Synthetic studies on furanosteroids: construction of the viridin core structure via Diels-Alder/retro-Diels-Alder and vinylogous Mukaiyama aldol-type reaction.

The synthesis of the viridin class of furanosteroids core skeleton from the readily available 2,3-dihydro-4-hydroxyinden-1-one (6) is described. Our strategy was broken down into three parts: (1) Synthesis of functionalized alkyne oxazoles of type 5; (2) intramolecular Diels-Alder/retro-Diels-Alder reaction of 5 followed by tautomerization and elaboration of R to give silylated furanonaphthols 4 bearing an aldehyde side chain; and (3) annulation of ring A by intramolecular vinylogous Mukaiyama aldol-type cyclization. Two major challenges were faced in the last step: (i) furanonaphthol derivatives bearing a ß-hydroxyaldehyde functionality (R(1) = OH) suffered from dehydration to the E-enal, which is geometrically incapable of cyclization, and (ii) the functionality at C17 had a strong influence on the conversion of 4 to 3, as exemplified by the failure of the free ketone (X = O) or its derivatives (X = H, OH; X = H, OAc) to cyclize. In the end, success was realized with the analogous C17-norketone (X = H, H).

The localization and photosensitization of modified chlorin photosensitizers in artificial membranes.

In this work we investigate the localization and photophysical properties of twelve synthetically derived chlorins in artificial membranes, with the goal of designing more effective photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy (PDT). The studied chlorins incorporate substituents of varying lipophilicity at the C(5)-meso-position (H to C(5)H(11)), while the C(13)- and C(17)-positions have carboxylate "anchoring" groups tethered to the tetrapyrrole by alkyl chains (CH(2))(n) (n = 1-3). It was found that as n increases, the chromophoric part of the molecule, and thus the point of generation of singlet oxygen, is located at a deeper position in the bilayer. The vertical insertion of the sensitizers was assessed by two fluorescence-quenching techniques: by iodide ions that come from the aqueous phase and by spin-probe-labeled phospholipids that are incorporated into the bilayer, using the parallax method. These results demonstrate that elongation of the side chains endows the modified molecules with a larger affinity for artificial membranes and also causes the tetrapyrrole ring to be localized deeper in the lipid membrane. This location leads to a higher effective quantum yield for the chemical reaction of singlet oxygen with its chemical target 9,10-dimethylanthracene (DMA).

The binding of analogs of porphyrins and chlorins with elongated side chains to albumin.

In previous studies, we demonstrated that elongation of side chains of several sensitizers endowed them with higher affinity for artificial and natural membranes and caused their deeper localization in membranes. In the present study, we employed eight hematoporphyrin and protoporphyrin analogs and four groups containing three chlorin analogs each, all synthesized with variable numbers of methylenes in their alkyl carboxylic chains. We show that these tetrapyrroles' affinity for bovine serum albumin (BSA) and their localization in the binding site are also modulated by chain lengths. The binding constants of the hematoporphyrins and protoporphyrins to BSA increased as the number of methylenes was increased. The binding of the chlorins depended on the substitution at the meso position opposite to the chains. The quenching of the sensitizers' florescence by external iodide ions decreased as the side chains became longer, indicating to deeper insertion of the molecules into the BSA binding pocket. To corroborate this conclusion, we studied the efficiency of photodamage caused to tryptophan in BSA upon illumination of the bound sensitizers. The efficiency was found to depend on the side-chain lengths of the photosensitizer. We conclude that the protein site that hosts these sensitizers accommodates different analogs at positions that differ slightly from each other. These differences are manifested in the ease of access of iodide from the external aqueous phase, and in the proximity of the photosensitizers to the tryptophan. In the course of this study, we developed the kinetic equations that have to be employed when the sensitizer itself is being destroyed.

Toward the synthesis of cobyric acid. Enantioselective syntheses of completely differentiated ring D synthons.

Alkyne acids 11 were prepared in an enantioselective fashion from allylic ester derivatives 18 or 20 by Ireland-Claisen rearrangement, followed by Si-assisted elimination of HBr. The title compounds are attractive ring D synthons for an ongoing synthesis of cobyric acid.

Toward a general synthesis of chlorins.

Recently, we described a new synthesis of C,D-ring symmetric chlorins 11, involving 2 + 2 condensation of bis-formyl-dihydrodipyrrins 9 with symmetrically substituted dipyrromethane diacids 10 (Method I). However, while versatile in many aspects, Method I was unsuited to the broader goal of synthesizing fully non-symmetric chlorins of general structure 15, which requires regioselective control over the reacting centers in the A,B- and C,D-ring components. In this paper, we describe four new 2 + 2 strategies that accomplish this differentiation (Methods II-V). Of these, Method V, which combines operational simplicity with moderate to high product yields, proved to be the most effective route, exploiting reactivity differences between the two formyl groups of A,B-rings 9 to impart excellent regioselectivity. Methods II-IV are also useful alternatives to Method V, although in some cases, the appropriately functionalized precursors are less readily available. All four approaches generate single regioisomers of diversely substituted chlorins, and in every case, the 2 + 2 condensation is accomplished in a simple, one-flask procedure without need for additives such as oxidizing agents or metals. Taken together, these methodologies provide expanded access to an array of chlorins for SAR studies that may advance the effectiveness of PDT and other applications.

Furanosteroid studies. Stereoselective synthesis of the A,B,E-ring core of wortmannin.

Alkyne oxazole 11c is converted in three steps, and approximately 45% overall yield, to furanolactone 21alpha having the A,B,E-ring core of the wortmannin (2) family of furanosteroids. The TiCl4-catalyzed insertion of EtO2C-CH=O between C3 and C10 in furanoacid 14d is >98% stereoselective via a pathway involving chemoselective lactonization of equilibrating aldol intermediates 23alpha,beta (dynamic kinetic resolution).

Studies on the synthesis of furanosteroids. I. Viridin models.

Alkyne oxazoles of general structure I are transformed directly to furo[2,3-b]phenol derivatives II by a sequence involving intramolecular Diels-Alder/retro-Diels-Alder reaction followed by tautomerization. Suitably functionalized phenols II undergo an intramolecular phenol-dienone-aldol condensation, generating the A,B,E-ring skeleton III characteristic of the viridin (1) class of furanosteroids.

Studies in chlorin chemistry. 3. A practical synthesis of c,d-ring symmetric chlorins of potential utility in photodynamic therapy.

[reaction: see text] C,D-ring symmetric chlorins 8 were prepared in 47-85% yield, on scales up to several hundred milligrams, by condensation of appropriately substituted bis-formyldihydrodipyrrins 6 and dipyrromethane bis-carboxylic acids 7 in 5% TFA/CH2Cl2 (25 examples). Target chlorins were chosen to systematically probe the effect of lipophilic and hydrophilic substituents on tissue partitioning and cellular membrane penetration in photodynamic therapy (PDT).

Studies in chlorin chemistry. II. A versatile synthesis of dihydrodipyrrins.

[reaction: see text] Dihydrodipyrrins are key building blocks for the synthesis of hydroporphyrins, many of which have important biological activity. The title compounds were prepared in stereo- and regioselective fashion by a three-step sequence consisting of (1) Pd(0)-catalyzed coupling-cyclization of 2-iodopyrroles with gamma-alkynoic acids to afford enelactones of the desired substitution pattern, (2) methylenation at the lactone carbonyl group employing the Petasis reagent, and (3) in situ enol-ether hydrolysis and amination of the resultant 1,4-diketone to close the pyrroline ring (nine examples). Yields for each step were generally high, although in substrates not blocked by geminal substitution aromatization to a dipyrromethane is a competing side reaction.

Synthetic Studies in Phytochrome Chemistry.

An account is given of the author's several approaches to the synthesis of the parent chromophore of phytochrome (1), a protein-bound linear tetrapyrrole derivative that controls photomorphogenesis in higher plants. These studies culminated in enantioselective syntheses of both 2R- and 2S-phytochromobilin (4), as well as several (13)C-labeled derivatives designed to probe the site of Z,E-isomerization during photoexcitation. When reacted in vitro, synthetic 2R-4 and recombinant-derived phytochrome apoprotein N-C produced a protein-bound chromophore with identical difference spectra to naturally occurring 1.

Enantioselective syntheses of ring-C precursors of vitamin B12. Substrate control. A novel Si-assisted elimination of vinyl bromides.

Homochiral ring-C precursors 34 of Vitamin B(12) have been prepared by Ireland-Claisen rearrangement of allyl esters 32, followed by a novel Si-assisted elimination of HBr. [reaction: see text]

Enantioselective syntheses of ring-C precursors of vit. B(12). Reagent control.

Enelactones of the general structure S-(-)-I were prepared in three steps from alcohol 21 and acids 22 (ee approximately 85%). Lactones S-(-)-I are versatile precursors to enelactams II of the type found in Vitamin B(12).

Lewis acid-promoted oxidative addition of thioimidates to Pd0.

The isomeric S-methyldihydropyrrins 9-Z and 9-E exhibit markedly different behavior in Pd(0)-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions. Thioimidates 9-Z are readily converted to imines 10-Z employing Pd(0)/AlkZnI. Under identical conditions 9-E are inert. Oxidative addition to Pd(0) requires activation by Zn or other Lewis acids, which is sterically unfavorable with 9-E. Analogous results were obtained with the related thioimidates 11-E,Z as well as with methylthiopyridines 19alpha-gamma. In the case of both 11 and 19 oxidative addition to Pd(0) was greatly facilitated in the presence of BF(3) x Et(2)O. The importance of Lewis acid activation to Pd(0) oxidative addition in such substrates appears to be a general phenomenon not previously recognized.

Studies on the Synthesis of Phytochrome and Related Tetrapyrroles. Dihydropyrromethenones by Photochemical Rearrangement of N-Pyrrolo Enamides.

Dihydropyrromethenone 67b, a potential precursor for the synthesis of phytochrome 1, has been prepared in enantiomerically pure form beginning with N-aminopyrrole 64 and the acetylenic acid 62b. The key step involved a 3,5-sigmatropic rearrangement of N-pyrrolo enamide 66b.

Dihydropyrromethenones by Pd(0)-Mediated Coupling of Iodopyrroles and Acetylenic Amides. Synthesis of the A,B-Ring Segment of Phytochrome.

Dihydropyrromethenone derivative 32b, which constitutes the A,B-ring segment of phytochrome (6), has been prepared in enantiomerically pure form beginning with acetylenic amide 47b and iodopyrrole 27. The key steps involved the TBAF-catalyzed 5-exo-dig cyclization of the acetylenic pyrrole 48b, followed by thia-Mitsunobu inversion of the resulting alcohol derivative 31b.