A highly selective fluorescent probe for the detection and imaging of peroxynitrite in living cells.

We have found a specific reaction between ketone 1 and peroxynitrite (ONOO-), rather than other reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species generated in the biological system. On the basis of this reaction, we have successfully developed a new fluorescent probe HKGreen-1, which is highly selective for the detection of peroxynitrite in living cells. Before the oxidation with peroxynitrite, the dichlorofluorescein part is masked and the probe is nonfluorescent. However, upon reaction with peroxynitrite, the fluorophore is released, resulting in strong enhancement in fluorescence intensity.

Investigation on the regioselectivities of intramolecular oxidation of unactivated C-H bonds by dioxiranes generated in situ.

We found that dioxiranes generated in situ from ketones 1-6 and Oxone underwent intramolecular oxidation of unactivated C-H bonds at delta sites of ketones to yield tetrahydropyrans. From the trans/cis ratio of oxidation products 1a and 2a as well as the retention of the configuration at the delta site of ketone 5, we proposed that the oxidation reaction proceeds through a concerted pathway under a spiro transition state. The intramolecular oxidation of ketone 6 showed the preference for a tertiary delta C-H bond over a secondary one. This intramolecular oxidation method can be extended to the oxidation of the tertiary gamma' C-H bond of ketones 9 and 10. For ketone 11 with two delta C-H bonds and one gamma' C-H bond linked respectively by a sp(3) hydrocarbon tether and a sp(2) ester tether, the oxidation took place exclusively at the delta C-H bonds. Finally, by introducing proper tethers, regioselective hydroxylation of steroid ketones 12-14 have been achieved at the C-17, C-16, C-3, and C-5 positions.

Substituent effects on regioselective intramolecular oxidation of unactivated C-H bonds: stereoselective synthesis of substituted tetrahydropyrans.

Our previously reported intramolecular delta-selective C-H bond oxidation by dioxiranes, generated in situ from activated ketones, offers a novel approach to the synthesis of tetrahydropyrans. To synthesize substituted tetrahydropyrans in a stereoselective manner, we examined the effects of alkyl, nitrogen, and oxygen substituents at the alpha-, beta-, and gamma-sites of ketones on the stereoselectivities of intramolecular C-H bond oxidation reactions. Ketones 1-4 with a methyl group at the alpha-, beta-, or gamma-site showed the diastereoselectivities that agreed with the trans/cis ratio predicted by considering steric interactions in the transition states. Furthermore, ketones 5 and 6 carrying a bulky phthalimido group at the alpha- and the beta-sites, respectively, exhibited excellent stereoselectivity, each affording only one diastereomer. However, ketones 9 and 10 bearing beta-oxygen substituents gave reversed stereoselectivity as compared to those with beta-alkyl or nitrogen substituents, possibly because of the hydrogen bonding interaction in the transition state. For ketones 12 and 13, both bearing methyl and silyloxy groups, the hydrogen bonding interaction was probably more important than the steric effect on the diastereoselectivity of intramolecular oxidation of C-H bonds.