Methyltriazolocoumarins: New furocoumarin isosters as potential photochemotherapeutic agents

A number of new methyltriazolocoumarins with a linear psoralen-like structure or an angular angelicin-like structure were synthetized. The syntheses were performed starting from the appropriate methylated 7-aminocoumarins which were nitrated, reduced and successively diazotized with concomitant cyclization to form the condensed triazolo ring. The new methyltriazolocoumarins show promising spectroscopic properties which are potentially predictive of their photochemical and photobiological behaviour.     

MONOFUNCTIONAL3,4-and4',5'-PHOTOCYCLOADDUCTS BETWEEN 4,5'-DIMETHYLANGELICIN and THYMINE

By irradiating (365 nm) an aqueous liquid solution of 4,5'-dimethylangelicin. a monofunctional photosensitizing furocoumarin, in the presence of an excess of thymine, two new compounds, I and II, have been obtained; they do not show fluorescence when observed with Wood's light. The nuclear magnetic resonance data, the marked similarity of UV absorption and fluorescence spectra of these compounds with those of synthetic 3.4-dihydro-4,5'-dimethylangelicin and their capacity to undergo photodissociation (254 nm) yielding the starting thymine and 4,5'-dimethylangelicin in equimolecular amounts, are consistent with C₄-cycloadducts between the 3,4-double bond of the furocoumarin and 5,6-double bond of thymine. Nuclear magnetic resonance data indicate for I and II a head-to-head and a head-to-tail structure, respectively. When irradiation is carried out in the frozen state, two adducts. III and IV, fluorescent at Wood's light, have been obtained other than the two above-mentioned compounds I and II. Compounds III and IV have been identified as 4'.5'-fluorescent adducts between the 4',5'-double bond of the furocoumarin and the 5.6-double bond of thymine; one of them (III) is identical to that formed in the photoreaction between DNA and 4,5'-dimethylangelicin; for this last compound a cis head-to-head structure has been suggested.     

FLUORIMETRIC DETERMINATION OF 4',5'-CYCLOADDUCTS IN THE DNA-PSORALEN PHOTOREACTION

Abstract— 4',5'-Photocycloadducts of psoralen with pyrimidine bases of DNA have been quantitatively determined by fluorescence measurements on the acid hydrolysate of DNA-psoralen photoadducts.     

13C NMR spectra and carbon-proton coupling constants of various methylangelicins

The ¹³C-nmr spectra of various methyl derivatives of angelicin are reported. The assignment of chemical shifts for all the C atoms has been achieved by using carbon-proton coupling constants, nuclear Overhauser effect consideration and shift effects caused by the introduction of methyl groups on various positions of the angelicin nucleus. Substituent effects on ¹³C chemical shifts and carbon-proton coupling constants are discussed.     

Photobiological Properties of 1'-Thieno-4,6,4'-trimethylangelicin

Some photobiological properties of l'-thieno-4,6,4′-tri-methylangelicin (TTMA), a new isoster of 4,6,4′-trimeth-ylangelicin (TMA) were studied in comparison with the parent compound. The TTMA absorbs UVA light and photobinds in vitro to DNA more efficiently than TMA; however, in Ehrlich cells in vivo TTMA linked to DNA to a lesser extent than the parent compound. In general, the formation of damage into DNA is in line with this last result: In fact, TTMA and TMA form equivalent amounts of interstrand cross-links (ISC) both in vitro in linearized PM2 DNA and in vivo in HeLa cells. In this system TTMA induces DNA-protein cross-links (DPC) more efficiently than TMA; on the contrary, no significant amounts of single-strand breaks were detected with both compounds. The antiproliferative activity of TTMA is consistent with these results, being only slightly more pronounced than that of TMA. Experiments carried out using double irradiation demonstrated that these drugs are capable of inducing antiproliferative effects by bi-photonic reactions, including the formation of both ISC and DPC. Thus, replacement of the oxygen atom by a sulfur increases the UV absorption of the drug and its capacity to photobind to DNA in vitro but does not yield a comparable enhancement of its photosensitizing properties in vivo; this might be due to various reasons, for instance to an increase in the lipophilic character that could modify the behavior in vivo.     

Structural characterization of isomeric triazolocoumarins by high- and low-energy collision spectrometry of M+˙, [M + H]+ and [M − H]− species

Two monometayl- and four dimethyl-triazolocoumarin isomers were characterized by their electron impact mass spectra and by low-energy collision experiments performed on molecular ions M⁺˙ and other fragment ions with an ion-trap mass spectrometer. High-energy collision-activated dissociation measurements were performed on the protonated [M + H]⁺ and deprotonated [M ? H]^? molecular ion obtained by fast atom bombardment and M⁺˙ species produced by electron impact ionization on a double-focusing, reverse-geometry instrument. The data obtained allowed unequivocal structural identification of all the compounds investigated.     

KINETIC ANALYSIS OF THE PHOTOREACTION (365 nm) BETWEEN PSORALEN AND DNA

Abstract— Psoralen complexed with DNA under irradiation at 365 nm forms monofunctional and bifunctional adducts with pyrimidine bases of DNA. while the fraction of psoralen which remains free in the aqueous solution forms photodimer and photooxidation products. We havc studied the photoreaction betwecn psoralen and DNA from a kinetic point of view. Only some products of this photoreaction could be measured quantitatively. Thus. in order to present a picture of the overall photoreaction. we have represented this by a mathematical model consisting of a system of seven differential equations. Utilizing all the experimental data that it was possible to obtain. we were able to estimate rate constants for formation of all photoproducts. From the general picture thus obtained. we conclude that monofunctional adducts are formed in a four to one ratio to bifunctional adducts. Among the monofunctional photoproducts. 3,4-cycloadducts occur with a higher yield than 4',5'-cycloadducts. The combined rate constant of formation of photodimer and photooxidation products of psoralen is small. indicating that they are marginal by-products relative to the cycloadducts formed in the photoreactions with DNA.     

Difurocoumarins: Psoralen analogs as photochemotherapeutic agents

New tetracyclic psoralen‐like compounds have been synthesized, which are characterized by two furan rings angularly condensed on the coumarin nucleus and are therefore called difurocoumarins. This structural feature may favour the intercalation into the DNA helix and then monofunctionally photoreaction with DNA bases. Their synthesis started from 5,7‐dihydroxy‐4‐methylcoumarin, which was condensed with α‐halo‐ketones; the resulting ketoethers were then cyclized to give the title compounds.     

BENZOFUROCOUMARINS: NEW MONOFUNCTIONAL DNA-PHOTOBINDING AGENTS

Abstract— The tetracyclic furocoumarin 2H-benzofuro[3,2-g]-1-benzo-pyran-2-one and its 4 and/or II methyl analogues have been investigated in their DN A-photobinding properties. Spectrophotometric and radioactivity measurements show that these compounds exhibit prominent ability to bind to the polynucleotide double helix by covalent photoaddition of the furocoumarin 3,4 double bond.
Denaturation-renaturation experiments demonstrate that no cross-link of DNA chains occurs. Benzopsoralens can thus be considered as a new class of monofunctional DNA-photobinding agents.     

13C-NMR spectra and carbon-proton coupling constants of variously annulated furocoumarins

The ¹³C-nmr spectra of variously annulated methylfurocoumarins are reported. The assignments of chemical shifts for all the C resonances has been achieved by using carbon-proton coupling constants, relaxation efficiency considerations and shift effects caused by the introduction of methyl groups at various positions of the furocoumarin nucleus. Substituent effects on ¹³C chemical shifts and carbon-proton coupling constants are discussed.