Pyrroline Ring Research Articles

UDP-GlcNAc Analogues as Inhibitors of O-GlcNAc Transferase (OGT): Spectroscopic, Computational, and Biological Studies.

A series of glycomimetics of UDP-GlcNAc, in which the β-phosphate has been replaced by either an alkyl chain or a triazolyl ring and the sugar moiety has been replaced by a pyrrolidine ring, has been synthesized by the application of different click-chemistry procedures. Their affinities for human O-GlcNAc transferase (hOGT) have been evaluated and studied both spectroscopically and computationally. The binding epitopes of the best ligands have been determined in solution by means of saturation transfer difference (STD) NMR spectroscopy. Experimental, spectroscopic, and computational results are in agreement, pointing out the essential role of the binding of β-phosphate. We have found that the loss of interactions from the β-phosphate can be counterbalanced by the presence of hydrophobic groups at a pyrroline ring acting as a surrogate of the carbohydrate unit. Two of the prepared glycomimetics show inhibition at a micromolar level.

Magnetic Interaction Observed in Hetero Biradical Derivatives Containing a 2,2,5,5-Tetramethylpyrrolin-1-yloxyl Unit as a Localized Spin Center.

The magneto-structural correlation of hetero biradical derivatives containing a 2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolin-1-yloxyl unit as a localized spin center and a verdazyl or nitronyl nitroxide radical is reported. The magnetic susceptibility measurement revealed that the verdazyl attached biradical 1 exhibits ferromagnetic interaction, whereas antiferromagnetic interaction is observed for nitronyl nitroxide attached biradical 2. An EPR study in toluene glass matrix suggests that both 1 and 2 have a ground triplet state. DFT calculations predict that there is intramolecular ferromagnetic interaction for both biradicals. The computation also suggests that the intramolecular magnetic interaction is weaker with larger dihedral angle between pyrroline ring and verdazyl ring/O-N-C-N-O plane of nitronyl nitroxide. The computations of model compounds 3 and 4 suggest that spin polarization on vinylic moiety without distribution of SOMO might be an essential condition for the intramolecular ferromagnetic interaction.

Synthesis and Spectral Properties of meso-Arylbacteriochlorins, Including Insights into Essential Motifs of their Hydrodipyrrin Precursors.

Synthetic bacteriochlorins—analogues of bacteriochlorophylls, Nature’s near-infrared absorbers—are attractive for diverse photochemical studies. meso-Arylbacteriochlorins have been prepared by the self-condensation of a dihydrodipyrrin–carbinol or dihydrodipyrrin–acetal following an Eastern-Western (E-W) or Northern-Southern (N-S) joining process. The bacteriochlorins bear a gem-dimethyl group in each pyrroline ring to ensure stability toward oxidation. The two routes differ in the location of the gem-dimethyl group at the respective 3- or 2-position in the dihydrodipyrrin, and the method of synthesis of the dihydrodipyrrin. Treatment of a known 3,3-dimethyldihydrodipyrrin-1-carboxaldehyde with an aryl Grignard reagent afforded the dihydrodipyrrin-1-(aryl)carbinol, and upon subsequent acetylation, the corresponding dihydrodipyrrin-1-methyl acetate (dihydrodipyrrin–acetate). Self-condensation of the dihydrodipyrrin–acetate gave a meso-diarylbacteriochlorin (E-W route). A 2,2-dimethyl-5-aryldihydrodipyrrin-1-(aryl)carbinol underwent self-condensation to give a trans-A2B2-type meso-tetraarylbacteriochlorin (N-S route). In each case, the aromatization process entails a 2e−/2H+ (aerobic) dehydrogenative oxidation following the dihydrodipyrrin self-condensation. Comparison of a tetrahydrodipyrrin–acetal (0%) versus a dihydrodipyrrin–acetal (41%) in bacteriochlorin formation and results with various 1-substituted dihydrodipyrrins revealed the importance of resonance stabilization of the reactive hydrodipyrrin intermediate. Altogether 10 new dihydrodipyrrins and five new bacteriochlorins have been prepared. The bacteriochlorins exhibit characteristic bacteriochlorophyll-like absorption spectra, including a Qy band in the region 726–743 nm.

Synthesis of N-Aryl Oxindole Nitrones through a Metal-Free Selective N-Arylation Process.

An efficient selective N-arylation of 3-(hydroxyimino)indolin-2-ones with diaryliodonium salts to prepare (Z)-N-aryl oxindole nitrones has been achieved under simple base-mediated conditions. The reaction tolerated a variety of diaryliodonium salts with diverse and sensitive functional groups. Studies on the oxime structures revealed that the pyrroline ring and carbonyl group in 3-(hydroxyimino)indolin-2-ones played important roles in the selective N-arylation process. The N-aryl oxindole nitrones could be prepared rapidly and easily at the gram scale.

Synthesis and characterization of β,β′-linked porphyrin-chlorin heterodimers and their metallic complexes

Two β,β′-linked porphyrin-chlorin heterodimers have been successfully synthesized with 4-fluorophenyl or 4-chlorophenyl substituted aldehyde as starting reagents. But those aldehydes with bulkier substituents did not lead to the corresponding heterodimers. These porphyrin-chlorin heterodimers and their metallic complexes have been characterized by X-ray crystallography. In all the structures, the pyrroline group in chlorin moiety and the pyrrole group in porphyrin moiety are directly connected by a single bond. Pyrroline ring has two sp[Formula: see text] hybridized carbons. The direct bonding makes the porphyrin and chlorin moieties closely contact with each other, pyrroline group and the pyrrole group forms a dihedral angle of ~70°. If porphyrin-chlorin heterodimers have bulkier substituents, the close contact could cause too much repulsion. That is probably why they can not be synthesized. For nickel complexes, the chlorin planes show large saddling and moderate ruffling conformation. The C–H⋯[Formula: see text] interaction could contribute to the saddling conformation. The distorted core makes dihedral angles and metal to metal distances between porphyrin and chlorin plane much smaller than those in their copper complexes. Their NMR, UV-visible and fluorescence spectral data have also been briefly discussed.

Construction of the Bacteriochlorin Macrocycle with Concomitant Nazarov Cyclization To Form the Annulated Isocyclic Ring: Analogues of Bacteriochlorophyll a.

Bacteriochlorophylls contain a bacteriochlorin macrocycle bearing an annulated fifth ring. The fifth ring, termed the isocyclic ring or ring E, is equipped with 131-oxo and 132-carbomethoxy substituents. Herein, a general route to stable, synthetic bacteriochlorophyll analogues is described. Knoevenagel condensation (∼40 mM, rt, CH2Cl2, piperidine/AcOH/molecular sieves) of a dihydrodipyrrin-carboxaldehyde (AD half) and a dihydrodipyrrin substituted with a β-ketoester (BC half) forms a propenone bearing the two halves (a hydrobilin analogue). Subsequent treatment (0.2 mM) with acid (Yb(OTf)3, CH3CN, 80 °C) promotes a double ring-closure process: (i) condensation between the α-position of pyrrole ring A and the α-acetal unit attached to pyrroline ring B forms the bacteriochlorin macrocycle, and (ii) Nazarov cyclization of the β-(propenoyl)-substituted ring C forms the isocyclic ring (E). Five new bacteriochlorins bearing various substituents (alkyl/alkyl, aryl, and alkyl/ester) at positions 2 and 3 (β-pyrrole sites, ring A) and 132 carboalkoxy groups (R = Me or Et) were constructed in 37-61% yield from the hydrobilin analogues. The BC half and AD half are available in five and eight steps, respectively, from the corresponding pyrrole-2-carboxaldehyde and unsaturated ketone. The bacteriochlorins exhibit absorption spectra typical of bacteriopheophytins (free base bacteriochlorophylls), with a strong near-infrared absorption band (707-751 nm).

Allosteric Inhibitory Molecular Recognition of a Photochromic Dye by a Digestive Enzyme: Dihydroindolizine makes α-chymotrypsin Photo-responsive.

The structural-functional regulation of enzymes by the administration of an external stimulus such as light could create photo-switches that exhibit unique biotechnological applications. However, molecular recognition of small ligands is a central phenomenon involved in all biological processes. We demonstrate herein that the molecular recognition of a photochromic ligand, dihydroindolizine (DHI), by serine protease α-chymotrypsin (CHT) leads to the photo-control of enzymatic activity. We synthesized and optically characterized the photochromic DHI. Light-induced reversible pyrroline ring opening and a consequent thermal back reaction via 1,5-electrocyclization are responsible for the photochromic behavior. Furthermore, DHI inhibits the enzymatic activity of CHT in a photo-controlled manner. Simultaneous binding of the well-known inhibitors 4-nitrophenyl anthranilate (NPA) or proflavin (PF) in the presence of DHI displays spectral overlap between the emission of CHT-NPA or CHT-PF with the respective absorption of cis or trans DHI. The results suggest an opportunity to explore the binding site of DHI using Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET). Moreover, to more specifically evaluate the DHI binding interactions, we employed molecular docking calculations, which suggested binding near the hydrophobic site of Cys-1-Cys-122 residues. Variations in the electrostatic interactions of the two conformers of DHI adopt unfavorable conformations, leading to the allosteric inhibition of enzymatic activity.

Synthetic Chlorins, Possible Surrogates for Chlorophylls, Prepared by Derivatization of Porphyrins.

Chlorophylls make Earth green, are the central constituents in the engine of photosynthesis, and not surprisingly have garnered immense attention. A chlorin, the core chromophore of a chlorophyll, is a dihydroporphyrin macrocycle that contains one pyrroline ring and three pyrrole rings. The dominant method for the synthesis of chlorins has entailed the derivatization of porphyrins. The present review covers the ostensibly simple conversion of porphyrins, regardless of synthetic or biological origin, to chlorins. The period covered encompasses the entire history since the beginnings of chlorin synthetic chemistry in the early 20th century through 2015. Representative transformations include hydrogenation, cycloaddition, annulation, and diverse "breaking and mending" approaches. Altogether, the synthesis of >1000 chlorins or chlorin-like compounds (containing >50 distinct pyrroline motifs) is described. Such diversity animates the question "what structural features are essential for a chlorin to resemble chlorophyll?" To begin to address the structure-spectrum relationship, > 250 absorption spectra are provided for representative structures. The synthesis and spectral properties of the vast collection of compounds described herein are expected to illuminate the scope to which synthetic chlorins can serve as surrogates for chlorophylls and be exploited in diverse ways.

Cis-trans-Amide isomerism of the 3,4-dehydroproline residue, the 'unpuckered' proline.

Proline (Pro) is an outstanding amino acid in various biochemical and physicochemical perspectives, especially when considering the cis–trans isomerism of the peptidyl-Pro amide bond. Elucidation of the roles of Pro in chemical or biological systems and engineering of its features can be addressed with various Pro analogues. Here we report an experimental work investigating the basic physicochemical properties of two Pro analogues which possess a 3,4-double bond: 3,4-dehydroproline and 4-trifluoromethyl-3,4-dehydroproline. Both indicate a flat pyrroline ring in their crystal structures, in agreement with previous theoretical calculations. In solution, the peptide mimics exhibit an almost unchanged equilibrium of the trans/cis ratios compared to that of Pro and 4-trifluoromethylproline derivatives. Finally we demonstrate that the 3,4-double bond in the investigated structures leads to an increase of the amide rotational barriers, presumably due to an interplay with the transition state.

The crystal structure of 4'-{4-[(2,2,5,5-tetra-methyl-N-oxyl-3-pyrrolin-3-yl)ethyn-yl]phen-yl}-2,2':6',2''-terpyridine.

The terpyridine group of the title compound, C31H27N4O, assumes an all-transoid conformation and is essentially planar with the dihedral angles between the mean planes of the central pyridine and the two outer rings amounting to 3.87 (5) and 1.98 (5)°. The pyrroline-N-oxyl group commonly seen in such nitroxyls is found in the title structure and the mean plane of the pyrroline ring subtends a dihedral angle of 88.44 (7)° to the mean plane of the central pyridine ring. The intra-molecular separation between the nitrogen atom of the central pyridine unit of the terpyridine group and the nitroxyl group is 14.120 (2) Å. In the crystal, the mol-ecules are arranged in layers stacked along [001]. Slipped face-to-face π-π inter-actions between the pyridine rings are observed along this direction with the shortest centroid-centroid distances amounting to 3.700 (1) and 3.781 (1) Å. Furthermore, edge-on C-H⋯π inter-actions between the phenyl-ene rings of neighbouring mol-ecules are observed along this direction. A two-dimensional C-H⋯O hydrogen-bonded network is formed within the (010) plane. The shortest O⋯O separation between neighbouring mol-ecules is 5.412 (3) Å.

ChemInform Abstract: From Targeted Aza‐Michael Addition to Linked Azaheterocyclic Scaffolds.

AbstractDifferent kinds of azaheterocyclic scaffolds (hydantoin, 2‐thiohydantoin) are prepared.

Photoisomerization dynamics of a rhodopsin-based molecule (potential molecular switch) with high quantum yields

It is worthwhile to explore the detailed reaction dynamics of various candidates for molecular switches, in order to understand, e.g., the differences in quantum yields and switching times. Here we report density-functional-based simulations for the rhodopsin-based molecule 4-[4-methylbenzylidene]-5-p-tolyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrrole (MDP), synthesized by Sampedro et al We find that the photoisomerization quantum yields are remarkably high: 82% for cis-to-trans, and 68% for trans-to-cis. The lifetimes of the S1 excited state in cis-MDP in our calculations are in the range of 900–1800 fs, with a mean value of 1270 fs, while the range of times required for full cis-to-trans isomerization are 1100–2000 fs, with a mean value of 1530 fs. In trans-MDP, the calculated S1 excited state lifetimes are 860–2140 fs, with a mean value of 1330 fs, and with the full trans-to-cis isomerization completed about 200 fs later. In both cases, the dominant reaction mechanism is rotation around the central C=C bond (connected to the pyrroline ring), and de-excitation occurs at an avoided crossing between the ground state and the lowest singlet state, near the midpoint of the rotational pathway. Perhaps remarkably, but apparently because of electrostatic repulsion, the direction of rotation is the same for both reactions.

From targeted aza-Michael addition to linked azaheterocyclic scaffolds

A straightforward method for the synthesis of spaced, phenyl-linked bis(thiohydantoin) derivatives and (thio)hydantoins spiro-fused to pyrroline ring has been developed. All the synthetic strategies here presented rely on initial aza-Michael addition followed by acylation/regioselective ring-closure step involving DD, primary amine and iso(thio)cyanate in a 3-CR providing 1,3,5-trisubstituted (thio)hydantoins. The choice of opportune acyclic reagents in the sequential 3-CR followed by 1,4-nucleophilic addition/intramolecular ring closing and 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition permits a number of C–N and C–C formation that realizes different kind of linkage between several pharmacophores.

Synthesis of 24 bacteriochlorin isotopologues, each containing a symmetrical pair of 13C or 15N atoms in the inner core of the macrocycle.

Synthetic bacteriochlorins containing site-specific isotopic substitution enable spectroscopic interrogation to delineate physicochemical features relevant to bacteriochlorophylls in photosynthesis but have been little explored. A de novo synthesis has been employed to prepare bacteriochlorins wherein each macrocycle contains a pair of (13)C or (15)N atoms yet lacks substituents other than a geminal dimethyl group in each pyrroline ring. Preparation of a dihydrodipyrrin–acetal with single-isotopic substitution gives rise to a bacteriochlorin that contains two isotopic substitutions symmetrically disposed by a 180° rotation about the normal to the plane of the macrocycle. Eight such isotopically substituted bacteriochlorins were prepared from commercially available reactants (bacteriochlorin sites): ((13)C)paraformaldehyde (1, 11); ((13)C)formamide (4, 14); triethyl ((13)C)orthoformate (5, 15); K(13)CN (6, 16); (13)CH3NO2 (9, 19); N,N-dimethyl((13)C)formamide (10, 20); ((15)N)pyrrole (21, 23); CH3(15)NO2 (22, 24). Some loss of (15)N upon TiCl3-mediated McMurry-type ring closure of a nitro((15)N)hexanone is attributed to a parallel sequence of three reactions (Nef, exchange with natural-abundance NH4OAc buffer, and Paal–Knorr ring closure) leading to the dihydrodipyrrin–acetal. Zinc and copper chelates of each bacteriochlorin also were prepared. Together, the 24 bacteriochlorin isotopologues should provide valuable benchmarks for understanding ground- and excited-state molecular physics of the macrocycles related to photosynthetic function of bacteriochlorophylls.

Regioselective β-pyrrolic electrophilic substitution of hydrodipyrrin–dialkylboron complexes facilitates access to synthetic models for chlorophyll f

Substituents in ring A of chlorophylls can exert profound effects on spectral properties. A de novo route to synthetic chlorins employs a tetrahydrodipyrrin reactant containing pyrrole and pyrroline rings. Complexation of the tetrahydrodipyrrin with a dialkylboron motif caused electrophilic substitution (bromination, formylation) to proceed predominantly at the β7- rather than α-position of the pyrrole ring, whereas an analogous dihydrodipyrrin underwent substitution equally at the 7- and 8-positions. The fully unsaturated dipyrrin–difluoroboron complex is known to undergo electrophilic substitution at the 8-position. The 7-position of the hydrodipyrrin ultimately gives rise to substituents at the chlorin 2-position (ring A), which heretofore has been little accessed. The position of substitution was confirmed by four single-crystal X-ray structures. Two isomeric formylchlorins were prepared by Pd-mediated carbonylation of the corresponding bromochlorins. Access to a 2-formylchlorin relied on bromination of the tetrahydrodipyrrin–dibutylboron complex, whereas a 3-formylchlorin was prepared by installation of the bromo group in the earliest precursor, pyrrole-2-carboxaldehyde. The two formylchlorins differ in absorption spectral properties: the Qy absorption maximum is 654 or 664 nm for the 2- or 3-formylchlorin, respectively. The synthetic formylchlorins provide initial models for understanding the strong red absorption of native 2- or 3-formylchlorophylls (f and d).

Serendipitous synthetic entrée to tetradehydro analogues of cobalamins

Tetradehydrocorrin macrocycles occupy a saturation level halfway between that of octadehydrocorrins and corrins (e.g., cyanocobalamin). While octadehydrocorrin chemistry is relatively well understood, few studies have been done on more reduced macrocycles owing to synthetic limitations. The reaction of a 2,3-dihydro-1,3,3-trimethyldipyrrin (Western half) bearing a 7-(4-iodophenyl) group and a 1-(dimethoxymethyl)-9-bromo-2,3-dihydro-3,3-dimethyldipyrrin (Eastern half) bearing a 7-p-tolyl group in the presence of Ga(OTf)3 afforded the corresponding B,D-tetradehydrocorrin (1) in 24% yield. Use of a Western half bearing a 7-(4-ethylphenyl) group afforded the B,D-tetradehydrocorrin (2) in 29% yield. Each tetradehydrocorrin bears a 1-methyl group at the A–D ring junction (and hence is enantiomeric), a geminal dimethyl group in each pyrroline ring, and distinct substituents at the 7- and 17-positions; characterization included 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopies, absorption spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and X-ray crystallography (2 only). Treatment of 1 or 2 with CoCl2 afforded the cobalt chelate as a mixture of stereoisomers containing an apical methoxide or hydroxide ligand. The cobalt-tetradehydrocorrin was characterized by absorption spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, infrared spectroscopy and electrochemistry. The cobalt chelate was smoothly titrated with THF, pyridine, and KCN or Bu4NCN. While the assignment of the oxidation state of the cobalt remains provisional, the use of natural abundance versus isotopically substituted solvents or titrants (CD3OD, K13CN) enabled clear identification of the apical ligands. The facile access to stable, synthetically tailored B,D-tetradehydrocorrins should open the door to fundamental studies of simple surrogates of cyanocobalamin.

Synthetic bacteriochlorins with integral spiro-piperidine motifs

A new molecular design incorporates a spiro-piperidine unit in each pyrroline ring of synthetic bacteriochlorins, thereby (1) replacing the previous geminal dimethyl group with a functionally equivalent motif to suppress adventitious dehydrogenation, (2) enabling tailoring of the bacteriochlorin by nitrogen derivatization, and (3) leaving the β-pyrrolic positions available for introduction of auxochromes to tune the spectral properties. Conversion of an N-protected 4-piperidone to the N-protected α,β-unsaturated ketone, Michael reaction with 4-(ethoxycarbonyl)-3-ethyl-2-(2-nitroethyl)pyrrole, and subsequent reductive cyclization provided the spiro-piperidine-1-methyldihydrodipyrrin. Treatment with SeO2 followed by trimethyl orthoformate under acid catalysis converted the 1-methyl group to a 1-(1,1-dimethoxymethyl) motif. Self-condensation of the resulting spiro-piperidine-dihydrodipyrrin-acetal afforded the 5-methoxy- or 5-unsubstituted bacteriochlorin, each bearing two spiro-piperidine units. The spiro-piperidine units were derivatized at the nitrogens by methylation, sulfonylation, acylation, or quaternization; the latter with methyl iodide afforded two dicationic, hydrophilic bacteriochlorins. Altogether, eight spiro-piperidine-bacteriochlorins were prepared. Spectroscopic characterization was carried out in DMF (and in water for the quaternized, 5-methoxybacteriochlorin). Compared to the 5-unsubstituted analogue, the quaternized, 5-methoxybacteriochlorin has in DMF a shorter wavelength of the intense near-infrared absorption band (733 vs. 752 nm) and fluorescence band (739 vs. 760 nm), modestly greater fluorescence yield (0.15 vs. 0.08) and modestly longer lifetime of the lowest singlet excited state (4.7 vs. 3.3 ns). In general, the spiro-piperidinyl moiety does not significantly alter the rate constants or yields of the decay pathways (fluorescence, intersystem crossing, internal conversion) of the lowest singlet excited state of the bacteriochlorin. Taken together, the results describe a new molecular design for tailoring the polarity of near-infrared absorbers.

Synthesis of Nitroxide-Annulated Carbocycles and Heterocycles

New, pyrroline nitroxide annulated lactones, polycycles, and maleimide were synthesized by classical and microwave-assisted methodology. We report the application of the metathesis reaction in the presence of nitroxide yielding a pyrroline nitroxide condensed 1,4-benzoquinone as a paramagnetic dienophile. The formation of the isoselenazolone-fused pyrroline ring system was examined and different reactivity was observed with pyrrolin-1-oxyl and pyrroline derivatives.

An asymmetric synthesis of L-pyrrolysine.

An efficient asymmetric synthesis of the 22nd amino acid L-pyrrolysine has been accomplished. The key stereogenic centers were installed by an asymmetric conjugate addition reaction. A Staudinger/aza-Wittig cyclization was used to form the acid-sensitive pyrroline ring. Pyrrolysine was synthesized in 13 steps in 20% overall yield.

Characterization and Functional Modification of StaC and RebC, Which Are Involved in the Pyrrole Oxidation of Indolocarbazole Biosynthesis

The diversity of indolocarbazole natural products results from the differences in oxidation states of the pyrroline ring moiety. In the biosynthetic pathways for staurosporine and rebeccamycin, two homologous enzymes having 64% identity, StaC and RebC, are responsible for the selective production of K252c, which has one oxo group at the pyrroline ring, and arcyriaflavin A, which has two. Although StaC has a FAD-binding motif, most StaC molecules do not contain FAD, and the protein cannot be reconstituted with FAD in vitro. In this study, we mutated Ala-118 in StaC by replacing a glutamine that is conserved in FAD monooxygenases, resulting in increased FAD content as well as catalytic activity. In addition, mutations around the substrate-binding sites of StaC and RebC can change the product selectivity. Specifically, StaC-N244R-V246T and RebC-F216V-R239N mutants produced substantial amounts of arcyriaflavin A and K252c, respectively.