Study of DNA adducts formed with aromatic hydrocarbons is part of the strategy to elucidate the mechanisms of tumor initiation by these compounds. 1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (THDMBA) is of special interest because it allows discrimination between the pathways of bioactivation by one-electron oxidation and monooxygenation. To study and identify adducts formed biologically, synthetic adducts are needed as reference standards. THDMBA was electrochemically oxidized in the presence of deoxyadenosine (dA), adenine (Ade), deoxyguanosine (dG), or deoxycytidine (dC). In the presence of dA, four adducts were isolated: 7-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrobenz[a]anthracene-12-CH2-N7Ade (7-MTHBA-12-CH2-N7Ade, 3.6%), 12-MTHBA-7-CH2-N7Ade (4.2%), 7-MTHBA-12-CH2-N6dA (5.8%), and 12-exo-methylene-7-MTHBA-7-N6dA (22.8%); a dehydrogenated product, 7,12-di-exo-methylene-THBA (44.2%), was also obtained. In the presence of Ade, nine adducts were synthesized: 7-MTHBA-12-CH2-N7Ade (1.1%), 12-MTHBA-7-CH2-N7Ade (2.4%), 7-MTHBA-12-CH2-N1Ade (10.2%), 12-MTHBA-7-CH2-N1Ade (13.2%), 7-MTHBA-12CH2-N3Ade (1.7%), 12-MTHBA-7-CH2-N3Ade (1.7%), 7-exo-methylene-12-MTHBA-12-N3Ade (11.2%), 12-exo-methylene-7-MTHBA-7-N3Ade (27.9%), and 12-exo-methylene-7-MTHBA-7-N6Ade (12.1%), as well as the dehydrogenated product 7,12-di-exo-methylene-THBA (16.7%). In the presence of dG, three adducts were produced: 7-MTHBA-12-CH2-N7Gua (24.2%), 12-MTHBA-7-CH2-N7Gua (12.2%), and 7-MTHBA-12-CH2-N2dG (3.7%), as well as the dehydrogenated product 7,12-di-exo-methylene-THBA (38.9%). Anodic oxidation in the presence of dC yielded a large amount of 7,12-di-exo-methylene-THBA (80.4%), but no adducts. The structure of the adducts was elucidated by using UV, NMR, and MS. The N-7 positions in dG, dA, and Ade, the 2-NH2 in dG, and the N-1 position in Ade form exclusively methyl-linked adducts. In contrast, the 6-NH2 group of dA and Ade and the N-3 of Ade prefer to attack the meso-anthracenic positions rather than the methyl groups. The order of reactivity of dG and dA in the formation of methyl-linked THDMBA adducts agrees well with that previously found for 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene [RamaKrishna et al. (1992) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 114, 1863-1874.
9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene Adenine