A DFT Study of the Conversion of Ptaquiloside, a Bracken Fern Carcinogen, to Pterosin B in Neutral and Acidic Aqueous Medium

The conversion of ptaquiloside (PtQ), a bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum) carcinogen, to pterosin B (PtB), which is involved in the underlying mechanisms of PtQ genotoxicity and carcinogenicity, has been theoretically studied in aqueous neutral (AN) and acid (AA) media, using DFT methods at the PCM(water)-B3LYP/6-31G(d)//B3LYP/6-31G(d) computational level. The β-elimination of glucose in AN and four reactive channels (A-D) defined by as many protonation sites in PtQ were calculated. Activation enthalpy decreases (from 42.0 to 12.6 kcal mol−1) in AA relative to AN suggesting protic catalysis. The most favoured channel A started with protonation of the tertiary O15 hydroxyl of PtQ and SN1 wa…