Conformational isomerism

About: Conformational isomerism is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 11563 publications have been published within this topic receiving 199312 citations.

Structural and Conformational Dependence of Optical Rotation Angles

Abstract: The ability to compute and to interpret optical rotation angles of chiral molecules is of great value in assigning relative and absolute stereochemistry. The molar rotations for an indoline and an azetidine, as well as for menthol and menthone, were calculated using ab inito methods and compared to the experimental values. In one case the calculated rotation angle allowed the assignment of the absolute configuration of a heterocycle of unknown stereochemistry. The critical importance of Boltzmann averaging of conformers for reliable prediction of the optical rotation angle was established. Comparisons between static-field and time-dependent methods were made pointing to the limits and validity of the methods as electronic resonance is approached. A protocol analogous to population analysis was used to analyze atomic contributions to the rotation angle in specific conformers. The combination of atomic contribution maps and conformational analysis may provide an indirect tool to assist in three-dimensional structure determination.

A Computational Study of [2.2]Cyclophanes

Abstract: A computational study of isomeric [2.2]cyclophanes, namely [2.2]paracyclophane 1, [2.2]metacyclophane 2, and [2.2]metaparacyclophane 3, has been carried out. For 1, geometry optimizations performed by various methods at different basis sets showed that MP2/6-31+G(d,p) and B3PW91/6-31+G(d,p) provide the best results in comparison to the X-ray data. Compound 1 has D(2) symmetry with distorted bridges. A conformational search was performed for [2.2]cyclophanes 2 and 3. Each cyclophane exists in two conformations which have different energies in the case of 3 but are degenerate in the case of 2. Relative energies and strain energies at the bridges follow the same order, indicating that the relief of bridge tension and repulsion between pi clouds are determining factors for the stability of [2.2]cyclophanes. Through a decomposition of strain energy, it can be concluded that both the rings or the bridges can absorb strain, but it depends on the conformer of butane that is considered in the calculation of SE(br). Changes in aromaticity of these compounds were evaluated by NICS and HOMA and were compared with benzene and xylenes dimers as models. Despite distortions from planarity and shortening and lengthening of the C-C bonds relative to the mean, the phenyl rings are aromatic. NICS suggests a concentration of electronic density between the rings as a result of bridging process. Computed MK, NPA, and GAPT charges were compared for the isomeric cyclophanes. The GIAO chemical shifts were calculated and indicate that 1 has a larger diamagnetic anisotropy than the other isomers.

High-level theoretical study of the conformational equilibrium of n-pentane

Abstract: An accurate calculation of the energy differences between stationary points on the torsional potential energy surface of n-pentane is performed using ab initio Hartree–Fock theory, advanced many-body methods such as MP2, MP3, CCSD, and CCSD(T), as well as density functional theory, together with basis sets of increasing size. This study focuses on the four conformers of this compound, namely, the all staggered trans–trans (TT), trans–gauche (TG), gauche–gauche (G+G+), and gauche–gauche (G+G−) structures, belonging to the C2v, C1, C2, and C1 symmetry point groups, respectively. A focal point analysis up to 635 basis functions is carried out to determine when the series of relative energies of the four conformers approach convergence. It is found that relative to the minimum energy TT conformer, the energy differences of the TG, G+G+, and G+G− conformers obtained from ab initio methods are 0.621, 1.065, and 2.917 kcal mol−1, respectively. Converged energy differences obtained with three density functionals, B3PW91, B3LYP, and MPW1K, are found to be considerably higher than those computed ab initio. Mole fractions of the various conformers are evaluated at different temperatures from thermostatistical data accounting for vibrational and rotational entropies, as well as zero-point vibrational energies in the rigid rotor-harmonic oscillator approximation.

Sterically Congested Phosphite Ligands: Synthesis, crystallographic characterization, and observation of unprecedented eight-Bond 31P,31P coupling in the 31P-NMR spectra

Abstract: The synthesis and characterization of 2-{1-{3,5-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-2-{[2,4,8,10-tetrakis(1,1-dimethylethyl)dibenzo[d,f][1,3,2]dioxaphosphepin-6-yl]oxy}phenyl}ethyl}-4,6-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)phenyl diphenyl phosphite (6) is described. In the 31P-NMR spectrum (1H-decoupled) of 6, an unprecedented eight-bond P,P coupling of J = 72.8 Hz is observed. In the X-ray crystal structure of 6, an intramolecular P–P distance of 3.67 A is found, which is within the sum of the van-der-Waals radii of the P-atoms. The observed intramolecular P–P distance suggests that a through-space coupling mechanism is operative. The solid-state conformation of 6 is compared to the conformation obtained by semi-empirical MO geometry optimizations (PM3 method). The calculated geometry suggests that the solid-state structure is near a true energy minimum, but that crystal-packing forces decrease the intramolecular P–P distance in the solid state. In the absence of crystal-packing forces, however, the collisional and vibrational energy available in solution may lead to the population of states with a shortened intramolecular P–P distance in 6. The proximity of the P-atoms in 6 is due to restricted conformational freedom resulting from steric congestion within the molecule. The free energy of activation (ΔG* = 10.2 and 10.8 kcal/mol for unequal populations of exchanging conformers) for ring inversion of the dibenzo[d,f][1,3,2]dioxaphosphepin ring in 6 is determined by variable-temperature 31P-NMR spectroscopy. Semi-empirical MO calculation on model compounds suggest that the structure of the transition state for ring inversion has the two aryl rings and O-atoms in a common plane, with the P-atom lying above this plane.

Conformational Preferences of Neurotransmitters: Ephedrine and Its Diastereoisomer, Pseudoephedrine

Abstract: The conformational preferences of the diastereomeric neurotransmitters (1R2S) ephedrine and (1S2S) pseudoephedrine have been studied in the gas phase, under free jet-expansion conditions, using ultraviolet spectroscopy (both R2PI and LIF) and infrared ion-dip and hole-burning spectroscopy in combination with ab initio calculation. This has led to the identification and assignment of two conformers in ephedrine and four in pseudoephedrine. Assignments have been made by comparing their experimental infrared and LIF spectra with ab initio vibrational frequencies and ultraviolet rotational band contours. The relative stabilities of the conformers are controlled by a delicate balance between intramolecular hydrogen bonding and dispersive interactions between the methyl groups of the side chain, both with each other and with the aromatic ring. The relative conformational stabilities calculated for ephedrine do not agree with the experimental results; two of its low-lying conformers were detected, but a third, l...