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Melo DU, Bergonzini de Lima H, Reis RA, Boaro A, Gonçalves Costa Pinto AG, Monteiro Leite Ciscato LF, Homem-de-Mello P, Bartoloni FH. Chemiluminescence of a Firefly Luciferin Analogue Reveals that Formation of the Key Intermediate Responsible for Excited State Generation Occurs on a Fully Concerted Step. J Org Chem 2024; 89:345-355. [PMID: 38113466 DOI: 10.1021/acs.joc.3c02079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
The chemiluminescence (CL) reaction of eight different 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4,5-dihydrothiazole-4-carboxylate esters with an organic superbase and oxygen was investigated through a kinetic and computational study. These esters are all analogues to the luciferin substrate involved in efficient firefly bioluminescence. The kinetic data obtained from CL emission and light absorption assays were used in the context of linear free energy relationships (LFER); we obtained the Hammett reaction constant ρ = +1.62 ± 0.09 and the Brønsted constant βlg = -0.39 ± 0.04. These observations from LFER, together with activation parameters obtained from Arrhenius plots, suggest that the formation of the high-energy intermediate (HEI) 1,2-dioxetanone occurs via a concerted mechanism during the rate-determining step of the reaction. Calculations performed using density functional theory support a late transition state for HEI formation within the reaction mechanism pathway, which was described considering geometric parameters, Wiberg bond indices from natural bond order analysis, and the atomic charges derived from the electrostatic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Ulysses Melo
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André, São Paulo 09210-580, Brazil
| | - Henrique Bergonzini de Lima
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André, São Paulo 09210-580, Brazil
| | - Roberta Albino Reis
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André, São Paulo 09210-580, Brazil
| | - Andreia Boaro
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André, São Paulo 09210-580, Brazil
| | | | | | - Paula Homem-de-Mello
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André, São Paulo 09210-580, Brazil
| | - Fernando Heering Bartoloni
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André, São Paulo 09210-580, Brazil
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Pedro Silva J, González-Berdullas P, Pereira M, Duarte D, Rodríguez-Borges JE, Vale N, Esteves da Silva JC, Pinto da Silva L. Evaluation of the anticancer activity and chemiluminescence of a halogenated coelenterazine analog. J Photochem Photobiol A Chem 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotochem.2022.114228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
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Afonso ACP, González-Berdullas P, Esteves da Silva JCG, Pinto da Silva L. Combined Experimental and Theoretical Investigation into the Photophysical Properties of Halogenated Coelenteramide Analogs. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27248875. [PMID: 36558008 PMCID: PMC9781228 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27248875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Marine Coelenterazine is one of the most well-known chemi-/bioluminescent systems, and in which reaction the chemi-/bioluminophore (Coelenteramide) is generated and chemiexcited to singlet excited states (leading to light emission). Recent studies have shown that the bromination of compounds associated with the marine Coelenterazine system can provide them with new properties, such as anticancer activity and enhanced emission. Given this, our objective is to characterize the photophysical properties of a previously reported brominated Coelenteramide analog, by employing a combined experimental and theoretical approach. To better analyze the potential halogen effect, we have also synthesized and characterized, for the first time, two new fluorinated and chlorinated Coelenteramide analogs. These compounds show similar emission spectra in aqueous solution, but with different fluorescence quantum yields, in a trend that can be correlated with the heavy-atom effect (F > Cl > Br). A blue shift in emission in other solvents is also verified with the F−Cl−Br trend. More relevantly, the fluorescence quantum yield of the brominated analog is particularly sensitive to changes in solvent, which indicates that this compound has potential use as a microenvironment fluorescence probe. Theoretical calculations indicate that the observed excited state transitions result from local excitations involving the pyrazine ring. The obtained information should be useful for the further exploration of halogenated Coelenteramides and their luminescent properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Carolina P. Afonso
- Chemistry Research Unit (CIQUP), Institute of Molecular Sciences (IMS), Department of Geosciences, Environment and Territorial Planning, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, R. Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Patricia González-Berdullas
- Chemistry Research Unit (CIQUP), Institute of Molecular Sciences (IMS), Department of Geosciences, Environment and Territorial Planning, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, R. Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Joaquim C. G. Esteves da Silva
- Chemistry Research Unit (CIQUP), Institute of Molecular Sciences (IMS), Department of Geosciences, Environment and Territorial Planning, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, R. Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
- LACOMEPHI, GreenUPorto, Department of Geosciences, Environment and Territorial Planning, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, R. Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Luís Pinto da Silva
- Chemistry Research Unit (CIQUP), Institute of Molecular Sciences (IMS), Department of Geosciences, Environment and Territorial Planning, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, R. Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
- LACOMEPHI, GreenUPorto, Department of Geosciences, Environment and Territorial Planning, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, R. Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
- Correspondence:
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Tuning the Intramolecular Chemiexcitation of Neutral Dioxetanones by Interaction with Ionic Species. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27123861. [PMID: 35744984 PMCID: PMC9228516 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27123861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The intramolecular chemiexcitation of high-energy peroxide intermediates, such as dioxetanones, is an essential step in different chemi- and bioluminescent reactions. Here, we employed the Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory (TD-DFT) methodology to evaluate if and how external stimuli tune the intramolecular chemiexcitation of model dioxetanones. More specifically, we evaluated whether the strategic placement of ionic species near a neutral dioxetanone model could tune its thermolysis and chemiexcitation profile. We found that these ionic species allow for the “dark” catalysis of the thermolysis reaction by reducing the activation barrier to values low enough to be compatible with efficient chemi- and bioluminescent reactions. Furthermore, while the inclusion of these species negatively affected the chemiexcitation profile compared with neutral dioxetanones, these profiles appear to be at least as efficient as anionic dioxetanones. Thus, our results demonstrated that the intramolecular chemiexcitation of neutral dioxetanones can be tuned by external stimuli in such a way that their activation barriers are decreased. Thus, these results could help to reconcile findings that neutral dioxetanones could be responsible for efficient chemi-/bioluminescence, while being typically associated with high activation parameters.
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Magalhães C, Esteves da Silva JCG, Pinto da Silva L. Theoretical Study of the Thermolysis Reaction and Chemiexcitation of Coelenterazine Dioxetanes. J Phys Chem A 2022; 126:3486-3494. [PMID: 35612291 PMCID: PMC9776548 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.2c01835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Coelenterazine and other imidazopyrazinones are important bioluminescent substrates widespread in marine species and can be found in eight phyla of luminescent organisms. Light emission from these systems is caused by the formation and subsequent thermolysis of a dioxetanone intermediate, whose decomposition allows for efficient chemiexcitation to singlet excited states. Interestingly, some studies have also reported the involvement of unexpected dioxetane intermediates in the chemi- and bioluminescent reactions of Coelenterazine, albeit with little information on the underlying mechanisms of these new species. Herein, we have employed a theoretical approach based on density functional theory to study for the first time the thermolysis reaction and chemiexcitation profile of two Coelenterazine dioxetanes. We have found that the thermolysis reactions of these species are feasible but with relevant energetic differences. More importantly, we found that the singlet chemiexcitation profiles of these dioxetanes are significantly less efficient than the corresponding dioxetanones. Furthermore, we identified triplet chemiexcitation pathways for the Coelenterazine dioxetanes. Given this, the chemiexcitation of these dioxetanes should lead only to minimal luminescence. Thus, our theoretical investigation of these systems indicates that the thermolysis of these dioxetanes should only provide "dark" pathways for the formation of nonluminescent degradation products of the chemi- and bioluminescent reactions of Coelenterazine and other imidazopyrazinones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla
M. Magalhães
- Chemistry
Research Unit (CIQUP), Institute of Molecular Sciences (IMS), Faculty of Sciences of University of Porto (FCUP), Rua do Campo Alegre 687, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Joaquim C. G. Esteves da Silva
- Chemistry
Research Unit (CIQUP), Institute of Molecular Sciences (IMS), Faculty of Sciences of University of Porto (FCUP), Rua do Campo Alegre 687, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal,LACOMEPHI,
GreenUPorto, Department of Geosciences, Environment and Territorial
Planning, Faculty of Sciences of University
of Porto (FCUP), Rua
do Campo Alegre 687, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Luís Pinto da Silva
- Chemistry
Research Unit (CIQUP), Institute of Molecular Sciences (IMS), Faculty of Sciences of University of Porto (FCUP), Rua do Campo Alegre 687, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal,LACOMEPHI,
GreenUPorto, Department of Geosciences, Environment and Territorial
Planning, Faculty of Sciences of University
of Porto (FCUP), Rua
do Campo Alegre 687, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal,
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Development of a Coelenterazine Derivative with Enhanced Superoxide Anion-Triggered Chemiluminescence in Aqueous Solution. CHEMOSENSORS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/chemosensors10050174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
Superoxide anion is a reactive oxygen species (ROS) of biological interest. More specifically, it plays a role in intra- and intercellular signaling, besides being associated with conditions such as inflammation and cancer. Given this, efforts have been made by the research community to devise new sensing strategies for this ROS species. Among them, the chemiluminescent reaction of marine Coelenterazine has been employed as a sensitive and dynamic probing approach. Nevertheless, chemiluminescent reactions are typically associated with lower emissions in aqueous solutions. Herein, here we report the synthesis of a new Coelenterazine derivative with the potential for superoxide anion sensing. Namely, this novel compound is capable of chemiluminescence in a dose-dependent manner when triggered by this ROS species. More importantly, the light-emission intensities provided by this derivative were relevantly enhanced (intensities 2.13 × 101 to 1.11 × 104 times higher) in aqueous solutions at different pH conditions when compared to native Coelenterazine. The half-life of the chemiluminescent signal is also greatly increased for the derivative. Thus, a new chemiluminescence molecule with significant potential for superoxide anion sensing was discovered and reported for the first time.
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7
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Rationalizing the Role of Electron/Charge Transfer in the Intramolecular Chemiexcitation of Dioxetanone-Based Chemi-/Bioluminescent Systems. J Photochem Photobiol A Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotochem.2022.113904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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8
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Magalhães CM, González-Berdullas P, Esteves da Silva JCG, Pinto da Silva L. Elucidating the chemiexcitation of dioxetanones by replacing the peroxide bond with S–S, N–N and C–C bonds. NEW J CHEM 2021. [DOI: 10.1039/d1nj03440e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Replacing the peroxide bond of dioxetanone prevents chemiluminescence by making its thermolysis energetically unfavorable and without a singlet chemiexcitation pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla M. Magalhães
- Chemistry Research Unit (CIQUP), Faculty of Sciences of University of Porto (FCUP), Rua do Campo Alegre 697, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
| | - Patricia González-Berdullas
- Chemistry Research Unit (CIQUP), Faculty of Sciences of University of Porto (FCUP), Rua do Campo Alegre 697, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
| | - Joaquim C. G. Esteves da Silva
- Chemistry Research Unit (CIQUP), Faculty of Sciences of University of Porto (FCUP), Rua do Campo Alegre 697, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
- LACOMEPHI, GreenUPorto, Faculty of Sciences of University of Porto (FCUP), Rua do Campo Alegre 697, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
| | - Luís Pinto da Silva
- Chemistry Research Unit (CIQUP), Faculty of Sciences of University of Porto (FCUP), Rua do Campo Alegre 697, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
- LACOMEPHI, GreenUPorto, Faculty of Sciences of University of Porto (FCUP), Rua do Campo Alegre 697, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
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