7-Decarboxymethyl-cobyrinates: vitamin B12-derivatives that lack the c-side chain

The synthesis of cobyrinic acid derivatives by reduction of dehydrocobyrinates is largely unexplored. It is, however, a rational path to B(12) analogues that lack specific substituents of the corrin moiety of natural B(12) derivatives. The partial syntheses of four epimeric 7-decarboxymethyl-cobyrinates is described, which is achieved by reduction of Δ7-dehydro-7-de[carboxymethyl]-cobyrinate with zinc or with the 'prebiotic' reducing agent formic acid. A direct and remarkably efficient route was found to 7-decarboxymethyl-cobyrinates, which are cobyrinic acid derivatives in which the c-side chain at ring B of vitamin B(12) is missing. The structures of the hexamethyl-7-decarboxymethyl-cobyrinates were characterized and the stereochemical and conformational properties at their newly saturated ring B were analyzed. The stereochemical outcome of the reduction was found to depend strongly on the reaction conditions. In 7-decarboxymethyl-cobyrinates, both peripheral carbon centres of ring B carry a hydrogen atom, and the characteristic quaternary carbon centre at C7 of the cobyrinic acid moiety of vitamin B(12) is lacking. The still highly substituted 7-decarboxymethyl-cobyrinates are readily dehydrogenated in the presence of dioxygen, furnishing 7-de[carboxymethyl]-Δ(7)-dehydro-cobyrinate as the common, unsaturated oxidation product. The noted stability of vitamin B(12) and of other Co(III)-cobyrinates in the presence of air is a consequence of their highly substituted corrin macrocycle, a finding of interest in the context of chemical rationalizations of the B(12) structure.