Conformational Analysis and Intramolecular Interactions in Aminofluorobenzoic Acids

Conformational equilibrium of phenylacetic acid and its halogenated analogues through theoretical studies, NMR and IR spectroscopy

This paper presents a study on the conformational preferences of phenylacetic acid (PA) and its halogenated analogues (FPA, CPA, BPA). To clarify the effects that rule these molecules' behaviour, theoretical calculations were used, for both the isolated phase and solution, combined with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. Most conformations of phenylacetic acid and its halogenated derivatives are stabilized through the hyperconjugative effect, which rules the conformational preference. NMR analyses showed that even with the variation in medium polarity, there was no significant change in the conformation population. Infrared spectroscopy showed similar results for all compounds under study. In most spectra, two bands were found through the carbonyl deconvolution, which is in accordance with the theoretical data. It was possible to prove that variation in the nature of the substituent in the ortho position had no significant influence on the conformational equilibrium.

The acidity of β-phosphoglucomutase monofluoromethylenephosphonate ligands probed by NMR spectroscopy and quantum mechanical methods

We recently described the binding of 1-β-phosphonomethylene-1-deoxy-d-glucopyranose, (S)-1-β-phosphonofluoromethylene-1-deoxy-D-glucopyranose (βG1CFSP), and (R)-1-β-phosphonofluoromethylene-1-deoxy-d-glucopyranose (βG1CFRP) to the enzyme β-phosphoglucomutase as transition state analogues of phosphoryl transfer through formation of stable MgF3− and AlF4− complexes (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 2014, 111, 12384). Herein, we describe in detail the five-fold difference in acidity (pKa2) for the (S)- and (R)-configured diastereomeric fluorophosphonates through a series of NMR spectroscopy experiments. The differences in acidity were corroborated using computational quantum mechanical calculations to determine structures of lowest energy conformers and provide insight into why the (S) isomer is substantially more acidic.

Is the bioconformation of 5-deoxy-5-fluoro-d-xylulose affected by intramolecular hydrogen bonds?

5-Deoxy-5-fluoro-d-xylulose (DFX) binds to the xylulokinase enzyme and, as a free ligand, it has preferential conformations governed by intramolecular interactions, such as hydrogen bonds and hyperconjugative interactions.

Conformational analysis and intramolecular interactions in monosubstituted phenylboranes and phenylboronic acids

A ^1TSJ_F,H(O) coupling pathway, dictated by a hydrogen bond, in some 2-fluorobenzoic acids has been observed, while such an interaction does not occur in 2-fluorophenol. Thus, this work reports the conformational analysis of 2-fluorophenylboronic acid (1), in order to evaluate a possible intramolecular OH∙∙∙F hydrogen bond in comparison to an n_F→p_B interaction, which mimics the quantum n_F→σ*_OH hydrogen bond that would be expected in 2-fluorophenol. 2-Fluorophenylborane (3), which does not experience hydrogen bonding, was used to verify whether n_F→p_B interaction governs the conformational equilibrium in 1 due to a predominant OH∙∙∙F hydrogen bond or to other effects. A series of 2-X-phenylboranes (X = Cl, Br, NH₂, PH₂, OH and SH) were further computationally analyzed to search for electron donors to boron, capable of influencing the conformational equilibrium. Overall, the intramolecular OH∙∙∙F hydrogen bond in 1 is quite stabilizing and dictates the ^1hJ_F,H(O) coupling constant. Moreover, electron donation to the empty p orbital of boron (for noncoplanar BH₂ moiety relative to the phenyl ring) is also significantly stabilizing for the NH₂ and PH₂ derivatives, but not enough to make the corresponding conformers appreciably populated, because of steric effects and the loss of π_CC→p_B resonance. Thus, the results found earlier for 2-fluorophenol about the lack of intramolecular hydrogen bonding are now corroborated.

Enabling nucleophilic substitution reactions of activated alkyl fluorides through hydrogen bonding

It was discovered that the presence of water as a cosolvent enables the reaction of activated alkyl fluorides for bimolecular nucleophilic substitution reactions. DFT calculations show that activation proceeds through stabilization of the transition structure by a stronger F···H2O interaction and diminishing C-F bond elongation, and not simple transition state electrostatic stabilization. Overall, the findings put forward a distinct strategy for C-F bond activation through H-bonding.