Asymmetric transformation of N-nitrosamines by inclusion crystallization with optically active hosts

J Org Chem. 2001 Jan 26;66(2):501-6. doi: 10.1021/jo001311v.

Abstract

Several N-nitrosopiperidines with chirality solely due to a hindered rotation about the N-N bond were resolved to enantiomers by inclusion crystallization with optically active diols (TADDOLs). The absolute configuration of the guest nitrosamines was deduced from the X-ray crystal structures of the inclusion complexes. The enclathrated nitrosamines were liberated by a competitive complexation of the host diols with piperazine. The optical activity of the resolved nitrosamines is manifested by their CD spectra. A simple chirality rule was proposed for a rationalization of the observed Cotton effect sign corresponding to the n-pi* electronic transition. The optically active nitrosamines are configurationally labile compounds and gradually racemize in solution but they are indefinitely stable in the solid state. The first-order kinetics of the racemization in solution allowed us to assign the N-N rotation barriers by simple polarimetric measurements.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Crystallization
  • Crystallography, X-Ray / methods
  • Isomerism
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nitrosamines / chemistry*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Nitrosamines