Light-induced conversion of ethane-1,2-diol or 2-aminoethanol into acetaldehyde in the presence of 8-methoxy-5′-deoxy-5′-adenosyl-cobalamin or a simpler cobalt(III) alkyl

Abstract

Anaerobic photolysis of the newly synthesised 8-methoxy-5′-deoxy-5′-adenosylcobalamin, methylcobalamin or methyl(aquo)cobaloxime (but not coenzyme B₁₂) causes the transformation of HOCH₂CH₂X (X = NH₂ or OH) into MeCHO and the pH dependence of yield parallels that obtained in ·OH induced reactions; the results are interpreted in terms of an initial hydrogen atom abstraction from substrate by a carbon-centred radical.