Self‐Association of an Enantiopure β‐Pentapeptide in Nematic Liquid Crystals

Herein, we report for the first time that nematic liquid‐crystalline environments drive the reversible self‐aggregation of an enantiopure β‐pentapeptide into oligomers with a well‐defined structure. The peptide contains four (1S,2S)‐2‐aminocyclopentane carboxylic acid (ACPC) residues and the paramagnetic β‐amino acid (3R,4R)‐4‐amino‐1‐oxyl‐2,2,5,5‐tetramethylpyrrolidine‐3‐carboxylic acid (POAC). The structure of the oligomers was investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, which allowed us to obtain the intermonomer distance distribution in the aggregates as a function of peptide concentration in two nematic liquid crystals, E7 and ZLI‐4792. The aggregates were modeled on the basis of the EPR data, and their orientation and order in the nematic phase were studied by the surface tensor method.     

Induced Folding of Protein‐Sized Foldameric β‐Sandwich Models with Core β‐Amino Acid Residues

The mimicry of protein‐sized β‐sheet structures with unnatural peptidic sequences (foldamers) is a considerable challenge. In this work, the de novo designed betabellin‐14 β‐sheet has been used as a template, and α→β residue mutations were carried out in the hydrophobic core (positions 12 and 19). β‐Residues with diverse structural properties were utilized: Homologous β³‐amino acids, (1R,2S)‐2‐aminocyclopentanecarboxylic acid (ACPC), (1R,2S)‐2‐aminocyclohexanecarboxylic acid (ACHC), (1R,2S)‐2‐aminocyclohex‐3‐enecarboxylic acid (ACEC), and (1S,2S,3R,5S)‐2‐amino‐6,6‐dimethylbicyclo[3.1.1]heptane‐3‐carboxylic acid (ABHC). Six α/β‐peptidic chains were constructed in both monomeric and disulfide‐linked dimeric forms. Structural studies based on circular dichroism spectroscopy, the analysis of NMR chemical shifts, and molecular dynamics simulations revealed that dimerization induced β‐sheet formation in the 64‐residue foldameric systems. Core replacement with (1R,2S)‐ACHC was found to be unique among the β‐amino acid building blocks studied because it was simultaneously able to maintain the interstrand hydrogen‐bonding network and to fit sterically into the hydrophobic interior of the β‐sandwich. The novel β‐sandwich model containing 25 % unnatural building blocks afforded protein‐like thermal denaturation behavior.     

Preferred 3D‐Structure of Peptides Rich in a Severely Conformationally Restricted Cyclopropane Analogue of Phenylalanine

Terminally blocked, homo‐peptide amides of (R,R)‐1‐amino‐2,3‐diphenylcyclopropane‐1‐carboxylic acid (c₃diPhe), a chiral member of the family of C^α‐tetrasubstituted α‐amino acids, from the dimer to the tetramer, and diastereomeric co‐oligopeptides of (R,R)‐ or (S,S)‐c₃diPhe with (S)‐alanine residues to the trimer level were prepared in solution and fully characterized. The synthetic effort was extended to terminally protected co‐oligopeptide esters to the hexamer, where c₃diPhe residues are combined with achiral α‐aminoisobutyric acid residues. The preferred conformations of the peptides were assessed in solution by FT‐IR absorption, NMR, and CD techniques, and for seven oligomers in the crystal state (by X‐ray diffraction) as well. This study clearly indicates that c₃diPhe, a sterically demanding cyclopropane analogue of phenylalanine, tends to fold peptides into β‐turn and 3₁₀‐helix conformations. However, when c₃diPhe is in combination with other chiral residues, the conformation preferred by the resulting peptides is also dictated by the chiral sequence of the amino acid building blocks. The (S,S)‐enantiomer of this α‐amino acid, unusually lacking asymmetry in the main chain, strongly favors the left‐handedness of the turn/helical peptides formed.     

(1R,2R)‐2‐(4‐Methylenecyclohex‐2‐enyl)propyl (1R,4S)‐camphanate

Esterification of a single diastereomer of 2‐(4‐methylene­cyclohex‐2‐enyl)propanol, (II), with (1R,4S)‐(+)‐camphanic acid [(1R,4S)‐4,7,7‐trimethyl‐3‐oxo‐2‐oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane‐1‐carboxylic acid] leads to the crystalline title compound, C₂₀H₂₈O₄. The relative configuration of the camphanate was determined by X‐ray diffraction analysis. The outcome clarifies the relative and absolute stereochemistry of the naturally occurring bisabolane sesquiterpenes β‐turmerone and β‐sesquiphellandrene, since we have converted (II) into both natural products via a stereospecific route.     

Solid‐state conformations of linear depsipeptide amides with an alternating sequence of α,α‐disubstituted α‐amino acid and α‐hydroxy acid

Depsipeptides and cyclodepsipeptides are analogues of the corresponding peptides in which one or more amide groups are replaced by ester functions. Reports of crystal structures of linear depsipeptides are rare. The crystal structures and conformational analyses of four depsipeptides with an alternating sequence of an α,α‐disubstituted α‐amino acid and an α‐hydroxy acid are reported. The molecules in the linear hexadepsipeptide amide in (S)‐Pms‐Acp‐(S)‐Pms‐Acp‐(S)‐Pms‐Acp‐NMe₂ acetonitrile solvate, C₄₇H₅₈N₄O₉·C₂H₃N, ( 3b ), as well as in the related linear tetradepsipeptide amide (S)‐Pms‐Aib‐(S)‐Pms‐Aib‐NMe₂, C₂₈H₃₇N₃O₆, ( 5a ), the diastereoisomeric mixture (S,R)‐Pms‐Acp‐(R,S)‐Pms‐Acp‐NMe₂/(R,S)‐Pms‐Acp‐(R,S)‐Pms‐Acp‐NMe₂ (1:1), C₃₂H₄₁N₃O₆, ( 5b ), and (R,S)‐Mns‐Acp‐(S,R)‐Mns‐Acp‐NMe₂, C₃₀H₃₇N₃O₆, ( 5c ) (Pms is phenyllactic acid, Acp is 1‐aminocyclopentanecarboxylic acid and Mns is mandelic acid), generally adopt a β‐turn conformation in the solid state, which is stabilized by intramolecular N—H…O hydrogen bonds. Whereas β‐turns of type I (or I′) are formed in the cases of ( 3b ), ( 5a ) and ( 5b ), which contain phenyllactic acid, the torsion angles for ( 5c ), which incorporates mandelic acid, indicate a β‐turn in between type I and type III. Intermolecular N—H…O and O—H…O hydrogen bonds link the molecules of ( 3a ) and ( 5b ) into extended chains, and those of ( 5a ) and ( 5c ) into two‐dimensional networks.     

Exploiting Aromatic Interactions for β‐Peptide Foldamer Helix Stabilization: A Significant Design Element

Tetrameric H10/12 helix stabilization was achieved by the application of aromatic side‐chains in β‐peptide oligomers by intramolecular backbone–side chain CH–π interactions. Because of the enlarged hydrophobic surface of the oligomers, a further aim was the investigation of the self‐assembly in a polar medium for the β‐peptide H10/12 helices. NMR, ECD, and molecular modeling results indicated that the oligomers formed by cis‐[1S,2S]‐ or cis‐[1R,2R]‐1‐amino‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydronaphthalene‐2‐carboxylic acid (ATENAC) and cis‐[1R,2S]‐ or cis‐[1S,2R]‐2‐aminocyclohex‐3‐enecarboxylic acid (ACHEC) residues promote stable H10/12 helix formation with an alternating backbone configuration even at the tetrameric chain length. These results support the view that aromatic side‐chains can be applied for helical structure stabilization. Importantly, this is the first observation of a stable H10/12 helix with tetrameric chain‐length. The hydrophobically driven self‐assembly was achieved for the helix‐forming oligomers, seen as vesicles in transmission electron microscopy images. The self‐association phenomenon, which supports the helical secondary structure of these oligomers, depends on the hydrophobic surface area, because a higher number of aromatic side‐chains yielded larger vesicles. These results serve as an essential element for the design of helices relating to the H10/12 helix. Moreover, they open up a novel area for bioactive foldamer construction, while the hydrophobic area gained through the aromatic side‐chains may yield important receptor–ligand interaction surfaces, which can provide amplified binding strength.     

Optical Resolution of 5‐Oxo‐1‐Phenyl‐Pyrazolidine‐3‐Carboxylic Acid as a New Organocatalyst for Organic Reactions

Optical resolution of racemic 5‐oxo‐1‐phenyl‐pyrazolidine‐3‐carboxylic acid 2 with L‐amino acid methyl ester via the diastereomers formation was investigated. Treatment of racemic 5‐oxo‐1‐phenyl‐pyrazolidine‐3‐carboxylic acid 2 with L‐valine methyl ester gave diastereomers with a total yield of 86%. The diastereomeric dipeptides can be easily separated by flash column chromatography. Acidic cleavage of the derived diastereomers gave both the optically pure (+)‐(R)‐ and (‐)‐(S)‐5‐oxo‐1‐phenyl‐pyrazolidine‐3‐carboxylic acid ((+)‐(R)‐ 2 and (‐)‐(S)‐ 2 ) with a total yield of 94% and 95%, respectively.     

Stereocontrolled Synthesis of syn‐β‐Hydroxy‐α‐Amino Acids by Direct Aldolization of Pseudoephenamine Glycinamide

β‐Hydroxy‐α‐amino acids figure prominently as chiral building blocks in chemical synthesis and serve as precursors to numerous important medicines. Reported herein is a method for the synthesis of β‐hydroxy‐α‐amino acid derivatives by aldolization of pseudoephenamine glycinamide, which can be prepared from pseudoephenamine in a one‐flask protocol. Enolization of (R,R)‐ or (S,S)‐pseudoephenamine glycinamide with lithium hexamethyldisilazide in the presence of LiCl followed by addition of an aldehyde or ketone substrate affords aldol addition products that are stereochemically homologous with L ‐ or D ‐threonine, respectively. These products, which are typically solids, can be obtained in stereoisomerically pure form in yields of 55–98 %, and are readily transformed into β‐hydroxy‐α‐amino acids by mild hydrolysis or into 2‐amino‐1,3‐diols by reduction with sodium borohydride. This new chemistry greatly facilitates the construction of novel antibiotics of several different classes.     

An intermediate in a new synthesis approach to β‐substituted β‐hydroxy­aspartame

The crystal and molecular structure of 1‐tert‐butyl 4‐ethyl (2′R,3′R,5′R,2S,3S)‐3‐bromo­methyl‐3‐hydroxy‐2‐[(2′‐hydroxy‐2′,6′,6′‐tri­methyl­bi­cyclo­[3.1.1]­hept‐3′‐yl­idene)­amino]­succinate, C₂₁H₃₄BrNO₆, is presented. This compound is an intermediate in the new synthetic route to β‐substituted β‐hydroxy­aspartates, which are blockers of glutamate transport.     

Stereoselective Preparation of 3‐Amino‐2‐fluoro Carboxylic Acid Derivatives,and Their Incorporation in Tetrahydropyrimidin‐4(1H)‐ones,and in Open‐Chain and Cyclic β‐Peptides

The preparation of (2S,3S)‐ and (2R,3S)‐2‐fluoro and of (3S)‐2,2‐difluoro‐3‐amino carboxylic acid derivatives, 1 – 3 , from alanine, valine, leucine, threonine, and β³h‐alanine (Schemes 1 and 2, Table) is described. The stereochemical course of (diethylamino)sulfur trifluoride (DAST) reactions with N,N‐dibenzyl‐2‐amino‐3‐hydroxy and 3‐amino‐2‐hydroxy carboxylic acid esters is discussed (Fig. 1). The fluoro‐β‐amino acid residues have been incorporated into pyrimidinones ( 11 – 13 ; Fig. 2) and into cyclic β‐tri‐ and β‐tetrapeptides 17 – 19 and 21 – 23 (Scheme 3) with rigid skeletons, so that reliable structural data (bond lengths, bond angles, and Karplus parameters) can be obtained. β‐Hexapeptides Boc[(2S)‐β³hXaa(αF)]₆OBn and Boc[β³hXaa(α,αF₂)]₆‐OBn, 24 – 26 , with the side chains of Ala, Val, and Leu, have been synthesized (Scheme 4), and their CD spectra (Fig. 3) are discussed. Most compounds and many intermediates are fully characterized by IR‐ and ¹H‐, ¹³C‐ and ¹⁹F‐NMR spectroscopy, by MS spectrometry, and by elemental analyses, [α]_D and melting‐point values.     

The First Synthesis of (4S,5R,6R)‐5,6‐Dihydroxy‐4‐(prop‐1‐en‐2‐yl)cyclohex‐1‐ene‐1‐carboxylic Acid

A putative acid metabolite of a novel highly effective antiparkinsonian agent, (4S,5R,6R)‐5,6‐dihydroxy‐4‐(prop‐1‐en‐2‐yl)cyclohex‐1‐ene‐1‐carboxylic acid ( 5 ), was synthesized for the first time. Several synthetic approaches based on different transformations of O‐bearing monoterpenoids of the pinane and p‐menthane series were developed and tested in the course of the study. Acid 5 was synthesized starting from a commercially available monoterpenoid, (?)‐verbenone, in a total yield of 4.4% over eight steps.     

Chiral differentiation of some cyclic β‐amino acids by kinetic and fixed ligand methods

Differentiation of β ‐amino acid enantiomers with two chiral centres was investigated by kinetic method with trimeric metal‐bound complexes. Four enantiomeric pairs of β ‐amino acids were studied: cis‐(1R,2S)‐, cis‐(1S,2R)‐, trans‐(1R,2R)‐ and trans‐(1S,2S)‐2‐aminocyclopentanecarboxylic acids (cyclopentane β ‐amino acids), and cis‐(1R,2S)‐, cis‐(1S,2R)‐, trans‐(1R,2R)‐, and trans‐(1S,2S)‐2‐aminocyclohexanecarboxylic acids (cyclohexane β ‐amino acids). The results showed that the choice of metal ion (Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺) and chiral reference compound (α‐ and β ‐amino acids) had an effect on the enantioselectivity. Especially, aromaticity of the reference compound was noted to enhance the enantioselectivity. The fixed‐ligand kinetic method, a modification of the kinetic method, was then applied to the same β ‐amino acids, with dipeptides used as fixed ligands. With this method, dipeptide containing an aromatic side chain enhanced the enantioselectivity. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Design of two series of 1:1 cocrystals involving 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine and carboxylic acids

Two series of a total of ten cocrystals involving 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine with various carboxylic acids have been prepared and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The pyrimidine unit used for the cocrystals offers two ring N atoms (positions N1 and N3) as proton‐accepting sites. Depending upon the site of protonation, two types of cations are possible [Rajam et al. (2017). Acta Cryst. C 73 , 862–868]. In a parallel arrangement, two series of cocrystals are possible depending upon the hydrogen bonding of the carboxyl group with position N1 or N3. In one series of cocrystals, i.e. 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine–3‐bromothiophene‐2‐carboxylic acid (1/1), 1 , 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine–5‐chlorothiophene‐2‐carboxylic acid (1/1), 2 , 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine–2,4‐dichlorobenzoic acid (1/1), 3 , and 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine–2‐aminobenzoic acid (1/1), 4 , the carboxyl hydroxy group (–OH) is hydrogen bonded to position N1 (O—H…N1) of the corresponding pyrimidine unit (single point supramolecular synthon). The inversion‐related stacked pyrimidines are doubly bridged by the carboxyl groups via N—H…O and O—H…N hydrogen bonds to form a large cage‐like tetrameric unit with an R₄²(20) graph‐set ring motif. These tetrameric units are further connected via base pairing through a pair of N—H…N hydrogen bonds, generating R₂²(8) motifs (supramolecular homosynthon). In the other series of cocrystals, i.e. 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine–5‐methylthiophene‐2‐carboxylic acid (1/1), 5 , 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine–benzoic acid (1/1), 6 , 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine–2‐methylbenzoic acid (1/1), 7 , 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine–3‐methylbenzoic acid (1/1), 8 , 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine–4‐methylbenzoic acid (1/1), 9 , and 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine–4‐aminobenzoic acid (1/1), 10 , the carboxyl group interacts with position N3 and the adjacent 4‐amino group of the corresponding pyrimidine ring via O—H…N and N—H…O hydrogen bonds to generate the robust R₂²(8) supramolecular heterosynthon. These heterosynthons are further connected by N—H…N hydrogen‐bond interactions in a linear fashion to form a chain‐like arrangement. In cocrystal 1 , a Br…Br halogen bond is present, in cocrystals 2 and 3 , Cl…Cl halogen bonds are present, and in cocrystals 5 , 6 and 7 , Cl…O halogen bonds are present. In all of the ten cocrystals, π–π stacking interactions are observed.     

Total Synthesis and Structure Elucidation of JBIR‐39: A Linear Hexapeptide Possessing Piperazic Acid and γ‐Hydroxypiperazic Acid Residues

The total synthesis and stereochemical structural elucidation of JBIR‐39, containing four nonproteinogenic piperazic acid (Piz) residues, is reported. The synthesis includes Sc(OTf)₃‐catalyzed acylation of a Piz(γ‐OTBS) derivative with piperazic acid chloride, providing the desired Piz‐Piz(γ‐OTBS) dipeptide in high yield without epimerization. After assembling two additional Piz moieties and (S)‐isoleucic acid at the N‐terminus, amidation with the (R)‐α‐methylserine ester at the C‐terminus, and deprotection afforded the desired (2R,8S)‐hexapeptide, which is the assumed structure of JBIR‐39. Although the spectral data of the (2R,8S)‐hexapeptide was not identical to JBIR‐39, further synthesis of three stereoisomers confirmed the stereochemical structure of JBIR‐39 to be (2S,6S,8S,11R,16S,21R,26S,27S).     

Improved treatment of cyclic β‐amino acids and successful prediction of β‐peptide secondary structure using a modified force field: AMBER*C

We added parameters to the AMBER* force field to model cyclic β‐amino acid derivatives more accurately within the commonly used MacroModel program. In an effort to generate an improved treatment of cyclohexane and cyclopentane conformational preferences, carbon–carbon torsional parameters were modified and incorporated into a force field we call AMBER*C. Simulation of trans‐2‐aminocyclohexanecarboxylic acid (trans‐ACHC) and trans‐2‐aminocyclopentanecarboxylic acid (trans‐ACPC) derivatives using AMBER*C produces more realistic energy differences between (pseudo)diaxial and (pseudo)diequatorial conformations than does simulation using AMBER*. AMBER*C molecular dynamics simulations more accurately reproduce the experimental hydrogen‐bonding tendencies of simple diamide derivatives of trans‐ACHC and trans‐ACPC than do simulations using the AMBER* force field. More importantly, this modified force field allows accurate qualitative prediction of the helical secondary structures adopted by β‐amino acid homo‐oligomers. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 21: 763–773, 2000     

Theoretical Study Of β2,3‐Peptide Models

Conformational features of α,β‐disubstituted β^2,3‐dipeptide models have been studied with quantum mechanics method. Geometries were optimized with the HF/6‐31G** method, and energies were evaluated with the B3LYP/6‐31G** method. Solvent effect was evaluated with the SCIPCM method. For (2S,3S)‐β^2,3‐dipeptide model 1 , a six‐membered‐ring hydrogen bonded structure is most stable. However, the conformation corresponding to the formation of the 14‐helix is only about 1.7 kcal/mol less stable in methanol solution, indicating that the 14‐helix is favored if a (2S,3S)‐β^2,3‐polypeptide contains more than 5 residues. On the other hand, the conformation corresponding to the formation of β‐sheet is most stable for (2R,3S)‐β^2,3‐dipeptide model 2 , suggesting that this type of β‐peptides is intrinsically favored for the formation of β‐sheet secondary structure.     

1,3‐Diaxial Repulsion vs. π‐Delocalization in the 7‐Amino‐2,4‐diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan‐3‐one Skeleton

(1R,5S,6S,8R)‐6,8,9‐Trihydroxy‐3‐oxo‐2,4‐diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan‐7‐ammonium chloride hydrate ( 3 Cl⋅H₂O) and (1R,5S,6S,8R)‐7‐amino‐6,8,9‐trihydroxy‐2,4‐diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan‐3‐one ( 4 ) have been prepared, and their crystal structures have been determined from single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction data. Both compounds consist of a bicyclic skeleton with the three N‐atoms in an all‐cis‐1,3,5‐triaxial arrangement. Considerable repulsion between these axial N‐atoms is indicated by a significant distortion of the two cyclohexane chairs and by increased N⋅⋅⋅N distances. The lone pair of the free amino group of 4 is involved in intermolecular H‐bonding and is turned away from the adjacent carbonyl C‐atom of the urea moiety. The structural properties together with the observed reactivity do not provide any evidence for an intramolecular donor‐acceptor interaction between the carbonyl C‐ and the amine N‐atom.     

New Optically Active 2H‐Azirin‐3‐amines as Synthons for Enantiomerically Pure 2,2‐Disubstituted Glycines: Synthesis of Synthons for Tyr(2Me) and Dopa(2Me), and Their Incorporation into Dipeptides

The synthesis of novel unsymmetrically 2,2‐disubstituted 2H‐azirin‐3‐amines with chiral auxiliary amino groups is described. Chromatographic separation of the mixture of diastereoisomers yielded (1′R,2S)‐ 2a , b and (1′R,2R)‐ 2a , b (c.f. Scheme 1 and Table 1), which are synthons for (S)‐ and (R)‐2‐methyltyrosine and 2‐methyl‐3′,4′‐dihydroxyphenylalanine. Another new synthon 2c , i.e., a synthon for 2‐(azidomethyl)alanine, was prepared but could not be separated into its pure diastereoisomers. The reaction of 2 with thiobenzoic acid, benzoic acid, and the amino acid Fmoc‐Val‐OH yielded the monothiodiamides 11 , the diamides 12 (cf. Scheme 3 and Table 3), and the dipeptides 13 (cf. Scheme 4 and Table 4), respectively. From 13 , each protecting group was removed selectively under standard conditions (cf. Schemes 5–7 and Tables 5–6). The configuration at C(2) of the amino acid derivatives (1R,1′R)‐ 11a , (1R,1′R)‐ 11b , (1S,1′R)‐ 12b , and (1R,1′R)‐ 12b was determined by X‐ray crystallography relative to the known configuration of the chiral auxiliary group.     

Comparative study on the liquid chromatographic enantioseparation of cyclic β‐amino acids and the related cyclic β‐aminohydroxamic acids on Cinchona alkaloid‐based zwitterionic chiral stationary phases

The enantiomeric pairs of cis and trans stereoisomers of cyclic β‐aminohydroxamic acids and their related cis and trans cyclic β‐amino acids containing two chiral centers were directly separated on four structurally related chiral stationary phases derived from quinine and quinidine modified with (R,R)‐ and (S,S)‐aminocyclohexanesulfonic acids. Applying these zwitterionic ion‐exchangers as chiral selectors, the effects of the composition of the bulk solvent, the acid and base additives, the structures of the analytes, and temperature on the enantioresolution were investigated. To study the effects of temperature and obtain thermodynamic parameters, experiments were carried out at constant mobile phase compositions in the temperature range 5–50°C. The differences in the changes in standard enthalpy Δ(ΔH°), entropy Δ(ΔS°), and free energy Δ(ΔG°) were calculated from the linear van't Hoff plots derived from the ln α versus 1/T curves in the studied temperature range. Results thus obtained indicated enthalpy‐driven separations in all cases. The sequence of elution of the enantiomers was determined and found to be reversed when ZWIX(–)™ was changed to ZWIX(+)™ or ZWIX(–A) to ZWIX(+A).     

A cocrystal of two MoVI complexes bearing different diastereomers of the 2,4‐di‐tert‐butyl‐6‐{[(1‐oxido‐1‐phenylpropan‐2‐yl)(methyl)amino]methyl}phenolate ligand derived from (+)‐ephedrine

The title cocrystal contains two chiral conformational diastereomers, viz. (1S,2R,R_N)‐ and (1S,2R,S_N)‐, of [2,4‐di‐tert‐butyl‐6‐{[(1‐oxido‐1‐phenylpropan‐2‐yl)(methyl)amino]methyl}phenolato](methanol)‐cis‐dioxidomolybdenum(VI), [Mo(C₂₅H₃₅NO₂)O₂(CH₃OH)], representing the first example of a structurally characterized molybdenum complex with enantiomerically pure ephedrine derivative ligands. The Mo^VI cations exhibit differently distorted octahedral coordination environments, with two oxide ligands positioned cis to each other. The remainder of the coordination comprises phenoxide, alkoxide and methanol O atoms, with an amine N atom completing the octahedron. The distinct complexes are linked by strong intermolecular O—H...O hydrogen bonds, resulting in one‐dimensional molecular chains. Furthermore, the phenyl rings are involved in weak T‐shaped/edge‐to‐face π–π interactions with each other.