Covalent amination of 1-alkyl- and 1-aryl-3-carbamoylpyridinium chlorides as “model” for enzymic activity of rabbit liver aldehyde oxidase

The site of animation for 1-alkyl-3-carbamoylpyridinium chlorides in liquid ammonia is dependent on the identity of the 1-alkyl substituent. For the methyl, ethyl and n-propyl derivatives exclusively 6-adducts are found. Adduct formation takes place at C-6 and C-4, when the 1-substituent is an i-propyl or t-butyl group. The adduct ratio for the latter compounds is determined by the size of the substituent. 1-Aryl derivatives exhibit amination at C-2 and C-6 and the adduct ratios are dependent on the temperature. When the aryl substituent is a 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl group the 4-adduct is detected as well. A comparison is made between the sites of oxidation of these compounds by rabbit liver aldehyde oxidase and the covalent amination pattern in liquid ammonia. It is shown that covalent animation as a “model” for the enzymic activity of aldehyde oxide1 is particularly valuable in cases where the enzyme reaction is controlled by steric factors.