Conformational Analysis with Carbon−Carbon Coupling Constants. A Density Functional and Molecular Mechanics Study

Evaluating the accuracy of theoretical one-bond 13 C─13 C scalar couplings and their ability to predict structure in a natural product

This study explores the feasibility of using a combination of experimental and theoretical 1-bond ¹³ C─¹³ C scalar couplings (¹ J_CC ) to establish structure in organic compounds, including unknowns. Historically, ⁿ J_CC and ⁿ J_CH studies have emphasized 2 and 3-bond couplings, yet ¹ J_CC couplings exhibit significantly larger variations. Moreover, recent improvements in experimental measurement and data processing methods have made ¹ J_CC data more available. Herein, an approach is evaluated in which a collection of theoretical structures is created from a partial nuclear magnetic resonance structural characterization. Computed ¹ J_CC values are compared to experimental data to identify candidates giving the best agreement. This process requires knowledge of the error in theoretical methods, thus the B3LYP, B3PW91, and PBE0 functionals are evaluated by comparing to 27 experimental values from INADEQUATE. Respective errors of ±1.2, ±3.8, and ±2.3 Hz are observed. An initial test of this methodology involves the natural product 5-methylmellein. In this case, only a single candidate matches experimental data with high statistical confidence. This analysis establishes the intramolecular hydrogen-bonding arrangement, ring heteroatom identity, and conformation at one position. This approach is then extended to hydroheptelidic acid, a natural product not fully characterized in prior studies. The experimental/theoretical approach proposed herein identifies a single best-fit structure from among 26 candidates and establishes, for the first time, 1 configuration and 3 conformations to complete the characterization. These results suggest that accurate and complete structural characterizations of many moderately sized organic structures (<800 Da) may be possible using only ¹ J_CC data.

Modeling NMR parameters by DFT methods as an aid to the conformational analysis of cis-fused 7a(8a)-methyl octa(hexa)hydrocyclopenta[d][1,3]oxazines and [3,1]benzoxazines

The energies of the preferred conformations of four 7a-methyl octa(or hexa)hydrocyclopenta[d][1,3]oxazines, five 8a-methyl octa(or hexa)hydro[3,1]benzoxazines, and 8a-methyl hexahydro[1,3]benzoxazinone, all cis-fused, were investigated by DFT methods. Following geometry optimization at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level, both the proton chemical shifts and the vicinal coupling constants between H-4a and the H-4 and H-5 protons were calculated at the B3LYP/cc-pVTZ level and compared to the previously experimentally measured values. The agreement between the calculated and the experimental chemical shifts was found to be good. Similarly, the agreement between the calculated and the experimental vicinal coupling constants was also found to be good, thus providing a methodology for determining the conformational equilibria of such systems that is comparable in many respects to experimental approaches such as variable-temperature NMR or to the use of model coupling constant values, when available, from analogous compounds.

2-Deoxy-beta-D-erythro-pentofuranose: hydroxymethyl group conformation and substituent effects on molecular structure, ring geometry, and NMR spin-spin coupling constants from quantum chemical calculations

The effect of hydroxymethyl conformation (gg, gt, and tg rotamers about the C4-C5 bond) on the conformational energies and structural parameters (bond lengths, bond angles, bond torsions) of the 10 envelope forms of the biologically relevant aldopentofuranose, 2-deoxy-beta-D-erythro-pentofuranose (2-deoxy-D-ribofuranose) 2, has been investigated by ab initio molecular orbital calculations at the HF/6-31G level of theory. C4-C5 bond rotation induces significant changes in the conformational energy profile of 2 (2gt and 2tg exhibit one global energy minimum, whereas 2gg exhibits two nearly equivalent energy minima), and structural changes, especially those in bond lengths, are consistent with predictions based on previously reported vicinal, 1,3- and 1,4-oxygen lone pair effects. HF/6-31G-optimized envelope geometries of 2gg were re-optimized using density functional theory (DFT, B3LYP/6-31G), and the resulting structures were used in DFT calculations of NMR spin-spin coupling constants involving 13C (i.e., J(CH) and J(CC) over one, two, and three bonds) in 2gg according to methods described previously. The computed J-couplings were compared to those reported previously in 2gt to assess the effect of C4-C5 bond rotation on scalar couplings within the furanose ring and hydroxymethyl side chain. The results confirm prior predictions of correlations between 2J(CH), 3J(CH), 2J(CC) and 3J(CC), and ring conformation, and verify the usefulness of a concerted application of these couplings (both their magnitudes and signs) in assigning preferred ring and C4-C5 bond conformations in aldopentofuranosyl rings. The new calculated J-couplings in 2gg have particular relevance to related J-couplings in DNA (and RNA indirectly), where the gg rotamer, rather than the gt rotamer, is observed in most native structures. The effects of two additional structural perturbations on 2 were also studied, namely, deoxygenation at C5 (yielding 2,5-dideoxy-beta-D-erythro-pentofuranose 4) and methyl glycosidation at O1 (yielding methyl 2-deoxy-beta-D-erythro-pentofuranoside 5) at the HF/6-31G level. The conformational energy profile of 4 resembles that found for 2gt, not 2gg, indicating that 4 is an inappropriate structural mimic of the furanose ring in DNA. Glycosidation failed to induce differential stabilization of ring conformations containing an axial C1-O1 bond (anomeric effect), contrary to experimental data. The latter discrepancy indicates that either the magnitude of this differential stabilization depends on ring configuration or that solvent effects, which are neglected in these calculations, play a role in promoting this stabilization.