Photochemically-Triggered Decarboxylation/Deamination of <i>o</i>-Nitrodimethoxyphenylglycine

Abstract

o -Nitrodimethoxyphenylglycine ( 1 ) decomposes on photolysis at 366 nm to release ammonia and carbon dioxide, via a five-step mechanism (Scheme 1). We have obtained spectroscopic and kinetic data from experiment and calculation which support our mechanism. We have also confirmed that a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor bearing 1 as a photolabile cage releases a tight-binding inhibitor on photolysis at 366 nm.