Synthesis and NMR properties of derivatives of 5,6-dihydroborauracil and 5,6-dihydroborathymine

Novel boron compounds, a series of 4-hydroxy-5,6-dihydroborauracil and 4-hydroxy-5,6-dihydroborathymine derivatives containing various substituents at 3-, 5- and 6-positions, is presented. The spectroscopic properties, along with analyses of NMR-controlled boron compound–alcohol and boron compound–amine interactions, proves the existence of sp³-hybridized, stable B,B-bis-methoxy-5,6-dihydroborauracils and pyridine-/n-butylamine-5,6-dihydroborauracils ate-complexes in solution.     

Synthesis and NMR properties of novel 5,6-dihydroborauracil derivatives

Novel boron compounds - 5,6-saturated borauracil derivatives (4-bromo-5,6-dihydroborauracil, 4-hydroxy-5,6-dihydroborauracil and 4-methoxy-5,6-dihydroborauracil) are presented along with other boron compounds obtained from N-vinylurea: N-substituted β-boronic amino acid - 2-{[(dihydroxyborano-amino)(dihydroxyboranooxy)methyl]-amino}ethylboronic acid and substituted methoxy-borane O-[(1-amino-1-N-vinylamino)methyl]dihydroxyboronate.     

Aromaticity and Antiaromaticity in Small Ring Transition States, Assessed by NICS Values and Energetics

Nucleus Independent Chemical Shift (NICS) values, pioneered by Schleyer, provide detailed insights into electronic structures of transition states. These show that the [2+2+2]-cycloaddition transition states, studied early by Schleyer and by us, have aromatic transition structures and that fused cyclopropanes are aromatic in the transition structure, while fused four-membered rings are antiaromatic. The nucleophilic ring-opening of 1- and 2-cyanobicyclo[1.1.0]butanes, studied earlier by Hoz, and ring openings of cyanocyclopropane, cyanocyclobutane, and 2-cyanobicyclo[2.2.0]hexane by hydroxide were investigated at the B3LYP/6-31+G* level. Orbital interactions through bonds explain relative facilities of ring opening.Electronic Supplementary Material available.     

Ab initio and DFT study of the aromaticity of some Fulvalenes derived from Methylidenecyclopropabenzene

Methylidencyclopropabenzene (MCPB) 1 and Fulvalenes 2–4 are molecules of special interest due to the relation between structure and aromaticity. The aim of this work was to analyze this relation and to quantify the aromaticity in 1–4 using different methods. Magnetic properties are directly related with aromaticity; here we studied the magnetic susceptibility and the anisotropy of the magnetic susceptibility. Nucleus indepedent chemical shift (NICS) and the anisotropy of the induced current density (ACID) were also employed. Tools of very different nature, geometric indexes HOMA and Bird, were determinated too for 1–4. All of these measures were found to be in agreement. Figure Both spatial NICS and ACID plot allow to show the aromaticity/antiaromaticity of a ring     

High-performance liquid chromatography-thermospray mass spectrometry of 5,6-dihydroxyeicosatrienoate-1,5-lactone from tissue homogenates

We have developed a method for the analysis of 5,6-dihydroxyeicosatrienoate-1,5-lactone (5,6-DiHETriE-δ-lactone) in tissue homogenates, supplemented with NADPH and arachidonic acid [20:4(n−6)] as a substrate. During the incubation and the extraction, most of the 5,6-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (5,6-EpETriE) was converted to 5,6-dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acid (5,6-DiHETriE), and most of the 5,6-DiHETriE was converted to 5,6-DiHETriE-δ-lactone. Consequently, the chief degradation product of 5,6-EpETriE and 5,6-DiHETriE in the incubation mixture was 5,6-DiHETriE-δ-lactone. 5,6-DiHETriE-δ-lactone, corresponding to [20:4(n−6)], was shown to be characterized by a high intensity of quasimolecular ions (MH⁺ and MNH₄⁺), using ion analysis obtained by reversed-phase HPLC-thermospray MS. On selected-ion monitoring (SIM) chromatograms of 5,6-DiHETriE-δ-lactone and with deuterium-labeled 15(s)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid as the internal standard, the regression equation of the peak-area ratio and the amount of 5,6-DiHETriE-δ-lactone was y = 12.2x + 0.7 (r = 0.9996). 5,6-Epoxygenase activity was represented as the sum of the amount of 5,6-DiHETriE-δ-lactone, 5,6-EpETriE and 5,6-DiHETriE per mg protein, after 30 min in an incubation mixture. The activity from rat brain homogenate decreased considerably with growth of the rat.     

Cholesterol-5,6-epoxides: Chemistry,biochemistry, metabolic fate and cancer

In the nineteen sixties it was proposed that cholesterol might be involved in the etiology of cancers and cholesterol oxidation products were suspected of being causative agents. Researchers had focused their attention on cholesterol-5,6-epoxides (5,6-ECs) based on several lines of evidence: 1) 5,6-ECs contained an oxirane group that was supposed to confer alkylating properties such as those observed for aliphatic and aromatic epoxides. 2) cholesterol-5,6-epoxide hydrolase (ChEH) was induced in pre-neoplastic lesions of skin from rats exposed to ultraviolet irradiations and ChEH was proposed to be involved in detoxification processes like other epoxide hydrolases. However, 5,6-ECs failed to induce carcinogenicity in rodents which ruled out a potent carcinogenic potential for 5,6-ECs. Meanwhile, clinical studies revealed an anomalous increase in the concentrations of 5,6β-EC in the nipple fluids of patients with pre-neoplastic breast lesions and in the blood of patients with endometrious cancers, suggesting that 5,6-ECs metabolism could be linked with cancer. Paradoxically, ChEH has been recently shown to be totally inhibited by therapeutic concentrations of tamoxifen (Tam), which is one of the main drugs used in the hormonotherapy and the chemoprevention of breast cancers. These data would suggest that the accumulation of 5,6-ECs could represent a risk factor, but we found that 5,6-ECs were involved in the induction of breast cancer cell differentiation and death induced by Tam suggesting a positive role of 5,6-ECs. These observations meant that the biochemistry and the metabolism of 5,6-ECs needed to be extensively studied. We will review the current knowledge and the future direction of 5,6-ECs chemistry, biochemistry, metabolism, and relationship with cancer.     

Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry with high-performance liquid chromatography prepurification for monitoring the endonuclease III-mediated excision of 5-hydroxy-5,6-dihydrothymine and 5,6-dihydrothymine from γ-irradiated DNA

The endonuclease III from Escherichia coli is a repair enzyme which exhibits both a glycosylase and an endonuclease functions. The activity of the enzyme can be assayed by measuring the released targeted bases in solution from a sample of modified DNA. In the present study, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry was used together with an HPLC prepurification step in order to single out the released bases. The prepurification was found to enhance the specificity and the sensitivity of the assay. Thus, the overall method allowed us to analyze separately 5-hydroxy-5,6-dihydrothymine from the cis and trans isomers of 6-hydroxy-5,6-dihydrothymine. Examples of application of the assay are provided with the measurement of the E. coli endonuclease III-mediated excision of 5-hydroxy-5,6-dihydrothymine and 5,6-dihydrothymine from samples of γ-irradiated DNA in the presence of cysteine.     

A new carotenoid, 5,6-dihydrocrustaxanthin,from prawns and the distribution of yellow xanthophylls in shrimps

A new yellow carotenoid, named 5,6-dihydrocrustaxanthin (6), was isolated together with five yellow xanthophylls: isoastaxanthin (1), 5,6-dihydropenaeusxanthin (2), penaeusxanthin (3), tetrahydroxypirardixanthin (4), and crustaxanthin (5) from three species of prawns: Marsupenaeus japonicus, Litopenaeus vannamei, and Metapenaeus joyneri, belonging to Penaeidae. The structure of (6) was determined to be (3R,4S,5R,6R,3′R,4′S)-5,6-dihydro-β,β-carotene-3,4,3′,4′-tetrol by UV-VIS, MS, ¹H NMR, and CD spectral data. Distributions of yellow xanthophylls (1–6) in ten species of shrimps were investigated from a chemo-systematic point of view. Yellow xanthophylls (1–6) were present in only three species of prawns described above, among the ten species of shrimps investigated. Instead of 1–6, luteins and tunxanthins, having the 3-hydroxy-ε-end group, were present in other species of shrimps belonging to Penaeidae, Pandalidae, and Palaemonidae.     

Effects of 5,6-Dihydroxytryptamine on the Release, Synthesis, and Storage of Serotonin: Studies Using Rat Brain Synaptosomes

5,6-Dihydroxytryptamine is a neurotoxic analogue of serotonin which can have profound cardiovascular effects within minutes of administration in vivo (Korner and Head, 1981). These effects have been attributed to 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine-induced serotonin release, although there has been no biochemical assessment of the extent to which this occurs. The present study utilized an in vitro synaptosomal assay to determine the short-term effects of 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine on endogenous serotonin release, synthesis, storage, and metabolism. 5,6-Dihydroxytryptamine produced a rapid depletion of serotonin. At lower concentrations of 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine (0.1-1 microM), this depletion was associated primarily with an increase in the levels of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, the deaminated metabolite of serotonin, with small increases in the amount of serotonin release. At higher concentrations (10-100 microM), a greater proportion of the depleted serotonin was released with less metabolism occurring. When metabolism was prevented by inhibiting monoamine oxidase, the amount of serotonin which was released equalled the amount of serotonin depletion. Thus monoamine oxidase activity was important in controlling the amount of serotonin which could be released by 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine. Further studies demonstrated that an impairment in serotonin synthesis and vesicular storage could account for the rapid depletion produced by 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine. Taken together, the results indicate that 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine acts to displace serotonin from vesicular stores into the cytoplasm where it can either be deaminated by monoamine oxidase or be released. Moreover, it is hypothesized that the intraneuronal concentration of 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine is important in determining the extent of serotonin release, because it can inhibit the deamination of serotonin by monoamine oxidase.     

Ferric iron complexes of dopamine and 5,6-dihydroxyindole with nta, edda, and edta as ancillary ligands

Coordination of the neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) and the metal-binding component of neuromelanin 5,6-dihydroxyindole (DHI) with ferric iron has been studied in aqueous solution in the presence of ancillary ligands containing amine nitrogen and carboxylate oxygen donor sites. With nitrilotriacetic acid (nta) and ethylenediamine diacetic acid (edda) coligands, coordination of the catecholate ligands DA and DHI is observed to be complete at physiological pH. The resulting complexes of DA have the characteristic two-component electronic spectrum observed characteristically for L₄Fe(Cat) complexes. The spectrum obtained with DHI consists of a single broad absorption in the visible region. Both DA and DHI are able to coordinate with Fe³⁺ in the presence of edta, displacing carboxylate oxygen donors at pH values just above physiological pH. These results demonstrate the strong affinity of DA and DHI for Fe³⁺, pointing to in vivo complex formation in neuronal mixtures at physiological pH.     

Scaffold-switching: An exploration of 5,6-fused bicyclic heteroaromatics systems to afford antituberculosis activity akin to the imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-3-carboxylates

A set of 5,6-fused bicyclic heteroaromatic scaffolds were investigated for their in vitro anti-tubercular activity versus replicating and non-replicating strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) in an attempt to find an alternative scaffold to the imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine and imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidines that were previously shown to have potent activity against replicating and drug resistant Mtb. The five new bicyclic heteroaromatic scaffolds explored in this study include a 2,6-dimethylimidazo[1,2-b]pyridazine-3-carboxamide (7), a 2,6-dimethyl-1H-indole-3-carboxamide (8), a 6-methyl-1H-indazole-3-carboxamide (9), a 7-methyl-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyridine-3-carboxamide (10), and a 5,7-dimethyl-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-2-carboxamide (11). Additionally, imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines isomers (2 and 12) and a homologous imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidine isomer (6) were prepared and compared. Compounds 2 and 6 were found to be the most potent against H₃₇Rv Mtb (MIC’s of 0.1 μM and 1.3 μM) and were inactive (MIC >128 μM) against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. Against other non-tubercular mycobacteria strains, compounds 2 and 6 had activity against Mycobacterium avium (16 and 122 μM, respectively), Mycobacterium kansasii (4 and 19 μM, respectively), Mycobacterium bovis BCG (1 and 8 μM, respectively) while all the other scaffolds were inactive (>128 μM).     

Chemical degeneration of indolamine axons in rat brain by 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine

Summary Evidence has been obtained by electron microscopy of a direct cytotoxic effect of intraventricularly administered 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine (5,6-DHT) on unmyelinated axons in the rat brain. Ultrastructural signs of axonal damage were observed in areas rich in indolamine nerve terminals as early as 2 hrs after injection. By 6–24 hrs, characteristic and more dramatic signs of degeneration developed, involving coalescence of all axonal constituents—often in combination with a uniform osmiophilic impregnation of the axoplasm—accompanied by engulfment of the dystrophic structures by glial processes. During the next five days, the degenerating axons and axon terminals appeared to be removed by glial cell phagocytosis, whose equivalents were the inclusion of axonal residues into membrane-bound lysosome-like bodies. Concomitantly, there was a progressively increasing number of extremely large and dilated axons in all regions analysed. These axonal swellings, which have an ultramorphology similar to that of dilated stumps of mechanically severed monoamine axons, correspond most probably to proximal, dilated portions of drug-damaged axons.The present results, in combination with biochemical and fluorescence microscopical data, indicate that within a proper dose range the 5,6-DHT-induced degeneration is largely restricted to indolamine axons and axon terminals. However, unselective effects on other unmyelinated axons, on myelin, and on glial cells were observed in narrow subependymal zones close to the lateral ventricles, i.e. close to the injection cannula.Supported by grants from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.Supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, USPHS (NS-06701-06) and from the Swedish Medical Research Council (grants No. B72-14X-712-07B and B72-14X-56-08B).     

Syntheses, characterization and biological activities of rare earth metal complexes with curcumin and 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione

Three new solid complexes have been synthesized by the reaction of rare earth(III) nitrate with the first ligand curcumin (HL) and the second ligand 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione (L′) in alcohol solution (pH = 6.5-7.0). The composition of the complexes has been characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductivity, thermogravimetric analysis, IR, UV-vis methods. The results reveal that β-diketone group of the first ligand to coordinates with rare earth ions in bidentate mode after deprotonated. But the second ligand uses its two N atoms coordinates with rare earth ions in bidentate mode. The general formula of the complexes is REL₃L′ (RE = Sm, Eu, Dy). The results of antibacterial activity indicated that the complexes have excellent antibacterial ability for the testing bacterium than that of curcumin. The result of agarose gel electrophoresis suggested that the complex of SmL₃L′ can cleave the plasmid DNA at physiological pH and temperature. And it was found that the cleavage process of plasmid DNA was sensitive to pH, however, adding radical scavengers almost had no effect on the DNA cleavage reaction, therefore, the cleavage of DNA by SmL₃L′ does not produce diffusible hydroxyl radicals via the Fenton reaction.     

Solvent impact on the aromaticity of benzene analogues: implicit versus explicit solvent approach

Solvent impact on the structural index of aromaticity was modelled by polarised continuum field approximation (IEFPCM) and hybrid quantum chemistry (QM/MM) method. Significant solvent related relaxation of the solutes geometries were noticed especially for highly polar species. The significant reduction of the aromaticity was observed for some aromatic compounds in water solution compared to gas phase. The rationale of this fact was provided based on dipole moment changes, energy penalty for polarisation of solute and the distribution of frontier orbital densities. The incoherent predictions of explicit and implicit solvation models are noticed since in some cases the PCM approach artificially exaggerate the geometry relaxation in solution which is not observed if explicit solvent molecules are taken into account.     

Synthesis, structures and luminescent properties of novel coordination polymers constructed by lanthanide salts and benzimidazole-5,6-dicarboxylic acid

Two three-dimensional (3D) novel lanthanide complexes with the H₂Lbenzimidazole-5,6-dicarboxylate [Ln₂L₃(H₂O)] [Ln = Eu (1), Tb (2)] and one two-dimensional (2D) novel lanthanide complex [Pr(L)(HL)H₂O]·H₂O (3) were synthesized by hydrothermal reaction at 180 °C and characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectra and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The result showed that complexes 1 and 2 are isostructural and build porous 3D networks by L²⁻ groups linking Ln(III) atoms via tetradentate (bridging and bridging) and pentadentate (bridging/chelating and bridging) coordination modes. Complex 3 is a eight-coordinated Pr(III) chain complex, exhibiting a 2D polymeric network with parallel Pr-carboxylate chains along the crystallographic c-axis. In addition, it is found that in these structures, coordination modes of L²⁻ and HL⁻ are versatile and can adopt different conformations according to distinct dimensions of polymeric structures. The photoluminescent properties of 1, 2 and thermogravimetric analyses of the three complexes were discussed in detail.     

Supplementing lactating dairy cows with a vitamin B12 precursor, 5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole,increases the apparent ruminal synthesis of vitamin B12

Cobalamin (CBL), the biologically active form of vitamin B₁₂, and its analogs, are produced by bacteria only if cobalt supply is adequate. The analogs differ generally by the nucleotide moiety of the molecule. In CBL, 5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole (5,6-DMB) is the base in the nucleotide moiety. The present study aimed to determine if a supplement of 5,6-DMB could increase utilization of dietary cobalt for synthesis of CBL and change ruminal fermentation, nutrient digestibility, omasal flow of nutrients and ruminal protozoa counts. Eight ruminally cannulated multiparous Holstein cows (mean±standard deviation=238±21 days in milk and 736±47 kg of BW) were used in a crossover design. Cows were randomly assigned to a daily supplement of a gelatin capsule containing 1.5 g of 5,6-DMB via the rumen cannula or no supplement. Each period lasted 29 days and consisted of 21 days for treatment adaptation and 8 days for data and samples collection. Five corrinoids, CBL and four cobamides were detected in the total mixed ration and the omasal digesta from both treatments. The dietary supplement of 5,6-DMB increased (P=0.02) apparent ruminal synthesis of CBL from 14.6 to 19.6 (s.e.m. 0.8) mg/day but had no effect (P>0.1) on apparent ruminal synthesis of the four analogs. The supplement of 5,6-DMB had no effect (P>0.1) on milk production and composition, or on protozoal count, ruminal pH and concentrations of volatile fatty acids and ammonia nitrogen in rumen content. The supplement had also no effect (P>0.1) on intake, omasal flow and apparent ruminal digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, NDF, ADF and nitrogenous fractions. Plasma concentration of CBL was not affected by treatments (P=0.98). Providing a preformed part of the CBL molecule, that is, 5,6-DMB, increased by 34% the apparent ruminal synthesis of CBL by ruminal bacteria but had no effect on ruminal fermentation or protozoa count and it was not sufficient to increase plasma concentrations of the vitamin. Even though the efficiency of cobalt utilization for apparent synthesis of CBL was increased from 2.0% to 2.7% by the 5,6-DMB supplement, this improved efficiency was still very low. Further research is needed to identify the factors affecting efficiency of utilization of cobalt for synthesis of CBL by the bacterial populations in rumen.     

Influence of 5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole (DMB) on vitamin B12 biosynthesis by strains of Propionibacterium

Work on vitamin B₁₂ biosynthesis in whey permeate using 5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole (DMB) as a precursor has often been carried out, but with no reference to the stage of fermentation at which it is to be added to the fermentation medium. In the present paper we report 168 h incubation as the optimum time for vitamin B₁₂ biosynthesis and the effect of DMB addition at four phases of fermentation, on vitamin B₁₂ productivity, growth and substrate utilization by three strains of Propionibacterium. The infusion of DMB at the end of 144 h of incubation (24 h before the end of fermentation) has been found optimum for maximum metabolic efficiency of the cultures.     

Vinyl functionalized 5,6-dimethylbenzimidazolium salts: Synthesis and biological activities

A series of vinyl functionalized 5,6-dimethylbenzimidazolium salts are synthesized. All compounds were fully characterized by elemental analyses, MS, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, and IR spectroscopy techniques. Enzyme inhibition is a very active area of research in drug design and development. In this study, the synthesized novel benzimidazolium salts were evaluated toward the human erythrocyte carbonic anhydrase I (hCA I), and II (hCA II) isoenzymes, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) enzymes. They demonstrated highly potent inhibition ability against hCA I with K_i values of 484.8 ± 62.6–1389.7 ± 243.2 nM, hCA II with K_i values of 298.9 ± 55.7–926.1 ± 330.0 nM, α-glycosidase with K_i values of 170.3 ± 27–760.1 ± 269 μM, AChE with K_i values of 27.1 ± 3–77.6 ± 1.7 nM, and BChE with K_i values of 21.0 ± 5–61.3 ± 15 nM. As a result, novel vinyl functionalized 5,6-dimethylbenzimidazolium salts (1a–g) exhibited effective inhibition profiles toward studied metabolic enzymes. Therefore, we believe that these results may contribute to the development of new drugs particularly to treat some global disorders including glaucoma, Alzheimer's disease, and diabetes.     

1,10-Phenanthroline-5,6-dione as a building block for the synthesis of homo- and heterometallic complexes

1,10-Phenanthroline-5,6-dione (C₁₂H₆N₂O₂ (1)) reacts with V(η⁶-mesitylene)₂ and Ti(η⁶-toluene)₂ affording coordination compounds of general formula M(O,O′---C₁₂H₆N₂O₂)₃ (M=Ti (2); M=V (3)) which further react with TiCl₄ or TiCp₂(CO)₂ yielding the tetrametallic species M(O,O′---C₁₂H₆N₂O₂---N,N′)₃(M′L_n)₃ (M=V, M′L_n=TiCl₄ (4); M=Ti, M′L_n=TiCp₂ (5); M=V, M′L_n=TiCp₂ (6)). The complex salt [Fe(N,N′---C₁₂H₆N₂O₂)₃][PF₆]₂ (7) has been obtained from iron(II) chloride tetrahydrate and 1 in the presence of NH₄PF₆. The reaction of 7 with TiCp₂(CO)₂ affords the tetrametallic derivative [Fe(N,N′---C₁₂H₆N₂O₂---O,O′)₃(TiCp₂)₃][PF₆]₂ (8). TiCl₂(THF)₂ reacts with MCp₂(O,O′---C₁₂H₆N₂O₂) to give MCp₂(O,O′---C₁₂H₆N₂O₂---N,N′)TiCl₂ (M=Ti (9); M=V (10)). By reaction of TiCp₂(O,O′---C₁₂H₆N₂O₂---N,N′)TiCl₂ (9) with C₁₂H₆N₂O₂, the bimetallic derivative TiCp₂(O,O′---C₁₂H₆N₂O₂---N,N′)TiCl₂(O,O′---C₁₂H₆N₂O₂) (11) has been prepared, which readily adds to TiCl₄, to give the trimetallic titanium derivative TiCp₂(O,O′---C₁₂H₆N₂O₂---N,N′)TiCl₂(O,O′---C₁₂H₆N₂O₂---N,N′)TiCl₄ (12). VCp₂(O,O′---C₁₂H₆N₂O₂---N,N′)TiCl₂ (10) reacts with the tris-chelate iron(II) cation 7 affording the heptametallic cationic complex [Fe(N,N′---C₁₂H₆N₂O₂---O,O′)TiCl₂(N,N′---C₁₂H₆N₂O₂---O,O′)VCp₂]₃ ⁺² isolated as the hexafluorophosphate 13.     

Nitric oxide-induced oxidation of 5,6-dihydroxyindole and 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid under aerobic conditions: non-enzymatic route to melanin pigments of potential relevance to skin (photo)protection

Diffusible melanin-related metabolites have recently been suggested to subserve a variety of functions that are critical for protection of skin against inflammatory stimuli and oxidative tissue injury. We report here the results of in vitro studies showing that 5,6-dihydroxyindole (DHI) and its 2-carboxylic acid (DHICA) exhibit a marked reactivity toward potentially cytotoxic nitrogen oxides produced by autoxidation of nitric oxide (NO) under physiologically relevant conditions. Exposure of DHI or DHICA to NO in air-equilibrated 0.1 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.4, resulted in a fast, concentration-dependent consumption of the substrates and the concomitant deposition of dark melanin-like pigments. All NO-induced oxidations were completely inhibited in the absence of oxygen. Addition of 10 μM DHI and DHICA completely prevented the oxidation of 10 μM α-tocopherol in 0.1 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.4 in the presence of 300 μM NO. Overall, these results shed light on novel oxidative pathways of melanin-related metabolites of possible relevance to the mechanisms of skin hyperpigmentation under oxidative stress conditions.