Phenazine

Phenazine
Identifiers
CAS number 92-82-0 Y
PubChem 4757
ChemSpider 4593 Y
UNII 6985IP0T80 Y
ChEBI CHEBI:36674 Y
ChEMBL CHEMBL119870 Y
Jmol-3D images Image 1
Properties
Molecular formula C12H8N2
Molar mass 180.21 g/mol>
Appearance yellow to brown crystalline powder
Density 1.25g/cm3
Melting point

177 °C, 450 K, 351 °F

Boiling point

357.2°C @ 760mmHg

Solubility in water insoluble in water
Hazards
Flash point 160.3°C
 Y (verify) (what is: Y/N?)
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Phenazine (C12H8N2 or C6H4N2C6H4), also called azophenylene, dibenzo-p-diazine, dibenzopyrazine, and acridizine, is a dibenzo annulated pyrazine and the parent substance of many dyestuffs, such as the eurhodines, toluylene red, indulines and safranines.

Contents

Synthesis

A classic method for the synthesis of phenazine is the reaction of nitrobenzene and aniline in the Wohl-Aue reaction (1901). Other methods are known, e.g.:

Phenazine crystallizes in yellow needles which melt at 174-177 °C, and are only sparingly soluble in alcohol. Sulfuric acid dissolves it, forming a deep-red solution.

Derivatives

Diaminophenazine

The symmetrical diaminophenazine is the parent substance of the important dyestuff toluylene red or dimethyldiaminotoluphenazine. It is obtained by the oxidation of orthophenylene diamine with ferric chloride; when a mixture of para-aminodimethylaniline and meta-toluylenediamine is oxidized in the cold, toluylene blue, an indamine, being formed as an intermediate product and passing into the red when boiled; and also by the oxidation of dimethylparaphenylene diatnine with metatoluylene diamine. It crystallizes in orange-red needles and its alcoholic solution fluoresces strongly. It dyes silk and mordanted cotton a fine scarlet. It is known commercially as neutral red. For the phenazonium salts, see safranine. Phenazone is an isomer of phenazine, to which it bears the same relation that phenanthrene bears to anthracene.

Natural products

Many phenazine compounds are found in nature and are produced by bacteria such as Pseudomonas spp., Streptomyces spp., and Pantoea agglomerans. These phenazine natural products have been implicated in the virulence and competitive fitness of producing organisms. For example, the phenazine pyocyanin produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa contributes to its ability to colonise the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients. Similarly, phenazine-1-carboxylic acid, produced by a number of Pseudomonas, increases survival in soil environments and has been shown to be essential for the biological control activity of certain strains.[2][3]

Biosynthesis

Phenazine biosynthesis branches off the shikimic acid pathway at a point subsequent to chorismic acid. Two molecules of this chorismate-derived intermediate are then brought together in a diagonally-symmetrical fashion to form the basic phenazine scaffold. Sequential modifications then lead to a variety of phenazine with differing biological activities.

References

  1. ^ Alexander R. Surrey (1955), "Pyocyanine", Org. Synth., http://www.orgsyn.org/orgsyn/orgsyn/prepContent.asp?prep=cv3p0753 ; Coll. Vol. 3: 753 
  2. ^ Turner, J. M. and A. J. Messenger (1986). "Occurrence, biochemistry, and physiology of phenazine pigment production". Advances in Microbial Physiology. Advances in Microbial Physiology 27: 211–275. doi:10.1016/S0065-2911(08)60306-9. ISBN 9780120277278. 
  3. ^ McDonald, M., D. V. Mavrodi, et al. (2001). "Phenazine biosynthesis in Pseudomonas fluorescens: Branchpoint from the primary shikimate biosynthetic pathway and role of phenazine-1,6-dicarboxylic acid". J. Am. Chem. Soc. 123 (38): 9459–9460. doi:10.1021/ja011243. PMID 11562236. 

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainChisholm, Hugh, ed (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.