Imploded bilirubins: synthesis and properties of 10-nor-mesobilirubin-XIIIα and analogs

Homorubins and Homoverdins

The syntheses are described for centrally expanded bilirubin analogs: b -homorubins with propionic and butyric acid groups in the positions corresponding to the propionic acids of bilirubin. Their syntheses were accomplished by coupling two equivalents of a reactive monopyrrole (5-(bromomethylene)pyrrolin-2-one) to a dipyrrylethane. The corresponding b -homoverdins and dehydro- b -homoverdins were prepared by dehydrogenating the rubins or their dimethyl esters using DDQ. As supported by NMR measurements and molecular mechanics calculations, the homorubins are found to engage in conformation-determining intramolecular hydrogen bonding between the dipyrrinone and carboxylic acid moieties. Likewise, the homoverdins are believed to favor intramolecularly hydrogen-bonded conformations.

Intramolecular Hydrogen Bonding and Linear Pentapyrrole Conformation

Three new linear pentapyrrole rubinoid analogs: 2,3,7,8,17,18,22,23-octamethyl-12,13-bis-(2-carboxyethyl)-1,10,15,24,25,27,28,29-octahydro-27H-pentapyrrin-1,24-dione and 2,3,8,12,13,17,22,23-octamethyl-7,18-bis-(2-carboxyethyl)-1,10,15,24,25,26,27,28,29-octahydro-27H-pentapyrrin-1,24-dione, and its 7,18-dihexanoic acid analog were synthesized, respectively, from 2,3,7,8-tetramethyl-(10H)-dipyrrin-2-one, from 2,3,8-trimethyl-7-[2-(methoxycarbonyl)ethyl]-(10H)-dipyrrinone, and 2,3,8-trimethyl-7-[5-(methoxycarbonyl)pentyl]-(10H)-dipyrrinone. ¹³C NMR and ¹H NMR measurements in (CD₃)₂SO confirmed the pentapyrrole structures, while ¹H NMR data indicate intramolecular hydrogen bonding between the CO₂H and dipyrrinone groups. Molecular mechanics modeling studies suggest stable U-shape conformations capable of encapsulating small planar aromatic molecules.