A Comprehensive Computational Study on the Thermodynamics and Kinetics of Tetrahydrobiopterin Regeneration Process

One of the most crucial enzymatic cofactors in the human body is tetrahydrobiopterin, which is acquired through biological synthesis and self-regeneration. During this regenerative process, it undergoes oxidation, deprotonation, further oxidation, and subsequent deprotonation, resulting in the formation of quinonoid-dihydrobiopterin, which then undergoes tautomerization to yield dihydrobiopterin. This study presents the thermodynamic and kinetic properties associated with each stage of the regeneration process using theoretical calculations. The redox potentials for oxidation steps and the pKa values for deprotonation steps are determined employing the Born-Haber cycle and the direct change of free energy in implicit solvent models. The redox metabolites are characterized and confirmed from their calculated absorption spectra using the time-dependent density functional theory method. For the tautomerization steps, an IRC calculation is executed, and rate constants are computed using Eyring's Transition State Theory (TST). The tunnelling probability of the H atom during the tautomerization process is incorporated using Wigner's tunnelling correction in the calculation of the rate constant. Notably, we identify the N3 atom as the most probable deprotonation site for H3B+ and predict its geometry based on our calculations. Furthermore, we elucidate the spectral properties of intermediates involved in the regeneration process, highlighting key electronic transitions responsible for their excitations. Our results indicate that each step of tautomerization occurs along vibrational bending modes. We have observed that these tautomerization processes have high activation energies by optimising transition states. Additionally, considering tunnelling correction can significantly affect the reaction rates associated with these processes. These results provide a comprehensive understanding of the thermodynamics and kinetics of the regeneration process of tetrahydrobiopterin, which will help in the modulation of its biological activity.

Photosensitized reactions initiated by 6-carboxypterin: singlet and triplet reactivity

The photophysical and photochemical properties of 6-carboxypterin, a model compound for the pterin derivatives present at the sea surface microlayer, were studied and its singlet and triplet reactivity toward halides and selected organics demonstrated.

Quantitative treatment of the effect of solvent on the electronic absorption and fluorescence spectra of substituted coumarins: Evaluation of the first excited singlet-state dipole moments

The electronic absorption and fluorescence spectra of coumarin and 11 substituted coumarins were measured in several solvents (dioxane, ethyl ether, ethyl acetate, ethanol, dimethylformamide, acetonitrile, and dimethyl sulfoxide). Ground-state dipole moments were determined in dioxane at 298 K. The results were used to obtain the first excited singlet-state dipole moments of the coumarins under study by the solvatochromic shift method (Bakhshiev, Kawski-Chamma-Viallet, McRae, and Suppan correlations). Also, the ground- and the first excited singlet-state dipole moments were calculated using a combination of the PPP method (π-contribution) and the vector sum of the σ-bond and group moments (σ-contribution). In general, the first excited singlet-state dipole moments of the coumarins are noticeably higher than the corresponding ground-state values, indicating a substantial redistribution of theπ-electron densities resulting in a more polar excited state. There is a reasonably good agreement between the calculated and the experimental dipole moments.

Spectral behaviour of eosin Y in different solvents and aqueous surfactant media

Photophysical behaviour of the anionic xanthene dye, eosin Y (EY) was investigated in solvents of different polarities as well as in the presence of aqueous cationic surfactants. From the correlation between E(T)(30) and Kosower Z values of EY in different solvents, subsequent parameters for EY were determined in the presence of surfactants. A red shift, both in the absorption and emission spectra of EY, was observed with decreasing solvent polarity. Dimerisation of EY was found to be dependent on solvent polarity. Cationic surfactants retarded the process of dimerisation, which were evident from the lower dimerisation constant (K(D)) values, compared to that of in pure water. Dye-surfactant interaction constants were determined at different temperatures (298-318 K) and subsequently the thermodynamic parameters, viz., ΔG°, ΔH° and ΔS° were evaluated using the interaction constant values. The fluorescence spectra of EY followed the same trend as in the absorption spectra, although with lesser extents. Stokes shifts were calculated and correlated with the polarity of the medium. Fluorescence of EY was initially quenched by the cationic surfactants in their pre-micellar region, which then followed a red shift with intensity enhancement. Fluorescence quenching was found to be of Stern-Volmer type where the excited state lifetime of EY remained unchanged in different surfactant media. However, the anisotropy value of EY was changed in the post micellar region of surfactants.

Solvatochromic correlations and ground- and excited-state dipole moments of curcuminoid dyes

Experimental dipole moments of curcumin (1) and of its parent compound dicinnamoylmethane (2) were determined in dioxane and benzene, respectively. Theoretical dipole moments were calculated using a combination of the PPP method (pi-moment) and a vector sum of the sigma-bond moments (sigma-moment) as well as by the ZINDO/1 method. Solvatochromic correlations were used to obtain the experimental first excited singlet-state dipole moments. The experimental electronic absorption spectra were compared with the calculated transitions.