Novel designed enediynes: molecular design, chemical synthesis, mode of cycloaromatization and guanine-specific DNA cleavage

Competing pathways in the photogeneration of didehydrotoluenes from (Trimethylsilylmethyl)aryl sulfonates and phosphates

The scope of the photochemical generation of α,n-didehydrotoluene diradicals from aryl sulfonates and phosphates and their chemistry are explored. The thermally inaccessible α,2- and α,4- intermediates are efficiently obtained by irradiation of ortho- and para-(trimethylsilylmethyl)phenyl triflates through heterolytic splitting of the ester anion from the substrate in the triplet state. Triplet phenyl cations are formed and the loss of trimethylsilyl cation from them affords the desired diradicals ((3) Me3 SiCH2 C6 H4 -OZ→(3) Me3 SiCH2 C6 H4 (+) →(⋅) CH2 C6 H4 (⋅)). Triplet sensitization is required, for which acetone is used throughout. Direct irradiation leads, on the contrary, to photo-Fries fragmentation ((1) Me3 SiCH2 C6 H4 O-Z→Me3 SiCH2 C6 H4 O(⋅) +Z(⋅)). With mesylates, where ester cleavage is less convenient, a further competition from the triplet is direct desilylation. Didehydrotoluenes are also obtained from the corresponding phosphates, although with poor efficiency.

Photochemical Triggering of the Bergman and Myers - Saito Cyclizations

Two strategies for the photochemical generation of reactive enediyne compounds and their subsequent cycloaromatization to p-benzyne or α,3-didehydrotoluene derivatives are discussed in this account. The first method employs a photo-Wolff reaction of stable 11- or 12-membered ring precursor enediynes containing the 2-diazo-1,3-diketone moiety. Irradiation of these compounds results in ring contraction and the formation of two isomeric enediynes possessing an enolized β-ketoester fragment. One of the isomers undergoes the conventional Bergman cyclization, whereas the other isomerizes into the enyne-allene tautomer, which rapidly cyclizes via a Myers–Saito mechanism. The second strategy consists of replacing the triple bond in a cyclic enediyne or enyne-allene structure with a cyclopropenone group, rendering them thermally stable. Photolysis of cyclopropenones results in efficient decarbonylation and the regeneration of a triple bond, restoring the enediyne π-system. The generation of reactive enediynes by non-resonant two-photon excitation using wavelengths within a ‘phototherapeutic window’ was also demonstrated. Photogenerated enediynes show significant nuclease activity, efficiently inducing single-strand dDNA cleavage.