Subhadeep Banerjee

Helimeric Porphyrinoids: Stereostructure and Chiral Resolution of meso-Tetraarylmorpholinochlorins

The synthesis and chiral resolution of free-base and Ni(II) complexes of a number of derivatives of meso-tetraphenylmorpholinochlorins, with and without direct β-carbon-to-o-phenyl linkages to the flanking phenyl groups, is described. The morpholinochlorins, a class of stable chlorin analogues, were synthesized in two to three steps from meso-tetraphenylporphyrin. The conformations and the relative stereostructures of a variety of free-base and Ni(II) complexes of these morpholinochlorins were elucidated by X-ray diffractometry. Steric and stereoelectronic arguments explain the relative stereoarray of the morpholino-substituents, which differ in the free-base and Ni(II) complexes, and in the monoalkoxy, β-carbon-to-o-phenyl linked morpholinochlorins, and the dialkoxy derivatives. The Ni(II) complexes were all found to be severely ruffled whereas the free-base chromophores are more planar. As a result of the helimeric distortion of their porphyrinoid chromophores, the ruffled macrocycles possess a stable inherent element of chirality. Most significantly, resolution of the racemic mixtures was achieved, both by classical methods via diastereomers and by HPLC on a chiral phase. Full CD spectra were recorded and modeled using quantum-chemical computational methods, permitting, for the first time, an assignment of the absolute configurations of the chromophores. The report expands the range of known pyrrole-modified porphyrins. Beyond this, it introduces large chiral porphyrinoid π-systems that exist in the form of two enantiomeric, stereochemically stable helimers that can be resolved. This forms the basis for possible future applications, for example, in molecular-recognition systems or in materials with chiroptic properties.

OsO4-Mediated Dihydroxylation of meso-Tetraphenylporphyrin N-Oxide and Transformation of the Resulting Diolchlorin N-Oxide Regioisomers

The OsO(4)-mediated dihydroxylation of meso-tetraphenylporphyrin N-oxide yields two regioisomeric chlorin N-oxides. These chlorin N-oxides can be manipulated to provide pairs of regioisomers of pyrrole-modified porphyrin N-oxides. The UV-vis absorption and fluorescence emission spectra of the neutral and protonated regioisomers are distinct from each other, and generally different from the parent chromophore. The outcome of diol oxidation reactions of some N-oxide diolchlorins varies from the corresponding reactions of the parent diolchlorins. The crystal structure of a free base porpholactone N-oxide carrying the N-oxide on the oxazolone moiety is reported.

meso-Tetraphenylporphyrin-derived oxypyriporphyrin, oxypyrichlorin, and thiomorpholinochlorin, as their Ni(II) complexes

trans-Diolchlorin was prepared by nucleophilic addition of methyl-Grignard bromide to meso-tetraphenyl-2,3-dioxoporphyrin, as its free base or Ni(II) complex. The trans-configuration of the vic-diol functionality was shown by single crystal X-ray diffractometry. The nickel complex of the trans-dimethyldiol proved susceptible to Pb(IV) acetate-induced, oxidative diol cleavage, generating a meso-tetraphenylsecochlorin bismethylketone Ni(II) complex, the first example of this chromophore class. Under Bronsted-basic conditions, this bisketone cyclized via an intramolecular aldol condensation to provide a meso-tetraphenyloxypyriporphyrin. Reduction of this porphyrin analog saturated the double bond in the pyridinone moiety, generating an oxypyrichlorin. Reaction of the meso-tetraphenylsecochlorin bismethylketone Ni(II) complex with Lawessons reagent induced the formation of a thiomorpholinochlorin substituted with two methylene groups, the first example of any porphyrin analog containing a thiomorpholine moiety.

MTO/H2O2/pyrazole-mediated N-oxidation of meso-tetraarylporphyrins and -chlorins, and S-oxidation of a meso-tetraaryldithiaporphyrin and -chlorin.

The methyltrioxorhenium (MTO)/pyrazole-mediated H(2)O(2) oxidation of octaethylporphyrin and a number of meso-tetraarylporphyrins offers simple and good yielding access to the corresponding N-oxides, only few of which were prepared before. The crystal structure of a free base tetraarylporphyrin N-oxide demonstrates the degree to which the oxygenated pyrrole moiety is slanted with respect to the rest of the otherwise nearly planar macrocycle. The method is also suitable to the preparation of hitherto unknown chlorin N-oxides. Oxidation of meso-tetraphenyldithiaporphyrin and meso-tetraphenyldithiachlorin furnishes the corresponding novel S-oxides. The optical properties of the novel chromophores are described and rationalized.

Synthesis and photophysical characterization of quasi push–pull dicyanodibenzodioxins and their anti-tumor activity against glioma cell line C6

Dibenzodioxins bearing multiple electron withdrawing groups were synthesized using a simple one-step methodology including examples of molecules possessing electron acceptor groups in both ends. As a consequence internal charge delocalization occurs and the optical spectra are found to be bathochromically shifted compared to similar examples known thus far. A theoretical analysis of the molecular orbitals reveals the origin of the peaks in the dibenzodioxin optical spectra. Select examples exhibit in vitro neuro-cytotoxicity against glioma cell line C6, a finding which enhances existing knowledge about the pharmacologically relevant structural motifs in dibenzodioxins.

Synthesis and electronic properties of ester substituted 1,4-dicyanodibenzodioxins and evaluation of anti-proliferative activity of all isomeric 1,2-, 2,3- and 1,4-dicyanodibenzodioxins against HeLa cell line

1,4-Dicyanodibenzodioxins bearing carboxy methyl ester groups were synthesized using our established one-step SNAr coupling reaction between ortho- and meta-ester substituted catechols and perfluorinated terephthalonitrile. These are the first examples of 1,4-dicyanodibenzodioxins substituted at both the benzene moieties. Optical spectra were similar to the earlier examples reported, with a marginal blue shift for the ester dibenzodioxins. Theoretical analysis of the molecular orbitals reveals modest destabilization of the frontier molecular orbitals of one carboxy methyl ester isomer over the other and overall higher HOMO-LUMO gap for both isomers when compared to the earlier published 1,4-dicyanodibenzodioxins. In vitro cytotoxicity against human cervical cancer HeLa cell line was evaluated for these two compounds and all other previously published dibenzodioxins from our laboratory (1,4-dicyano, 1,2-dicyano and 2,3-dicyano variants). A number of derivatives showed anti-tumor activity in μM ranges and also exhibited no cytotoxicity against normal HEK 293 cell line. Mechanistic investigation of cell death pathways indicated high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the dibenzodioxin treated tumor cell lines along with cellular nuclear fragmentation, both of which are markers of the apoptotic cell death pathway.