PHENOXAZINE DYES

Abstract
The present invention concerns highly water-soluble phenoxazines dyes of formula (I)
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns highly water-soluble phenoxazines dyes with improved photochemical properties and solubility in water.


BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Cinnabarinic acid is a red phenoxazinone compound responsible for the Pycnoporus species colour. Phenoxazinones have been identified in various biological systems including pigments and antibiotics. For instance, actinomycin is an antibiotic which is formed by phenoxazinone synthase, an enzyme of Streptomyces species. The search of water-soluble long-wavelength fluorochromophores for the detection of biological and organic molecules has recently drawn high interest. Fluorescence-based techniques are sensitive, simple and selective, making them ideal for screening techniques, particularly using arrays. However, the poor solubility of the currently available phenoxazinone derivatives represents a drawback for biological applications.


It is an aim of the present invention to provide highly water-soluble phenoxazinone dyes that have improved photochemical properties useful for industrial and domestic applications.


Synthesis of phenoxazinone dyes by substitution to the phenoxazinone core is difficult to control. Reactions for the synthesis of sophisticated analogs of 3-H-phenoxazin-3-one by halogenation have so far failed. Furthermore, the usual chemical synthesis of phenoxazine derivatives involves the condensation of nitroso compounds at elevated temperature. Such processes are highly toxic and energy consuming. Moreover, the cyclization of sulfonated nitrosoanilines as building blocks is not very effective. It is an aim to provide a methodology for producing new amino-phenoxazinones, that overcomes at least one of the problems of the art.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the invention is a compound of structural formula (I), a tautomer, a quaternary form or salt thereof,







wherein


R1 is selected from a group consisting of H, —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR7R8, —SO2H, —SO2—C1-6alkyl, —SO2—C6-12aryl, —SO2O—C1-6alkyl, and —SO2O—C6-12aryl;


R2 is selected from the group consisting of H, —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR9R10, —SO2H, —SO2—C1-6alkyl, —SO2—C6-12aryl, —SO2O—C1-6alkyl, —SO2O—C6-12aryl, C1-6alkyl, C6-12aryl, SH, OH, —NH2, halogen, carboxyl, aminocarbonyl, C1-6alkylaminocarbonyl, and C6-12arylaminocarbonyl;


R3 is selected from the group consisting of H, —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR11R12—SO2H, —SO2—C1-6alkyl, —SO2—C6-12aryl, —SO2O—C1-6alkyl, —SO2O—C6-12aryl, C1-6alkyl, C6-12aryl, SH, OH, —NH2, halogen, carboxyl, aminocarbonyl, C1-6alkylaminocarbonyl, and C6-12arylaminocarbonyl;


R4 is selected from the group consisting of H, —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR13R14, —SO2H, —SO2—C1-6alkyl, —SO2—C6-12aryl, —SO2O—C1-6alkyl, —SO2O—C6-12aryl, halogen, aminocarbonyl, C1-6alkylaminocarbonyl, C6-12arylaminocarbonyl, C1-6alkyl, C6-12aryl, SH, OH, and —NH2;


R5 is selected from the group consisting of H, —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR15R16, —SO2H, —SO2—C1-6alkyl, —SO2—C6-12aryl, —SO2O—C1-6alkyl, —SO2O—C6-12aryl, halogen, aminocarbonyl, C1-6alkylaminocarbonyl, C6-12arylaminocarbonyl, C1-6alkyl, C6-12aryl, SH, OH, and —NH2;


R6 is selected from the group consisting of H, —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR17R18, —SO2H, —SO2—C1-6alkyl, —SO2—C6-12aryl, —SO2O—C1-6alkyl, and —SO2O—C6-12aryl;


wherein at least one of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 is one of the —SO2— or —SO3— containing moieties listed above,


wherein


R7 and R8 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylaminoC1-6alkyl, aminoC1-6alkyl, C3-8cycloalkyl, C1-6alkoxycarbonylC1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, and C6-12aryl;


R9 and R10 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylaminoC1-6alkyl, aminoC1-6alkyl, C3-8cycloalkyl, C1-6alkoxycarbonylC1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, and C6-12aryl;


R11 and R12 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylaminoC1-6alkyl, aminoC1-6alkyl, C3-8cycloalkyl, C1-6alkoxycarbonylC1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, and C6-12aryl;


R13 and R14 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylaminoC1-6alkyl, aminoC1-6alkyl, C3-8cycloalkyl, C1-6alkoxycarbonylC1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, and C6-12aryl;


R15 and R16 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylaminoC1-6alkyl, aminoC1-6alkyl, C3-8cycloalkyl, C1-6alkoxycarbonylC1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, and C6-12aryl;


R17 and R18 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylaminoC1-6alkyl, aminoC1-6alkyl, C3-8cycloalkyl, C1-6alkoxycarbonylC1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, and C6-12aryl, and


M is selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Cs, and Rb.


Another embodiment of the invention is a compound as described above, wherein R2 is hydrogen and R1, R3, R4, R5, R6 have the meaning as defined above.


Another embodiment of the invention is a compound as described above, wherein R3 is hydrogen and R1, R2, R5 and R6 have the meaning as defined above.


Another embodiment of the invention is a compound as described above, wherein R2 and R3 are each independently hydrogen and R1, R4, R5 and R6 have the meaning as defined above.


Another embodiment of the invention is a compound as described above, having the structural formula (II)







wherein R1 and R6 have the meaning defined above.


Another embodiment of the invention is a compound as described above, having structural formula (II), wherein R1 is H, and R6 is has the meaning defined above.


Another embodiment of the invention is a compound as described above, having structural formula (II) wherein R1 is has the meaning defined above, and R6 is H.


Another embodiment of the invention is a compound as described above, having structural formula (II), wherein


R1 is selected from a group consisting of —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR7R8, —SO2—C1-6alkyl, —SO2—C6-12aryl, —SO2O—C1-6alkyl, and —SO2O—C6-12aryl,


R6 is selected from the group consisting of —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR17R18, —SO2—C1-6alkyl, —SO2—C6-12aryl, —SO2O—C1-6alkyl, and —SO2O—C6-12aryl, and


R17 and R18 have the meaning as defined above.


Another embodiment of the invention is a compound as described above, having the structural formula (III)







wherein R5 has the meaning defined above.


Another embodiment of the invention is a compound as described above, having the structural formula (III), wherein R5 is selected from a group consisting of —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR15R16, —SO2—C1-6alkyl, —SO2—C6-12aryl, —SO2O—C1-6alkyl, and —SO2O—C6-12aryl, and R15 and R16 have the meaning as defined above.


Another embodiment of the invention is a compound as described above, that is a compound selected from the group consisting of 2-amino-3-oxo-3H-phenoxazine-1,9-disulfonic acid diamide, 2-amino-3-oxo-3H-phenoxazine-1,9-disulfonic acid bis-phenylamide, 2-amino-3-oxo-3H-phenoxazine-1,9-disulfonic acid bis-cyclohexylamide, 2-amino-3-oxo-3H-phenoxazine-1,9-disulfonic acid bis-[(3-dimethylamino-propyl)-amide, 2-amino-3-oxo-3H-phenoxazine-1,9-disulfonic acid bis-[(2-amino-ethyl)-amide], 2-amino-[9-(methoxycarbonylmethyl-sulfamoyl)-7-oxo-7H-phenoxazine-1-sulfonylamino]-acetic acid methyl ester, 2-amino-3-oxo-3H-phenoxazine-1,9-disulfonic acid bis-[(3-hydroxy-propyl)amide].


Another embodiment of the invention is a method for the preparation of a compound of formula (I) as defined above, comprising the step of catalytically dimerising an aromatic precursor having structural formula (IV),







wherein R19 is the same as R2 or R3 as defined above, R20 is the same as R4 as defined above, R21 is the same as R5 as defined above, and R22 is the same as R1 or R6 as defined above, whereby the catalysis proceeds using a laccase enzyme.


Another embodiment of the invention is a method as described above, wherein the laccase enzyme is in free solution or immobilised on a solid support, or is provided by a micro-organism containing a gene for laccase enzyme expression.


Another embodiment of the invention is a method as described above, wherein the reaction proceeds in an aqueous medium.


Another embodiment of the invention is a method as described above, wherein the medium further comprises an alcohol at a concentration of between 1 and 10% (v/v).


Another embodiment of the invention is a method as described above, wherein the laccase enzyme is present at a concentration that provides an activity of between 1 and 1000 U·L−1.


Another embodiment of the invention is a method as described above, wherein the compound of formula (IV) is present at a concentration of between 1 and 10 g·L−1.


Another embodiment of the invention is a method of dyeing an article comprising the step of contacting said article with a compound as defined above.


Another embodiment of the invention is an article dyed using a compound as defined above.


The present invention will now be further described. In the following passages, different aspects of the invention are defined in more detail. Each aspect so defined may be combined with any other aspect or aspects unless clearly indicated to the contrary. In particular, any feature indicated as being preferred or advantageous may be combined with any other feature or features indicated as being preferred or advantageous.







DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a synthetic dye compound that is a sulfonated phenoxazinone derivative, and which finds application, for example, in colouring textiles and dyeing of hair. The present invention also concerns a bioprocess for the synthesis of sulfonated phenoxazinone derivatives, including the dye compounds of the present invention, using the enzyme laccase. The use of enzymes integrated with traditional synthetic methods provides a more environmentally friendly process, avoiding the use of large quantities of organic solvents and other potentially toxic reagents.


The dyes of the present invention are highly water-soluble compared with phenoxazines dyes known in the art such as Meldola Blue and Nile Red. Cinnabarinic acid, Meldola Blue or Nile Red dyes have a poor solubility in water making them unsuitable for a large number of applications. In addition, the dyes of the present invention have improved photochemical properties, exhibiting greater stability on exposure to natural light i.e. dyed articles retain good colour saturation over time, and dyed textiles show favourable colour fastness. Furthermore, the new phenoxazinone derivatives are non-toxic, and offer strong colour saturation, for instance, a high molar extinction coefficient (e.g. around 450 nm). These novel phenoxazinones have utility as industrial dyes for textile, or for domestic or professional use in hair dyeing applications.


As used in the foregoing and hereinafter, the following definitions apply unless otherwise noted.


As used herein “C1-6alkyl”, as a group or part of a group, defines straight or branched chain saturated hydrocarbon radicals having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms such as for example methyl, ethyl, prop-1-yl, prop-2-yl, but-1-yl, but-2-yl, isobutyl, 2-methyl-prop-1-yl; pent-1-yl, pent-2-yl, pent-3-yl, hex-1-yl, hex-2-yl, 2-methylbut-1-yl, 2-methylpent-1-yl, 2-ethylbut-1-yl, 3-methylpent-2-yl, and the like. Of interest amongst C1-6alkyl is C1-4alkyl.


Where C1-6alkyl groups as defined are divalent, i.e., with two single bonds for attachment to two other groups, they are termed “C1-6alkylene” groups. Non-limiting examples of alkylene groups includes methylene, ethylene, methylmethylene, propylene, ethylethylene, 1,2-dimethylethylene, and the like.


The term “C4-6cycloalkyl”, as a group or part of a group, is a cyclic alkyl group, that is to say, a monovalent, saturated hydrocarbyl group comprising from 4 to 6 carbon atoms and having 1 cyclic structure. Examples of C4-6 cycloalkyl groups include but are not limited to cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl. When the suffix “ene” is used in conjunction with a cyclic group, this is intended to mean the cyclic group as defined herein having two single bonds as points of attachment to other groups.


The term “C6-12aryl”, as a group or part of a group, refers to a polyunsaturated, aromatic hydrocarbyl group having a single ring (i.e. phenyl) or multiple aromatic rings fused together (e.g. naphthalene), or linked covalently, typically containing 6 to 12 atoms; wherein at least one ring is aromatic. Non-limiting examples of C6-12aryl comprise phenyl, biphenylyl, biphenylenyl, or 1- or 2-naphthanelyl.


Where C6-12aryl groups as defined are divalent, i.e., with two single bonds for attachment to two other groups, they are termed “C1-6arylene” groups. Non-limiting examples of arylene groups includes phenylene and the like.


The term “carboxy” or “carboxyl”, as a group or part of a group, refers to the group —CO2H.


The term “aminocarbonyl”, as a group or part of a group, refers to the group —(C═O)—NH2.


The term “C1-6alkylaminocarbonyl”, as a group or part of a group, refers to a group —(C═O)—NRaRb wherein Ra is hydrogen or C1-6alkyl as defined above, and Rb is C1-6alkyl as defined above.


The term “C6-12arylaminocarbonyl”, as a group or part of a group, refers to a group of formula —C(═O)—N(Rc)(Rd) wherein Rc is hydrogen, C6-12aryl or C1-6alkyl as defined above, and Rd is C6-12aryl as defined above.


The term halo or halogen is generic to fluoro, chloro, bromo and iodo.


The term “amino”, as a group or part of a group, refers to the group —NH2.


The term “aminoC1-6alkyl”, as a group or part of a group, refers to the group —Re—NRaRf wherein Re is C1-6alkylene, Ra is hydrogen or C1-6alkyl as defined herein, and Rf is hydrogen or C1-6alkyl as defined herein.


The term “C1-6alkylaminoC1-6alkyl”, as a group or part of a group, refers to a group of formula —Re—N(Ra)(Rb) wherein Re is C1-6alkylene as defined above, Ra is hydrogen or C1-6alkyl as defined above, and Rb is C1-6alkyl as defined above.


The term “C1-6alkoxycarbonylC1-6alkyl” or “C1-6alkyloxycarbonylC1-6alkyl”, as a group or part of a group, refers to a radical having the Formula —Re—C(═O)ORb wherein Re is a C1-6alkylene, and Rb is C1-6alkyl as defined above.


The term “hydroxyC1-6alkyl”, as a group or part of a group, refers to the group —Re—OH wherein Re is C1-6alkylene.


It should be noted that the group positions on any molecular moiety used in the definitions may be anywhere on such moiety as long as it is chemically stable.


Groups used in the definitions of the variables include all possible isomers unless otherwise indicated. For instance naphthalenyl includes naphthalen-1-yl and naphthalen-2-yl.


When any variable occurs more than one time in any constituent, each definition is independent.


As used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. By way of example, “a compound” means one compound or more than one compound.


Some of the compounds of formula (I) may exist in their tautomeric form. Such forms although not explicitly indicated in the above formula are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.


The term “salt thereof” as used encompasses the fact that compounds of Formula (I) contain an acidic proton which can also be converted into their non-toxic metal or amine addition salt forms by treatment with appropriate organic and inorganic bases. Appropriate base salt forms comprise, for example, the ammonium salts, the alkali and earth alkaline metal salts, e.g. the lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium salts and the like, salts with organic bases, e.g. primary, secondary and tertiary aliphatic and aromatic amines such as methylamine, ethylamine, propylamine, isopropylamine, the four butylamine isomers, dimethylamine, diethylamine, diethanolamine, dipropylamine, diisopropylamine, di-n-butylamine, pyrrolidine, piperidine, morpholine, trimethylamine, triethylamine, tripropylamine, quinuclidine, pyridine, quinoline and isoquinoline; the benzathine, N-methyl-D-glucamine, hydrabamine salts, and salts with amino acids such as, for example, arginine, lysine and the like. Conversely the salt form can be converted by treatment with acid into the free acid form.


The term “quaternary form” as used hereinbefore defines the quaternary ammonium salts which the compounds of Formula (I) are able to form by reaction between a basic nitrogen of a compound of Formula (I) and an appropriate quaternizing agent, such as, for example, an optionally substituted alkylhalide, arylhalide or arylalkylhalide, e.g. methyliodide or benzyliodide. Other reactants with good leaving groups may also be used, such as alkyl trifluoromethanesulfonates, alkyl methanesulfonates, and alkyl p-toluenesulfonates. A quaternary amine has a positively charged nitrogen.


One embodiment of the invention is a compound of the formula (I) wherein


R1 is selected from a group consisting of H, —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR7R8, —SO2H, —SO2—C1-6alkyl, —SO2—C6-12aryl, —SO2O—C1-6alkyl, and —SO2O—C6-12aryl; preferably R1 is selected from a group consisting of H, —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR7R8, —SO2—C1-6alkyl, —SO2—C6-10aryl, —SO2O—C1-6alkyl, and —SO2O—C6-10aryl; preferably R1 is selected from a group consisting of H, —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR7R8, —SO2—C1-4alkyl, —SO2—C6-10aryl; preferably R1 is selected from a group consisting of H, —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR7R8; preferably R1 is H; preferably R1 is —SO3H, preferably R1 is —SO3M, preferably R1 is —SO2NR7R8;


R2 is selected from the group consisting of H, —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR9R10, —SO2H, —SO2—C1-6alkyl, —SO2—C6-12aryl, —SO2O—C1-6alkyl, —SO2O—C6-12aryl, C1-6alkyl, C6-12aryl, SH, OH, —NH2, halogen, carboxyl, aminocarbonyl, C1-6alkylaminocarbonyl, and C6-12arylaminocarbonyl; preferably R2 is selected from the group consisting of H, —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR9R10, —SO2H, —SO2—C1-6alkyl, —SO2—C6-12aryl, —SO2O—C1-6alkyl, —SO2O—C6-12aryl, C1-6alkyl, C6-12aryl, OH, —NH2, halogen, carboxyl, aminocarbonyl; preferably R2 is selected from the group consisting of H, —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR9R10, C1-6alkyl, C6-12aryl, OH, —NH2, halogen, carboxyl, aminocarbonyl; preferably R2 is selected from the group consisting of H, —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR9R10, C1-4alkyl, C6-10aryl, OH, —NH2, halogen, carboxyl, aminocarbonyl; preferably R2 is selected from the group consisting of H, —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR9R10, phenyl, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, OH, —NH2, halogen, carboxyl, aminocarbonyl; preferably R2 is selected from the group consisting of H, —SO3H, —SO3M; preferably R2 is H;


R3 is selected from the group consisting of H, —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR9R10, —SO2H, —SO2—C1-6alkyl, —SO2—C6-12aryl, —SO2O—C1-6alkyl, —SO2O—C6-12aryl, C1-6alkyl, C6-12aryl, SH, OH, —NH2, halogen, carboxyl, aminocarbonyl, C1-6alkylaminocarbonyl, and C6-12arylaminocarbonyl; preferably R3 is selected from the group consisting of H, —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR9R10, —SO2H, —SO2—C1-6alkyl, —SO2—C6-12aryl, —SO2O—C1-6alkyl, —SO2O—C6-12aryl, C1-6alkyl, C6-12aryl, OH, —NH2, halogen, carboxyl, aminocarbonyl; preferably R3 is selected from the group consisting of H, —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR9R10, C1-6alkyl, C6-12aryl, OH, —NH2, halogen, carboxyl, aminocarbonyl; preferably R3 is selected from the group consisting of H, —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR9R10, C1-4alkyl, C6-10aryl, OH, —NH2, halogen, carboxyl, aminocarbonyl; preferably R3 is selected from the group consisting of H, —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR9R10, phenyl, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, OH, —NH2, halogen, carboxyl, aminocarbonyl; preferably R3 is selected from the group consisting of H, —SO3H, —SO3M; preferably R3 is H;


R4 is selected from the group consisting of H, —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR13R14, —SO2H, —SO2—C1-6alkyl, —SO2—C6-12aryl, —SO2O—C1-6alkyl, —SO2O—C6-12aryl, halogen, aminocarbonyl, C1-6alkylaminocarbonyl, C6-12arylaminocarbonyl, C1-6alkyl, C6-12aryl, SH, OH, and —NH2; preferably R4 is selected from the group consisting of H, —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR13R14, —SO2O—C1-6alkyl, —SO2O—C6-12aryl, halogen, aminocarbonyl, C1-6alkylaminocarbonyl, C1-6alkyl, C6-12aryl, SH, OH, —NH2; preferably R4 is selected from the group consisting of H, —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR13R14, halogen, C1-6alkyl, C6-12aryl, OH, —NH2; preferably R4 is selected from the group consisting of H, —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR13R14, halogen, C1-4alkyl, C6-10aryl, OH, —NH2; preferably R4 is selected from the group consisting of H, —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR13R14, halogen, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, phenyl, OH, —NH2; preferably R4 is selected from the group consisting of H, —SO3H, —SO3M, halogen, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl; preferably R4 is selected from the group consisting of H, halogen, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl; preferably R4 is H;


R5 is selected from the group consisting of H, —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR15R16, —SO2H, —SO2—C1-6alkyl, —SO2—C6-12aryl, —SO2O—C1-6alkyl, —SO2O—C6-12aryl, halogen, aminocarbonyl, C1-6alkylaminocarbonyl, C6-12arylaminocarbonyl, C1-6alkyl, C6-12aryl, SH, OH, and —NH2; preferably R5 is selected from the group consisting of H, —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR15R16, —SO2O—C1-6alkyl, —SO2O—C6-12aryl, halogen, aminocarbonyl, C1-6alkylaminocarbonyl, C6-12arylaminocarbonyl, C1-6alkyl, C6-12aryl, SH, OH, —NH2; preferably R5 is selected from the group consisting of H, —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR15R16, halogen, aminocarbonyl, C1-6alkylaminocarbonyl, C1-6alkyl, C6-12aryl, SH, OH, —NH2; preferably R5 is selected from the group consisting of H, —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR15R16, halogen, C1-6alkyl, C6-12aryl, SH, OH, —NH2; preferably R5 is selected from the group consisting of H, —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR15R16, halogen, C1-4alkyl, C6-10aryl, SH, OH, —NH2; preferably R5 is selected from the group consisting of H, —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR15R16, halogen, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, phenyl, SH, OH, —NH2; preferably R5 is selected from the group consisting of H, —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR15R16, OH, —NH2; preferably R5 is H, —SO3H, or —SO3M; preferably R5 is H, preferably R5 is —SO3H or —SO3M;


R6 is selected from a group consisting of H, —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR7R8, —SO2H, —SO2—C1-6alkyl, —SO2—C6-12aryl, —SO2O—C1-6alkyl, and —SO2O—C6-12aryl; preferably R6 is selected from a group consisting of H, —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR7R8, —SO2—C1-6alkyl, —SO2—C6-10aryl, —SO2O—C1-6alkyl, and —SO2O—C6-10aryl; preferably R6 is selected from a group consisting of H, —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR7R8, —SO2—C1-4alkyl, —SO2—C6-10aryl; preferably R6 is selected from a group consisting of H, —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR7R8; preferably R6 is H; preferably R6 is —SO3H, preferably R6 is —SO3M, preferably R6 is —SO2NR7R8;


wherein at least one of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 is one of the —SO2— or —SO3— containing moieties listed above, preferably wherein at least one of R1, R4, R5 and R6 is one of the —SO2— or —SO3— containing moieties listed above, preferably wherein at least one of R1, R5 and R6 is one of the —SO2— or —SO3— containing moieties listed above,


wherein


R7 and R8 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylaminoC1-6alkyl, aminoC1-6alkyl, C3-8cycloalkyl, C1-6alkoxycarbonylC1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, and C6-12aryl; preferably R8 is hydrogen or C1-6alkyl, and R7 is selected from the group consisting of H, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylaminoC1-6alkyl, aminoC1-6alkyl, C3-8cycloalkyl, C1-6alkoxycarbonylC1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, C6-12aryl; preferably R7 and R8 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-6alkyl, C1-4alkylaminoC1-6alkyl, aminoC1-6alkyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylC1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-4alkyl, phenyl, naphthalenyl; preferably R8 is hydrogen or C1-4alkyl, and R7 is selected from the group consisting of H, C1-4alkyl, C1-4alkylaminoC1-4alkyl, aminoC1-4alkyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylC1-4alkyl, hydroxyC1-4alkyl, phenyl; preferably R8 is hydrogen, and R7 is selected from the group consisting of H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, C1-4alkylaminoC1-4alkyl, aminoC1-4alkyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylC1-4alkyl, hydroxymethyl, hydroxyethyl, hydroxypropyl, hydroxybutyl, phenyl; preferably R3 is hydrogen, and R7 is selected from the group consisting of H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, C1-4alkylaminomethyl, C1-4alkylaminoethyl, C1-4alkylaminopropyl, C1-4alkylaminobutyl, aminomethyl, aminoethyl, aminopropyl, aminobutyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylmethyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylethyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylbutyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylpropyl, hydroxymethyl, hydroxyethyl, hydroxypropyl, hydroxybutyl, phenyl; preferably R8 is hydrogen, and R7 is selected from the group consisting of H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, C1-4alkylaminomethyl, C1-4alkylaminoethyl, C1-4alkylaminopropyl, C1-4alkylaminobutyl, aminomethyl, aminoethyl, aminopropyl, aminobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylmethyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylethyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylbutyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylpropyl, hydroxymethyl, hydroxyethyl, hydroxypropyl, hydroxybutyl, phenyl;


R9 and R10 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylaminoC1-6alkyl, aminoC1-6alkyl, C3-8cycloalkyl, C1-6alkoxycarbonylC1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, and C6-12aryl; preferably R10 is hydrogen or C1-6alkyl, and R9 is selected from the group consisting of H, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylaminoC1-6alkyl, aminoC1-6alkyl, C3-8cycloalkyl, C1-6alkoxycarbonylC1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, C6-12aryl; preferably R9 and R10 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-6alkyl, C1-4alkylaminoC1-6alkyl, aminoC1-6alkyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylC1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-4alkyl, phenyl, naphthalenyl; preferably R10 is hydrogen or C1-4alkyl, and R9 is selected from the group consisting of H, C1-4alkyl, C1-4alkylaminoC1-4alkyl, aminoC1-4alkyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylC1-4alkyl, hydroxyC1-4alkyl, phenyl; preferably R10 is hydrogen, and R9 is selected from the group consisting of H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, C1-4alkylaminoC1-4alkyl, aminoC1-4alkyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylC1-4alkyl, hydroxymethyl, hydroxyethyl, hydroxypropyl, hydroxybutyl, phenyl; preferably R10 is hydrogen, and R9 is selected from the group consisting of H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, C1-4alkylaminomethyl, C1-4alkylaminoethyl, C1-4alkylaminopropyl, C1-4alkylaminobutyl, aminomethyl, aminoethyl, aminopropyl, aminobutyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylmethyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylethyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylbutyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylpropyl, hydroxymethyl, hydroxyethyl, hydroxypropyl, hydroxybutyl, phenyl; preferably R10 is hydrogen, and R9 is selected from the group consisting of H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, C1-4alkylaminomethyl, C1-4alkylaminoethyl, C1-4alkylaminopropyl, C1-4alkylaminobutyl, aminomethyl, aminoethyl, aminopropyl, aminobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylmethyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylethyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylbutyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylpropyl, hydroxymethyl, hydroxyethyl, hydroxypropyl, hydroxybutyl, phenyl;


R11 and R12 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylaminoC1-6alkyl, aminoC1-6alkyl, C3-8cycloalkyl, C1-6alkoxycarbonylC1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, and C6-12aryl; preferably R13 is hydrogen or C1-6alkyl, and R11 is selected from the group consisting of H, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylaminoC1-6alkyl, aminoC1-6alkyl, C3-8cycloalkyl, C1-6alkoxycarbonylC1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, C6-12aryl; preferably R11 and R12 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-6alkyl, C1-4alkylaminoC1-6alkyl, aminoC1-6alkyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylC1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-4alkyl, phenyl, naphthalenyl; preferably R12 is hydrogen or C1-4alkyl, and R11 is selected from the group consisting of H, C1-4alkyl, C1-4alkylaminoC1-4alkyl, aminoC1-4alkyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylC1-4alkyl, hydroxyC1-4alkyl, phenyl; preferably R12 is hydrogen, and R11 is selected from the group consisting of H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, C1-4alkylaminoC1-4alkyl, aminoC1-4alkyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylC1-4alkyl, hydroxymethyl, hydroxyethyl, hydroxypropyl, hydroxybutyl, phenyl; preferably R12 is hydrogen, and R11 is selected from the group consisting of H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, C1-4alkylaminomethyl, C1-4alkylaminoethyl, C1-4alkylaminopropyl, C1-4alkylaminobutyl, aminomethyl, aminoethyl, aminopropyl, aminobutyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylmethyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylethyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylbutyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylpropyl, hydroxymethyl, hydroxyethyl, hydroxypropyl, hydroxybutyl, phenyl; preferably R12 is hydrogen, and R11 is selected from the group consisting of H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, C1-4alkylaminomethyl, C1-4alkylaminoethyl, C1-4alkylaminopropyl, C1-4alkylaminobutyl, aminomethyl, aminoethyl, aminopropyl, aminobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylmethyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylethyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylbutyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylpropyl, hydroxymethyl, hydroxyethyl, hydroxypropyl, hydroxybutyl, phenyl;


R13 and R14 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylaminoC1-6alkyl, aminoC1-6alkyl, C3-8cycloalkyl, C1-6alkoxycarbonylC1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, and C6-12aryl; preferably R14 is hydrogen or C1-6alkyl, and R13 is selected from the group consisting of H, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylaminoC1-6alkyl, aminoC1-6alkyl, C3-8cycloalkyl, C1-6alkoxycarbonylC1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, C6-12aryl; preferably R13 and R14 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-6alkyl, C1-4alkylaminoC1-6alkyl, aminoC1-6alkyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylC1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-4alkyl, phenyl, naphthalenyl; preferably R14 is hydrogen or C1-4alkyl, and R13 is selected from the group consisting of H, C1-4alkyl, C1-4alkylaminoC1-4alkyl, aminoC1-4alkyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylC1-4alkyl, hydroxyC1-4alkyl, and phenyl; preferably R14 is hydrogen, and R13 is selected from the group consisting of H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, C1-4alkylaminoC1-4alkyl, aminoC1-4alkyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylC1-4alkyl, hydroxymethyl, hydroxyethyl, hydroxypropyl, hydroxybutyl, phenyl; preferably R14 is hydrogen, and R13 is selected from the group consisting of H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, C1-4alkylaminomethyl, C1-4alkylaminoethyl, C1-4alkylaminopropyl, C1-4alkylaminobutyl, aminomethyl, aminoethyl, aminopropyl, aminobutyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylmethyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylethyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylbutyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylpropyl, hydroxymethyl, hydroxyethyl, hydroxypropyl, hydroxybutyl, phenyl; preferably R14 is hydrogen, and R13 is selected from the group consisting of H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, C1-4alkylaminomethyl, C1-4alkylaminoethyl, C1-4alkylaminopropyl, C1-4alkylaminobutyl, aminomethyl, aminoethyl, aminopropyl, aminobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylmethyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylethyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylbutyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylpropyl, hydroxymethyl, hydroxyethyl, hydroxypropyl, hydroxybutyl, phenyl;


R15 and R8 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylaminoC1-6alkyl, aminoC1-6alkyl, C3-8cycloalkyl, C1-6alkoxycarbonylC1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, and C6-12aryl; preferably R16 is hydrogen or C1-6alkyl, and R15 is selected from the group consisting of H, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylaminoC1-6alkyl, aminoC1-6alkyl, C3-8cycloalkyl, C1-6alkoxycarbonylC1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, C6-12aryl; preferably R15 and R16 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-6alkyl, C1-4alkylaminoC1-6alkyl, aminoC1-6alkyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylC1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-4alkyl, phenyl, naphthalenyl; preferably R16 is hydrogen or C1-4alkyl, and R15 is selected from the group consisting of H, C1-4alkyl, C1-4alkylaminoC1-4alkyl, aminoC1-4alkyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylC1-4alkyl, hydroxyC1-4alkyl, phenyl; preferably R16 is hydrogen, and R15 is selected from the group consisting of H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, C1-4alkylaminoC1-4alkyl, aminoC1-4alkyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylC1-4alkyl, hydroxymethyl, hydroxyethyl, hydroxypropyl, hydroxybutyl, phenyl; preferably R16 is hydrogen, and R15 is selected from the group consisting of H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, C1-4alkylaminomethyl, C1-4alkylaminoethyl, C1-4alkylaminopropyl, C1-4alkylaminobutyl, aminomethyl, aminoethyl, aminopropyl, aminobutyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylmethyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylethyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylbutyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylpropyl, hydroxymethyl, hydroxyethyl, hydroxypropyl, hydroxybutyl, phenyl; preferably R16 is hydrogen, and R15 is selected from the group consisting of H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, C1-4alkylaminomethyl, C1-4alkylaminoethyl, C1-4alkylaminopropyl, C1-4alkylaminobutyl, aminomethyl, aminoethyl, aminopropyl, aminobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylmethyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylethyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylbutyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylpropyl, hydroxymethyl, hydroxyethyl, hydroxypropyl, hydroxybutyl, phenyl;


R17 and R18 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylaminoC1-6alkyl, aminoC1-6alkyl, C3-8cycloalkyl, C1-6alkoxycarbonylC1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, and C6-12aryl; preferably R13 is hydrogen or C1-6alkyl, and R17 is selected from the group consisting of H, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylaminoC1-6alkyl, aminoC1-6alkyl, C3-8cycloalkyl, C1-6alkoxycarbonylC1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, C6-12aryl; preferably R17 and R18 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-6alkyl, C1-4alkylaminoC1-6alkyl, aminoC1-6alkyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylC1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-4alkyl, phenyl, naphthalenyl; preferably R18 is hydrogen or C1-4alkyl, and R17 is selected from the group consisting of H, C1-4alkyl, C1-4alkylaminoC1-4alkyl, aminoC1-4alkyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylC1-4alkyl, hydroxyC1-4alkyl, phenyl; preferably R18 is hydrogen, and R17 is selected from the group consisting of H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, C1-4alkylaminoC1-4alkyl, aminoC1-4alkyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylC1-4alkyl, hydroxymethyl, hydroxyethyl, hydroxypropyl, hydroxybutyl, phenyl; preferably R18 is hydrogen, and R17 is selected from the group consisting of H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, C1-4alkylaminomethyl, C1-4alkylaminoethyl, C1-4alkylaminopropyl, C1-4alkylaminobutyl, aminomethyl, aminoethyl, aminopropyl, aminobutyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylmethyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylethyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylbutyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylpropyl, hydroxymethyl, hydroxyethyl, hydroxypropyl, hydroxybutyl, phenyl; preferably R18 is hydrogen, and R17 is selected from the group consisting of H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, C1-4alkylaminomethyl, C1-4alkylaminoethyl, C1-4alkylaminopropyl, C1-4alkylaminobutyl, aminomethyl, aminoethyl, aminopropyl, aminobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylmethyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylethyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylbutyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylpropyl, hydroxymethyl, hydroxyethyl, hydroxypropyl, hydroxybutyl, phenyl;


M is selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Cs, Rb; preferably M is selected from Li, Na or K, preferably M is selected from Na or K, preferably M is Na.


One embodiment of the invention is a compound of formula (I), wherein R2 is hydrogen, and R1, R3, R4, R5, R6 have the meaning as defined above.


One embodiment of the invention is a compound of formula (I), wherein R3 is hydrogen and R1, R2, R5 and R6 have the meaning as defined above.


One embodiment of the invention is a compound of formula (I), wherein R2 and R3 are each independently hydrogen and R1, R4, R5 and R6 have the meaning as defined above.


One embodiment of the invention is a compound of formula (I), wherein R2, R3 and R4 are each independently hydrogen and R1, R5 and R6 have the meaning as defined above.


One embodiment of the invention is a compound of formula (I), wherein R1 and R6 are the same.


One embodiment of the invention is a compound of formula (I), wherein R2 and R3 are the same.


Another embodiment of the invention is a compound having the structural formula (II)







wherein R1 and R6 have the meaning defined above.


According to one aspect of the invention is the compound having the structural formula (II), wherein


R1 is selected from a group consisting of —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR7R8, —SO2—C1-6alkyl, —SO2—C6-12aryl, —SO2O—C1-6alkyl, and —SO2O—C6-12aryl;


preferably R1 is selected from —SO2NR7R8, —SO2-phenyl, or —SO2O-phenyl;


preferably R1 is selected from —SO2H, —SO2—C1-6alkyl, or —SO2O—C1-4alkyl;


preferably R1 is —SO2NR7R8;


preferably R1 is selected from —SO3H, —SO2NHphenyl, —SO2NH2, —SO2NHC4-6cycloalkyl, —SO2NHC1-6alkyleneN(C1-6alkyl)2, —SO2NHC1-6alkyleneNH2, —SO2NHC1-6alkylene-C(═O)O—C1-6alkyl, or —SO2NHC1-6alkylene-OH;


preferably R1 is selected from —SO2NHphenyl, —SO2NH2, —SO2NHcyclohexyl, —SO2NHC3alkyleneN(methyl)2, —SO2NHethyleneNH2, —SO2NHmethylene-C(═O)O—C1-6alkyl, or —SO2NHmethylene-OH;


preferably R1 is —SO3H;


R6 is selected from the group consisting of —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR17R18, —SO2—C1-6alkyl, —SO2—C6-12aryl, —SO2O—C1-6alkyl, and —SO2O—C6-12aryl, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are hydrogen atoms,


preferably R6 is selected from the group consisting of —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR17R18, —SO2H, —SO2—C1-6alkyl, —SO2-phenyl, —SO2O—C1-4alkyl, —SO2O-phenyl, C1-6alkyl, C6-12aryl, SH, OH, —NH2, halogen, carboxyl, aminocarbonyl, C1-6alkylaminocarbonyl, and C6-12arylaminocarbonyl;


preferably R6 is selected from —SO2NR17R18, —SO2-phenyl, or —SO2O-phenyl;


preferably R6 is selected from —SO2H, —SO2—C1-6alkyl, or —SO2O—C1-4alkyl;


preferably R6 is —SO2NR17R18;


preferably R6 is selected from —SO3H, —SO2NHphenyl, —SO2NH2, —SO2NHC4-6cycloalkyl, —SO2NHC1-6alkyleneN(C1-6alkyl)2, —SO2NHC1-6alkyleneNH2, —SO2NHC1-6alkylene-C(═O)O—C1-6alkyl, or —SO2NHC1-6alkylene-OH; preferably R6 is selected from —SO2NHphenyl, —SO2NH2, —SO2NHcyclohexyl, —SO2NHC3alkyleneN(methyl)2, —SO2NHethyleneNH2, —SO2NHmethylene-C(═O)O—C1-6alkyl, or —SO2NHmethylene-OH; preferably R3 is —SO3H; and


R17 and R18 have the meaning as defined above.


One embodiment of the invention is a compound of formula (II), wherein R1 and R6 are the same.


In a preferred embodiment, the present invention encompasses compounds of formula (I) wherein R1 is —SO2NR7R8; R6 is —SO2NR17R18,


R7 and R8 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylaminoC1-6alkyl, aminoC1-6alkyl, C3-6cycloalkyl, C1-6alkoxycarbonylC1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, and C6-10aryl;


R17 and R18 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylaminoC1-6alkyl, aminoC1-6alkyl, C3-6cycloalkyl, C1-6alkoxycarbonylC1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, and C6-10aryl; and


R2, R3, R4 and R5 are each independently hydrogen.


In a preferred embodiment, the present invention encompasses compounds of formula (I) wherein R1 is —SO2NR7R8; R6 is —SO2NR17R18,


R7 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylaminoC1-6alkyl, aminoC1-6alkyl, C3-6cycloalkyl, C1-6alkoxycarbonylC1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, and C6-10aryl;


R8 is hydrogen,


R17 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylaminoC1-6alkyl, aminoC1-6alkyl, C3-6cycloalkyl, C1-6alkoxycarbonylC1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, and C6-10aryl;


R18 is hydrogen, and R2, R3, R4 and R5 are each independently hydrogen.


In a preferred embodiment, the present invention encompasses compounds of formula (I) wherein R1 is —SO2NR7R8; R6 is —SO2NR17R18,


R7 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-5alkyl, C1-5alkylaminoC1-5alkyl, aminoC1-5alkyl, C3-6cycloalkyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylC1-4alkyl, hydroxyC1-4alkyl, and phenyl;


R8 is hydrogen,


R17 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-5alkyl, C1-5alkylaminoC1-5alkyl, aminoC1-5alkyl, C3-6cycloalkyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonylC1-4alkyl, hydroxyC1-4alkyl, and phenyl;


R18 is hydrogen, and R2, R3, R4 and R5 are each independently hydrogen.


Another embodiment of the invention is a compound having the structural formula (III)







wherein R5 has the same meaning as defined above.


One aspect of the invention is the compound having the structural formula (III), wherein


R5 is selected from a group consisting of —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR15R16, —SO2—C1-6alkyl, —SO2—C6-12aryl, —SO2O—C1-6alkyl, and —SO2O—C6-12aryl, preferably —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR15R16, —SO2H, —SO2—C1-6alkyl, —SO2-phenyl, —SO2O—C1-4alkyl, —SO2O-phenyl, C1-6alkyl, C6-12aryl, SH, OH, —NH2, halogen, carboxyl, aminocarbonyl, C1-6alkylaminocarbonyl, C6-12arylaminocarbonyl; preferably R5 is selected from —SO2NR15R16, —SO2-phenyl, —SO2O-phenyl; preferably R5 is selected from —SO2H, —SO2—C1-6alkyl, —SO2O—C1-4alkyl; preferably R5 is selected from —SO2NR15R16; preferably R5 is selected from —SO3H, —SO2NHphenyl, —SO2NH2, —SO2NHC4-6cycloalkyl, —SO2NHC1-6alkyleneN(C1-6alkyl)2, —SO2NHC1-6alkyleneNH2, —SO2NHC1-6alkylene-C(═O)O—C1-6alkyl, —SO2NHC1-6alkylene-OH;


preferably R5 is selected from —SO2NHphenyl, —SO2NH2, —SO2NHcyclohexyl, —SO2NHC3alkyleneN(methyl)2, —SO2NHethyleneNH2, —SO2NHmethylene-C(═O)O—C1-6alkyl, or —SO2NHmethylene-OH; preferably R5 is —SO3H, and


R15 and R16 have the meaning as defined above.


The compounds of formula (I), (II) and (III) may be prepared according to a method of the invention using the enzyme laccase as an oxidant catalyst for the regioselective dimerization of an aromatic precursor. Preferably, the aromatic precursor is a substituted 3-Hydroxy-2-amino-benzene or a substituted 4-Hydroxy-3-amino-benzene compound. Most preferably, the aromatic precursor has the formula (IV):







where R19 is the same as R2 or R3 as defined above, R20 is the same as R4 as defined above, R21 is the same as R5 as defined above, and R22 is the same as R1 or R6 as defined above.


In an embodiment, the catalytic reaction oxidatively dimerises the aromatic precursor (IV) to form compounds of the invention having formula (I), as shown in Scheme 1.







The product may be readily purified from the reaction using the methods described herein.


One aspect of the invention is a method described herein, wherein R22 is the same as R1 or R6 as defined above, and R19, R20, and R21 are hydrogen atoms. Another aspect of the invention is a method described herein, wherein R22 is —SO3H, and R19, R20, and R21 are hydrogen atoms. Another aspect of the invention is a method described herein, wherein the compound of formula (IV) is any of compounds 3 to 7 listed in Table 1. Another aspect of the invention is a method described herein, wherein R21 is the same as R5 as above, and R19, R20, and R22 are hydrogen atoms. One aspect of the invention is a method described herein, wherein R21 is —SO3H, and R19, R20, and R22 are hydrogen atoms.


A laccase enzyme as used by the present invention refers to an enzyme belonging to the lacasse class (EC 1.10.3.2). There are benzenediol:oxygen oxidoreductases that oxidise a wide variety of organic compounds, causing O- and N-demethylation reactions, carbon-carbon bond cleavage or polymerizations (Giurg, et al. 2007. Synthetic Communications 37:1779-1789). These biocatalysts require molecular oxygen as the electron acceptor therefore producing water (Shaw, S. D., and H. S. Freeman. 2004. Textile Research Journal 74:215-222). This co-substrate is easily renewed in the reaction medium by running the experiment in aerated and agitated vessels. This represents an advantage for industrial applications. Moreover, laccases can be cheaply available as they may be secreted by some fungi in high level upon induction. According to one aspect of the invention, the laccase enzyme is that produced by a white rot fungus.


One embodiment of the present invention is a method for the preparation of a compound of formula (I) comprising the step of incubating a laccase enzyme with an aromatic precursor having the formula (IV), which enzyme catalyses a regioselective dimerization of the aromatic precursor, thereby producing a compound of formula (I).


In a preferred embodiment of the invention, formation of the compounds of formula (I) by biocatalysis proceeds in an aqueous medium comprising water (e.g. ultrapure, deionised water) and an aqueous buffer such as phosphate buffer or ammonium buffer. The medium may alternatively comprise water, being adjusted to a suitable pH by the addition of strong acid and base such as hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide. The reaction medium may further comprise an alcohol (e.g. C1-4 alcohol, such as ethanol, methanol, propanol, butanol) at a concentration (v/v) of 0.25%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10%, or a value in the range between any two of the aforementioned values, preferably between 1% and 10%. The medium contains the appropriate substrate (e.g. compound IV), at a concentration equal to or less than 1 g·L−1, 2 g·L−1, 3 g·L−1, 4 g·L−1, 5 g·L−1, 6 g·L−1, 7 g·L−1, 8 g·L−1, 9 g·L−1, 10 g·L−1, 10 g·L−1, 11 g·L−1, 12 g·L−1, 13 g·L−1, 14 g·L−1, 15 g·L−1, 16 g·L−1, 17 g·L−1, 18 g·L−1, 19 g·L−1, or 20 g·L−1, or a value in the range between any two of the aforementioned values, preferably between 1 and 10 g·L−1.


The medium also comprises a quantity of laccase either in solution or immobilized on a suitable support such as perlite, glass beads, so that the resulting activity of the enzyme in the solution is equal to or greater than 1, 10, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100, 1150, 1200, 1250, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, or 2000 U·L−1 or a value in the range between any two of the aforementioned values, preferably between 1 and 1000 U·L−1.


The reaction is preferably performed aerobically using common glassware (e.g. beaker or flask) agitated by magnetic stirrer, or by agitation in shaking flasks or using a fermentor, if appropriate with the introduction of air or oxygen.


The enzymatic reaction may be carried at a temperature ranging from about 18° to 35° C., preferably at about 25° to 30° C. The reaction is carried out in a pH range from 2 to 8, preferably between 5 and 6. Under these conditions, the reaction medium in general shows a noticeable to complete accumulation of the desired compound after 5 to 24 hours.


Another embodiment of the present invention is a method for the preparation of a compound of formula (I) comprising the step of incubating a microorganism containing a gene for laccase enzyme expression with an aromatic precursor having the formula (IV), which enzyme catalyses a regioselective dimerization of the aromatic precursor, thereby producing a compound of formula (I).


Thus, instead of employing a purified laccase enzyme, cells which express and optionally secrete laccase may be utilised in fermentation conditions to convert the substrate. Suitable cells include bacterial cells transformed with a plasmid construct encoding the laccase gene provided with a suitable promotor, which construct is obtained using methods well known in the art, for instance, as described in “Molecular Cloning—A Laboratory Manual” (Maniatis, Sambrook, Fritsch, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press; 2nd edition). Suitable cells that natively express laccase include fungal (mycelium) cells, such as those from the dry rot fungus, particularly from Cerrena unicolor. The skilled person would be able to utilise practices well known in the art to prepare and purify products of the invention from the fermentation medium. As an example, Cerrena unicolor may be used to inoculate a medium containing between 20 and 30 g·L−1 potato dextrose broth. The medium is grown at a temperature between 20 and 30 deg C., which medium contains the substrate. The product—a compound of the invention—is continually formed in the medium, and can be extracted from the regions surrounding the mycelium. By continually replenishing the medium and substrate, and continually extracting product-containing medium, a continuous flow synthesis is achieved.


The course of the reaction can be monitored with the aid of the pH measurement of the medium, the aid of HPLC method or by thin layer chromatography. The compounds of interest which can be prepared by biotransformation are isolated from the medium of reaction by known methods, taking into account the chemical, physical and biological properties of the products.


The skilled person will appreciate that reaction products and unreacted reagents may be detected by thin layer chromatography on silica gel with polar solvent mixture, for example n-butanol/acetic acid/water as the mobile phase. Alternatively the detection can be carried out by known liquid chromatographic methods (e.g. HPLC).


The compound can be further purified by appropriate filtration through a plug of reversed phase silica gel with water as the mobile phase up to a purity of about 90%. Further purification can be accomplished by known methods, for example, using semi-preparative HPLC.


The present invention also concerns a use of a compound of the invention as a dye. The dye is convenient to dye textile, leather wherein said material is a fabric, yarn, fiber, garment or film made of a material selected from the group consisting of fur, hide, leather, silk, wool, cationic polysaccharide, synthetic polyamide. The dye is also useful for dying hair.


The dye according to the invention particularly provides an even colouration on acetate, cotton, nylon, PES, acrylic and wool keratin, fibres with favorable dyeing properties such as good fastness to light, washing, rubbing and perspiration.


The dyes of the formula (I), (II) or (III) according to the invention are preferably present in the colourants in a total amount of from 0.01 to 10 percent by weight, in particular 0.1 to 8 percent by weight.


To produce special colour shades, besides the dyes of the formula (I), (II) or (III) according to the invention, it is possible to add to the agents according to the invention one or more additional customary direct dye from the group consisting of acidic dyes, basic dyes, nitro dyes, azo dyes, anthraquinone dyes and triphenylmethane dyes. In addition, the colourants according to the invention can also comprise naturally occurring dyes, such as, for example, henna red, henna neutral, henna black, camomile, sandalwood, black tea, buckthorn bark, sage, logwood, madder root, catechu, sedre and alkanna root, particularly useful for the formulation of hair dyes.


The abovementioned additional direct dyes and naturally occurring dyes may be present in a total amount of from about 0.01 to 5 percent by weight, the total content of dyes in the colourant according to the invention being preferably from about 0.01 to 10 percent by weight, in particular 0.1 to 5 percent by weight.


EXAMPLES

The invention is illustrated by way of the following non-limiting experimental examples.


A) Preparation of Aromatic Precursors Having Formula (IV)

3-Hydroxy-orthanilic acid (3-HOA) was prepared according to Bruyneel et al. (Bruyneel et al., Eur. J. Org. Chem. 2008, 72-79). Compounds of formula (IV) can be prepared as illustrated in scheme 2. The derived sulfonamides could be obtained from 2-t-butylbenzoxazole-4-sulfonic acid (1), an intermediate compound of the 3-HOA synthesis. This compound was transformed into the corresponding sulfonyl chloride (2) (PCl5—OPCl3, CH2Cl2, 40° C., 2 h) which reacted with ammonia and R-substituted amines to furnish sulfonamides (formula V), unsubstituted and N-substituted respectively (NH4OH excess or RNH2 10% water, 20° C., 17 h). The so-obtained 2-t-butylbenzoxazole-4-sulfonamides (formula V) were hydrolyzed (HCl 6N, 90° C., 17 h) into 3-hydroxy-2-amino-benzene sulfonamides (formula VI).







The structural formulas of the precursor of formula VI prepared are listed in Table 1.









TABLE 1







Structural formulas of compounds 3 to 9 synthesised according


to a method of example A.









(VI)


















R23
Precursors and corresponding compound number





H










Phenyl










C6H11










(CH2)3—N(CH3)2










CH2—CH2—NH2










CH2—CO2CH3










(CH2)3—OH














Each precursor (compound 3 to 9) was characterised by standard spectroscopic techniques including IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, Mass, UV.


B) Catalysed Oxidative Coupling

3-Hydroxy-2-amino-benzene sulfonamide compounds 3 to 9 as indicated in Table 1 were submitted to the laccase processing under reaction conditions as follows. A solution of laccase (200 UL−1) and at least one precursor (5.29 mmol) in a final volume of 100 mL of water adjusted at pH 6 with HCl and NaOH, was prepared. The stirred mixture was kept 24 h at 25° C. The reaction was stopped by decreasing the pH with MSA (pH˜2). The crude mixture was freeze dried to give a powder. Part of this powder was purified by chromatography on reversed phase (water as eluant) to yield an almost pure fraction of compound. Part of this fraction was submitted to preparative HPLC to yield pure title compound. Yield of about 70% was obtained after freeze drying, The yield determined by HPLC. The products obtained (compounds 10 to 16 as indicated in Table 2 below) were isolated by HPLC and characterized by the usual spectroscopic techniques (IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, Mass, UV).









TABLE 2







List of precursors (3 to 9) and corresponding products (10 to 16)


prepared according to methods according to embodiments of the


present invention.








Precursor
Product structure and compound number


















































































































C) Preparation of compound 17, 2-Amino-3oxo-3H-phenoxazine-1,9-disulfonic acid






A particular compound of the invention, compound 17, an instance of a compound of structural formula (II), was prepared by dimerisation of the aromatic precursor that is 2-amino-3-hydroxybenzenesulfonic acid as follows. A solution of laccase (200 U L−1) and 2-amino-3-hydroxybenzenesulfonic acid (5.29 mmol; 1.02 g) in a final volume of 100 mL of water adjusted at pH 6 with HCl and NaOH was prepared. The stirred mixture was kept 24 h at 25° C. The reaction was stopped by decreasing the pH with MSA (pH˜2). The crude mixture was freeze dried to give a red powder (1 g). Part of this powder (400 mg) was purified by chromatography on reversed phase (water as eluant) to yield an almost pure fraction of compound 17 (270 mg).


Part of this fraction (70 mg) was submitted to preparative HPLC to yield pure title compound as a deep red solid (30 mg). Yield of about 70% after freeze drying as determined by HPLC. The product was characterised as follows:



1H NMR 500 MHz (DMSO) δ=9.81 (bs, 1H, NH), 9.45 (bs, 1H, NH), 7.74 (d, JH,H=7.5 Hz, 1H, Ar—H), 7.58 (d, JH,H=6.9 Hz, 1H, Ar—H), 7.5 (dd, JH,H=7.5 Hz & 6.9 Hz, 1H, Ar—H) 6.65 (s, 1H) ppm.



13C NMR 75 MHz (DMSO) δ=176.3, 153.7, 150.1, 141.6, 139, 136.8, 127, 123.8, 123.2, 118.3, 117, 105 ppm.


MW: C12H8N2O8S2, 372, 3305 g/mol. HRMS-ESI negative mode: m/z calcld 370.9644 for C12H7N2O8S2. found: 370.9641. ESI-MS: (m/z) (%)=371.16 [M-H) (100); 393.1 [M-H+Na] (40); 291.2 (20).


M.p.>300° C.


IR (KBr): υ=3433, 2364, 1635, 1593, 1473, 1415, 1218, 1053.


UV: λmax at 435 and 339 nm (0.1 M phosphate buffer, pH 7). 435 nm (ε=13981 L mol−1 cm−1).


UV: λmax at 460 and 330 nm (0.1 M phosphate buffer, pH 2). 460 nm (ε=5426 L mol−1 cm−1).


Compound 17 has an orange-red colour. It has favourable staining properties, especially colour fastness, making it highly suitable for colouring textiles, hair and other articles.


D) Preparation of the compound 18, 2-Amino-3oxo-3H-phenoxazine-8-sulfonic acid using whole cell synthesis






A particular compound of the invention, compound 18, an instance of a compound of structural formula (III), was prepared by dimerisation of the aromatic precursor 3-amino-4-hydroxybenzenesulfonic acid as follows.


Inoculum Preparation and Immobilization of Mycelium:


Cerrena unicolor strain was precultured on Petri dish containing 2% (w/v) malt agar, incubated for 7 days at 24° C.+/−2° C. Four fragments of the mycelia were sampled at the margin of the colonies with a hollow-punch of 5 mm diameter and used to inoculate 100 ml of potato dextrose broth medium (2.4 g) in 250-ml Erlenmeyer flask. Cultures were incubated at a temperature of 24° C.+/−2° C. for 7 days, in stationary conditions. After this time, the whole content of the flasks was homogenized and the mycelium was used for the inoculation (10% v/v) of 500 ml water containing 24 g of potato dextrose broth in 1000-ml Erlenmeyer flask containing 2-3 rings (9 cm diameter and 3.5 cm high) of plastic mesh scourer. The submerged culture was incubated at 24° C.+/−2° C. during the next 5-7 days, in shaking conditions (140 rpm+/−20 rpm).


The Substrate Transformation:

After overgrowing of carrier rings by mycelium (5-7 days), whole growing medium was repeated by addition of 500 ml of water (adjusted at pH 5 from strong NaOH) containing 2 g of 3-amino-4-hydroxybenzenesulfonic acid as the substrate for producing compound 18. Submerged culture was incubated for 48 hours at 24° C.+/−2° C., in shaking conditions (140 rpm+/−20 rpm). After 48 hours, coloured solution containing compound 18 was taken off from above immobilized mycelium, filtered off and, after freeze-drying, brown powder comprising compound 18 was obtained. After taking off the coloured solution from above the immobilized mycelium in the 1000-ml flask, a subsequent amount of water (500 ml, adjusted at pH 5 from strong NaOH) containing 2 g of 3-amino-4-hydroxybenzenesulfonic acid as the substrate for compound 18 was added. After a further 48 hours, coloured solution containing compound 18 was taken off from above the immobilized mycelium, filtered off, and after freeze drying, a brown powder of the compound 18 was obtained. In these sterile conditions it was possible to transform from 4 to 6 subsequent batches of 3-amino-4-hydroxybenzenesulfonic acid as the substrate for producing compound 18. After the 6th batch, 500 ml of water containing 2.4 g of potato dextrose broth (refreshing medium) was added to immobilize the mycelium on the plastic mesh scourer rings for their refreshing and reinforcing. The culture was incubated for a further 48 hours at 24° C.+/−2° C., in shaking conditions (140 rpm+/−20 rpm). After a further 48 hours, whole refreshing of the medium was repeated by addition of 500 ml of water (adjusted at pH 5 from strong NaOH) containing 2 g of 3-amino-4-hydroxybenzenesulfonic acid as the substrate for producing compound 18.


E) Preparation of the compound 18, 2-amino-3-oxo-3H-phenoxazine-8-sulfonic acid using isolated laccase
Determination of Laccase Activity:

Standard laccase activity was determined by oxidation of 2.5 mM ABTS [2′,2-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid); Sigma-Aldrich] into a stable cationic radical ABTS.+ (absorption coefficient, ε=34 220 M−1·cm−1) in tartaric buffer (100 mM) at pH 3. One unit is defined as the amount of enzyme that oxidizes 1 μmol of ABTS per minute. The increase in absorbance at 414 nm was monitored during 1 min with a Carry 50 spectrophotometer at temperature 25° C.


Reaction Media:

18.9 g of 3-amino-4-hydroxybenzenesulfonic acid as the substrate for producing compound 18 was dissolved in 80 ml of 1 mM tartaric acid (adjusted at pH 5 from strong NaOH) and 100 U of laccase is added. The volume of the mixture was made up to 100 ml by addition appropriate amount of 1 mM tartaric acid (adjusted at pH 5 from strong NaOH). The mixture was subsequently shaken for 24 hours (140 rpm+/−20 rpm) at 24° C.+/−2° C. After 24 hours coloured solution containing compound 18 was filtering off and after freeze drying a brown powder of the compound 18 was obtained.


The product was characterised as follows:



1H NMR (DMSO, 400 MHz): δ=7.84 (1H, d, JH-H=1.5 Hz, Ar—H), δ=7.65 (1H, dd, JH-H=8.5 and 1.5 Hz, Ar—H), δ=7.44 (1H, d, JH-H=8.5 Hz, Ar—H), δ=6.81 (2H, bs, NH2), δ=6.38 (1H, s, H-2), δ=6.36 (1H, s, H-5).



13C NMR (DMSO, 100 MHz): δ=180.1 (C═O), 176.4 (C═N), 149.0, 145.6, 143.5, 141.5, 132.4, 126.14, 124.2, 115.1.


MW: C12H8N2O5S, 292.3 g/mol.


ES/MS: (m/z) (%)=291 [M-1]


IR (KBr): υ=3441, 3340, 2349, 1600, 1183, 1098, 103


UV: λmax at 420-436 nm


Compound 18 has an orange colour. It has favourable staining properties, especially colour fastness, making it highly suitable for colouring textiles, hair and other articles.


F) Textile Dyeing (SETAS)

The fastness properties of the dyeings (textile and leather) were measured in accordance with ISO standards mentioned in Table 3. The results shown in Table 3 are the visual assessment described in ISO105-A02: 1993 textiles—test for colour fastness—part A02. On this scale, a rating of 5 means no colour change and a rating of 1 means a high colour change.









TABLE 3





Results of experiments in accordance with ISO standards to measure color


fastness of compounds 17 and 18.







Dyeing properties of compound 17 on polyamide 6 knitted fabric










(2% omf)





Light fastness
>3

ISO 105 B02


Washing fastness


ISO 105 C06: A2S


Colour change
3













Staining
Cellulose
Cotton
Nylon
Polyester
Acrylic
Wool



acetate
4/5
3/4
4/5
4/5
4



4/5










Water fastness


ISO 105 E01


Colour change
3













Staining
Cellulose
Cotton
Nylon
Polyester
Acrylic
Wool



acetate
4/5
3/4
4/5
4/5
4



4/5








Chlorinated water
ISO 105 E03


fastness









Colour change
3








Dyeing properties of compound 18 on polyamide 6 knitted fabric







(1% omf)










Light fastness
3

ISO 105 B02


Washing fastness


ISO 105 C06: A2S


Colour change
4













Staining
Cellulose
Cotton
Nylon
Polyester
Acrylic
Wool



acetate
4/5
4/5
4/5
4/5
4/5



4/5










Water fastness


ISO 105 E01


Colour change
4













Staining
Cellulose
Cotton
Nylon
Polyester
Acrylic
Wool



acetate
4
3
4/5
4/5
2/3



4










Chlorinated water


ISO 105 E03


fastness


Colour change
3/4









G) Toxicity Testing

The toxicity of compounds 17 and 18 were assessed with an in vitro method using the Caco-2 human intestinal cell line and the rainbow trout gonad (RTG-2) fish cell line. Briefly, the cells were seeded in their respective standard cell culture mediums at an appropriate density, and allowed to attach and start proliferation in 96-well microplates in such a way that 20% confluence was reached in 24 hr. Subsequently, the cells were exposed to a series of concentrations of the test compounds, and two blanks, for at least 48 hr until 90% confluence was attained in the blanks. The highest concentration tested being 0.5 g/L. Thereafter, the exposure medium containing the test compounds was decanted and the cells in the microplate wells were gently washed with phosphate buffered saline solution. In order to measure the number of viable cells remaining after the exposure to the test compounds, the cells were exposed to a solution of neutral red in cell culture medium for 3 hr. Viable cells take up the neutral red, while dead cells do not. Finally, the neutral red solution was decanted, the wells were again gently washed and then a solution of 1% acetic acid in 50% ethanol was added to the wells to dissolve the neutral red taken up by the viable cells. The absorbance of each well at 540 nm was measure with an appropriate microplate reader. The amount of neutral red present in each well is an indication of the number of viable cells and when compared to the values for the blanks can be used to calculate a percentage of cell death. An IC50 value, the concentration of the test compounds at which 50% of the cells die, can be determined if at least one of the tested compounds produces more than 50% cell death and at least one produces less; the results concerning compounds 17 and 18 are given in Table 4. If none of the tested concentrations produces more than 50% cell death, than an estimating can be made if at least some effect is noticeable. Comparing IC50 values among test compounds and with known toxicants allows for an assessment of their relative toxicities.









TABLE 4







IC50 values for Compounds 17 and 18










Caco-2 cells
NRTG-2 cells


Compound
IC50 in g/L
IC50 in g/L












17
>0.55
>0.78


18
>0.686









When expressing IC50 values in g/L, in this particular in vitro method a value of less than 0.01 g/L is attained by highly toxic compounds, a value of less than 0.1 g/L by significantly toxic ones and values above 0.1 g/L by compounds with no significant in vivo toxicity. The compounds shown in the table all have IC50 values which are significantly higher than 0.1 g/L and thus can be considered non-toxic.

Claims
  • 1. A compound of structural formula (I), a tautomer, a quaternary form or a salt thereof,
  • 2. The compound according to claim 1, wherein R2 is hydrogen and R1, R3, R4, R5, R6 have the meaning as defined in claim 1.
  • 3. The compound according to claim 1, wherein R3 is hydrogen and R1, R2, R5 and R6 have the meaning as defined in claim 1.
  • 4. The compound according to claim 1, wherein R2 and R3 are each independently hydrogen and R1, R4, R5 and R6 have the meaning as defined in claim 1.
  • 5. The compound according to claim 1 having the structural formula (II)
  • 6. The compound according to claim 5 having structural formula (II), wherein R1 is H, and R6 is has the meaning defined in claim 1.
  • 7. The compound according to claim 5, having structural formula (II) wherein R1 is has the meaning defined in claim 1, and R6 is H.
  • 8. The compound according to claim 5 having structural formula (II), wherein R1 is selected from a group consisting of —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR7R8, —SO2—C1-6alkyl, —SO2—C6-12aryl, —SO2O—C1-6alkyl, and —SO2O—C6-12aryl,R6 is selected from the group consisting of —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR17R18, —SO2—C1-6alkyl, —SO2—C6-12aryl, —SO2O—C1-6alkyl, and —SO2O—C6-12aryl, andR17 and R13 have the meaning as defined in claim 1.
  • 9. The compound according to claim 1 having the structural formula (III)
  • 10. The compound according to claim 9 having the structural formula (III), wherein R5 is selected from a group consisting of —SO3H, —SO3M, —SO2NR15R16, —SO2—C1-6alkyl, —SO2—C6-12aryl, —SO2O—C1-6alkyl, and —SO2O—C6-12aryl, andR15 and R16 have the meaning as defined in claim 1.
  • 11. The compound according to claim 1 that is a compound selected from the group consisting of 2-amino-3-Oxo-3H-phenoxazine-1,9-disulfonic acid diamide, 2-amino-3-oxo-3H-phenoxazine-1,9-disulfonic acid bis-phenylamide, 2-amino-3-oxo-3H-phenoxazine-1,9-disulfonic acid bis-cyclohexylamide, 2-amino-3-oxo-3H-phenoxazine-1,9-disulfonic acid bis-[(3-dimethylamino-propyl)-amide, 2-amino-3-oxo-3H-phenoxazine-1,9-disulfonic acid bis-[(2-amino-ethyl)-amide], 2-amino-[9-(methoxycarbonylmethyl-sulfamoyl)-7-oxo-7H-phenoxazine-1-sulfonylamino]-acetic acid methyl ester, 2-amino-3-oxo-3H-phenoxazine-1,9-disulfonic acid bis-[(3-hydroxypropyl)-amide].
  • 12. A method for the preparation of a compound of formula (I) as defined in claim 1, comprising the step of catalytically dimerising an aromatic precursor having structural formula (IV),
  • 13. Method according to claim 12, wherein the laccase enzyme is in free solution or immobilised on a solid support, or is provided by a micro-organism containing a gene for laccase enzyme expression.
  • 14. Method according to claim 12, wherein the reaction proceeds in an aqueous medium.
  • 15. Method according to claim 12, wherein the medium further comprises an alcohol at a concentration of between 1 and 10% (v/v).
  • 16. Method according to claim 12, wherein the laccase enzyme is present at a concentration that provides an activity of between 1 and 1000 U·L−1.
  • 17. Method according to claim 12, wherein the compound of formula (IV) is present at a concentration of between 1 and 10 g·L−1.
  • 18. Method of dyeing an article comprising the step of contacting said article with a compound according to claim 1.
  • 19. An article dyed using a compound as defined in claim 1.
RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/078,670, filed Jul. 7, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
61078670 Jul 2008 US