5804
J . Org. Chem. 1997, 62, 5804-5810
Ch a r ge Deloca liza tion P a th w a ys in P er sisten t 1-P yr en yl-,
4-P yr en yl-, a n d 2-P yr en ylm eth ylca r ben iu m Ion s a s Mod els of
P AH-Ep oxid e Rin g Op en in g: NMR Stu d ies in Su p er a cid s a n d
AM1 Ca lcu la tion s§
Kenneth K. Laali*,† and Poul Erik Hansen*,‡
Department of Chemistry, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44242, and Department of Life Sciences
and Chemistry, Roskilde University, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
Received April 24, 1997X
The relative stability, magnitude, and mode of charge delocalization into the pyrene moiety (Py)
were evaluated for a series of tertiary and secondary 1-pyrenylmethylcarbenium ions PyC+R1R2
and PyC+R3H (with R1 ) R2 ) Me and Ph; R3 ) Me, Ph, CH2Ph, and (CH2)10Me), 4-pyrenylmeth-
ylcarbenium ions (with R1 ) R2 ) Me; R3 ) Me and Ph), and 2-pyrenylmethylcarbenium ions (with
R1 ) R2 ) Me). The carbocations were generated from the corresponding carbinols by protonation
with FSO3H/SO2ClF. The primary 1-pyrenyl- and 2-pyrenylmethyl cations could not be generated
by ionization of their primary alcohols. Within the tertiary and the secondary carbocations, π-charge
delocalization into the pyrene moiety and the pyrenium ion character of the resulting carbocations
increase in the order: 1-pyrenyl (R) > 4-pyrenyl (Râ) > 2-pyrenyl (â). The NMR characteristics of
the resulting ions are discussed and compared. The connection between charge delocalization/
stability in the regioisomeric pyrenylmethyl carbocations and the magnitude of carcinogenic activity
in the benzannelated pyrenes, for which the bay-region diol-epoxides are the ultimate carcinogens,
are discussed.
In tr od u ction
Early theoretical studies indicated increased stability
for the bay-region dihydrotrihydroxycarbenium ions rela-
tive to their epoxides. Hu¨ckel and INDO calculations
were carried out on the formation and delocalization
energies of various PAH-carbocations.15,16
Whereas the need for more direct studies of suitable
model PAH-carbocations has been realized, model PAH-
CH2X compounds bearing efficient leaving groups (like
nitrosourea f -N2+) as precursors of arylmethylcarbe-
nium ions proved to be too reactive for relative solution
stability studies.17 Interestingly the carbinols themselves
may become active enzymatically via their corresponding
chlorides18,19 or sulfuric acid esters.19-21
Our work in mechanistic carcinogenesis has been
concerned with generation and NMR studies of arenium
ions of various classes of PAHs, having a varied degree
of carcinogenic/mutagenic activity, with the aim of de-
lineating their charge delocalization pathways and its
modulation by substituents such as nitro and fluoro.22-27
In the present study we have generated from their
carbinol precursors a series of regioisomeric tertiary and
Bay-region diol-epoxides have been identified as the
ultimate metabolic carcinogens in several classes of
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) en route to
PAH-DNA adduct formation.1-6
The carbocationic character of the epoxide ring-opening
process has been established in several solvolytic studies
probing the rate, stereochemistry, and products.7-14
† Kent State University.
‡ Roskilde University.
§ Dedicated to Prof. George Olah on the occasion of his 70th birthday.
X Abstract published in Advance ACS Abstracts, August 1, 1997.
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