Studies on the mechanism of action of prekinamycin, a member of the diazoparaquinone family of natural products: evidence for both sp2 radical and orthoquinonemethide intermediates.
Journal
  Journal of the American Chemical Society.
Citation
  J Am Chem Soc. 128(38):12562-73
Publication date
  2006 Sep 27
Authors
  Feldman KS
Eastman KJ
Grant agencies
  National Institute of General Medical Sciences
Grants
  NIGMS GM 37861
Abstract
  The putative reductive activation chemistry of the diazoparaquinone antibiotics was modeled with Bu(3)Sn-H and prekinamycin dimethyl ether along with prekinamycin itself. Reaction in various combinations of aromatic solvents, with and without the nucleophile benzylmercaptan present, led to isolation of both radical-trapping arene adducts and nucleophilic capture benzyl thioether products. On the basis of these product distribution studies, the intermediacies of, first, a cyclopentenyl radical and, next, an orthoquinonemethide electrophile are postulated.