Four oxoindole‐linked α‐alkoxy‐β‐amino acid derivatives

Four structures of oxoindolyl α‐hydroxy‐β‐amino acid derivatives, namely, methyl 2‐{3‐[(tert‐butoxycarbonyl)amino]‐1‐methyl‐2‐oxoindolin‐3‐yl}‐2‐methoxy‐2‐phenylacetate, C₂₄H₂₈N₂O₆, (I), methyl 2‐{3‐[(tert‐butoxycarbonyl)amino]‐1‐methyl‐2‐oxoindolin‐3‐yl}‐2‐ethoxy‐2‐phenylacetate, C₂₅H₃₀N₂O₆, (II), methyl 2‐{3‐[(tert‐butoxycarbonyl)amino]‐1‐methyl‐2‐oxoindolin‐3‐yl}‐2‐[(4‐methoxybenzyl)oxy]‐2‐phenylacetate, C₃₁H₃₄N₂O₇, (III), and methyl 2‐[(anthracen‐9‐yl)methoxy]‐2‐{3‐[(tert‐butoxycarbonyl)amino]‐1‐methyl‐2‐oxoindolin‐3‐yl}‐2‐phenylacetate, C₃₈H₃₆N₂O₆, (IV), have been determined. The diastereoselectivity of the chemical reaction involving α‐diazoesters and isatin imines in the presence of benzyl alcohol is confirmed through the relative configuration of the two stereogenic centres. In esters (I) and (III), the amide group adopts an anti conformation, whereas the conformation is syn in esters (II) and (IV). Nevertheless, the amide group forms intramolecular N—H...O hydrogen bonds with the ester and ether O atoms in all four structures. The ether‐linked substituents are in the extended conformation in all four structures. Ester (II) is dominated by intermolecular N—H...O hydrogen‐bond interactions. In contrast, the remaining three structures are sustained by C—H...O hydrogen‐bond interactions.     

Hydrogen‐bonded dimers in 3‐amino‐4‐anilino‐1H‐isochromen‐1‐one and a hydrogen‐bonded sheet in 3‐amino‐4‐[methyl(phenyl)amino]‐1H‐isochromen‐1‐one

The molecules of 3‐amino‐4‐anilino‐1H‐isochromen‐1‐one, C₁₅H₁₂N₂O₂, (I), and 3‐amino‐4‐[methyl(phenyl)amino]‐1H‐isochromen‐1‐one, C₁₆H₁₄N₂O₂, (II), adopt very similar conformations, with the substituted amino group PhNR, where R = H in (I) and R = Me in (II), almost orthogonal to the adjacent heterocyclic ring. The molecules of (I) are linked into cyclic centrosymmetric dimers by pairs of N—H...O hydrogen bonds, while those of (II) are linked into complex sheets by a combination of one three‐centre N—H...(O)₂ hydrogen bond, one two‐centre C—H...O hydrogen bond and two C—H...π(arene) hydrogen bonds.     

Reduced 3,4′‐bipyrazoles from a simple pyrazole precursor: synthetic sequence,molecular structures and supramolecular assembly

The reaction of 5‐chloro‐3‐methyl‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazole‐4‐carbaldehyde and N‐benzylmethylamine under microwave irradiation gives 5‐[benzyl(methyl)amino]‐3‐methyl‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazole‐4‐carbaldehyde, C₁₉H₁₉N₃O, (I). Subsequent reactions under basic conditions, between (I) and a range of acetophenones, yield the corresponding chalcones. These undergo cyclocondensation reactions with hydrazine to produce reduced bipyrazoles which can be N‐formylated with formic acid or N‐acetylated with acetic anhydride. The structures of (I) and of representative examples from this reaction sequence are reported, namely the chalcone (E )‐3‐{5‐[benzyl(methyl)amino]‐3‐methyl‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐4‐yl}‐1‐(4‐bromophenyl)prop‐2‐en‐1‐one, C₂₇H₂₄BrN₃O, (II), the N‐formyl derivative (3RS )‐5′‐[benzyl(methyl)amino]‐3′‐methyl‐1′,5‐diphenyl‐3,4‐dihydro‐1′H ,2H‐[3,4′‐bipyrazole]‐2‐carbaldehyde, C₂₈H₂₇N₅O, (III), and the N‐acetyl derivative (3RS )‐2‐acetyl‐5′‐[benzyl(methyl)amino]‐5‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)‐3′‐methyl‐1′‐phenyl‐3,4‐dihydro‐1′H ,2H‐[3,4′‐bipyrazole], which crystallizes as the ethanol 0.945‐solvate, C₃₀H₃₁N₅O₂·0.945C₂H₆O, (IV). There is significant delocalization of charge from the benzyl(methyl)amino substituent onto the carbonyl group in (I), but not in (II). In each of (III) and (IV), the reduced pyrazole ring is modestly puckered into an envelope conformation. The molecules of (I) are linked by a combination of C—H…N and C—H…π(arene) hydrogen bonds to form a simple chain of rings; those of (III) are linked by a combination of C—H…O and C—H…N hydrogen bonds to form sheets of R ²₂(8) and R ⁶₆(42) rings, and those of (IV) are linked by a combination of O—H…N and C—H…O hydrogen bonds to form a ribbon of edge‐fused R ²₄(16) and R ⁴₄(24) rings.     

Triterpenoide. XIX. 3β‐Hydroxy‐11‐oxo‐18α‐olean‐12‐en‐28‐säure‐methyl­ester und 3,11‐Dioxo‐18α‐olean‐12‐en‐28‐säure‐methyl­ester

The X‐ray crystal structure analyses of 3β‐hydroxy‐11‐oxo‐18α‐olean‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid methyl ester ethanol solvate, C₃₁H₄₈O₄·C₂H₆O, (I), and 3,11‐dioxo‐18α‐olean‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid methyl ester, C₃₁H₄₆O₄, (II), are described. These two compounds differ only in the structure of ring A. In (I), ring A has a chair conformation, while in (II), it has a twisted boat conformation. In both compounds, ring C has a slightly distorted sofa conformation, rings B, D and E are in chair conformations, and rings D and E are trans‐fused. The asymmetric unit of (I) contains one mol­ecule of ethanol linked by hydrogen bonds with two different mol­ecules of (I).     

Two enamines derived from 1‐n‐alkyl‐3‐methylpyrazol‐5‐ones

The first two crystal structures of en­amines derived from 1‐n‐alkyl‐3‐methyl‐5‐pyrazolones, namely 1‐(n‐hexyl)‐3‐methyl‐4‐[1‐(phenyl­amino)­propyl­idene]‐2‐pyrazolin‐5‐one, C₁₉H₂₇N₃O, (I), and N,N′‐bis{1‐[1‐(n‐hexyl)‐3‐methyl‐5‐oxo‐2‐pyrazolin‐4‐yl­idene]­ethyl}hexane‐1,6‐di­amine, C₃₀H₅₂N₆O₂, (II), are reported. The mol­ecule of (II) lies about an inversion centre. Both (I) and (II) are stabilized by intramolecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bonding. This confirms previous results based on spectroscopic evidence alone.     

Rapid ligand exchange in the MCRred1 form of methyl-coenzyme M reductase

Methyl-coenzyme M reductase (MCR) from Methanothermobacter marburgensis (Mtm), catalyses the final step in methane synthesis in all methanogenic organisms. Methane is produced by coenzyme B-dependent two-electron reduction of methyl-coenzyme M. At the active site of MCR is the corphin cofactor F(430), which provides four-coordination through the pyrrole nitrogens to a central Ni ion in all states of the enzyme. The important MCRox1 ("ready") and MCRred1 ("active") states contain six-coordinate Ni(I) and differ in their upper axial ligands; furthermore, red1 appears to be two-electrons more reduced than in ox1 and other Ni(II) states that have been studied. On the basis of the reactivity of MCRred1 and MCRox1 with a substrate analogue and inhibitor (3-bromopropanesulfonate) and other small molecules (chloroform, dichloromethane, mercaptoethanol, and nitric oxide), we present evidence that the six-coordinate Ni(I) centers in the MCRred1 and MCRox1 states exhibit markedly different inherent reactivities. MCRred1 reacts faster with chloroform (2100-fold or 35000-fold when corrected for temperature effects), nitric oxide (90-fold), and 3-bromopropanesulfonate (10(6)-fold) than MCRox1. MCRred1 reacts with chloroform and dichloromethane and, like F(430), can catalyze dehalogenation reactions and produce lower halogenated products. We conclude that the enhanced reactivity of MCRred1 is due to the replacement of a relatively exchange-inert thiol ligand in MCRox1 with a weakly coordinating upper axial ligand in red1 that can be easily replaced by incoming ligands.     

MO Study of flavin–protein interactions in flavodoxin catalysis

MINDO /3 calculations have been performed on the Clostridium MP flavodoxin active site (a complex of the redox active coenzyme flavin mononucleotide sandwiched between the side chains of methionine and tryptophan) at various redox levels using coordinates derived from x-ray diffraction studies of the holoenzyme. Frontier orbital indices were calculated and indicate that reduction of the flavin is accompanied by induced polar states in the amino acid side chains. This stabilization of charge by the amino acid side chains could account for the reaction rate enhancement of flavin reduction catalyzed by flavodoxin. Frontier orbitals for free flavin, for the flavodoxin bound flavin without the amino acid side chains, and for the oxidized Desulfovibrio vulgaris flavodoxin active site were computed for comparison.     

Hydrogen‐bonded network in the trichloroacetate salts of 2‐amino‐5‐chloropyridinium and 2‐methyl‐5‐nitroanilinium monohydrate

In the crystal structures of 2‐amino‐5‐chloropyridinium trichloroacetate, C₅H₆ClN₂⁺·C₂Cl₃O₂⁻, (I), and 2‐methyl‐5‐nitroanilinium trichloroacetate monohydrate, C₇H₉N₂O₂⁺·C₂Cl₃O₂⁻·H₂O, (II), the protonated planar 2‐amino‐5‐chloropyridinium [in (I)] and 2‐methyl‐5‐nitroanilinium [in (II)] cations interact with the oppositely charged trichloroacetate anions to form hydrogen‐bonded one‐dimensional chains in (I) and, together with water molecules, a three‐dimensional network in (II). The crystals of (I) exhibit nonlinear optical properties. The second harmonic generation efficiency in relation to potassium dihydrogen phosphate is 0.77. This work demonstrates the usefulness of trichloroacetic acid in crystal engineering for obtaining new materials for nonlinear optics.     

Six closely related 4,6‐disubstituted 2‐amino‐5‐formylpyrimidines: different ring conformations,polarized electronic structures,and hydrogen‐bonded assembly in zero,one, two and three dimensions

In each of ethyl N‐{2‐amino‐5‐formyl‐6‐[methyl(phenyl)amino]pyrimidin‐4‐yl}glycinate, C₁₆H₁₉N₅O₃, (I), N‐{2‐amino‐5‐formyl‐6‐[methyl(phenyl)amino]pyrimidin‐4‐yl}glycinamide, C₁₄H₁₆N₆O₂, (II), and ethyl 3‐amino‐N‐{2‐amino‐5‐formyl‐6‐[methyl(phenyl)amino]pyrimidin‐4‐yl}propionate, C₁₇H₂₁N₅O₃, (III), the pyrimidine ring is effectively planar, but in each of methyl N‐{2‐amino‐6‐[benzyl(methyl)amino]‐5‐formylpyrimidin‐4‐yl}glycinate, C₁₆H₁₉N₅O₃, (IV), ethyl 3‐amino‐N‐{2‐amino‐6‐[benzyl(methyl)amino]‐5‐formylpyrimidin‐4‐yl}propionate, C₁₈H₂₃N₅O₃, (V), and ethyl 3‐amino‐N‐[2‐amino‐5‐formyl‐6‐(piperidin‐4‐yl)pyrimidin‐4‐yl]propionate, C₁₅H₂₃N₅O₃, (VI), the pyrimidine ring is folded into a boat conformation. The bond lengths in each of (I)–(VI) provide evidence for significant polarization of the electronic structure. The molecules of (I) are linked by paired N—H...N hydrogen bonds to form isolated dimeric aggregates, and those of (III) are linked by a combination of N—H...N and N—H...O hydrogen bonds into a chain of edge‐fused rings. In the structure of (IV), molecules are linked into sheets by means of two hydrogen bonds, both of N—H...O type, in the structure of (V) by three hydrogen bonds, two of N—H...N type and one of C—H...O type, and in the structure of (VI) by four hydrogen bonds, all of N—H...O type. Molecules of (II) are linked into a three‐dimensional framework structure by a combination of three N—H...O hydrogen bonds and one C—H...O hydrogen bond.     

Diastereoisomeric forms of 11‐ethyl‐6,11‐dihydro‐5H‐dibenzo[b,e]azepine‐6‐carboxamide: syntheses and the molecular and supramolecular structure of the minor form (6RS,11RS)‐11‐ethyl‐6,11‐dihydro‐5H‐dibenzo[b,e]azepine‐6‐carboxamide

Compounds containing the tricyclic dibenzo[b,e]azepine system have potential activity in the treatment of a number of diseases. Continuing with our studies on the synthesis of new small and potentially bioactive molecules, a synthetic route, involving acid‐catalysed intramolecular Friedel–Crafts cyclization, to the readily separable diastereoisomers of 11‐ethyl‐6,11‐dihydro‐5H‐dibenzo[b,e]azepine‐6‐carboxamide, a potentially useful precursor in the synthesis of analogues of some anti‐allergenic, antidepressant and antihistaminic drugs currently in use, has been developed starting from 2‐allylphenylamine and methyl 2‐bromo‐2‐phenylacetate and proceeding via racemic methyl 2‐[(2‐allylphenyl)amino]‐2‐phenylacetate (A) and racemic 2‐[(2‐allylphenyl)amino]‐2‐phenylacetamide (B), to give the two diastereoisomers (I) and (II), C₁₇H₁₈N₂O. Isomers (I) and (II), and their precursors (A) and (B), have all been fully characterized spectroscopically. Structure analysis of the minor isomer (I) shows that it has the (6RS,11RS) configuration, and that the azepine ring adopts a conformation intermediate between the boat and twist‐boat forms, with the carboxamide and ethyl substituents both occupying quasi‐equatorial sites. The molecules of (I) are linked by a combination of N—H…O, N—H…π(arene) and C—H…π(arene) hydrogen bonds to form complex sheets. Comparisons are made with the structures of some related compounds.     

Polar aspects of intramolecular interactions in 2‐amino‐5‐nitro‐4‐methylpyridines and 2‐amino‐3‐nitro‐4‐methylpyridines

The dipole moments of twelve 2‐N‐substituted amino‐5‐nitro‐4‐methylpyridines ( I‐XII ) and three 2‐N‐substituted amino‐3‐nitro‐4‐methylpyridines ( XIII‐XV ) were determined in benzene. The polar aspects of intramolecular charge‐transfer and intramolecular hydrogen bonding were discussed. The interaction dipole moments, μ_int, were calculated for 2‐N‐alkyl(or aryl)amino‐5‐nitro‐4‐methylpyridines. Increased alkylation of amino nitrogen brought about an intensified push‐pull interaction between the amino and nitro groups. The solvent effects on the dipole moments of 2‐N‐methylamino‐5‐nitro‐4‐methyl‐( I ), 2‐N,N‐dimethylamino‐5‐nitro‐4‐methyl‐ ( II ) and 2‐N‐methylamino‐3‐nitro‐4‐methylpyridines ( XIII ) were different. Specific hydrogen bond solute‐solvent interactions increased the charge‐transfer effect in I , but it did not disrupt the intramolecular hydrogen bond in XIII.     

(1R,8R,11R)‐3,3,11‐Tri­methyl‐6,6‐ethyl­ene­dioxy­bi­cyclo­[6.3.0]­undecan‐2‐one and (1R,2R,8R,11R)‐3,3,11‐tri­methyl‐6,6‐ethylenedioxybicyclo[6.3.0]undecan‐2‐ol

The reduction of (1R,8R,11R)‐3,3,11‐tri­methyl‐6,6‐ethyl­ene­dioxy­bi­cyclo­[6.3.0]­undecan‐2‐one, C₁₆H₂₆O₃, (I), gave exclusively an alcohol, C₁₆H₂₈O₃, (II). The stereochemistry of the hydroxyl group in (II) was shown as R. The conformation around the eight‐membered carbocycle in (I) differs markedly from that in (II).     

Targeting the Substrate Binding Site of E. coli Nitrile Reductase QueF by Modeling,Substrate and Enzyme Engineering

Nitrile reductase QueF catalyzes the reduction of 2‐amino‐5‐cyanopyrrolo[2,3‐d]pyrimidin‐4‐one (preQ₀) to 2‐amino‐5‐aminomethylpyrrolo[2,3‐d]pyrimidin‐4‐one (preQ₁) in the biosynthetic pathway of the hypermodified nucleoside queuosine. It is the only enzyme known to catalyze a reduction of a nitrile to its corresponding primary amine and could therefore expand the toolbox of biocatalytic reactions of nitriles. To evaluate this new oxidoreductase for application in biocatalytic reactions, investigation of its substrate scope is prerequisite. We report here an investigation of the active site binding properties and the substrate scope of nitrile reductase QueF from Escherichia coli. Screenings with simple nitrile structures revealed high substrate specificity. Consequently, binding interactions of the substrate to the active site were identified based on a new homology model of E. coli QueF and modeled complex structures of the natural and non‐natural substrates. Various structural analogues of the natural substrate preQ₀ were synthesized and screened with wild‐type QueF from E. coli and several active site mutants. Two amino acid residues Cys190 and Asp197 were shown to play an essential role in the catalytic mechanism. Three non‐natural substrates were identified and compared to the natural substrate regarding their specific activities by using wild‐type and mutant nitrile reductase.     

Conformational isomers of the [(5‐methyl‐2‐pyridinio)aminomethylene]diphosphonate dianion and [(5‐methyl‐2‐pyridyl)aminomethylene]diphosphonate trianion in salts with 4‐aminopyridine and ammonia

The crystal structures of two salts, products of the reactions between [(5‐methyl‐2‐pyridyl)aminomethylene]bis(phosphonic acid) and 4‐aminopyridine or ammonia, namely bis(4‐aminopyridinium) hydrogen [(5‐methyl‐2‐pyridinio)aminomethylene]diphosphonate 2.4‐hydrate, 2C₅H₇N₂⁺·C₇H₁₀N₂O₆P₂²⁻·2.4H₂O, (I), and triammonium hydrogen [(5‐methyl‐2‐pyridyl)aminomethylene]diphosphonate monohydrate, 3NH₄⁺·C₇H₉N₂O₆P₂³⁻·H₂O, (II), have been determined. In (I), the Z configuration of the ring N—C and amino N—H bonds of the bisphosphonate dianion with respect to the C_ring—N_amino bond is consistent with that of the parent zwitterion. Removing the H atom from the pyridyl N atom results in the opposite E configuration of the bisphosphonate trianion in (II). Compound (I) exhibits a three‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded network, in which 4‐aminopyridinium cations and water molecules are joined to ribbons composed of anionic dimers linked by O—H...O and N—H...O hydrogen bonds. The supramolecular motif resulting from a combination of these three interactions is a common phenomenon in crystals of all of the Z‐isomeric zwitterions of 4‐ and 5‐substituted (2‐pyridylaminomethylene)bis(phosphonic acid)s studied to date. In (II), ammonium cations and water molecules are linked to chains of trianions, resulting in the formation of double layers.     

Coenzyme B induced coordination of coenzyme M via its thiol group to Ni(I) of F430 in active methyl-coenzyme M reductase

Methyl-coenzyme M reductase (MCR) catalyzes the reaction of methyl-coenzyme M (CH3-S-CoM) with coenzyme B (HS-CoB) to methane and CoM-S-S-CoB. At the active site, it contains the nickel porphinoid F430, which has to be in the Ni(I) oxidation state for the enzyme to be active. How the substrates interact with the active site Ni(I) has remained elusive. We report here that coenzyme M (HS-CoM), which is a reversible competitive inhibitor to methyl-coenzyme M, interacts with its thiol group with the Ni(I) and that for interaction the simultaneous presence of coenzyme B is required. The evidence is based on X-band continuous wave EPR and Q-band hyperfine sublevel correlation spectroscopy of MCR in the red2 state induced with 33S-labeled coenzyme M and unlabeled coenzyme B.     

3,5‐Bis{3‐[4‐(dimethylamino)phenyl]prop‐2‐enylidene}‐1‐methyl‐4‐piperidone and 3,5‐bis[3‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)prop‐2‐enylidene]‐1‐methyl‐4‐piperidone: potential biophotonic materials

The structures of the title compounds, C₂₈H₃₃N₃O, (I), and C₂₆H₂₇NO₃, (II), together with their two‐photon absorption properties and fluorescence activities are reported. Molecules of (II) reside on crystallographic mirror planes containing the piperidone C=O group and N‐methyl H atoms. Because of the conjugation between the donor and acceptor parts, the central heterocycle in both (I) and (II) exhibits a flattened boat conformation, with deviations of the N atom and the opposite C atom from the planar fragment. The dihedral angles between the coplanar heterocyclic atoms and terminal C₆ rings are less than 20° in both (I) and (II). In (I), the N‐methyl group of the ring occupies an equatorial position, but in (II) it is positioned in an axial site. In the crystal structure of (I), weak intermolecular C—H...π(arene) and C—H...O steric contacts link the molecules along the a axis. In the crystal structure of (II), molecules form stacks along the b axis.     

Derivatives of Coenzyme F430 with a Covalently Attached α‐Axial Ligand. Part I

X‐Ray structures of the enzyme methyl‐coenzyme M reductase show that the Ni‐center in the prosthetic group coenzyme F430 is penta‐ or hexacoordinated with the carboxamide group of a glutamine residue occupying the axial coordination site on the α‐side of the macrocycle. To obtain diastereoselectively coordinated complexes for mechanistic and spectroscopic studies of the free coenzyme in solution, we aimed to prepare partial‐synthetic derivatives of coenzyme F430 that have a coordinating group attached via a linker to one of the propanoic acid side chains. By using molecular‐mechanics calculations and two different conformational search methods, a set of 50 structures containing imidazole or pyridine units as potential ligands were computationally tested according to geometric criteria defining coordinating conformations. The best candidates proved to be proline‐containing tri‐ and tetrapeptides with a methyl‐histidine as the C‐terminal residue. These linkers were synthesized, and their conformation was determined by NMR. Refinement of the molecular modeling by using the experimentally determined geometric restraints allowed us to decide that the tripeptide Pro‐Pro‐His(π‐Me)‐OMe ( 10 ) was the most promising of all tested structures for attachment to the side chain at C(3) or C(13) of F430.     

Similar molecular constitutions but different conformations and different supramolecular assemblies in two related fused tetracyclic benzo[b]pyrimido[5,4‐f]azepine derivatives

A simple and effective two‐step approach to tricyclic pyrimidine‐fused benzazepines has been adapted to give the tetracyclic analogues. In (RS)‐8‐chloro‐6‐methyl‐1,2,6,7‐tetrahydropyrimido[5′,4′:6,7]azepino[3,2,1‐hi]indole, C₁₅H₁₄ClN₃, (I), the five‐membered ring adopts an envelope conformation, as does the reduced pyridine ring in (RS)‐9‐chloro‐7‐methyl‐2,3,7,8‐tetrahydro‐1H‐pyrimido[5′,4′:6,7]azepino[3,2,1‐ij]quinoline, C₁₆H₁₆ClN₃, (II). However, the seven‐membered rings in (I) and (II) adopt very different conformations, with the result that the methyl substituent occupies a quasi‐axial site in (I) but a quasi‐equatorial site in (II). The molecules of (I) are linked by C—H...N hydrogen bonds to form C(5) chains and inversion‐related pairs of chains are linked by a π–π stacking interaction. A combination of a C—H...π hydrogen bond and two C—Cl...π interactions links the molecules of (II) into complex sheets. Comparisons are made with some similar fused heterocyclic compounds.     

Solvatomorphism in (E)‐2‐(2,6‐dichloro‐4‐hydroxybenzylidene)hydrazinecarboximidamide

The structures of orthorhombic (E)‐4‐(2‐{[amino(iminio)methyl]amino}vinyl)‐3,5‐dichlorophenolate dihydrate, C₈H₈Cl₂N₄O·2H₂O, (I), triclinic (E)‐4‐(2‐{[amino(iminio)methyl]amino}vinyl)‐3,5‐dichlorophenolate methanol disolvate, C₈H₈Cl₂N₄O·2CH₄O, (II), and orthorhombic (E)‐amino[(2,6‐dichloro‐4‐hydroxystyryl)amino]methaniminium acetate, C₈H₉Cl₂N₄O⁺·C₂H₃O₂⁻, (III), all crystallize with one formula unit in the asymmetric unit, with the molecule in an E configuration and the phenol H atom transferred to the guanidine N atom. Although the molecules of the title compounds form extended chains via hydrogen bonding in all three forms, owing to the presence of different solvent molecules, those chains are connected differently in the individual forms. In (II), the molecules are all coplanar, while in (I) and (III), adjacent molecules are tilted relative to one another to varying degrees. Also, because of the variation in hydrogen‐bond‐formation ability of the solvents, the hydrogen‐bonding arrangements vary in the three forms.     

On the mechanism of methyl-coenzyme M reductase

Methyl-coenzyme M reductase (MCR) catalyzes the reaction of methyl-coenzyme M (CH3-SCoM) and coenzyme B (HS-CoB) to methane and the corresponding heterodisulfide CoM-S-S-CoB. This unique reaction proceeds under strictly anaerobic conditions in the presence of coenzyme F430, a Ni-porphinoid. MCR is a large (alphabetagamma)2 heterohexameric protein complex containing two 50 A long active sites channels. Coenzyme F430 is embedded at the channel bottom and the substrates CH3-SCoM and HS-CoB bind in front of F430 into a solvent free and hydrophobic channel segment. Two principally different catalytic mechanisms are currently discussed. Mechanism I is based on a nucleophilic attack of Ni(I) onto the methyl group of CH3-SCoM yielding methyl-Ni(III) and mechanism II on an attack of Ni(I) onto the thioether sulfur of CH3-SCoM generating a Ni(II)-SCoM intermediate. Both mechanisms are discussed in the light of a large number of data collected about MCR over the last twenty years.