvinyl > β,β-dimethylvinyl. Comparisons of these results with previously published copolymerization data have permitted the conclusion that, in both the copolymerizations and acetal additions, the single β-methyl substitution on vinyl ethers exerts little steric effect against their additions toward any alkoxycarbonium ion, whereas the β,β-dimethyl substitution results in a large adverse steric effect toward both β-monomethyl- and β,β-dimethyl-substituted alkoxycarbonium ions.     

Cationic copolymerization of phenyl propenyl ethers

Ring-substituted phenyl propenyl ethers were found to form homopolymers without any rearrangement by metal halides. Phenyl propenyl ethers were less reactive than the corresponding phenyl vinyl ethers in cationic polymerization. In order to study the electronic effect of a substituent on the reactivity, cis-p-Cl,p-CH₃, and p-CH₃O-phenyl propenyl ethers were copolymerized with phenyl propenyl ether in methylene chloride at ?78°C with stannic chloride–trichloroacetic acid, and their ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectra were measured. The reaction constant ρ against Hammett σ_p was ?2.1. The cis-phenyl propenyl ethers were slightly more reactive than the corresponding trans isomers. On the other hand, an o-methyl group decreased the reactivity of phenyl propenyl ether. The low reactivity of o-methyl phenyl propenyl ether was attributed to the steric hindrance between the propagating carbocation and the monomer.     

Determination of volatile organic hydrocarbons in water samples by solid-phase dynamic extraction

In the present study a headspace solid-phase dynamic extraction method coupled to gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-SPDE-GC/MS) for the trace determination of volatile halogenated hydrocarbons and benzene from groundwater samples was developed and evaluated. As target compounds, benzene as well as 11 chlorinated and brominated hydrocarbons (vinyl chloride, dichloromethane, cis-1,2-dichloroethylene, trans-1,2-dichloroethylene, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, bromoform) of environmental and toxicological concern were included in this study. The analytes were extracted using a SPDE needle device, coated with a poly(dimethylsiloxane) with 10% embedded activated carbon phase (50-μm film thickness and 56-mm film length) and were analyzed by GC/MS in full-scan mode. Parameters that affect the extraction yield such as extraction and desorption temperature, salting-out, extraction and desorption flow rate, extraction volume and desorption volume, the number of extraction cycles, and the pre-desorption time have been evaluated and optimized. The linearity of the HS-SPDE-GC/MS method was established over several orders of magnitude. Method detection limits (MDLs) for the compounds investigated ranged between 12 ng/L for cis-dichloroethylene and trans-dichloroethylene and 870 ng/L for vinyl chloride. The method was thoroughly validated, and the precision at two concentration levels (0.1 mg/L and a concentration 5 times above the MDL) was between 3.1 and 16% for the analytes investigated. SPDE provides high sensitivity, short sample preparation and extraction times and a high sample throughput because of full automation. Finally, the applicability to real environmental samples is shown exemplarily for various groundwater samples from a former waste-oil recycling facility. Groundwater from the site showed a complex contamination with chlorinated volatile organic compounds and aromatic hydrocarbons. Figure SPDE Principle     

Novel heterocyclic inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases: three 6H‐1,3,4‐thiadiazines

The title compounds, (2S)‐N‐[5‐(4‐chloro­phenyl)‐2,3‐di­hydro‐6H‐1,3,4‐thia­diazin‐2‐yl­idene]‐2‐[(phenyl­sulfonyl)­amino]­pro­pan­amide, C₁₈H₁₇ClN₄O₃S₂, (I), (2R)‐N‐[5‐(4‐fluoro­phenyl)‐6H‐1,3,4‐thia­diazin‐2‐yl]‐2‐[(phenyl­sulfonyl)amino]­propan­amide, C₁₈H₁₇FN₄O₃S₂, (II), and (2S)‐N‐[5‐(5‐chloro‐2‐thienyl)‐6H‐1,3,4‐thia­diazin‐2‐yl]‐2‐[(phenyl­sulfonyl)­amino]­propan­amide, C₁₆H₁₅ClN₄O₃S₃, (III), are potent inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases. In all three compounds, the thia­diazine ring adopts a screw‐boat conformation. The mol­ecules of compound (I) show a short intramolecular N_Ala—H?N_exo hydrogen bond [N?N 2.661 (3) Å] and are linked into a chain along the c axis by N_endo—H?S_endo and N_endo—H?O_Ala hydrogen bonds [N?S 3.236 (3) and N?O 3.375 (3) Å] between neighbouring mol­ecules. In compound (II), the mol­ecules are connected antiparallel into a chain along the a axis by N_exo—H?O_Ala and N_Ala—H?N_endo hydrogen bonds [N?O 2.907 (6) and N?N 2.911 (6) Å]. The mol­ecules of compound (III) are dimerized antiparallel through N_exo—H?N_endo hydrogen bonds [N?N 2.956 (7) and 2.983 (7) Å]. The different hydrogen‐bonding patterns can be explained by an amido–imino tautomerism (prototropic shift) shown by different bond lengths within the 6H‐1,3,4‐thia­diazine moiety.     

Novel substituted epoxide initiators for the carbocationic polymerization of isobutylene

This article presents the first detailed account of the discovery that substituted epoxides can initiate the carbocationic polymerization of isobutylene. α‐Methylstyrene epoxide (MSE), 2,4,4‐trimethyl‐pentyl‐epoxide‐1,2 (TMPO‐1), 2,4,4‐trimethyl‐pentyl‐epoxide‐2,3 (TMPO‐2), and hexaepoxi squalene (HES) initiated isobutylene polymerization in conjunction with TiCl₄. MSE, TMPO‐2, and HES initiated living polymerizations. A competitive reaction mechanism is proposed for the initiation and propagation. According to the proposed mechanism, initiator efficiency is defined by the competition between the S_N1 and S_N2 reaction paths. A controlled initiation with external epoxides such as MSE should yield a primary hydroxyl head group and a tert‐chloride end‐group. The presence of tert‐chloride end‐groups was verified by NMR spectroscopy, whereas the presence of primary hydroxyl groups was implied by model experiments. Multiple initiation by HES was verified by diphenyl ethylene end‐capping and NMR analysis; the resulting star polymer had an average of 5.2 arms per molecule. A detailed investigation of the reaction mechanism and the characterization of the polymers are in progress. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 444–452, 2000     

Trans-limonene dioxide,a promising bio-based epoxy monomer

Vast quantities of the natural terpene (R)-limonene can be collected from food waste. Epoxidation of its two double bonds provides limonene dioxide (LDO), a difunctional epoxy monomer. However, LDO is a mixture of four isomers, two of which (trans-LDO) are actually difunctional while the others (cis-LDO) have one epoxide group which is significantly less reactive, as revealed by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopic analysis of formulations cross-linked with polyethylene imine. These results are also confirmed when preparing epoxy formulations using respectively cis or trans isomers. From DFT calculations, the reactivity of each epoxide group of LDO has been assessed in model reactions with primary and secondary amines, in the presence of amine or alcohol hydrogen-bond donors. The kinetics of cross-linking has also been probed by differential scanning calorimetry. As measured by dynamic mechanical analysis, the resulting epoxy resins based on trans isomers have a storage modulus of ca 1GPa at room temperature and a glass transition temperature (T_g) of 70°C. These results demonstrate that trans LDO is a promising bio-based epoxy monomer, which could be used as an alternative to petroleum-based epoxy monomers.     

A computational investigation on the photochemistry of the popular spin-trap agent N-tert-butyl-α-phenylnitrone (PBN) and thermal isomerization pathways of its photoproduct oxaziridine

Computational investigation on the low-lying photo-excited states of N-tert-butyl-α-phenylnitrone (PBN), a well-known spin-trap agent, has revealed its photo-product (oxaziridine) formation channel. The S₀-S₂ vertical excitation in PBN is subsequently followed by a non-radiative decay pathway through S₂/S₁ and S₀/S₁ conical intersections (CIs) with CNO-kinked structures, situated around 23 kcal/mol and 45 kcal/mol below the vertically excited S₂ state, respectively. The reverse photo-process of PBN formation involves photo-excitation of oxaziridine to its S₂ and S₃ photo-excited states. The forward photo-isomerization leads to the trans-oxaziridine with a backside CNO kink (trans-OX_B) while the reverse path studied by us, connects its front-side CNO-kinked analogue (trans-OX_F) with the PBN. Our search for the reverse thermal reaction paths from these two oxazirdines has led to their corresponding transition states, one at 35 kcal/mol and the other at 27 kcal/mol above trans-OX_F and trans-OX_B geometries, respectively. They lead to two different isomers (E and Z) of PBN which supports the reported nature of products from the trans-oxaziridine in this thermal reaction. The inversion path of the chiral nitrogen atom of this N-tert-butyl-oxaziridine (barrier 21 kcal/mol) has also been tracked. This reaction path has been compared with that of the N-methyl (barrier 30 kcal/mol) and N-acyl (barrier 10.5 kcal/mol) oxaziridine analogues.     

Two Pseudopolymorphic Star‐Shaped Tetranuclear Co3+ Compounds with Disulfide Anions Exhibiting Two Different Connection Modes and Promising Photocatalytic Properties

The compound [Co₄(C₆H₁₄N₂)₄(μ₄‐S₂)₂(μ₂‐S₂)₄] ( I ) and the pseudo‐polymorph [Co₄(C₆H₁₄N₂)₄(μ₄‐S₂)₂(μ₂‐S₂)₄] ? 4 H₂O ( II ) were obtained under solvothermal conditions (C₆H₁₄N₂=trans‐1,2‐diaminocyclohexane). The structures feature S₂^2? ions exhibiting two different coordination modes. Terminal S₂^2? entities join two Co³⁺ centres in a μ₂ fashion, whereas the central S₂^2? groups connect four Co³⁺ cations in a μ₄‐ coordination mode. Compound II can be transformed into compound I by heat and storage over P₂O₅ and storing compound I in humid air yields in the formation of compound II . The intermolecular interactions investigated through Hirshfeld surface analysis reveal that besides S???H bonding close contacts are associated with relatively weak H???H interactions. A detailed DFT analysis of the bonding situation explains the long S?S bonds in the μ₄‐bridging S₂^2? units and the short bonds for the S₂^2? moieties in the μ₂‐connecting mode. Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution experiments demonstrate the potential of compound II as catalyst.     

Lewis Acid‐Catalyzed Intramolecular [3 + 2] Cross‐Cycloaddition of Donor‐ Acceptor Epoxides with Alkenes for Construction of Oxa‐[n.2.1] Skeletons

The first LA‐catalyzed [3 + 2]IMCC of GDA‐epoxides with carbon‐carbon double bonds has been developed. This provides an efficient and general strategy for construction of bridged oxa‐[n.2.1] skeletons. A novel S_N‐like mechanism through a carbon‐carbon bond cleavage of epoxide ring has been proposed.     

Compounds with bridgehead nitrogen. 44—the conformational analysis of perhydropyrido[1,2-c] [1,3]thiazine

The 270 MHz NMR data on trans- and cis-(H-4a, H-7)-7-ethylperhydropyrido[1,2-c][1,3]thiazine show heavy conformational bias to the trans- and S-inside cis-fused conformations, respectively. Comparison of the ¹³C NMR spectra of these anancomeric systems with the ¹³C NMR spectrum of perhydropyrido[1,2-c][1,3]thiazine indicates a trans-?S-inside cis-conformational equilibrium for the latter compound in CDCl₃ at 25°C, containing ca 75% trans-fused conformer. The ¹³C NMR spectrum of perhydropyrido[1,2-c][1,3]-thiazine at ?75°C showed 64% trans-fused conformer and 36% S-inside cis-conformer.     

Multicentre hydrogen bonds in a 2:1 aryl­sulfonyl­imidazol­one ­hydro­chloride salt

The title compound, (S)‐(+)‐4‐[5‐(2‐oxo‐4,5‐di­hydro­imidazol‐1‐yl­sulfonyl)­indolin‐1‐yl­carbonyl]­anilinium chloride (S)‐(+)‐1‐[1‐(4‐amino­benzoyl)­indoline‐5‐sulfonyl]‐4‐phenyl‐4,5‐di­hydro­imidazol‐2‐one, C₂₄H₂₃N₄O₄S⁺·Cl^?·C₂₄H₂₂N₄O₄S, crystallizes in space group C2 from a CH₃OH/CH₂Cl₂ solution. In the crystal structure, there are two different conformers with their terminal C₆ aromatic rings mutually oriented at angles of 67.69 (14) and 61.16 (15)°. The distances of the terminal N atoms (of the two conformers) from the chloride ion are 3.110 (4) and 3.502 (4) Å. There are eight distinct hydrogen bonds, i.e. four N—H?Cl, three N—H?O and one N—H?N, with one N—H group involved in a bifurcated hydrogen bond with two acceptors sharing the H atom. C—H?O contacts assist in the overall hydrogen‐bonding process.     

N,N′‐Dibenzyldithiooxamide

The title compound, alternatively known as N,N′‐di­benzyl­ethane­di­thioamide, C₁₆H₁₆N₂S₂, lies about an inversion centre and contains a planar trans‐di­thiooxamide fragment characterized by a strong intramolecular hydrogen bond between the S atom and the adjacent amide H atom in the solid state, with an S?N distance of 2.926 (1) Å. The aryl substituent is oriented orthogonal to the mean plane of the trans‐di­thiooxamide fragment due to steric hindrance and this effect is discussed.     

Molecular calculations with the nonempirical ab initioMODPOT,VRDDO, and MODPOT/VRDDO procedures. XII. Carcinogenic 3-methylcholanthrene and its metabolites using a MERGE technique

Ab initio MODPOT/VRDDO/MERGE calculations were carried out on carcinogenic 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MCA) and its metabolites. The results for 3-MCA were compared to our earlier similar calculations for carcinogenic benzo(a)pyrene (BP). Both compounds 3-MCA and BP are carcinogenic and are metabolically activated by similar mechanisms but in different positions. Both the calculated wave functions for 3-MCA and BP and the electrostatic molecular potential contour maps generated from these wave functions correctly reflect the similarity of mechanisms of metabolic activation and the differences in position. Our calculated results both for BP and for 3-MCA reflect accurately their experimentally observed behavior. Thus this combination of theoretical techniques can be used with confidence to describe the behavior of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH's) and their metabolites. The ab initio MODPOT/VRDDO method incorporates two very desirable options into our fast ab initio Gaussian programs: MODPOT –ab initio effective core model potentials—and a charge-conserving integral prescreening approximation which we named VRDDO (variable retention of diatomic differential overlap). For orbital energies and population analysis the MODPOT/VRDDO results agree to essentially three decimal places with completely ab initio calculations using the same valence atomic basis set. For this series of very closely related congeners our recent MERGE technique which allows reuse of integrals from a common skeletal fragment was used. The ab initio MODPOT/VRDDO/MERGE calculations were carried out for 3-MCA, 3-MCA oxides, 3-MCA dihydrodiols, and 3-MCA dihydrodiolepoxides. The metabolites investigated were 3-MCA 9,10-oxide; 3-MCA 7,8-oxide; 3-MCA 9,10-dihydrodiol [trans(axial, axial); trans(equatorial, equatorial); cis(axial, equatorial); cis(equatorial, axial)]; and 3-MCA 9,10-dihydrodiol–7,8-epoxide [for both conformations A and B of the dihydrodiol and for all stereoisomers of the dihydrodiolepoxides relative to below and above the plane: ααα, and ααβ αβα αββ βαα βαβ ββα and βββ (most stable)]. Calculations were also carried out for opening of the C₇? O? C₈ epoxide ring both towards C₇ and C₈ for the most stable isomer Aβββ (above the ring). Opening the epoxide ring between C₇ and O leads to a more stable intermediate than opening the epoxide ring between C₈ and O. Again, however, as with opening the epoxide ring in BP 7,8-dihydrodiol–9,10-epoxide there is no buildup of positive charge on C₇ in the 3-MCA metabolites as postulated by some cancer researchers, but rather the C₇ becomes slightly more negative. Nor is there a buildup of negative charge on the O atom, but rather it becomes slightly more positive. As the epoxide ring is opened further than 90° for the O? C₇? C₈ or O? C₈? C₇ angles, there appears to be a possible mixing of configurations that is being investigated further.