Pinpoint-fluorinated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (F-PAHs): Syntheses of difluorinated subfamily and their properties

Difluorinated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) containing three to five benzene rings were systematically synthesized by the Pd(II)-catalyzed Friedel–Crafts-type cyclization of 1,1,2-trifluoro- and 1,1-difluoro-1-alkenes and the In(III)-catalyzed tandem cyclization of bis(1,1-difluoroallene)s. Using an array of the difluorinated PAHs that were obtained and previously reported monofluorinated PAHs, the physical properties of the pinpoint-fluorinated PAHs were investigated. (i) The 19F NMR signals of the bay-region fluorine atoms were shifted downfield by ca. 8–14 ppm for vic-difluorinated PAHs and ca. 11–19 ppm for non-vic-difluorinated and monofluorinated PAHs. (ii) The introduction of fluorine into PAH molecules increased their solubilities in organic solvents, which was best exemplified by the high solubilities of 6,7-difluoropicene (5.4 wt%) and 6-fluoropicene (5.3 wt%) in THF. (iii) The HOMO–LUMO energy gaps of the pinpoint-fluorinated PAHs were smaller than that of the corresponding fluorine-free PAH (i.e., picene) by 0.02–0.26 eV, and the HOMO and LUMO energy levels were lowered by 0.10–0.22 eV and 0.12–0.41 eV, respectively

Hippocampal metabolism of amino acids by L-amino acid oxidase is involved in fear learning and memory

Amino acids participate directly and indirectly in many important biochemical functions in the brain. We focused on one amino acid metabolic enzyme, L-amino acid oxidase (LAO), and investigated the importance of LAO in brain function using LAO1 knockout (KO) mice. Compared to wild-type mice, LAO1 KO mice exhibited impaired fear learning and memory function in a passive avoidance test. This impairment in LAO1 KO mice coincided with significantly reduced hippocampal acetylcholine levels compared to wild-type mice, while treatment with donepezil, a reversible acetylcholine esterase inhibitor, inhibited this reduction. Metabolomic analysis revealed that knocking out LAO1 affected amino acid metabolism (mainly of phenylalanine [Phe]) in the hippocampus. Specifically, Phe levels were elevated in LAO1 KO mice, while phenylpyruvic acid (metabolite of Phe produced largely by LAO) levels were reduced. Moreover, knocking out LAO1 decreased hippocampal mRNA levels of pyruvate kinase, the enzymatic activity of which is known to be inhibited by Phe. Based on our findings, we propose that LAO1 KO mice exhibited impaired fear learning and memory owing to low hippocampal acetylcholine levels. Furthermore, we speculate that hippocampal Phe metabolism is an important physiological mechanism related to glycolysis and may underlie cognitive impairments, including those observed in Alzheimer’s disease

Pinpoint-Fluorinated Phenacenes: New Synthesis and Solubility Enhancement Strategies

The Pd­(II)-catalyzed cyclizations of 2,2-difluorovinylated biaryls, following a Friedel–Crafts-type mechanism, provide a new route to pinpoint-fluorinated phenacenes. The single fluorine substituent stabilized the synthesized fluoropicenes (fluoro[5]­phenacenes) toward aerial oxidation and contributed to their solubility in organic solvents. For example, 6- and 13-fluoropicenes were 25- and 15-fold more soluble in THF than nonfluorinated picene. X-ray crystal structure analysis revealed that the fluorine substituent did not alter molecular planarity