Identification of the 1,2-Propanediol-1-yl Radical as an Intermediate in Adenosylcobalamin-Dependent Diol Dehydratase Reaction^†

The reaction catalyzed by adenosylcobalamin-dependent diol dehydratase proceeds by a radical mechanism. A radical pair consisting of the Co(II) of cob(II)alamin and an organic radical intermediate formed during catalysis gives EPR spectra. The high-field doublet and the low-field broad signals arise from the weak interaction of an organic radical with the low-spin Co(II) of cob(II)alamin. To characterize the organic radical intermediate in the diol dehydratase reaction, several deuterated and ¹³C-labeled 1,2-propanediols were synthesized, and the EPR spectra observed in the catalysis were measured using them as substrate. The EPR spectra with the substrates deuterated on C1 showed significant line width narrowing of the doublet signal. A distinct change in the hyperfine coupling was seen with [1-¹³C]-1,2-propanediol, but not with the [2-¹³C]-counterpart. Thus, the organic radical intermediate observed by EPR spectroscopy was identified as the 1,2-propanediol-1-yl radical, a C1-centered substrate-derived radical.