Molecular determinants for drug—receptor interactions: Part 2. An ab initio molecular orbital and dipole moment study of the novel nootropic agent piracetam (2-oxopyrrolidin-1-ylacetamide)

From the ab initio molecular energies of the possible conformers and from a classical dipole moment analysis of 2-oxopyrrolidin-1-ylacetamide (υ = 4.02 D in dioxan at 30.0°C), the preferred conformation in solution of this novel nootropic agent has been determined. The exocyclic NCH₂ bond is rotated in one sense by 90° and the exocyclic CH₂C bond rotated in the same sense by 120° from the “planar” (OO)-cis conformation. The structures of the two enantiomers in solution differ from that of the crystalline molecule.