Caging of Carbonyl Compounds as Photolabile (2,5-Dihydroxyphenyl)ethylene Glycol Acetals

Photolabile Protecting Groups Based on the Excited State Meta Effect: Development and Application

This review focuses on utilization of the excited state meta effect (ESME) in the development of photolabile protecting groups (PPGs). Structurally simple ESME-based PPGs for release of various functional groups (such as carbonyl, hydroxyl, carboxyl, amino, and thiol groups) are discussed. Examples that demonstrate the appealing advantages of these new PPGs are provided, including their efficient release of "poor" leaving groups such as hydroxyl or amino group directly instead of in their respective carbonate or carbamate form. Applications of these PPGs in synthesis, release of biologically important molecules, materials science, and biomedical engineering are also described.

Does the photoredox reaction affect the photorelease of anthraquinone protected benzaldehyde? A time-resolved spectroscopic study

Time-resolved spectroscopy studies coupled with the results from density functional theory (DFT) computations were utilized to unravel the photodeprotection reaction mechanism of Aqe-diol-PPG and the photoredox of photoproduct Aqe-diol.

A novel approach to oxazole-containing diterpenoid synthesis from plant roots: salviamines E and F

Salviamines E and F were efficiently synthesized from a known molecule, 5,7,8-trimethoxy-1-naphthol.

A novel approach to sesquiterpenoid benzoxazole synthesis from marine sponges: nakijinols A, B and E–G

Nakijinols A, B, E, F and G were efficiently synthesized via the ring closure of the N-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-formamide or -acetamide moiety.

Influence of Water in the Photogeneration and Properties of a Bifunctional Quinone Methide

Quinone methides (QM) are crucial reactive species in molecular biology and organic chemistry, with little known regarding the mechanism(s) for the generation of short-lived reactive QM intermediates from relevant precursors in aqueous solutions. In this study, several time-resolved spectroscopy methods were used to directly examine the photophysics and photochemical pathways of 1,1'-(2,2'-dihydroxy-1,1'-binaphthyl-6,6'-diyl)bis(N,N,N-trimethylmethanaminium) bromide (BQMP-b) from initial photoexcitation to the generation of the key reactive binol QM intermediate (BQM) in aqueous solution. The fluorescence of BQMP-b is effectively quenched with a small amount of water, which suggests an excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) occurs. The kinetics isotope effects observed in femtosecond and nanosecond time-resolved transient absorption experiments provide evidence for the participation of water molecules in the BQMP-b singlet excited state ESIPT process and in the subsequent -HNMe₃⁺ group release and ground state intramolecular proton transfer that give rise to production of the reactive BQM intermediate. Nanosecond time-resolved resonance Raman (ns-TR³) measurements were also employed to investigate the structure and properties of several intermediates, including the key reactive BQM in aqueous solution. The ns-TR³ and density functional theory (DFT) computational results were compared, and this indicates the binol moiety and water molecules both have important roles in the characteristics and structure of the key reactive BQM intermediate produced from BQMP-b. The results presented here also provide new benchmark characterization of bifunctional quinone methide intermediates that can be utilized to guide direct time-resolved spectroscopic study of the alkylation and interstrand cross-linking reactions of quinone methides with DNA in the future.

Alcohol, Aldehyde, and Ketone Liberation and Intracellular Cargo Release through Peroxide-Mediated α-Boryl Ether Fragmentation

α-Boryl ethers, carbonates, and acetals, readily prepared from the corresponding alcohols that are accessed through ketone diboration, react rapidly with hydrogen peroxide to release alcohols, aldehydes, and ketones through the collapse of hemiacetal intermediates. Experiments with α-boryl acetals containing a latent fluorophore clearly demonstrate that cargo can be released inside cells in the presence of exogenous or endogenous hydrogen peroxide. These experiments show that this protocol can be used for drug activation in an oxidative environment without generating toxic byproducts.

The excited state antiaromatic benzene ring: a molecular Mr Hyde?

The antiaromatic character of benzene in its first ππ* excited triplet state (T1) was deduced more than four decades ago by Baird using perturbation molecular orbital (PMO) theory [J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1972, 94, 4941], and since then it has been confirmed through a range of high-level quantum chemical calculations. With focus on benzene we now first review theoretical and computational studies that examine and confirm Baird's rule on reversal in the electron count for aromaticity and antiaromaticity of annulenes in their lowest triplet states as compared to Hückel's rule for the ground state (S0). We also note that the rule according to quantum chemical calculations can be extended to the lowest singlet excited state (S1) of benzene. Importantly, Baird, as well as Aihara [Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn. 1978, 51, 1788], early put forth that the destabilization and excited state antiaromaticity of the benzene ring should be reflected in its photochemical reactivity, yet, today these conclusions are often overlooked. Thus, in the second part of the article we review photochemical reactions of a series of benzene derivatives that to various extents should stem from the excited state antiaromatic character of the benzene ring. We argue that benzene can be viewed as a molecular "Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde" with its largely unknown excited state antiaromaticity representing its "Mr Hyde" character. The recognition of the "Jekyll and Hyde" split personality feature of the benzene ring can likely be useful in a range of different areas.

Photoactivatable fluorescein derivatives caged with a (3-hydroxy-2-naphthalenyl)methyl group

The (3-hydroxy-2-naphthalenyl)methyl (NQMP) group represents an efficient photocage for fluorescein-based dyes. Thus, irradiation of the 6-NQMP ether of 2'-hydroxymethylfluorescein with low-intensity UVA light results in a 4-fold increase in emission intensity. Photoactivation of nonfluorescent NQMP-caged 3-allyloxyfluorescein produces a highly emissive fluorescein monoether. To facilitate conjugation of the caged dye to the substrate of interest via click chemistry, the allyloxy appendage was functionalized with an azide moiety.

ortho-Quinone methide (o-QM): a highly reactive, ephemeral and versatile intermediate in organic synthesis

In this critical review, we provide a comprehensive view of the chemistry of ortho-quinone methides as versatile reactive intermediates in organic synthesis.

Photogeneration and reactivity of naphthoquinone methides as purine selective DNA alkylating agents

A one-step protecting-group-free synthesis of both 6-hydroxy-naphthalene-2-carbaldehyde and the bifunctional binaphthalenyl derivative afforded 6-hydroxymethylnaphthalen-2-ol, 6-methylaminomethyl-naphthalen-2-ol, [(2-hydroxy-3-naphthyl)methyl]trimethyl ammonium iodide, and a small library of bifunctional binol analogues in good yields. Irradiation of naphthol quaternary ammonium salt and binol-derivatives (X = OH, NHR, NMe(3)(+), OCOCH(3), and L-proline) at 310 and 360 nm resulted in the photogeneration of the 2,6-naphthoquinone-6-methide (NQM) and binol quinone methide analogues (BQMs) by a water-mediated excited-state proton transfer (ESPT). The hydration, the mono- and bis-alkylation reactions of morpholine and 2-ethanethiol, as N and S prototype nucleophiles, by the transient NQM (λ(max) 310, 330 nm) and BQMs (λ(max) 360 nm) were investigated in water by product distribution analysis and laser flash photolysis (LFP). Both the photogeneration and the reactivity of NQM and BQMs exhibited striking differences. BQMs were at least 2 orders of magnitude more reactive than NQM, and they were generated much more efficiently from a greater variety of photoprecursors including the hydroxymethyl, quaternary ammonium salt and several binol-amino acids. On the contrary, the only efficient precursor of NQM was the quaternary ammonium salt. All water-soluble BQM precursors were further investigated for their ability to alkylate and cross-link plasmid DNA and oligonucleotides by gel electrophoresis: the BQMs were more efficient than the isomeric o-BQM (binol quinone methide analogue of 2,3-naphthoquinone-3-methide). Sequence analysis by gel electrophoresis, HPLC, and MS showed that the alkylation occurred at purines, with a preference for guanine. In particular, a BQM was able to alkylate N7 of guanines resulting in depurination at the oligonucleotide level, and ribose loss at the nucleotide level. The photoreactivity of BQM precursors translated into photocytotoxic and cytotoxic effects on two human cancer cell lines: in particular, one compound showed promising selectivity index on both cell lines.

Alpha-carboxy-6-nitroveratryl: a photolabile protecting group for carboxylic acids

The synthesis of a new photolabile protecting group for carboxylic acids, alpha-carboxy-6-nitroveratryl (alphaCNV), is described. Bromide 3, prepared in four steps from 3,4-dimethoxyphenylacetic acid, was used to alkylate carboxylic acids under mild conditions in good yield. Palladium-catalyzed deallylation afforded the acids 4a-h, which underwent rapid and quantitative photolysis at wavelengths longer than 300 nm to liberate the carboxylic acid in good to quantitative yield. The rate of photolysis and quantum yield were determined to be 325 s(-1) and 0.17.