Measurements of heavy-atom isotope effects using 1H NMR spectroscopy

A novel method for measuring heavy-atom KIEs for magnetically active isotopes using (1)H NMR is presented. It takes advantage of the resonance split of the protons coupled with the heavy atom in the (1)H spectrum. The method is validated by the example of the (13)C-KIE on the hydroamination of styrene with aniline, catalyzed by phosphine-ligated palladium triflates.     

Bolalipid membrane structure revealed by solid-state 2H NMR spectroscopy

Membranes made from three specifically deuterium-labeled ether-linked bolalipids, [1',1',20',20'-2H4]C20BAS-PC, [2',2',19',19'-2H4]C20BAS-PC, or [10',11'-2H2]C20BAS-PC, were analyzed by 2H NMR spectroscopy. Unlike more common monopolar, ester-linked phospholipids, C20BAS-PC exhibits a high degree of orientational order throughout the membrane and the sn-1 chain of the lipid initially penetrates the bilayer at an orientation different from that of the bilayer normal, resulting in inequivalent deuterium atoms at the C1 position. The approximate hydrophobic layer thickness and area per lipid are 18.4 A and 60.4 A2, respectively, at 25 degrees C, and their respective thermal expansion coefficients are within 20% of the monopolar phospholipid, DLPC.     

Conformational analogies of morphine agonists and antagonists as revealed by carbon-13 NMR spectroscopy

The extreme similarity (except in the vicinity of the nitrogen atom) of the ¹³C spectra of the agonist-antagonist pairs oxymorphone-naloxone and morphine-nalorphine and their respective hydrochlorides suggests that the N-methyl and N-allyl compounds have analogous conformations. This makes unlikely an interpretation of the agonist-antagonist dichotomy in terms of confonnational differences. Both morphine hydrochloride and nalorphine hydrochloride exist as mixtures of two diastereomers: ca 83% of the isomer with equatorial N-alkyl and 17% of the isomer with axial N-alkyl (ΔG°=O.95 kcalmol^?1).     

Isotopic labeling for determination of enantiomeric purity by 2H NMR spectroscopy

The use of 2H NMR spectroscopy as a tool for the analysis of enantiomeric purity is reported. Enantiopure isotopically chiral substrates bearing a monodeuterated methylene unit were prepared; introduction of an additional asymmetric center leads to diastereomers which can be distinguished by 2H NMR on a standard spectrometer. The assays allow for simple semiquantitative analysis of asymmetric transformations.     

Conformational equilibrium isotope effects in glucose by (13)C NMR spectroscopy and computational studies.

Anomeric equilibrium isotope effects for dissolved sugars are required preludes to understanding isotope effects for these molecules bound to enzymes. This paper presents a full molecule study of the alpha- and beta-anomeric forms of D-glucopyranose in water using deuterium conformational equilibrium isotope effects (CEIE). Using 1D (13)C NMR, we have found deuterium isotope effects of 1.043 +/- 0.004, 1.027 +/- 0.005, 1.027 +/- 0.004, 1.001 +/- 0.003, 1.036 +/- 0.004, and 0.998 +/- 0.004 on the equilibrium constant, (H/D)K(beta/alpha), in [1-(2)H]-, [2-(2)H]-, [3-(2)H]-, [4-(2)H]-, [5-(2)H]-, and [6,6'-(2)H(2)]-labeled sugars, respectively. A computational study of the anomeric equilibrium in glucose using semiempirical and ab initio methods yields values that correlate well with experiment. Natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis of glucose and dihedral rotational equilibrium isotope effects in 2-propanol strongly imply a hyperconjugative mechanism for the isotope effects at H1 and H2. We conclude that the isotope effect at H1 is due to n(p) --> sigma* hyperconjugative transfer from O5 to the axial C1--H1 bond in beta-glucose, while this transfer makes no contribution to the isotope effect at H5. The isotope effect at H2 is due to rotational restriction of OH2 at 160 degrees in the alpha form and 60 degrees in the beta-sugar, with concomitant differences in n --> sigma* hyperconjugative transfer from O2 to CH2. The isotope effects on H3 and H5 result primarily from syn-diaxial steric repulsion between these and the axial anomeric hydroxyl oxygen in alpha-glucose. Therefore, intramolecular effects play an important role in isotopic perturbation of the anomeric equilibrium. The possible role of intermolecular effects is discussed in the context of recent molecular dynamics studies on aqueous glucose.     

Conformational study of a strained tolanophane by dynamic 1H NMR spectroscopy and computational methods

The existence of a short C–H ⋯ π (alkyl–alkyne) interaction in the structure of a strained and relatively rigid tolanophane is expected to hinder the rotation about the C–C sp³ single bond. Variable-temperature NMR experiments (performed in three solvents, CDCl₃, THF-d₈, and acetone-d₆) and ab initio density functional calculations were carried out to investigate its dynamic nature. An energy barrier of 48.6 kJ/mol is determined at coalescence (210 K) with acetone-d₆ which is in good agreement with calculation result (54 kJ/mol). Correspondence: Hossein Reza Darabi, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Research Center of Iran, Pajoohesh Blvd., km 17, Karaj Hwy, 14968-13151 Tehran, Iran.     

Conformational analysis of the tropane analogue of pethidine and related compounds by 1H NMR spectroscopy

The preferred solute conformation of ethyl 3α-phenyltropane-3β-carboxylate hydrochloride, the tropane analogue of pethidine, is shown to be a piperidine chair with an axial 3-phenyl substituent by analysis of its ¹H NMR characteristics and spectral comparisons with model compounds. Conformational studies of synthetic intermediates are also reported and favoured boat forms identified for 3α-diphenylhydroxymethyl-3β-tropanol and 3α-phenyl-3β-tropanyl phenyl ketone. In the hot-plate test for analgesia performed on mice, ethyl 3α-phenyltropane-3β-carboxylate is about 1·5 times as effective as pethidine.     

Conformational dynamics of bistable RNAs studied by time-resolved NMR spectroscopy

The structural transition between two alternate conformations of bistable RNAs has been characterized by time-resolved NMR spectroscopy. The mechanism, kinetics, and thermodynamics underlying the global structural transition of bistable RNAs were delineated. Both bistable RNA conformations and a partial unstructured RNA of identical sequence could be trapped using photolabile protecting groups. This trapping allowed for an investigation of the initial folding from an unfolded RNA to one of the preferred conformations of the bistable RNA and of the structural transitions involved. Folding of the secondary structure elements occurs rapidly, while the global structural transition of the bistable RNA occurs on a time scale of minutes and shows marked temperature dependence. Comparison of these results with bistable systems previously investigated leads to the prediction of activation enthalpies (DeltaH++) associated with global structural transitions in RNA.     

Carbon-13 NMR spectroscopy of acrylic monomer and Lewis acid complexes

¹³C NMR spectra of acrylic monomers complexed with a Lewis acid were measured and their electronic structures discussed in relation to their alternating copolymerizability. The β-carbon of acrylonitrile and methacrylonitrile showed a downfield shift due to the complex formation with the Lewis acid, while the α-carbon showed an upfield shift and the nitrile carbon showed no significant shift. The degree of shift of olefinic carbons decreased in the following order: AlCl₃ > EtAlCl₂ > Et_1.5AlCl_1.5 > Et₂AlCl > SnCl₄, EtOAlCl₂ > Et(EtO)AlCl, which seems to run parallel to the Lewis acidity and acid strength. On the other hand, the chemical shift of olefinic carbons of methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, and olefinic diesters was influenced little by complex formation with Lewis acids, whereas the carbonyl and alkoxyl carbons were deshielded significantly by the complex formation. These results are discussed in terms of electron distribution on the carbons and an alternating polymerization mechanism.     

Conformational study of anticholinesterase carbamates in the furylbenzene series by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy

The structural analysis of carbamates derived from 2-(α-furyl)benzaldoximes and 2-(α-furyl)benzyl alcohols was carried out by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The conjugative and steric effects of alkyl substituents introduced on the benzene rings were found to modify the relative orientation of the aromatic and furan rings. The existence of a close relationship between the stereochemistry of the studied compounds and their anticholinesterase activity has been proposed.     

Determining the solution state orientation of a Ti enolate via stable isotope labeling, NMR spectroscopy, and modeling studies

Our group has used Ti-promoted aldol additions with an oxazolidineselone as the chiral auxiliary with much success. In these reactions, the Se atom in the auxiliary both promotes stereospecific addition as well as reports on, through the use of 77Se NMR spectroscopy, the ratio of diastereomers produced and the geometry of intermediates as the reaction proceeds. Through stable isotope labeling and NMR spectroscopy, we are able to experimentally observe a Ti enolate in solution and gain insight into its structure and reactivity. Results from molecular modeling calculations are also presented for comparison with NMR data.     

Conformational analysis of a tetrasaccharide based on NMR spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations

The conformational preference of the human milk oligosaccharide lacto-N-neotetraose, beta-d-Galp-(1 --> 4)-beta-d-GlcpNAc-(1 --> 3)-beta-d-Galp-(1 --> 4)-d-Glcp, has been analyzed using (1)H,(1)H T-ROESY and (1)H,(13)C trans-glycosidic J coupling experiments in isotropic solution and (1)H,(13)C residual dipolar couplings (RDCs) obtained in lyotropic liquid crystalline media. Molecular dynamics simulations of the tetrasaccharide with explicit water as the solvent revealed that two conformational states are significantly populated at the psi glycosidic torsion angle, defined by C(anomeric)-O-C-H, of the (1 --> 3)-linkage. Calculation of order parameters, related to the molecular shape, were based on the inertia tensor and fitting of experimental RDCs to different conformational states showed that psi(+) > 0 degrees is the major and psi(-) < 0 degrees is the minor conformation in solution, in complete agreement with a two-state analysis based on the T-ROESY data. Attention was also given to the effect of salt (200 mM NaCl) in the anisotropic medium, which was a ternary mixture of n-octyl-penta(ethylene glycol), n-octanol, and D(2)O.     

Conformational analysis of XA and AX dipeptides in water by electronic circular dichroism and 1H NMR spectroscopy

We measured the temperature-dependent electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra of AX, XA, and XG dipeptides in D2O. The spectra of all XA and AX peptides indicate a substantial population of the polyproline II (PPII) conformation, while the ECD spectra of LG, KG, PG, and AG were found to be quantitatively different from the alanine-based dipeptides. Additional UV absorption data indicate that the ECD spectra of the XG peptides stem from electronic coupling between the peptide and the C-terminal group, and that spectral differences reflect different orientations of the latter. We also measured the 1H NMR spectra of the investigated dipeptides to determine the 3JHalphaNH coupling constants for the C-terminal residue. The observed temperature dependence of the ECD spectra and the respective room-temperature 3JHalphaNH coupling constants were analyzed by a two-state model encompassing PPII and a beta-like conformation. The PPII propensity of alanine in the XA series is only slightly modulated by the N-terminal side chain, and is larger than 50%. As compared to AA, XA peptides containing L, P, S, K V, E, T, and I all cause a relative stabilization of the extended beta-strand conformation. The PPII fractions of XA peptides varied between 0.64 for AA and 0.58 for DA, whereas the PPII fractions of AX peptides were much lower. From the investigated AX peptides, only AL and AQ showed the expected PPII propensity. We found that AT, AI, and AV clearly prefer an extended beta-strand conformation. A quantitative comparison of AA, AAA, and AAAA revealed a hierarchy AAAA > AAA approximately AA for the PPII population, in agreement with predictions from MD calculations and results from Raman optical activity studies (McColl et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 5076).     

Conformational analysis—XXI : H NMR Conformational Study of Alkyl-Substituted 2-Oxo-1,3,2-Dioxathianes

2-Oxo-1,3,2-dioxathiane and all methyl- and several alkyl-substituted 2-oxo-1,3,2-dioxathianes were prepared for a ¹H NMR conformational study. The conformational energy of the axial SO group in CCl₄, - ΔG^θ_SO = 14.8±0.3kJ mol^?1, was determined by chemical equilibration of the epimeric cis-4,6-dimethyl derivatives and it was found to decrease with the increasing solvent polarity. The conformational equilibria of alkyl-substituted derivatives were solved and the proportions of the conformers estimated using ¹H NMR chemical shifts, vicinal coupling constants and in three cases also dipole moments. The configurational interactions in the C₄C₅C₆ moiety are close to the corresponding values of 1,3-dioxanes.     

Quantitative 2H NMR spectroscopy. 1. Thermodynamic H/D isotope effects in N,N-dimethylformamide and cyclopentadiene molecules

A new method for quantification of the relative distribution of deuterium in molecules is proposed. The technique is based on the lineshape analysis in the ²H NMR spectra obtained at the natural abundance level of deuterium with allowance for inhomogeneity of the magnetic field. The equilibrium thermodynamic H/D isotope effects for hindered rotation about the C—N bond in the N,N-dimethylformamide molecule and for prototropic exchange in the cyclopentadiene molecule were determined. The results obtained agree with those of DFT calculations of the vibrational energies.     

Conformational study of 1,2-cycloundecadiene by dynamic NMR spectroscopy and computational methods

Solutions of 1,2-cycloundecadiene in propane were studied by low-temperature (13)C NMR spectroscopy. A total of 17 peaks were observed at -166.7 degrees C, corresponding to two conformations of similar populations, one of C(1) symmetry (11 peaks) and the other of C(2) symmetry. The line shapes show that the predominant pathway for exchange of the topomers (C(1) and C(1)') of the C(1) conformation does not include the C(2) conformation. From the (13)C spectra, free-energy barriers of 8.38 +/- 0.15, 9.45 +/- 0.15, and 9.35 +/- 0.15 kcal/mol were determined for the C(1) to C(1)', (C(1) + C(1)') to C(2), and C(2) to (C(1) + C(1)') conversions, respectively, at -72.2 degrees C. The NMR results for this compound are discussed in terms of the conformations predicted by molecular mechanics calculations obtained with Allinger's MM3 program. Ab initio calculations of free energies are also reported at the HF/ 6-311G level for 25 conformations.     

Conformational analysis of oxazolidines by molecular and quantum mechanics and NMR spectroscopy

A combined experimental (¹HNMR) and theoretical (molecular mechanics and PCILO) study of (4S,5S,6R)-4-carbome-thoxyethylenyl-N-carbobenzyloxy-5-methyl-6-phenyl oxazolidine has been carried out with the purpose of contributing to a better understanding of the steric and electronic factors responsible for the observed diastereoisomeric selectivity in the dihydroxylation of oxazolidines leading to optically active α, β dialkoxyaldehydes.     

Conformational analysis of ochratoxin a by NMR spectroscopy and computational molecular modeling

Two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy has been used for a complete assignment of the proton and carbon-13 spectra of the metabolite from Aspergillus ochraceus, ochratoxin A. In addition, phase-sensitive nuclear Overhauser effect spectrometry experiments and computational molecular modeling (MM2 and MMFF force field programs) have been employed to examine the conformational properties of ochratoxin A in chloroform solutions. Particular attention has been given to intramolecular hydrogen-bonding formation involving the phenolic group on dihydroisocoumarin, which may be responsible for the toxic mechanism of ochratoxin A.     

Conformational analysis of (+)-germacrene A by variable-temperature NMR and NOE spectroscopy

(+)-Germacrene A, an important intermediate in sesquiterpene biosynthesis, was isolated in pure form from a genetically engineered yeast and was characterized by chromatographic properties (TLC, GC), MS, optical rotation, UV, IR, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR data. Variable-temperature 500 MHz ¹H NMR spectra in CDCl₃ showed that this flexible cyclodecadiene ring exists as three NMR-distinguishable conformational isomers in a ratio of about 5:3:2 at or below ordinary probe temperature (25 °C). The conformer structures were assigned by ¹H NMR data comparisons, NOE experiments, and vicinal couplings as follows: 1a (52%, UU), 1b (29% UD), and 1c (19%, DU).