The following 1-substituted derivatives of Smethylphenazine and 5-ethylphenazine were synthesized: 1-(3-carboxypropyloxy)-5-methylphenazine (lB), l-(3-carboxypropyloxy)-5-ethylphenazine (2B), 1-(3-ethoxycarbonylpropyloxy)-5-ethylphenazine (2C) and l-[N-(2-aminoethyl)carbamoylpropyloxy]-5-~thylphenazine (2D); their spectra, stability and reactivity as electron mediators were investigated, together with those of 5-methylphenazine (1A) and 5-ethylphenazine (2A). The 1-substituted derivatives are all insensitive to light and the derivatives of 5-ethylphenazine are more stable than those of 5-methylphenazine under neutral and alkaline conditions; 2 8 is the most stable of all the derivatives. The spectral properties of the decomposed compounds showed that photodecomposition of 1A and 2A is associated with hydroxylation at position 1, alkali decomposition of 1A and 1 B with elimination of the 5-methyl group and alkali decomposition of 2A, 2B, and 2D with a ring-opening reaction. The second-order rate constant kl for the reaction of the phenazine derivatives with NADH was measured under steady-state conditions. The k l values vary depending on the substituents at positions 1 and 5 :the values for lA, lB, 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D are 1.83 m M -' s-', 3.33 mM-' s-', 0.75 mM-' s-', 1.42 mM-' s-', 1.68 mM-' s -' and 2.03 mM-' s -I , respectively. The rate constants, k, and k3, for the reactions of the reduced form of 2B with oxygen and with 3-(4,5'-dimethyl~hiazole-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium ion, respectively, were k2 = 1.21 mM-' sC1 and k3 = 91 mM-' s-'. These phenazine derivatives have potential applications in the biochemical field. (Fig. 1, 1A) is a unique electron mediator as it can accept electrons from NAD(P)H and is widely used in various redox reactions. However, its application is still limited, mainly because of its instability to light and to alkaline solution. 5-Ethylphenazine (Fig. 1, 2A) has been recommended as a more stable electron mediator in alkaline solutions [l, 21 and light-insensitive derivatives have also been prepared and used in the assay of dehydrogenases [3 -61, but the mechanisms of these instabilities are still unclear.
5-MethylphenazineWe have studied co-enzyme-recycling systems [7 -91 and now we intend to use phenazine derivatives as NAD(P)+ regenerators. For this purpose, it is necessary to prepare stable phenazine derivatives with a functional group suitable for binding them to other molecules, such as water-soluble polymers, solid supports and enzymes. These derivatives are also useful for investigating the mechanisms of the electron-transfer reactions from NAD(P)H. Here, we describe the preparation of new phenazine derivatives carrying a carboxyl group (Fig. I , 1 B and 2B) and an amino group (Fig. 1, 2D) and also their stability and electron-transfer activity. The kinetic constants obtained in this work are necessary for understanding the coupled-reaction system of NAD(P)+ regeneration.