Investigation of the Reactivity of 1-Azido-3-iodobicyclo[1.1.1]pentane under "Click" Reaction Conditions.

The bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane (BCP) unit is under scrutiny as a bioisostere in drug molecules. We employed methodologies for the synthesis of different BCP triazole building blocks from one precursor, 1-azido-3-iodobicyclo[1.1.1]pentane, by "click" reactions and integrated cycloaddition-Sonogashira coupling reactions. Thereby, we accessed 1,4-disubstituted triazoles, 5-iodo-1,4,5-trisubstituted triazoles, and 5-alkynylated 1,4,5-trisubstituted triazoles. This gives entry to the synthesis of multiply substituted BCP triazoles on either a modular or a one-pot basis. These methodologies were further utilized for appending porphyrin moieties onto the BCP core.

The Red Color of Life Transformed - Synthetic Advances and Emerging Applications of Protoporphyrin IX in Chemical Biology.

Protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) is the porphyrin scaffold of heme b, a ubiquitous prosthetic group of proteins responsible for oxygen binding (hemoglobin, myoglobin), electron transfer (cytochrome c) and catalysis (cytochrome P450, catalases, peroxidases). PPIX and its metallated derivatives frequently find application as therapeutic agents, imaging tools, catalysts, sensors and in light harvesting. The vast toolkit of accessible porphyrin functionalization reactions enables easy synthetic modification of PPIX to meet the requirements for its multiple uses. In the past few years, particular interest has arisen in exploiting the interaction of PPIX and its synthetic derivatives with biomolecules such as DNA and heme-binding proteins to evolve molecular devices with new functions as well as to uncover potential therapeutic toeholds. This review strives to shine a light on the most recent developments in the synthetic chemistry of PPIX and its uses in selected fields of chemical biology.

Functionalization of Deutero- and Protoporphyrin IX Dimethyl Esters via Palladium-Catalyzed Coupling Reactions.

Herein, we report the functionalization of the ß-positions of deutero- and protoporphyrin IX dimethyl esters. Initial halogenations were carried out on both deutero- and protoporphyrin IX dimethyl esters. Although previously reported, vastly optimized yields with respect to deuteroporphyrin halogenation were obtained. Methods were developed for the bromination of the vinyl groups of protoporphyin IX dimethyl ester. Subsequent palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions were utilized to modify the periphery of these naturally occurring porphyrin derivatives with a variety of functionalities. The described Suzuki, Sonogashira, and "Click" reactions demonstrate the ease at which these porphyrins may be manipulated and even interchangeable, as will be discussed for one example. X-ray crystallographic analysis successfully determined the structure of two derivatives synthesized. Results identified a unique head-to-tail stacking pattern for 3,8-diphenyldeuteroporphyrin IX dimethyl ester, most likely due to the presence of additional aromatic moieties on the periphery of the porphyrin.

Delayed release singlet oxygen sensitizers based on pyridone-appended porphyrins.

A new type of porphyrin photosensitizer capable of generating singlet oxygen upon irradiation, storing it through binding to pyridone subunits, followed by slow release at 20-40 °C, is reported. The timescale of singlet oxygen release can be varied depending on the pyridone group substitution pattern, forming endoperoxides of different stabilities. Modified tetra- and octa-substituted pyridone-porphyrins showed solubility in water, allowing for straightforward delivery into cells. The effect of delayed singlet oxygen formation due to endoperoxide decomposition was demonstrated on cancer cells in vitro.

Antibiotic-producing symbionts dynamically transition between plant pathogenicity and insect-defensive mutualism.

Pathogenic and mutualistic bacteria associated with eukaryotic hosts often lack distinctive genomic features, suggesting regular transitions between these lifestyles. Here we present evidence supporting a dynamic transition from plant pathogenicity to insect-defensive mutualism in symbiotic Burkholderia gladioli bacteria. In a group of herbivorous beetles, these symbionts protect the vulnerable egg stage against detrimental microbes. The production of a blend of antibiotics by B. gladioli, including toxoflavin, caryoynencin and two new antimicrobial compounds, the macrolide lagriene and the isothiocyanate sinapigladioside, likely mediate this defensive role. In addition to vertical transmission, these insect symbionts can be exchanged via the host plant and retain the ability to initiate systemic plant infection at the expense of the plant's fitness. Our findings provide a paradigm for the transition between pathogenic and mutualistic lifestyles and shed light on the evolution and chemical ecology of this defensive mutualism.

Generation of Triplet Excited States via Photoinduced Electron Transfer in meso-anthra-BODIPY: Fluorogenic Response toward Singlet Oxygen in Solution and in Vitro.

Heavy atom-free BODIPY-anthracene dyads (BADs) generate locally excited triplet states by way of photoinduced electron transfer (PeT), followed by recombination of the resulting charge-separated states (CSS). Subsequent quenching of the triplet states by molecular oxygen produces singlet oxygen (1O2), which reacts with the anthracene moiety yielding highly fluorescent species. The steric demand of the alkyl substituents in the BODIPY subunit defines the site of 1O2 addition. Novel bis- and tetraepoxides and bicyclic acetal products, arising from rearrangements of anthracene endoperoxides were isolated and characterized. 1O2 generation by BADs in living cells enables visualization of the dyads distribution, promising new imaging applications.