Atropisomerism in Hindered Naphthyl Sulfoxides: Structure, Stereodynamics, and Chiral Resolution.

Barriers for the EZ interconversion of atropisomers of 1-naphthyl sulfoxides (ArSOR) having a methyl group at position 2 of the naphthalene moiety were measured by variable-temperature NMR. Their values were found to cover the range 10.6-18.4 kcal mol-1, the extreme values corresponding to derivatives 1 (R = Me) and 4 (R = Bu(t)), respectively. NOE and LIS measurements indicated that the Z atropisomer is more stable than the E but that the absence of the methyl group at position 2 of the naphthalene moiety reverses this trend, rendering E more stable than Z. Solid-state NMR and X-ray diffraction of 4 established that only the more stable atropisomer (Z) is present in the crystalline state. Molecular mechanics calculations suggest that the Z,E interconversion process might occur by a rotation pathway having an opposite direction in the case of the more hindered derivatives 3 and 4 (R = Pr(i) and Bu(t), respectively) with respect to the less hindered 1 and 2 (R = Me and Et, respectively). The enantiomers, which are due to the presence of the asymmetric sulfur atom, were resolved on a chiral stationary phase (DACH-DNB) having an SS configuration. Asymmetric oxidation reactions were employed to assign the absolute R configuration to the more retained enantiomers of alkyl aryl sulfoxides. The opposite trend (S being retained longer) was observed for diaryl sulfoxides such as 5 (R = Ph). In the case of the derivative with the largest interconversion barrier, sulfoxide 4, it was also possible to resolve (at -35-degrees-C) the two enantiomeric forms and their associated atropisomers. The use of on-line CD detection and the knowledge of the NMR assignments allowed us to unambiguously assign the elution order of the four species as ES, ER, ZS, ZR

Conformational Studies by Dynamic NMR.Part 48. Conformational Preferences and Stereomutational Processes of the Rotational Enantiomers of Hindered Naphthylimines and Imonium Salts.

A number of 1-naphthylimines (and some of the corresponding imonium chlorides), having the isopropyl group as a prochiral probe, have been synthesized and their configurations assigned by the combined use of NOE experiments and molecular mechanics calculations. This method also provides reliable information about the conformations adopted in solution. The existence of diastereotopic methyl groups in the isopropyl moiety indicates the presence of conformational enantiomers, due to the rotation about the naphthyl–imino bond in nonplanar conformers. The barriers for the stereomutation of such enantiomeric forms have been determined by line-shape analysis of the temperature-dependent 1H or 13C signals of the prochiral probe. Molecular mechanics calculations have also helped in suggesting which is the preferred stereomutation pathway and in predicting the existence of a derivative having configurationally stable enantiomers. Such a compound has been synthesized and is found to display the predicted property (atropisomerism), in that the two enantiomers can be separate

Conformational Studies by Dynamic Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. Part 29.Interchange of Symmetry between the Ground and Excited Rotational States of the Isomeric N,N-Diisopropylnaphthylamines.

Abstract Low temperature NMR spectra show that the rotational ground state of N,N-diisopropyl-1-naphthylamine is perpendicular whereas that of its isomer (N,N-diisopropyl-2-naphthylamine) is planar: their rotational barriers have been measured (15.4 and 6.3 Kcal/mol respectively)

The photoreactions of simple amides with NO. Gaining insight into radical bio-damages through an EPR case study.

Eight simple amides have been subjected to UV irradiation in the presence of either MNP or NO. In all cases radical species were generated: these were detected by means of EPR spectroscopy in the form of different nitroxides resulting from the trapping of the primary radicals. NO acted as a double spin trap, scavenging a radical to afford a diamagnetic nitroso derivative that in turn acted as trap towards another radical unit. As amido-groups are present in components of skin tissue and may be present in many therapeutic or cosmetic products used as skin sunscreen, and NO is a ubiquitous endogenous reactive species, the nitroxides detected in the present studies might participate in radical processes triggered by sun exposure and resulting in damages, even severe, of biological tissues

Conformational studies by dynamic NMR. XII. Conformational interchanges in tosyl hydrazides

The title compds. p-MeC6H4SO2NRNR1COMe (R = H, Me; R1 = H, Ph) exist as 2 conformational isomers because of restricted rotation about the N-carbonyl bond. Rotational barriers are detd. by total line shape anal. of 13C NMR spectroscopy