Expanding the chemical space of flavins with pentacyclic architecture

Abstract Inspired by the prominent redox and optical properties of natural flavins, synthetic flavins have found broad applications in organic, photochemical, and biochemical research. Tailoring these properties of flavins, however, remains a challenge. In this work, we present three pentacyclic fla...

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Main Authors: Dayeong Seo, Seongyeon Kwon, Gahye Yoon, Taeil Son, Changhyeon Won, Neetu Singh, Dongwook Kim, Yunjung Baek
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58957-2
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author Dayeong Seo
Seongyeon Kwon
Gahye Yoon
Taeil Son
Changhyeon Won
Neetu Singh
Dongwook Kim
Yunjung Baek
author_facet Dayeong Seo
Seongyeon Kwon
Gahye Yoon
Taeil Son
Changhyeon Won
Neetu Singh
Dongwook Kim
Yunjung Baek
author_sort Dayeong Seo
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Inspired by the prominent redox and optical properties of natural flavins, synthetic flavins have found broad applications in organic, photochemical, and biochemical research. Tailoring these properties of flavins, however, remains a challenge. In this work, we present three pentacyclic flavins (C-PF, O-PF, and S-PF) that leverage a strategic molecular design to modify the flavin’s electronic structure. Notably, the oxygen- and sulfur-linked pentacyclic flavins (O-PF and S-PF) exhibit deep-red and NIR emission, respectively, driven by enhanced π-conjugation, substituent effects, and charge separation upon excitation. These heteroatom-incorporated pentacyclic flavins exhibit unusual quasi-reversible oxidation, expanding both optical and redox limits of synthetic flavins. Comprehensive spectroscopic, structural, and computational analyses reveal how heteroatom incorporation within this five-ring-fused system unlocks redox and optical properties of flavin-derived chromophores.
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spelling doaj-art-57a450aea9e94d03be87f3a7e987e0952025-08-20T03:18:28ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-04-0116111010.1038/s41467-025-58957-2Expanding the chemical space of flavins with pentacyclic architectureDayeong Seo0Seongyeon Kwon1Gahye Yoon2Taeil Son3Changhyeon Won4Neetu Singh5Dongwook Kim6Yunjung Baek7Department of Chemistry, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)Center for Catalytic Hydrocarbon Functionalizations, Institute for Basic ScienceDepartment of Chemistry, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)Department of Chemistry, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)Department of Chemistry, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)Department of Chemistry, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)Center for Catalytic Hydrocarbon Functionalizations, Institute for Basic ScienceDepartment of Chemistry, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)Abstract Inspired by the prominent redox and optical properties of natural flavins, synthetic flavins have found broad applications in organic, photochemical, and biochemical research. Tailoring these properties of flavins, however, remains a challenge. In this work, we present three pentacyclic flavins (C-PF, O-PF, and S-PF) that leverage a strategic molecular design to modify the flavin’s electronic structure. Notably, the oxygen- and sulfur-linked pentacyclic flavins (O-PF and S-PF) exhibit deep-red and NIR emission, respectively, driven by enhanced π-conjugation, substituent effects, and charge separation upon excitation. These heteroatom-incorporated pentacyclic flavins exhibit unusual quasi-reversible oxidation, expanding both optical and redox limits of synthetic flavins. Comprehensive spectroscopic, structural, and computational analyses reveal how heteroatom incorporation within this five-ring-fused system unlocks redox and optical properties of flavin-derived chromophores.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58957-2
spellingShingle Dayeong Seo
Seongyeon Kwon
Gahye Yoon
Taeil Son
Changhyeon Won
Neetu Singh
Dongwook Kim
Yunjung Baek
Expanding the chemical space of flavins with pentacyclic architecture
Nature Communications
title Expanding the chemical space of flavins with pentacyclic architecture
title_full Expanding the chemical space of flavins with pentacyclic architecture
title_fullStr Expanding the chemical space of flavins with pentacyclic architecture
title_full_unstemmed Expanding the chemical space of flavins with pentacyclic architecture
title_short Expanding the chemical space of flavins with pentacyclic architecture
title_sort expanding the chemical space of flavins with pentacyclic architecture
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58957-2
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