Flavin-catalyzed aerobic oxidation of sulfides in aqueous media

Aerobic Photocatalysis: Oxidation of Sulfides to Sulfoxides

Sulfoxides constitute one of the most important functional groups in organic chemistry found in numerous pharmaceuticals and natural products. Sulfoxides are usually obtained from the oxidation of the corresponding sulfides. Among various oxidants, oxygen or air are considered the greenest and most sustainable reagent. Photochemistry and photocatalysis is increasingly applied in new, as well as traditional, yet demanding, reaction, like the aerobic oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides, since photocatalysis has provided the means to access them in mild and effective ways. In this review, we will summarize the photochemical protocols that have been developed for the oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides, employing air or oxygen as the oxidant. The aim of this review is to present: i) a historical overview, ii) the key mechanistic studies and proposed mechanisms and iii) categorize the different catalytic systems in literature.

Modulating catalytic activity of a modified flavin analogue via judicially positioned metal ion toward aerobic sulphoxidation

This manuscript describes the synthesis, spectroscopic and crystallographic characterization of a cadmium complex of 10-propoylisoalloxazine-7-carboxylic acid (Flc-Cd). Catalytic activity of Flc-Cd towards aerobic sulphoxidation reaction was investigated in the presence of l-ascorbic acid as the reducing agent. Notably the neutral un-metalated flavin analogue did not show any significant catalytic activity. The design strategy for Flc provides a close proximity of the metal centre to the flavin core without compromising the catalytic site thereby assisting the product formation when compared to unmetallated Flc. Minor enantioselectivity is also observed in cases where unsymmetrical sulphides were used; indicative of the possible involvement of chiral l-ascorbic acid in the intermediate formation.

Design and synthesis of a catalytically efficient metal-flavin complex toward aerobic sulphoxidation was achieved via judicially positioning the metal ion near the catalytic site thereby assisting the intermediate formation.

Molecular Editing of Flavins for Catalysis

The diverse activity of flavoenzymes in organic transformations has fascinated researchers for a long time. However, when applied outside an enzyme environment, the isolated flavin cofactor only shows largely reduced activity. This highlights the importance of embedding the reactive isoalloxazine core of flavins in defined surroundings. The latter include crucial non-covalent interactions with amino acid side chains or backbone as well as controlled access to reactants such as molecular oxygen. Nevertheless, molecular flavins are increasingly applied in the organic laboratory as valuable organocatalysts. Chemical modification of the parent isoalloxazine structure is of particular interest in this context in order to achieve reactivity and selectivity in transformations, which are so far only known with flavoenzymes or even unprecedented. This review aims to give a systematic overview of the reported designed flavin catalysts and highlights the impact of each structural alteration. It is intended to serve as a source of information when comparing the performance of known catalysts, but also when designing new flavins. Over the last few decades, molecular flavin catalysis has emerged from proof-of-concept reactions to increasingly sophisticated transformations. This stimulates anticipating new flavin catalyst designs for solving contemporary challenges in organic synthesis.

1 Introduction

2 N1-Modification

3 N3-Modification

4 N5-Modification

5 C6–C9-Modification

6 N10-Modification

7 Conclusion

Aerobic Oxidative C-H Azolation of Indoles and One-Pot Synthesis of Azolyl Thioindoles by Flavin-Iodine-Coupled Organocatalysis

The aerobic oxidative cross-coupling of indoles with azoles driven by flavin-iodine-coupled organocatalysis has been developed for the green synthesis of 2-(azol-1-yl)indoles. The coupled organocatalytic system enabled the one-pot three-component synthesis of 2-azolyl-3-thioindoles from indoles, azoles, and thiols in an atom-economical manner by utilizing molecular oxygen as the only sacrificial reagent.

Characterization in aqueous medium of an FMN semiquinone radical stabilized by the enzyme-like microenvironment of a modified polyethyleneimine

The elusive flavin semiquinone intermediate found in flavoproteins such as cryptochromes has been obtained in aqueous solution by single electron reduction of the natural FMN cofactor using sodium ascorbate. This species was formed in the local hydrophobic microenvironment of a modified polyethyleneimine and characterized by UV-Visible, fluorescence and EPR spectroscopies.

Comparison of riboflavin-derived flavinium salts applied to catalytic H2O2 oxidations

A series of flavinium salts, 5-ethylisoalloxazinium, 5-ethylalloxazinium, and 1,10-ethylene-bridged alloxazinium triflates, were prepared from commercially available riboflavin. This study presents a comparison between their optical and redox properties, and their catalytic activity in H2O2 oxidations of sulfide, tertiary amine, and cyclobutanone. Reflecting the difference between the π-conjugated ring structures, the flavinium salts displayed very different redox properties, with reduction potentials in the order of: 5-ethylisoalloxazinium > 5-ethylalloxazinium > 1,10-ethylene-bridged alloxazinium. A comparison of their catalytic activity revealed that 5-ethylisoalloxazinium triflate specifically oxidises sulfide and cyclobutanone, and 5-ethylalloxazinium triflate smoothly oxidises tertiary amine. 1,10-Bridged alloxazinium triflate, which can be readily obtained from riboflavin in large quantities, showed moderate catalytic activity for the H2O2 oxidation of sulfide and cyclobutanone.

The reduced flavin-dependent monooxygenase SfnG converts dimethylsulfone to methanesulfinate

The biochemical pathway through which sulfur may be assimilated from dimethylsulfide (DMS) is proposed to proceed via oxidation of DMS to dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and subsequent conversion of DMSO to dimethylsulfone (DMSO2). Analogous chemical oxidation processes involving biogenic DMS in the atmosphere result in the deposition of DMSO2 into the terrestrial environment. Elucidating the enzymatic pathways that involve DMSO2 contribute to our understanding of the global sulfur cycle. Dimethylsulfone monooxygenase SfnG and flavin mononucleotide (FMN) reductase MsuE from the genome of the aerobic soil bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens Pf0-1 were produced in Escherichia coli, purified, and biochemically characterized. The enzyme MsuE functions as a reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH)-dependent FMN reductase with apparent steady state kinetic parameters of Km = 69 μM and kcat/Km = 9 min(-1) μM (-1) using NADH as the variable substrate, and Km = 8 μM and kcat/Km = 105 min(-1) μM (-1) using FMN as the variable substrate. The enzyme SfnG functions as a flavoprotein monooxygenase and converts DMSO2 to methanesulfinate in the presence of FMN, NADH, and MsuE, as evidenced by (1)H and (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The results suggest that methanesulfinate is a biochemical intermediate in sulfur assimilation.

Unusual non-enzymatic flavin catalysis enhances understanding of flavoenzymes

Flavin cofactors are central to many biochemical transformations and are typically tightly bound as part of a catalytically active flavoenzyme. This work indicates that naturally occurring flavins can act as stand-alone catalysts to promote the oxidation of biosynthetically inspired heterocycles in aqueous buffers. Flavin activity was compared with that of oxidases important in non-ribosomal peptide synthesis, providing a rare direct comparison between the catalytic efficacy of flavins alone and in the context of a full flavoenzyme. This study suggests that such oxidases are likely to possess an active site base, as oxidase activity was greater than that of flavins alone, particularly for less acidic substrates. These findings offer perspective on the development of robust and catalytically effective, designed miniature flavoenzymes.

Peroxoniobium(v)-catalyzed selective oxidation of sulfides with hydrogen peroxide in water: a sustainable approach

Facile and selective transformation of thioethers to the corresponding sulfoxides or sulfones with 30% H₂O₂ has been achieved in an aqueous medium by using peroxoniobium(v) complexes as reusable catalysts.

Biomimetic flavin-catalysed reactions for organic synthesis

Using simple riboflavin related compounds as biomimetic catalysts, catalytic oxidation of various substrates with hydrogen peroxide or molecular oxygen can be performed selectively under mild conditions. The principle of these reactions is fundamental and will provide a wide scope for environmentally benign future practical methods.

Flavin-catalyzed aerobic oxidation of sulfides and thiols with formic acid/triethylamine

An efficient and practical method for flavin-catalyzed aerobic oxidation of sulfides and thiols with formic acid/TEA is described.