Synthesis and properties of bilirubin analogs with N,N-methylene bridges

Exploring the conformation of bilirubins with natural and unnatural analogues: use of positional and bridged isomers of bilirubin IXalpha

Unlike bilirubin IXalpha (1), the isomers bilirubin IXdelta (2) and neobilirubin IXbeta (3) do not require conjugation with glucuronic acid in order to be excreted. A conformational analysis employing an optimized Monte Carlo method and a mixed Monte Carlo stochastic dynamics reveals that isomer 2 exhibits a structure more closed than the well known 'ridge-tile' conformation of 1. The change in the position of both propionic acid chains causes the loss of at least four hydrogen bonds. On the other hand, the change in the configuration of the distal dipyrrinone and the blockage of the lactamic nitrogen by the presence of a bridge in isomer 3 results in an open and more elongated structure, where the chance of hydrogen bond formation in this region is obliterated. The resulting molecular models for these compounds are consistent with 1H NM R, UV-vis, and TLC data.

Probing the conformation of bilirubins with monopropionic analogs: a biological, spectroscopic, and molecular modeling study

The in vivo metabolism of a bilirubin analog substituted with a propionic acid chain in C8 (5) showed that it is excreted in bile conjugated with glucuronic acid, while a positional isomer substituted with a propionate in C7 (6) is excreted in bile without conjugation. A conformational analysis employing an optimized Monte Carlo method and a mixed Monte Carlo/stochastic dynamics reveals that isomer 5 adopts a 'ridge tile' conformation, stabilized by the presence of three intramolecular hydrogen bonds. On the contrary, isomer 6 exhibits a more closed structure, where impairment in the formation of at least one of the hydrogen bonds occurs. These theoretical predictions agree well with 1H NMR, UV-vis, and TLC data.