Translations:Cyanocobalamin/18/en
For example, cyanocobalamin can be converted to its analog cobalamins via reduction to B
12s, followed by the addition of the corresponding alkyl halides, acyl halides, alkene or alkyne. Steric hindrance is the major limiting factor in the synthesis of the B
12 coenzyme analogs. For example, no reaction occurs between neopentyl chloride and B
12s, whereas the secondary alkyl halide analogs are too unstable to be isolated. This effect may be due to the strong coordination between benzimidazole and the central cobalt atom, pulling it down into the plane of the corrin ring. The trans effect determines the polarizability of the Co–C bond so formed. However, once the benzimidazole is detached from cobalt by quaternization with methyl iodide, it is replaced by H
2O or hydroxyl ions. Various secondary alkyl halides are then readily attacked by the modified B
12s to give the corresponding stable cobalamin analogs. The products are usually extracted and purified by phenol-methylene chloride extraction or by column chromatography.