title: Effect of chlorine as substituent on the photochemistry and acid-base properties of beta-carboline alkaloids.
abstract: The UV-absorption, fluorescence excitation and emission spectra of the 6-chloro-, 8-chloro-, 6,8-dichloro-derivatives of nor-harmane, harmane and harmine and the 8-chloro-derivative of harmol were studied. These studies were performed in EtOH and in EtOH+1% perchloric acid solutions (pa). Furthermore, fluorescence quantum yields (phi(f)) in both media and in acetonitrile and acetonitrile + 1% perchloric acid solutions at 298 K were measured. The HOMO and LUMO energy, the positions (lambda(max)) and oscillator strength (f) of the 1S1 <-- 1S0 band for all the neutral and protonated beta-carbolines studied were calculated and compared with the experimental data. The pK(a) values in aqueous solution for for 6-chloro-, 8-chloro- and 6,8-dichloro-nor-harmane, harmane and harmine and 8-chloro-harmol were spectrophotometrically measured (pK(a(H2O)). The change of the acid-base character of these compounds on going from the ground state (pK(a)) to the first electronic excited singlet state (pKa*) as DeltapKa = pKa*-pKa, in ethanol solution at 298 K were calculated (DeltapK(a(EtOH))). Ground-state proton affinity (PA) for all the compounds studied defined as minus the enthalpy change of the reaction M + H(+) --> MH+ (gas state) were calculated. Basicity relative to pyridine (DeltaH(rPy)) defined as the enthalpy change of the isodesmic reaction MH(+) + Py --> M + PyH+ in gas state and in water solution, were also calculated (ab initio calculations). The effect of chlorine as substituent on the photochemistry and acid-base properties of the beta-carboline alkaloids is discussed.
authors.affiliation: CIHIDECAR-CONICET, Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, 1428-Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Olga I
authors.initials: OI
authors.lastname: Tarzi
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Erra-Balsells
mesh_terms: D002243:Carbolines / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D002713:Chlorine / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006247:Harmine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010777:Photochemistry; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D002243:Carbolines; D014867:Water; D006247:Harmine; D002713:Chlorine