Trans‐2‐Aminocyclohexanol derivatives as pH‐triggered conformational switches

A series of trans‐2‐aminocyclohexanol derivatives have been explored as powerful conformational pH triggers. On protonation of the amino group, a conformer with equatorial position of ammonio and hydroxy groups becomes predominant because of an intramolecular hydrogen bond and electrostatic interactions. The energy of these interactions was estimated to be above 10 kJ/mol and in some models exceeded 20 kJ/mol (strong enough to twist a ring in tert‐butyl derivatives). As a result of this conformational flip, all other substituents are forced to change their orientation. If the substituents are designed to perform certain geometry‐dependent functions, for example, as cation chelators or as lipid tails, such acid‐induced transition may be used to control the corresponding molecular properties. The pH sensitivity of conformational equilibria was explored by ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), and the titration curves were used for estimation of the pK_a values of protonated compounds that varied from 2.6 to 8.5 (in d₄‐methanol) depending on the structure of amino group. Thus, trans‐2‐aminocyclohexanols can be also used as conformational pH indicators in organic solvents.