Synthesis of imidazolo analogues of the oxidation-reduction cofactor pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ).

Parallel syntheses of 2-hydro-, 2-methyl-, and 2-methoxycarbonylimidazo-7,9-dimethoxycarbonyl analogues of the oxidation-reduction cofactor pyrroloquinoline quinone [4,5-dihydro-4,5-dioxo-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-f]quinoline-2,7,9-tricarboxylic acid] have been developed. The properties of the imidazolo analogues in relation to the corresponding pyrrole analogues will be important in assessing the origins of catalysis and biological activity in the cofactor, which has recently been shown to be a vitamin.