Robust trans-amide helical structure of oligomers of bicyclic mimics of β-proline: impact of positional switching of bridgehead substituent on amide cis-trans equilibrium

J Org Chem. 2014 Jun 6;79(11):5287-300. doi: 10.1021/jo500916j. Epub 2014 May 16.

Abstract

Because homooligomers of 7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2-endo-carboxylic acid, a bridged β-proline analogue with a substituent installed at the remote C4-bridgehead position, completely biased the amide cis-trans equilibrium to the cis-amide structure, we expected that introduction of a substituent at the C1-bridgehead position adjacent to the carboxylic acid moiety, rather than the remote C4-bridgehead position, would tip the cis-trans amide equilibrium toward trans-amide structure without the aid of hydrogen bonding. Thus, in this work we established an efficient synthetic route to an optically active bicyclic analogue of 1,1-disubstituted β-proline, bearing a substituent at the C1-bridgehead position. Crystallographic, spectroscopic, and computational studies showed that indeed oligomers of this analogue take a consistent helical structure involving all-trans-amide linkages, independently of the number of residues, from the dimer up to the octamer. Oligomers composed of (R)-β-amino acid units form an extended left-handed helix with about 2.7 residues per turn and an approximately 4.0 Å rise per residue, characterized by complete lack of main-chain hydrogen bonding. This unique helical structure shows some similarity in shape to the trans-amide-based polyproline II (PPII) helix. The present helix was stable in various kinds of solvents such as alcohols. The present work provided a fundamental structural basis for future applications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amides / chemistry*
  • Amino Acids / chemistry*
  • Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic / chemical synthesis*
  • Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic / chemistry
  • Carboxylic Acids / chemistry*
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Hydrogen Bonding
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Proline / analogs & derivatives*
  • Proline / chemistry
  • Protein Conformation
  • Stereoisomerism

Substances

  • 7-azabicyclo(2.2.1)heptane-2-endo-carboxylic acid
  • Amides
  • Amino Acids
  • Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic
  • Carboxylic Acids
  • Peptides
  • polyproline
  • Proline
  • beta-proline