Theoretical studies of the mechanism of the action of the neurohypophyseal hormones. I. Molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) and molecular electrostatic field (MEF) maps of some vasopressin analogues

Summary Continuing our theoretical studies of the oxytocin and vasopressin analogues, we have analysed the molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) and the norm of the molecular electrostatic field (MEF) of [1--mercaptopropionic acid]-arginine-vasopressin ([Mpa¹]-AVP), [1-(-mercapto-,-cyclopentamethylene)propionic acid]-arginine-vasopressin ([Cpp]-AVP), and [1-thiosalicylic acid]-arginine-vasopressin ([Ths]-AVP) whose low-energy conformations were calculated in our previous work. These compounds are known from experiment to exhibit different biological activity. The scalar fields mentioned determine the energy of interaction with either charged (MEP) or polar (MEF) species, the energy being in the second case either optimal or Boltzmann-averaged over all the possible orientations of the dipole moment versus the electrostatic field. The electrostatic interactions slowly vanish with distance and can therefore be considered to be the factor determining the molecular shape at greater distances, which can help in both predicting the interactions with the receptor at the stage of remote recognition and in finding the preferred directions of solvation by a polar solvent. In the analysis of the fields three techniques have been used: (i) the construction of maps in certain planes; (ii) the construction of maps on spheres centered in the charge center of the molecule under study and of poles chosen according to the main axes of the quadrupole moment; and (iii) the construction of surfaces corresponding to a given value of potential. The results obtained show that the shapes of both MEP and MEF are similar in the case of [Mpa¹]-AVP and [Cpp¹-AVP (biologically active), while some differences emerge when comparing these compounds with [Ths¹]-AVP (inactive). It has also been found that both MEP and MEF depend even more strongly on conformation.     

Novel phenoxyalkylamine derivatives. VII. Synthesis and pharmacological activities of 2-alkoxy-5-[(phenoxyalkylamino)alkyl]benzenesulfonamide derivatives.

To find a novel alpha-blocker with high alpha-blocking selectivity against dopamine D2-receptor affinity, we performed structural modification of the alkylene chains and the substituents on two benzene rings of 2-alkoxy-5-[(phenoxyalkylamino)alkyl]benzenesulfonamide derivatives. The modification of the alkylene chain between the amino moiety in the center of the molecule and the benzene ring (ring A) was found to be the most significant. 5-[2-[[2-(5-Fluoro-2-methoxyphenoxy)ethyl]amino]propyl]-2- methoxybenzenesulfonamide (II-4), which possesses 1-methylethyl as the alkylene chain, exhibited high alpha-blocking selectivity as well as potent alpha-blocking activity.     

Generation and stereoselective transformations of 3-phenylcyclopropene

A convenient and inexpensive approach to the generation of 3-phenylcyclopropenes is described. Reaction of these compounds with a range of dienophiles and dipolarophiles led to the stereoselective formation of [4+2]- and [3+2]-cycloadducts, which were exclusively exo-3-phenyl-cis-1,2-disubstituted cyclopropanes. Efficient trapping of 1-lithio-3-phenylcyclopropene with different electrophiles is also discussed. Ab initio calculations suggest that the lowest energy conformation of 3-phenylcyclopropene has the plane of the benzene ring perpendicular to the cyclopropene π-bond but with a low rotation barrier.     

The Intramolecular Interaction of Thiophene and Furan with Aromatic and Fluoroaromatic Systems in Some [3.3]Meta(heterocyclo)paracyclophanes: A Combined Computational and NMR Spectroscopic Study

Four thiophene‐ and furan‐containing [3.3]meta(heterocyclo)paracyclophanes were designed and synthesized to study the intramolecular interaction between standard heteroaromatic rings and tetra‐H‐ or tetra‐F‐substituted benzenes. A complete conformational analysis, carried out by DFT calculations and variable‐temperature NMR techniques, showed that, despite their structural similarity, these adducts have different conformational preferences and undergo different types of isomerizations depending on the nature of the heterocycle. The thiophene‐derived adducts adopted a parallel stacked arrangement of the aromatic systems in the ground‐state conformations. Their isomerization pathways involved a thiophene ring‐flip process passing through an edge‐to‐face arranged transition state in which the heterocycle is perpendicular to the benzene platform and its sulfur atom points toward the center of that ring. The threshold energy barrier to the ring‐flip process was higher by 10 kJ mol^?1 in the case of the adduct featuring the perfluorinated benzene. This difference was rationalized by assuming that the ground‐state conformations of the H‐ and F‐substituted compounds have different stability. On the contrary, the furan‐derived adducts were shown by calculations and NMR spectroscopy to adopt, in their ground‐state conformations, a perpendicular edge‐to‐face disposition of the rings with the oxygen atom pointing toward the benzene platform. The adoption of this arrangement was confirmed by X‐ray crystallography. In the case of these compounds, the isomerization process involved distortion of the CH₂SCH₂ bridges connecting the aromatic systems and the adoption of transition‐state geometries for which the rings were arranged in a parallel‐stacked orientation. Once again a very nice agreement was observed between the predicted and the experimentally determined geometries and pathways. In the case of the furan‐containing compounds, the threshold barriers were found to be much lower in energy that those observed for the thiophene derivatives. Remarkably, they were virtually independent of the presence of fluorine atoms on the platform benzene ring.     

Synthesis and properties of the first stable germabenzene

The first stable germabenzene (1a) bearing an efficient steric protection group, 2,4,6-tris[bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl]phenyl, was successfully synthesized by the reaction of the corresponding chlorogermane (4) with lithium diisopropylamide in THF. The molecular structure and aromaticity of 1a were discussed on the basis of its NMR, UV-vis, and Raman spectra, X-ray crystallographic analysis, and theoretical calculations. All (1)H and (13)C NMR chemical shifts of the germabenzene ring of 1a were in good agreement with those calculated. UV-vis and Raman spectra of 1a showed patterns similar to those of benzene, suggesting the structural similarity between germabenzene and benzene. X-ray crystallographic analysis of 1a revealed that the germabenzene ring was almost planar, indicating the delocalization of pi-electrons. Theoretical calculations (NICS(1) and ASE(isom)) also indicated the ring current effects and aromatic stabilization of the germabenzene. While germabenzene 1a reacted as a Ge[bond]C double-bond compound (germene) with mesitonitrile oxide and 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene, 1a also reacted as a 1-germabuta-1,3-diene with C[bond]C double- and triple-bond compounds. Furthermore, 1a reacted with water and MeOH to give both 1, 2- and 1, 4-adducts.     

The second triannulenylene: tri-[8]annulenylene

Room-temperature dehydrohalogenation of bromocyclooctatetraene (BrC8H7) with potassium tert-butoxide followed (after a couple of minutes) by alkali metal reduction was used to generate the anion radical of tri-[8]annulenylene [(C8H6*-)3] in HMPA. EPR analysis reveals that the odd electron is primarily located in one of the three eight-membered ring systems, which is rendered planar. Excellent agreement was obtained between spin densities predicted by B3LYP/6-31G* calculations and those observed. The neutral tri-[8]annulenylene system has a propensity toward polymerization, but it can be isolated for NMR and mass spectral analysis via the I2 oxidation of the anion radical. The NMR analysis reveals that two of the eight-membered rings are bent above the plane of the benzene ring and the other is bent below. Tri-[6]annulenylene (triphenylene) is the only other known member of the triannulenylenes.     

12]Annulene radical anions revisited: evaluation of structure assignments based on computed energetic and electron spin resonance data

We report density functional and coupled cluster calculations on numerous monocyclic and bicyclic (CH)12(*-) isomers. At the RCCSD(T)/cc-pVDZ//UB3LYP/6-31+G* level, a nearly planar, bond-equalized radical anion of 1,7-di-trans-[12]annulene (4a(*-)) is lowest in energy; several other isomers and conformations lie within 3 kcal/mol of 4a(*-). RCCSD(T)/AUG-cc-pVDZ//UB3LYP/6-31+G* results place the all-cis isomer 3(*-) slightly below 4a(*-) in energy. Validation studies on the heptalene radical anion, [16]annulene radical anion, and tri-trans-[12]annulene radical anion indicate that electron spin resonance (ESR) hyperfine coupling constants (aH values) computed at the BLYP/EPR-III level on DFT geometries give much better agreement with experimental values than those computed using B3LYP/6-31G*. We were unable to locate any C12H12(*-) isomer that could account for the ESR spectrum previously attributed to a highly twisted structure for the 1,7-di-trans-[12]annulene radical anion. Our computed energetic and ESR data for [12]annulene radical anions and their valence isomers suggest that 4a(*-) may have been made, yet its ESR spectrum was incorrectly assigned to the bicyclic isomer 6b(*-). Finally, the computed (1)H NMR shift values of the dianion of 4 reveal a distinct diatropic ring current that should aid in its characterization.     

Optical activity of lactones and lactams-III : Circular dichroism spectra of 5-oxazolidinones

The synthesis and the chiroptical properties of several 5-oxazolidinones derived from α-amino acids are reported. The existence of an equilibrium between the two enantiomeric envelope conformations of 5-membered ring has been inferred from CD and NMR spectra. In a few cases the small contribution of the planar ring conformation to the equilibrium is proposed. The nature of the lowest energy transition and the usefulness of the Weigang lactone sector rule for Cotton effect sign predictions are discussed on the basis of CNDO/2-CI calculations.     

Adsorption structures of benzene on a Si(5 5 12)-2x1 surface: a combined scanning tunneling microscopy and theoretical study

In the first ever attempt to study the adsorption of organic molecules on high-index Si surfaces, we investigated the adsorption of benzene on Si(5 5 12)-(2x1) by using variable-low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy and density-functional theory (DFT) calculations. Several distinct adsorption structures of the benzene molecule were found. In one structure, the benzene molecule binds to two adatoms between the dimers of D3 and D2 units in a tilted butterfly configuration. This structure is produced by the formation of di-sigma bonds with the substrate and of two C[Double Bond]C double bonds in the benzene molecule. In another structure, the molecule adsorbs on honeycomb chains with a low adsorption energy because of strain effects. Our DFT calculations predict that the adsorption energies of benzene are 1.03-1.20 eV on the adatoms and 0.22 eV on the honeycomb chains.     

Synthesis of thiamacrocycles and conformational studies on their precursors

1-(4-Nitrophenyl)-7-phenylthioheptane (1) and -9-phenylthiononane (2) have been synthesized and their conformations studied in solution and in the solid state. MMX calculations suggest that the global energy minimum structures are bent in the gas phase, probably owing to edge-to-face intramolecular attractive interaction between the electron rich and the electron poor terminal aryl groups. These conformations were confirmed in solution using 2D NOESY NMR. In the solid state, 1 and 2 exist in the staggered, linear conformation, stacked head-to-tail, with the plane of the nitro group being tilted above the plane of the benzene ring. It appears that the crystal lattice forces overcome the weak edge-to-face intramolecular aromatic interactions that dominate in the gas phase and in solution. The corresponding azides were treated with trifluoromethanesulfonic acid to generate the nitrenium ions, which underwent intramolecular ring-closure to give the corresponding 17- and 19-membered ring thiamacrocycles in modest yields. These results support the suggestion that MMX calculations on appropriate model compounds may be useful in predicting which precursors will lead to macrocycles and which will not.     

Theoretical study on electronic structures,spectra, and charge transporting properties of two Pt(II) complexes with triazenido ligands

Russian Journal of General Chemistry - Two compounds 1-[(2-carboxymethyl)benzene]-3-[2-pyridine]triazene (HL) and 1-[(2-carboxymethyl) benzene]-3-[o-aminobenzoic acid]triazene (H2L') and two...     

Diels-Alder addition of some 6-and 5-member ring aromatic compounds on the Si(001)-2×1 surface: dependence of the binding energy on the resonance energy of the aromatic compounds

An energy decomposition scheme is proposed for understanding of the relative low binding energy of the [4+2] cycloaddition of benzene on the Si(001)-2×1 surface. By means of density functional cluster model calculations, this scheme is demonstrated to be applicable to some other 6- and 5-member ring aromatic compounds, giving a trend that the binding energy of the [4+2] cycloaddition products of those aromatic compounds on the Si(001) surface depends strongly on their resonance energy.     

DFT and quantum chemical investigation of molecular properties of substituted pyrrolidinones

The DFT, quantum-chemical calculations and thermodynamics parameters of 1-{2-[(2-hydroxyethyl)thio]ethyl}pyrrolidin-2-one (HTEP); [2-(2-oxo-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-phosphonic acid diethyl ester (EOEP); {[2-(2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl)ethyl]thio}acetic acid (OETA); (2-pyridin-4-yl-ethyl]thio}acetic acid (PTA) and pyridine (PY) have been calculated with Gaussian 94 and Hybrid B3LYP functional density with 6-31G* basis set. Moreover, the electronic properties such as highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO), lowest unoccupied orbital (LUMO) energy and molecular densities have been investigated.     

Substitute Effect on the Structure,Stability of Valence Isomers and Aromaticity of 1‐H‐Boratabenzene

Density functional theory (B3LYP) calculations were performed on the Me and F substituted valence isomeric forms of 1‐H‐boratabenzene. The calculations revealed that the planar benzene analog is the lowest energy isomer. Its aromaticity is analyzed in the light of the nucleus‐independent chemical shift (NICS) and shows that aromaticity increases in F substituted, but decreases in Me substituted. These calculations indicate substitution of BH with BMe and BF doesn't cause significant variation in bond length.     

Spectral,luminescent, and photophysical properties of dipyrrolylbenzenes

Dipyrroles with a phenylene bridge, 1,4-bis(pyrrol-2-yl)benzene, 4-(1-vinylpyrrol-2-yl)-1-(pyrrol-2-yl)benzene, and 1,4-bis(1-vinylpyrrol-2-yl)benzene, show intense room-temperature fluorescence in solutions. Analysis of electronic absorption spectra, fluorescence spectra, and results of B3LYP, TD B3LYP, and CIS quantum chemical calculations showed that the introduction of a bulky substituent in position 1 of the pyrrole ring makes the ground-state structures of dipyrrolylbenzenes less planar. Excited-state geometries of all molecules relax to more planar conformations. An increase in the probability of nonradiative transitions has little effect on the quantum yields of fluorescence (Φ_f) of dipyrrolylbenzenes. Even for 1,4-bis(1-vinylpyrrol-2-yl)benzene, where the pyrrole rings deviate from the benzene ring plane by 44°, the fluorescence efficiency remains high enough (Φ_f = 0.7). Substitution at nitrogen atoms has little effect on positions of fluorescence band maxima. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 7, pp. 1433–1438, July, 2008.     

An efficient approach to azirino and pyrrolo-fused dibenzazepines. Conformations of substituted dibenzo[c,f]pyrrolo[1,2-a]azepines

An effective approach to azepino-fused heterocycles is described. trans-1-Aryl-7,11b-dihydro-1H-azirino[1,2-a]dibenzo[c,f]azepines were synthesised via a domino sequence: isomerization of gem-dichloroaziridine-intramolecular Friedel-Crafts acylation of the tethered benzene ring catalysed by SnCl(4) and subsequent hydride induced intramolecular cyclization. Cycloaddition of dibenzazepinium ylides, generated by heating these aziridines, to activated C[double bond]C, C[triple bond]C dipolarophiles and fullerene C(60), leads to derivatives of dibenzo[c,f]pyrrolo[1,2-a]azepine. The reaction proceeds with complete stereoselectivity via cycloaddition of only W-ylide, which due to the high barrier does not undergo E,Z-isomerization under the reaction conditions. It was found that 2,3,9,13b-tetrahydro-1H-dibenzo[c,f]pyrrolo[1,2-a]azepine systems can exist in conformations of two types depending on the substituents at the pyrrolidine carbons in β-position with respect to nitrogen. Details of cycloaddition reactions and the conformational behavior of cycloadducts were studied by DFT calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level.     

Tricarbonylchromium complexes of [5]- and [6]metacyclophane: an experimental and theoretical study

Tricarbonylchromium complexes of [5]- and [6]metacyclophane were prepared and the interaction between the Cr(CO)₃ tripod and the cyclophane fragment was evaluated by both an experimental and a theoretical study. The tricarbonylchromium complex of [5]metacyclophane could only be obtained in solution and was characterized by its ¹H NMR spectrum. The tricarbonylchromium complex of [6]metacyclophane was isolated and an X-ray crystal structure was obtained, which reveals that no significant geometric changes occur upon coordination of the severely distorted aromatic ring. Computations on the tricarbonylchromium complexes of m-xylene, [5]- and [6]metacyclophane furthermore demonstrate that the corresponding complexation energy is remarkably unaffected by the degree of distortion of the aromatic ring. Theoretical analyses of the above model systems as well as complexes of planar and artificially deformed benzene with Cr(CO)₃ show that this is primarily the result of two counteracting effects: (i) a stabilization due to an increased back-donation from the metal center to the benzene and (ii) a destabilization due to the increasing strain in the aromatic ring.     

Are isolated nucleic acid bases really planar? A Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics study

Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics simulations of the flexibility of isolated DNA bases have been carried out. The comparison of lowest ring out-of-plane vibrations calculated by using MP2/cc-pvdz and BLYP/PW methods reveals that the DFT method with the plane wave basis set reasonably reproduces out-of-plane deformability of the pyrimidine ring in nucleic acid bases and could be used for reliable modeling of conformational flexibility of nucleobases. The conformational phase space of pyrimidine rings in thymine, cytosine, guanine, and adenine has been investigated by using the ab initio Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics method. It is demonstrated that all nucleic acid bases are highly flexible molecules and possess a nonplanar effective conformation of the pyrimidine ring despite the fact that the planar geometry corresponds to a minimum on the potential energy surface. The population of the planar geometry of the pyrimidine ring does not exceed 30%. Among the nonplanar conformations of the pyrimidine rings, the boat-like and half-chair conformations are the most populated.     

Quadruply BN-Fused Tetrathia[8]circulenes with Flexible Frameworks: Synthesis,Structures and Properties

Quadruply BN-fused tetrathia[8]circulenes were synthesized through four-fold electrophilic borylation. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the BN-fused tetrathia[8]circulene with peripheral phenyl groups exhibits crystal polymorphism, in which the circulene core adopts both planar and saddle conformations in the solid state. The experimental and theoretical studies revealed that the weaker aromaticity of azaborine compared with benzene renders the flexibility of the BN-fused tetrathia[8]circulenes.