A new anion receptor utilising aromatic and aliphatic C…H hydrogen bonds

We have synthesised 2, which bound weakly basic halide ions only with C–H…anion hydrogen bonds. Compound 2 utilised one aromatic C–H hydrogen bond and one benzylic C–H hydrogen bond to bind weakly halide ions such as chloride, bromide and iodide in solution. Ab initio calculations of binding energy values for these anions are in good agreement with experimental data. Although the binding affinities of 2 for these anions were low, 2 could be a unique example of host, which utilised only C–H hydrogen bonds to bind anion.     

Calculations on the diphenylmethyl anion

Semiempirical and ab initio calculations for the diphenylmethyl anion and related species are reported. MINDO/3 calculations indicate a coplanar anion with an enlarged bond angle of ～139° to counteract the steric repulsions. MNDO calculations reveal an expanded bond angle with somewhat greater twist (21°). The ab initio calculations (STO -3G level) reveal an expanded central bond angle with an intermediate degree of phenyl twist. The results are compared with experimental data for this and related anions.     

Levcromakalim Revisited: NMR Spectroscopic and Theoretical Investigations

 The conformative behaviour of the potassium channel opener levcromakalim ((−)-cromakalim) was thoroughly investigated applying NMR spectroscopy in different solvents as well as ab initio and DFT calculations. One predominant conformation was found to prevail in solution. Chemical shift values (¹H, ¹³C) obtained by the GIAO method employing high basis sets (B3LYP/6-311++G^**) proved to be sensitive to conformational changes. Those correlating best with the measured data correspond to the structure as determined by 2D NMR spectroscopy.     

Solvatochromism of Heteroaromatic Compounds: X. 2-Phenylpyrrolide Anion

2-Phenylpyrrolide anion was obtained in high-polarity media containing MeONa as an ionizing agent. The bathochromic shift of the long-wave absorption band in going from the neutral to deprotonated form is explained by the difference in the molecular orbital characteristics of the parent molecule and the anion, as well as the by change in the equilibrium conformation on deprotonation. According to ab initio calculations, the conformational rearrangement contributes partly to the observed shift; the greatest contribution is from the destabilization of the highest occupied molecular orbital.     

Interaction of neutral and zwitterionic glycine with Zn2+ in gas phase: ab initio and SIBFA molecular mechanics calculations

The interaction of Zn²⁺ with glycine (Gly) in the gas phase is studied by a combination of ab initio and molecular mechanics techniques. The structures and energetics of the various isomers of the Gly–Zn²⁺ complex are first established via high‐level ab initio calculations. Two low‐energy isomers are characterized: one in which the metal ion interacts with the carboxylate end of zwitterionic glycine, and another in which it chelates the amino nitrogen and the carbonyl oygen of neutral glycine. These calculations lead to the first accurate value of the gas‐phase affinity of glycine for Zn²⁺. Ab initio calculations were also used to evaluate the performance of various implementations of the SIBFA force field. To assess the extent of transferability of the distributed multipoles and polarizabilities used in the SIBFA computations, two approaches are followed. In the first, approach (a), these quantities are extracted from the ab initio Hartree–Fock wave functions of glycine or its zwitterion in its entirety, and for each individual Zn²⁺‐binding conformation. In the second, approach (b), they are assembled from the appropriate constitutive fragments, namely methylamine and formic acid for neutral glycine, and protonated methylamine and formate for the zwitterion; they undergo the appropriate vector or matrix rotation to be assembled in the conformation studied. The values of the Zn²⁺–glycine interaction energies are compared to those resulting from ab initio SCF and MP2 computations using both the all‐electron 6‐311+G(2d,2p) basis set and an effective core potential together with the valence CEP 4‐31G(2d) basis set. Approach (a) values closely reproduce the ab initio ones, both in terms of the total interaction energies and of the individual components. Approach (b) can provide a similar match to ab initio interaction energies as does approach (a), provided that the two constitutive Gly building blocks are considered as separate entities having mutual interactions that are computed simultaneously with those occurring with Zn²⁺. Thus, the supermolecule is treated as a three‐body rather than a two‐body system. These results indicate that the current implementation of the SIBFA force field should be adequate to undertake accurate studies on zinc metallopeptides. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 21: 963–973, 2000     

Ab initio SCF calculations on low-energy conformers of cyclohexaglycine

Results from ab initio self-consistent field (SCF) calculations with a 3-21G and a double-zeta-plus polarization (DZP) basis set on four low-energy conformations of cyclohexaglycine are reported. In agreement with results from semiempirical and molecular mechanics force field calculations, the lowest-energy conformation found at the DZP level is a conformation forming six C₇ turns. However, the energy difference to the β-turn conformers is significantly smaller at the ab initio DZP level than calculated by the other methods. In contrast to the results obtained with some of the other methods, the present ab initio calculations show that both the double-type-I β turn and the double-type-II β-turn conformer of cyclohexaglycine are stable low-energy structures. © 1995 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Conformation of cationic N,N‐di­methyl­glycine in di­methyl­glycinium tri­fluoro­acetate

In the title compound, C₄H₁₀NO₂⁺·C₂F₃O₂^?, the main N—C—COOH skeleton of the protonated amino acid is nearly planar. The C=O/C—N and C=O/O—H bonds are syn and the two methyl groups are gauche to the methyl­ene H atoms. The conformation of the cation in the crystal is compared to that given by ab initio calculations (Hartree–Fock, self‐consistent field molecular‐orbital theory). The tri­fluoro­acetate anion has the typical staggered conformation with usual bond distances and angles. The cation and anion form dimers through a strong O—H?O hydrogen bond which are further interconnected in infinite zigzag chains running parallel to the a axis by N—H?O bonds. Weaker C—H?O interactions involving the methyl groups and the carboxy O atoms of the cation occur between the chains.     

Dual Role of the 1,2,3‐Triazolium Ring as a Hydrogen‐Bond Donor and Anion–π Receptor in Anion‐Recognition Processes

Several bis(triazolium)‐based receptors have been synthesized as chemosensors for anion recognition. The central naphthalene core features two aryltriazolium side‐arms. NMR experiments revealed differences between the binding modes of the two triazolium rings: one triazolium ring acts as a hydrogen‐bond donor, the other as an anion–π receptor. Receptors 9²⁺?2BF₄ ^? (C₆H₅), 11²⁺?2BF₄ ^? (4‐NO₂?C₆H₄), and 13²⁺?2BF^4? (ferrocenyl) bind HP₂O₇^3? anions in a mixed‐binding mode that features a combination of hydrogen‐bonding and anion–π interactions and results in strong binding. On the other hand, receptor 10²⁺?2 BF₄ ^? (4‐CH₃O?C₆H₄) only displays combined Csp₂?H/anion–π interactions between the two arms of the receptors and the bound anion rather than triazolium (CH)⁺???anion hydrogen bonding. All receptors undergo a downfield shift of the triazolium protons, as well as the inner naphthalene protons, in the presence of H₂PO₄^? anions. That suggests that only hydrogen‐bonding interactions exist between the binding site and the bound anion, and involve a combination of cationic (triazolium) and neutral (naphthalene) C?H donor interactions. Theoretical calculations relate the electronic structure of the substituent on the aromatic group with the interaction energies and provide a minimum‐energy conformation for all the complexes that explains their measured properties.     

Ammonium Ion Complexes of Tetraethyl Resorcarene: An Ab Initio Study

The complexation of various ammonium ions with a resorcarene host was evaluated by ab initio calculations. The approximations of the binding locations and the interaction energies for each guest are reported. The supramolecular complex formation also affects the conformation of the resorcarene host.     

Unusual conformational-determining interactions in oxymethylpyridines: An ab initio study and an improved method for refining molecular mechanics parameters

The conformational preferences of oxymethylpyridines have been investigated by ab initio calculations and compared to similar calculations for oxymethylbenzene. The C? O bond in the pyridine compounds was found to prefer eclipsing with a C? C bond in the ring, in agreement with previous observations but in disaccord with tentative MM2 calculations. The effect was most pronounced in the 2-substituted pyridine. The benzene compound, on the other hand, showed good agreement between the energies from MM2, MM3, and ab initio calculations. The conformational preferences are discussed in terms of stereoelectronic interactions. New MM2 and MM3 parameters were determined from ab initio calculations on nonstationary points on the energy hypersurface. The parameterization method is discussed. © 1995 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

The effect of electron correlation on the conformational space of melatonin

The pineal gland hormone melatonin regulates several physiological processes including circadian rhythm and also alleviates oxidative stress‐induced degenerative diseases. In spite of its important biological roles, no high level ab initio conformational study has been conducted to reveal its structural features. In this work, the conformational flexibility of melatonin was investigated using correlated ab initio calculations. Conformers, obtained previously at the Hartree‐Fock level (HF/6‐31G*), were fully optimized using second order Møller‐Plesset perturbation theory applying the frozen core approximation (MP2(FC)/6‐31G*). Furthermore, single‐point MP4(SDQ,FC)/6‐31G*//MP2(FC)/6‐31G* computations were performed to investigate the effect of higher order perturbation terms. The HF and MP2 conformational spaces are considerably different: the initial 128 structures converged into 102 different local minima as confirmed by frequency calculations; 28 new minima appeared and 26 previous HF local minima disappeared; no “all‐trans” C3 side chain conformations are seen at the MP2(FC) level. The MP2 global minimum conformation is stabilized by an aromatic‐side chain interaction. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2008     

Quantum‐chemical approach to the solvatochromic transition in polysilane derivatives

We approached the solvatochromic transition observed in polysilane derivatives (poly[bis(4‐propoxybutyl)silylene] (PPBS)) from the standpoint of various quantum chemical treatments. It was found from conventional geometry optimizations at the levels of semiempirical and ab initio molecular orbital methods that a protonation to polysilane oligomers with side chain R = ? OCH₃ results in the conformational change of Si‐backbone to a trans‐zigzag structure. Using the Elongation method, which was developed for efficient calculations of huge systems, it was demonstrated that a protonation could change the conformation of Si‐backbone to a trans‐zigzag structure over 10–14 Si atoms. In addition, ab initio calculations showed that the positive charge of a proton can delocalize into the Si‐backbone through a long side chain in PPBS. Positively charged polysilane oligomers provide a rotational barrier that prefers a trans‐zigzag structure, whereas neutral oligomers have a barrier that results to a random structure. This unique behavior of the charged polysilane oligomers should not be disregarded in understanding the mechanism of the solvatochromic transition in PPBS. In ab initio configuration interaction/Mφller‐Plesset through‐space/bond interaction analysis, it was found that such a unique behavior of the rotational barrier in polysilane oligomers could be explained by the effect of orbital delocalization through σ‐conjugation on the Si‐backbone. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 119–133, 2006     

Effect of steric hindrance of ketones in the dielectric relaxation of methanol+ketone systems

The reorientation activation energies of five methanol?+?ketone systems were determined from the study of the variation of dielectric permittivity with temperature between 303 to 333?K at X band frequency. The results of the activation parameters are interpreted in terms of the rotation of the molecules about the C–O–H hydrogen bond, using a previously reported conformation obtained from semi-empirical and ab initio calculations as the basic conformer. The ketones studied are acetone, 2 butanone, 3 pentanone, cyclohexanone and acetophenone.     

Bond polarization in the FeCO system: Semiempirical MO–SCF (BMV) calculations

Charge distributions in FeCO for different Fe–C distances and the Fe–C–O angle equal to 180° and 90° have been computed by the BMV method, a semiempirical SCF scheme including overlap and especially suited for transition-metal atoms. A comparison with available EHT and ab initio calculations suggests that the BMV method is a useful complement to ab initio calculations. The information obtained on the dependence of the binding in FeCO on the Fe–C distance is also briefly discussed in connection with the views of experimentalists of the state of CO absorbed on iron.     

Ab initio studies on polymers. VI. Torsional potential in regular polyethylene chains

Ab initio crystal orbital calculations have been performed on regular polyethylene chains applying basis sets of minimal and double-zeta quality. Relative stabilities of periodic all-trans, all-gauche, and alternating trans–gauche conformers have been evaluated, including extensive geometry optimization. Potential curves for a simultaneous rotation around C? C single bonds from the all-trans to the all-gauche conformation have been computed applying the rigid-rotor approximation, the flexible-rotor approximation, and an additional reoptimization of C? C distances. A rigid-rotor potential curve from the all-trans to the alternating trans-gauche conformation has been computed as well. Results obtained are compared with ab initio calculations on butane and pentane and with semiempirical and empirical force-field studies on polyethylene.     

Anion recognition by a family of quinoline-functionalised bis-amide hosts in solid state and in solution

The interaction between a series of bidentate, amide-functionalised 8-oxyquinoline receptors and coordinating anions is investigated. Anion recognition properties and conformations were studied by solid-state structures, Hartree–Fock calculations and solution-phase ¹H NMR investigations. Our findings suggest that the amide-oxyquinoline motif coordinates anions and water with a well-defined, consistent geometry involving multiple hydrogen bonds. Solution studies of the neutral receptors reveal the unprotonated oxyquinoline ring to indirectly contribute to anion binding by the adjacent amide NH groups despite being unable to directly participate through hydrogen bonding.     

Conformational analysis of three pyrophosphate model species: Diphosphate,methyl diphosphate,and triphosphate

Whereas theoretical investigations of the energetic origin of hydrolyzing a pyrophosphate linkage abound, few studies have focused on the energetics of the rotation of this linkage. This less-studied property of the pyrophosphate linkage was investigated here by use of ab initio calculations to characterize the conformational space of three model species of pyrophosphate anions: diphosphate (P₂O), methyl diphosphate (CH₃P₂O), and triphosphate (P₃O). By carefully selecting conformationally distinct rotational isomers of the three model compounds, their potential surfaces were thoroughly explored. In addition to showing that a terminal phosphate group is indeed very flexible in accordance with the general perception of free rotation, a number of intriguing features of this linkage emerged from the ab initio calculations, which include an influential sp3-hybridized C HO intramolecular hydrogen bond in methyl diphosphate, and a highly restricted rotational space pertaining to the central pyrophosphate linkage of the triphosphate anion. These ab initio findings were then evaluated by, and proved insightful in, follow-up examinations of experimentally determined complex structures of proteins and their dinucleotide or adenine and guanine triphosphate ligands. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 20: 1702–1715, 1999     

Synthesis,photophysical and NMR evaluations of thiourea-based anion receptors possessing an acetamide moiety

The synthesis and photophysical evaluation of three diaryl thiourea-based anion receptors (4–6) for comparison with their urea counterparts (1–3) is outlined. These anion receptors posses an acetamide functionality on one of the aryl groups and an electron-withdrawing CF₃ group on the other. By varying the position of the acetamide group, in the o-, m- and p-positions of 4–6, respectively, the anion binding ability was both tuneable and found to be, in some cases, significantly different from that seen for the urea analogues 1–3. The binding affinities of the receptors 4–6, as well as the binding stoichiometries, were evaluated using UV–vis absorption spectroscopy in MeCN. However, these receptors were not sufficiently emissive to quantify the anion recognition using fluorescence. The results confirmed strong binding of these receptors to anions such as fluoride, acetate, phosphate, pyrophosphate and chloride. Nevertheless, the overall results obtained did not conform to the anticipated trends seen for 1–3, which is most likely due to the enhanced binding affinity of the thiourea analogues 4–6. The binding interactions were also investigated by using ¹H NMR which confirmed that these receptors interacted with the anions in a stepwise manner, where the primary anion binding interaction occurred at the thiourea side, which led to an activation of the acetamide moiety towards the second anion binding interaction, an example of an allosteric activation mode.     

1H, 13C, 17O NMR and quantum‐chemical study of the stereochemistry of the sulfoxide and sulfone derivatives of 3‐arylidene‐1‐thioflavan‐4‐one epoxides

The oxidation of the trans,cis‐( 2 ) and trans,trans‐epoxides ( 3 ) of differently substituted (Z)‐3‐arylidene‐1‐thioflavan‐4‐ones ( 1 ) with dimethyldioxirane (DMD) yielded the appropriate sulfoxides ( 4, 5 ) and sulfones ( 6, 7 ). The structures were elucidated by the extensive application of one‐ and two‐dimensional ¹H, ¹³C and ¹⁷O NMR spectroscopy. The conformational analysis was achieved by the application of ³J(C,H) coupling constants, NOESY responses and ab initio calculations. The preferred ground‐state conformers (twisted envelope‐A, twisted envelope‐B for 6 and twisted envelope‐A, envelope‐B for 7 ) were obtained as global minima of the theoretical ab initio MO study and also the examination of the ¹⁷O and ¹³C chemical shifts, calculated for the global minima structures of the sulfone isomers by the GIAO method. Analogous results, obtained for the sulfoxide isomers ( 4, 5 ), not only led to the preferred conformers but also gave evidence for the trans arrangement of the 2‐Ph group and the oxygen atom of the S?O group. Chemical shift differences between the isomers, sulfoxides and sulfones were corroborated by ab initio calculations of the anisotropic effects of the oxirane ring and the S?O and SO₂ groups. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Bond–antibond analysis of internal rotation barriers in glyoxal and related molecules: Where INDO fails

Ab initio and INDO LCBO–MO calculations are carried out on glyoxal, 1,3-butadiene, and acrolein in order to analyze the qualitative failure of INDO -like methods to describe conformation energies in these molecules. Following the method of Brunck and Weinhold for ethanelike systems we identify the principal bond–antibond interactions contributing to the glyoxal barrier, their dependence on dihedral angle and substituent, and their relative magnitudes as calculated by ab initio and INDO SCF–MO theory. We find a gross disparity in the INDO representation of π* interactions which leads to a grossly exaggerated estimate of the stability of gauche conformers in these molecules. These findings appear to have serious implications for the applicability of INDO -like theories to conformational problems in π-bonded molecules, including those of biological interest.