Synthesis and Solid-State Dynamics of a Crystalline Steroid Molecular Rotor without the Alkyne Axle: Steroid Dimers Based on a 1,4-Di(1,3-dioxan-2-yl)benzene Moiety

J Org Chem. 2020 Jul 2;85(13):8501-8509. doi: 10.1021/acs.joc.0c00867. Epub 2020 Jun 12.

Abstract

Two diastereomeric crystalline steroid dimers were obtained by acid-catalyzed double acetalization of (20S)-5α-pregnan-3β,16β,20-triol 3-monoacetate with terephtalaldehyde. These compounds were characterized by NMR in solution, MS, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and variable-temperature solid-state NMR by 13C cross-polarization magic angle spinning (CPMAS). While the phenylene rotator in the SR diastereomer remains static even at 373 K, the RR isomer shows a slow rotational process of the phenylene ring at temperatures above room temperature and thus may be considered the first crystalline steroid molecular rotor without the alkyne axle.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't