Molybdopterin is an essential cofactor for all forms of life. The cofactor is composed of a pterin moiety appended to a dithiolene-functionalized pyran ring, and through the dithiolene moiety it binds metal ions. Different synthetic strategies for dithiolene-functionalized pyran precursors that have been designed and synthesized are discussed. These precursors also harbor 1,2-diketone or osone functionality that has been condensed with 1,2-diaminobenzene or other heterocycles resulting in several quinoxaline or pterin derivatives. Use of additives improves the regioselectivity of the complexes. The molecules have been characterized by (1)H and (13)C NMR and IR spectroscopies, as well as by mass spectrometry. In addition, several compounds have been crystallographically characterized. The geometries of the synthesized molecules are more planar than the geometry of the cofactor found in proteins.

The molybdopterin (MPT) is a complex molecule, made out of three distinctly different components. A retrosynthetic analysis provides a possible route for its synthesis that utilizes the coupling of a diamine with an osone analog. A regioselective condensation of the diamine with an osone affords the dephospho MPT, which has been characterized by NMR and IR spectroscopies, as well as high-resolution mass spectrometry.

The bicyclic pyran thiolone tetrahydro-3αH-[1,3]dithiolo[4,5-β]pyran-2-thione (3a) engages in a highly unusual fragmentation in the presence of DDQ. The pyran thiolone, 3a, was synthesized by chlorination of 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran (1), followed by condensing with CS2 and NaSH. Reaction of 3a with DDQ generates the isomerized pyran thiolone tetrahydro-3αH-[1,3]dithiolo[4,5-β]pyran-2-thione (3b) and 4-benzyl-5-(3-hydroxypropyl)-1,3-dithiole-2-thione (4) via a deep-seated rearrangement. The identity of 3b was confirmed by single crystal X-ray analysis: P21/c, a=5.807(9) Å, b = 12.99(2) Å, c = 11.445(15), β=113.23(6)°. Mechanistic experiments and computational insight is used to explain the likely sequence of events in the highly unusual formation of 4. Collectively, these results establish fundamental reactivity patterns for further research in this area.