Self-association as a solubility limiting factor of riboflavin in aqueous media.

Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of needle shaped riboflavin (RF) crystals revealed π-stacking of RF's isoalloxazine units (distance: 3.643-3.313 Å) with syn-orientated ribityl chains. In line with this, classical molecular dynamics (MD) (400 ns) using an isobaric-isothermal (NPT) ensemble of eight RF in a water box (〈V〉 ∼ 508.62 nm3, 〈p〉 = 1.11 bar) revealed anti-aligned aggregation of RF in water (COM-distance: 4 Å). Comparing umbrella sampling for the separation of two RF molecules to the separation of two lumichrome molecules, the similar mean potential force for the separation of RF and lumichrome (22.8 kJ mol-1; 24.4 kJ mol-1) proved dispersive interactions as the origin of RF's aggregation. Though stacking of RF is the major water-solubility limiting factor, the conformation of RF's ribityl chain may alter the solubility in water. Both, MD (in water) and COSMO-RS (in water continuum) predicted that conformations of RF with an extended ribityl chain are thermodynamically preferred over any conformations with internal hydrogen bonds between hydroxyl groups and nitrogen/oxygen atoms of the pyrimidine moiety of the flavin ring. Interestingly, COSMO-RS predicted the solubility of the extended conformation to be significantly lower than the latter leading to the very low average solubility of RF. Nuclear Overhauser effect measurements (NOESY) of the structurally related sodium riboflavin 5'-monophosphate (RF-PO4) in deuterium oxide confirmed π-stacking of the isoalloxazine rings. In conformity with the 350 times higher water-solubility of RF-PO4, NOESY also indicated a contorted conformation of the ribityl phosphate chain, whereas, for RF, indications for a contorted chain were not observed.

Improvement of the Solubilization and Extraction of Curcumin in an Edible Ternary Solvent Mixture.

A water-free, ternary solvent mixture consisting of a natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES), ethanol, and triacetin was investigated concerning its ability to dissolve and extract curcumin from Curcuma longa L. To this purpose, 11 NADES based on choline chloride, acetylcholine, and proline were screened using UV-vis measurements. A ternary phase diagram with a particularly promising NADES, based on choline chloride and levulinic acid was recorded and the solubility domains of the monophasic region were examined and correlated with the system's structuring via light scattering experiments. At the optimum composition, close to the critical point, the solubility of curcumin could be enhanced by a factor of >1.5 with respect to acetone. In extraction experiments, conducted at the points of highest solubility and evaluated via HPLC, a total yield of ~84% curcuminoids per rhizome could be reached. Through multiple extraction cycles, reusing the extraction solvent, an enrichment of curcuminoids could be achieved while altering the solution. When counteracting the solvent change, even higher concentrated extracts can be obtained.

Disulfonimides versus Phosphoric Acids in Brønsted Acid Catalysis: The Effect of Weak Hydrogen Bonds and Multiple Acceptors on Complex Structures and Reactivity.

In Brønsted acid catalysis, hydrogen bonds play a crucial role for reactivity and selectivity. However, the contribution of weak hydrogen bonds or multiple acceptors has been unclear so far since it is extremely difficult to collect experimental evidence for weak hydrogen bonds. Here, our hydrogen bond and structural access to Brønsted acid/imine complexes was used to analyze BINOL-derived chiral disulfonimide (DSI)/imine complexes. 1H and 15N chemical shifts as well as 1JNH coupling constants revealed for DSI/imine complexes ion pairs with very weak hydrogen bonds. The high acidity of the DSIs leads to a significant weakening of the hydrogen bond as structural anchor. In addition, the five hydrogen bond acceptors of DSI allow an enormous mobility of the imine in the binary DSI complexes. Theoretical calculations predict the hydrogen bonds to oxygen to be energetically less favored; however, their considerable population is corroborated experimentally by NOE and exchange data. Furthermore, an N-alkylimine, which shows excellent reactivity and selectivity in reactions with DSI, reveals an enlarged structural space in complexes with the chiral phosphoric acid TRIP as potential explanation of its reduced reactivity and selectivity. Thus, considering factors such as flexibility and possible hydrogen bond sites is essential for catalyst development in Brønsted acid catalysis.

Relaxation Dispersion NMR to Reveal Fast Dynamics in Brønsted Acid Catalysis: Influence of Sterics and H-Bond Strength on Conformations and Substrate Hopping.

NMR provides both structural and dynamic information, which is key to connecting intermediates and to understanding reaction pathways. However, fast exchanging catalytic intermediates are often inaccessible by conventional NMR due its limited time resolution. Here, we show the combined application of the 1H off-resonance R1ρ NMR method and low temperature (185-175 K) to resolve intermediates exchanging on a µs time scale (ns at room temperature). The potential of the approach is demonstrated on chiral phosphoric acid (CPA) catalysts in their complexes with imines. The otherwise inaccessible exchange kinetics of the E-I ⇌ E-II imine conformations and thermodynamic E-I:E-II imine ratios inside the catalyst pocket are experimentally determined and corroborated by calculations. The E-I ⇌ E-II exchange rate constants (kex185 K) for different catalyst-substrate binary complexes varied between 2500 and 19 000 s-1 (τex = 500-50 µs). Theoretical analysis of these exchange rate constants revealed the involvement of an intermediary tilted conformation E-III, which structurally resembles the hydride transfer transition state. The main E-I and E-II exchange pathway is a hydrogen bond strength dependent tilting-switching-tilting mechanism via a bifurcated hydrogen bond as a transition state. The reduction in the sterics of the catalyst showed an accelerated switching process by at least an order of magnitude and enabled an additional rotational pathway. Hence, the exchange process is mainly a function of the intrinsic properties of the 3,3'-substituents of the catalyst. Overall, we believe that the present study opens a new dimension in catalysis via experimental access to structures, populations, and kinetics of catalyst-substrate complexes on the µs time scale by the 1H off-resonance R1ρ method.

Brønsted acid catalysis - the effect of 3,3'-substituents on the structural space and the stabilization of imine/phosphoric acid complexes.

BINOL derived chiral phosphoric acids (CPAs) are widely known for their high selectivity. Numerous 3,3'-substituents are used for a variety of stereoselective reactions and theoretical models of their effects are provided. However, experimental data about the structural space of CPA complexes in solution is extremely rare and so far restricted to NMR investigations of binary TRIP/imine complexes featuring two E- and two Z-imine conformations. Therefore, in this paper the structural space of 16 CPA/imine binary complexes is screened and 8 of them are investigated in detail by NMR. For the first time dimers of CPA/imine complexes in solution were experimentally identified, which show an imine position similar to the transition state in transfer hydrogenations. Furthermore, our experimental and computational data revealed an astonishing invariance of the four core structures regardless of the different steric and electronic properties of the 3,3'-substituent. However, a significant variation of E/Z-ratios is observed, demonstrating a strong influence of the 3,3'-substituents on the stabilization of the imine in the complexes. These experimental E/Z-ratios cannot be reproduced by calculations commonly applied for mechanistic studies, despite extensive conformational scans and treatment of the electronic structure at a high level of theory with various implicit solvent corrections. Thus, these first detailed experimental data about the structural space and influence of the 3,3'-substituent on the energetics of CPA/imine complexes can serve as basis to validate and improve theoretical predictive models.

Photoinitiated carbonyl-metathesis: deoxygenative reductive olefination of aromatic aldehydes via photoredox catalysis.

Carbonyl-carbonyl olefination, known as McMurry reaction, represents a powerful strategy for the construction of olefins. However, catalytic variants that directly couple two carbonyl groups in a single reaction are less explored. Here, we report a photoredox-catalysis that uses B2pin2 as terminal reductant and oxygen trap allowing for deoxygenative olefination of aromatic aldehydes under mild conditions. This strategy provides access to a diverse range of symmetrical and unsymmetrical alkenes with moderate to high yield (up to 83%) and functional-group tolerance. To follow the reaction pathway, a series of experiments were conducted including radical inhibition, deuterium labelling, fluorescence quenching and cyclic voltammetry. Furthermore, NMR studies and DFT calculations were combined to detect and analyze three active intermediates: a cyclic three-membered anionic species, an α-oxyboryl carbanion and a 1,1-benzyldiboronate ester. Based on these results, we propose a mechanism for the C[double bond, length as m-dash]C bond generation involving a sequential radical borylation, "bora-Brook" rearrangement, B2pin2-mediated deoxygenation and a boron-Wittig process.

Elusive Zintl Ions [µ-HSi4 ]3- and [Si5 ]2- in Liquid Ammonia: Protonation States, Sites, and Bonding Situation Evaluated by NMR and Theory.

The existence of [µ-HSi4 ]3- in liquid ammonia solutions is confirmed by 1 H and 29 Si NMR experiments. Both NMR and quantum chemical calculations reveal that the H atom bridges two Si atoms of the [Si4 ]4- cluster, contrary to the expectation that it is located at one vertex Si of the tetrahedron. The calculations also indicate that in the formation of [µ-HSi4 ]3- , protonation is driven by a high charge density and an increase of electron delocalization compared to [Si4 ]4- . Additionally, [Si5 ]2- was detected for the first time and characterized by NMR. Calculations show that it is resistant to protonation, owing to a strong charge delocalization, which is significantly reduced upon protonation. Thus, our methods reveal three silicides in liquid ammonia: unprotonated [Si5 ]2- , terminally protonated [HSi9 ]3- , and bridge-protonated [µ-HSi4 ]3- . The protonation trend can be roughly predicted by the difference in charge delocalization between the parent compound and the product, which can be finely tuned by the presence of counter ions in solution.

Internal acidity scale and reactivity evaluation of chiral phosphoric acids with different 3,3'-substituents in Brønsted acid catalysis.

The concept of hydrogen bonding for enhancing substrate binding and controlling selectivity and reactivity is central in catalysis. However, the properties of these key hydrogen bonds and their catalyst-dependent variations are extremely difficult to determine directly by experiments. Here, for the first time the hydrogen bond properties of a whole series of BINOL-derived chiral phosphoric acid (CPA) catalysts in their substrate complexes with various imines were investigated to derive the influence of different 3,3'-substituents on the acidity and reactivity. NMR 1H and 15N chemical shifts and 1 J NH coupling constants of these hydrogen bonds were used to establish an internal acidity scale corroborated by calculations. Deviations from calculated external acidities reveal the importance of intermolecular interactions for this key feature of CPAs. For CPAs with similarly sized binding pockets, a correlation of reactivity and hydrogen bond strengths of the catalyst was found. A catalyst with a very small binding pocket showed significantly reduced reactivities. Therefore, NMR isomerization kinetics, population and chemical shift analyses of binary and ternary complexes as well as reaction kinetics were performed to address the steps of the transfer hydrogenation influencing the overall reaction rate. The results of CPAs with different 3,3'-substituents show a delicate balance between the isomerization and the ternary complex formation to be rate-determining. For CPAs with an identical acidic motif and similar sterics, reactivity and internal acidity correlated inversely. In cases where higher sterical demand within the binary complex hinders the binding of the second substrate, the correlation between acidity and reactivity breaks down.

The Structure of [HSi9 ]3- in the Solid State and Its Unexpected Highly Dynamic Behavior in Solution.

We report on the first unambiguous detection of the elusive [HSi9 ]3- anion in solutions of liquid ammonia by various 29 Si and 1 H NMR experiments including chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST). The characteristic multiplicity patterns of both the 29 Si and 1 H resonances together with CEST and a partially reduced 1 H,29 Si coupling constant indicate the presence of a highly dynamic Si8 entity and a Si-H moiety with slow proton hopping. Theoretical calculations corroborate both reorganization of Si8 on the picosecond timescale via low vibrational modes and proton hopping. In addition, in a single-crystal X-ray study of (K(DB[18]crown-6))(K([2.2.2]crypt))2 [HSi9 ]⋅8.5 NH3 , the H atom was unequivocally localized at one vertex of the basal square of the monocapped square-antiprismatic cluster. Thus experimental studies and theoretical considerations provide unprecedented insight into both the structure and the dynamic behavior of these cluster anions, which hitherto had been considered to be rigid.

Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer in Chemical Reactions: A Mechanistic Tool for NMR Detection and Characterization of Transient Intermediates.

The low sensitivity of NMR and transient key intermediates below detection limit are the central problems studying reaction mechanisms by NMR. Sensitivity can be enhanced by hyperpolarization techniques such as dynamic nuclear polarization or the incorporation/interaction of special hyperpolarized molecules. However, all of these techniques require special equipment, are restricted to selective reactions, or undesirably influence the reaction pathways. Here, we apply the chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) technique for the first time to NMR detect and characterize previously unobserved transient reaction intermediates in organocatalysis. The higher sensitivity of CEST and chemical equilibria present in the reaction pathway are exploited to access population and kinetics information on low populated intermediates. The potential of the method is demonstrated on the proline-catalyzed enamine formation for unprecedented in situ detection of a DPU stabilized zwitterionic iminium species, the elusive key intermediate between enamine and oxazolidinones. The quantitative analysis of CEST data at 250 K revealed the population ratio of [Z-iminium]/[exo-oxazolidinone] 0.02, relative free energy +8.1 kJ/mol (calculated +7.3 kJ/mol), and free energy barrier of +45.9 kJ/mol (ΔG⧧calc.(268 K) = +42.2 kJ/mol) for Z-iminium → exo-oxazolidinone. The findings underpin the iminium ion participation in enamine formation pathway corroborating our earlier theoretical prediction and help in better understanding. The reliability of CEST is validated using 1D EXSY-build-up techniques at low temperature (213 K). The CEST method thus serves as a new tool for mechanistic investigations in organocatalysis to access key information, such as chemical shifts, populations, and reaction kinetics of intermediates below the standard NMR detection limit.

Enamine/Dienamine and Brønsted Acid Catalysis: Elusive Intermediates, Reaction Mechanisms, and Stereoinduction Modes Based on in Situ NMR Spectroscopy and Computational Studies.

Over the years, the field of enantioselective organocatalysis has seen unparalleled growth in the development of novel synthetic applications with respect to mechanistic investigations. Reaction optimization appeared to be rather empirical than rational. This offset between synthetic development and mechanistic understanding was and is generally due to the difficulties in detecting reactive intermediates and the inability to experimentally evaluate transition states. Thus, the first key point for mechanistic studies is detecting elusive intermediates and characterizing them in terms of their structure, stability, formation pathways, and kinetic properties. The second key point is evaluating the importance of these intermediates and their properties in the transition state. In the past 7 years, our group has addressed the problems with detecting elusive intermediates in organocatalysis by means of NMR spectroscopy and eventually theoretical calculations. Two main activation modes were extensively investigated: secondary amine catalysis and, very recently, Brønsted acid catalysis. Using these examples, we discuss potential methods to stabilize intermediates via intermolecular interactions; to elucidate their structures, formation pathways and kinetics; to change the kinetics of the reactions; and to address their relevance in transition states. The elusive enamine in proline-catalyzed aldol reactions is used as an example of the stabilization of intermediates via inter- and intramolecular interactions; the determination of kinetics on its formation pathway is discussed. Classical structural characterization of intermediates is described using prolinol and prolinol ether enamines and dienamines. The Z/E dilemma for the second double bond of the dienamines shows how the kinetics of a reaction can be changed to allow for the detection of reaction intermediates. We recently started to investigate substrate-catalyst complexes in the field of Brønsted acid catalysis. These studies on imine/chiral phosphoric acid complexes show that an appropriate combination of highly developed NMR and theoretical methods can provide detailed insights into the complicated structures, exchange kinetics, and H-bonding properties of chiral ion pairs. Furthermore, the merging of these structural investigations and photoisomerization even allowed the active transition state combinations to be determined for the first time on the basis of experimental data only, which is the gold standard in mechanistic investigations and was previously thought to be exclusively the domain of theoretical calculations. Thus, this Account summarizes our recent mechanistic work in the field of organocatalysis and explains the potential methods for addressing the central questions in mechanistic studies: stabilization of intermediates, elucidation of structures and formation pathways, and addressing transition state combinations experimentally.

Decrypting Transition States by Light: Photoisomerization as a Mechanistic Tool in Brønsted Acid Catalysis.

Despite the wide applicability of enantioselective Brønsted acid catalysis, experimental insight into transition states is very rare, and most of the mechanistic knowledge is gained by theoretical calculations. Here, we present an alternative approach (decrypting transition state by light = DTS-hν), which enables the decryption of the transition states involved in chiral phosphoric acids catalyzed addition of nucleophiles to imines. Photoisomerization of double bonds is employed as a mechanistic tool. For this class of reactions four pathways (Type I Z, Type I E, Type II Z, Type II E) are possible, leading to different enantiomers depending on the imine configuration (E- or Z-imine) and on the nucleophilic attack site (top or bottom). We demonstrated that the imine double bond can be isomerized by light (365 nm LED) during the reaction leading to a characteristic fingerprint pattern of changes in reaction rate and enantioselectivity. This characteristic fingerprint pattern is directly correlated to the transition states involved in the transformation. Type I Z and Type II Z are demonstrated to be the competing pathways for the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketimines, while in the nucleophilic addition of acetylacetone to N-Boc protected aldimines Type I E and Type II E are active. Accelerations on reaction rate up to 177% were observed for ketimines reduction. Our experimental findings are supported by quantum chemical calculations and noncovalent interaction analysis.

Brønsted Acid Catalysis-Structural Preferences and Mobility in Imine/Phosphoric Acid Complexes.

Despite the huge success of enantioselective Brønsted acid catalysis, experimental data about structures and activation modes of substrate/catalyst complexes in solution are very rare. Here, for the first time, detailed insights into the structures of imine/Brønsted acid catalyst complexes are presented on the basis of NMR data and underpinned by theoretical calculations. The chiral Brønsted acid catalyst R-TRIP (3,3'-bis(2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl)-1,1'-binaphthyl-2,2'-diyl hydrogen phosphate) was investigated together with six aromatic imines. For each investigated system, an E-imine/R-TRIP complex and a Z-imine/R-TRIP complex were observed. Each of these complexes consists of two structures, which are in fast exchange on the NMR time scale; i.e., overall four structures were found. Both identified E-imine/R-TRIP structures feature a strong hydrogen bond but differ in the orientation of the imine relative to the catalyst. The exchange occurs by tilting the imine inside the complex and thereby switching the oxygen that constitutes the hydrogen bond. A similar situation is observed for all investigated Z-imine/R-TRIP complexes. Here, an additional exchange pathway is opened via rotation of the imine. For all investigated imine/R-TRIP complexes, the four core structures are highly preserved. Thus, these core structures are independent of electron density and substituent modulations of the aromatic imines. Overall, this study reveals that the absolute structural space of binary imine/TRIP complexes is large and the variations of the four core structures are small. The high mobility is supposed to promote reactivity, while the preservation of the core structures in conjunction with extensive π-π and CH-π interactions leads to high enantioselectivities and tolerance of different substrates.

NMR Spectroscopic Characterization of Charge Assisted Strong Hydrogen Bonds in Brønsted Acid Catalysis.

Hydrogen bonding plays a crucial role in Brønsted acid catalysis. However, the hydrogen bond properties responsible for the activation of the substrate are still under debate. Here, we report an in depth study of the properties and geometries of the hydrogen bonds in (R)-TRIP imine complexes (TRIP: 3,3'-Bis(2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl)-1,1'-binaphthyl-2,2'-diylhydrogen phosphate). From NMR spectroscopic investigations 1H and 15N chemical shifts, a Steiner-Limbach correlation, a deuterium isotope effect as well as quantitative values of 1JNH,2hJPH and 3hJPN were used to determine atomic distances (rOH, rNH, rNO) and geometry information. Calculations at SCS-MP2/CBS//TPSS-D3/def2-SVP-level of theory provided potential surfaces, atomic distances and angles. In addition, scalar coupling constants were computed at TPSS-D3/IGLO-III. The combined experimental and theoretical data reveal mainly ion pair complexes providing strong hydrogen bonds with an asymmetric single well potential. The geometries of the hydrogen bonds are not affected by varying the steric or electronic properties of the aromatic imines. Hence, the strong hydrogen bond reduces the degree of freedom of the substrate and acts as a structural anchor in the (R)-TRIP imine complex.

Conformational Preferences in Small Peptide Models: The Relevance of cis/trans-Conformations.

The accurate description of cis/trans peptide structures is of fundamental relevance for the field of protein modeling and protein structure determination. A comprehensive conformational analysis of dipeptide model Ace-Gly-NMe (1) has been carried out by using a combination of theoretical calculations and experimental ((1) H and (13) C NMR and NOESY) spectroscopic measurements to assess the relevance of cis-peptide conformers. NMR measurements in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solution and calculations employing a continuum solvation model both point to the extended trans,trans conformer C5_tt as the global minimum. The cis-peptide structures C5_ct and C5_tc, with the N- or C-terminal amide group in cis-conformation, are observed separately and located 13.0±2 kJ mol(-1) higher in energy. This is in close agreement with the theoretical prediction of around 12 kJ mol(-1) in DMSO. The ability of common protein force fields to reproduce the energies of the cis-amide conformers C5_ct and C5_tc in 1 is limited, making these methods unsuitable for the description of cis-peptide structures in protein simulations.

Remote-Stereocontrol in Dienamine Catalysis: Z-Dienamine Preferences and Electrophile-Catalyst Interaction Revealed by NMR and Computational Studies.

Catalysis with remote-stereocontrol provides special challenges in design and comprehension. One famous example is the dienamine catalysis, for which high ee values are reported despite insufficient shielding of the second double bond. Especially for dienamines with variable Z/E-ratios of the second double bond, no correlations to the ee values are found. Therefore, the structures, thermodynamics, and kinetics of dienamine intermediates in SN-type reactions are investigated. The NMR studies show that the preferred dienamine conformation provides an effective shielding if large electrophiles are used. Calculations at SCS-MP2/CBS-level of theory and experimental data of the dienamine formation show kinetic preference for the Z-isomer of the second double bond and a slow isomerization toward the thermodynamically preferred E-isomer. Modulations of the rate-determining step, by variation of the concentration of the electrophile, allow the conversion of dienamines to be observed. With electrophiles, a faster reaction of Z- than of E-isomers is observed experimentally. Calculations corroborate these results by correlating ee values of three catalysts with the kinetics of the electrophilic attack and reveal the significance of CH-π and stacking interactions in the transition states. Thus, for the first time a comprehensive understanding of the remote stereocontrol in γ-functionalization reactions of dienamines and an explanation to the "Z/E-dilemma" are presented. The combination of bulky catalyst subsystems and large electrophiles provides a shielding of one face and causes different reactivities of E/Z-dienamines in nucleophilic attacks from the other face. Kinetic preferences for the formation of Z-dienamines and their unfavorable thermodynamics support high ee values.

The Proline Enamine Formation Pathway Revisited in Dimethyl Sulfoxide: Rate Constants Determined via NMR.

Enamine catalysis is a fundamental activation mode in organocatalysis and can be successfully combined with other catalytic methods, e.g., photocatalysis. Recently, the elusive enamine intermediates were detected, and their stabilization modes were revealed. However, the formation pathway of this central organocatalytic intermediate is still a matter of dispute, and several mechanisms involving iminium and/or oxazolidinone are proposed. Here, the first experimentally determined rate constants and rates of enamine formation are presented using 1D selective exchange spectroscopy (EXSY) buildup curves and initial rate approximation. The trends of the enamine formation rates from exo-oxazolidinones and endo-oxazolidinones upon variation of the proline and water concentrations as well as the nucelophilic/basic properties of additives are investigated together with isomerization rates of the oxazolidinones. These first kinetic data of enamine formations in combination with theoretical calculations reveal the deprotonation of iminium intermediates as the dominant pathway in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The dominant enamine formation pathway varies according to the experimental conditions, e.g., the presence and strength of basic additives. The enamine formation is zero-order in proline and oxazolidinones, which excludes the direct deprotonation of oxazolidinones via E2 mechanism. The nucleophilicity of the additives influences only the isomerization rates of the oxazolidinones and not the enamine formation rates, which excludes a nucleophile-assisted anti elimination of oxazolidinones as a major enamine formation pathway.

The stability of nitrogen-centered radicals.

Radical stabilization energies (RSEs) for a wide variety of nitrogen-centered radicals and their protonated counterparts have been calculated at G3(MP2)-RAD and G3B3 level. The calculated RSE values can be rationalized through the combined effects of resonance delocalization of the unpaired spin, electron donation through adjacent alkyl groups or lone pairs, and through inductive electron donation/electron withdrawal. The influence of ring strain effects as well as the synergistic combination of individual substituent effects (captodatively stabilized N-radicals) have also been explored. In symmetric N-radicals the substituents may also affect the relative ordering of electronic states. In most cases the π-type radical (unpaired spin distribution perpendicular to the plane of the N-radical) is found to be most stable. Closed shell precursors of biological and pharmaceutical relevance, for which neither experimental nor theoretical results on radical stabilities exist, have been included.

Hydrogen transfer in SAM-mediated enzymatic radical reactions.

S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) plays an essential role in a variety of enzyme-mediated radical reactions. One-electron reduction of SAM is currently believed to generate the C5'-desoxyadenosyl radical, which subsequently abstracts a hydrogen atom from the actual substrate in a catalytic or a non-catalytic fashion. Using a combination of theoretical and experimental bond dissociation energy (BDE) data, the energetics of these radical processes have now been quantified. SAM-derived radicals are found to react with their respective substrates in an exothermic fashion in enzymes using SAM in a stoichiometric (non-catalytic) way. In contrast, the catalytic use of SAM appears to be linked to a sequence of moderately endothermic and exothermic reaction steps. The use of SAM in spore photoproduct lyase (SPL) appears to fit neither of these general categories and appears to constitute the first example of a SAM-initiated radical reaction propagated independently of the cofactor.

The stability of Cα peptide radicals: why glycyl radical enzymes?

The conformational space of dipeptide models derived from glycine, alanine, phenylalanine, proline, tyrosine, and cysteine has been searched extensively and compared with the corresponding C(α) dipeptide radicals at the G3(MP2)-RAD level of theory. The results indicate that the (least-substituted) glycine dipeptide radical is the thermochemically most stable of these species. Analysis of the structural parameters indicates that this is due to repulsive interactions between the C(α) substituents and peptide units in the radical. A comparison of the conformational preferences of dipeptide radicals and their closed-shell parents also indicates that radical stability is a strongly conformation-dependent property.