SYNTHESIS OF SPECTROSCOPIC REACTION MODELS FOR ELECTRON TRANSFER STUDIES BETWEEN NADH AND FAD

In an effort to gain detailed insight into the mechanism of electron transport in the respiratory chain, the synthesis of a reaction model approximating the first step of the sequence was attempted. The desired molecule should contain the isoalloxazine ring system, the reactive center of flavin adenine dinucleotide, and the nicotinamide ring, the reactive moiety of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, joined by a trimethylene bridge. The successful synthesis and characterization of many intermediate confirms that the procedure being used is viable. Attainment of the actual reaction model, based on the work described herein, should occur in the near future.