Conformational study and electron density analysis of 9-[tetrahydropyran-3-yl]purine derivatives

A conformational analysis was carried out on cis-6-chloro-9-2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2,3,5,6-tetrahydro-4H-pyran-3-yl]purine and several related model compounds at the HF/6-31++G(d,p) and B3LYP/6-311++G(2d,2p) levels, and also using the semiempirical methods AM1 and PM3. The result of this analysis shows that the molecule prefers an axial disposition of the purine ring, with an approximate cis orientation of C4-N9-C1′-H1′ dihedral angle. The stability of this conformation comes mainly from the formation of a C-H?O?H-O intramolecular three-center hydrogen bond. In this structure, the tetrahydropyran oxygen acts as an acceptor, while both H8 of the purine ring and the hydroxylic hydrogen of the hydroxyethyl group act as donors. Also, the equatorial disposition of the hydroxyethyl group in this conformer reduces its repulsions with the purine ring and the tetrahydropyran hydrogens. The quantum theory of atoms in molecules was applied to study the electronic effects produced by the conformational changes, bonding between tetrahydropyran and purine rings, chlorine substitution, and intramolecular hydrogen bonding.