Self-association promoted conformational transition of (3R,4S,8R,9R)-9-[(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl))-thiourea](9-deoxy)-epi-cinchonine.

Péter Király, Tibor Soós, Szilárd Varga, Benedek Vakulya, Gábor Tárkányi

Index: Magn. Reson. Chem. 48(1) , 13-9, (2010)

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Abstract

The conformational diversity of the (3R,4S,8R,9R)-9-[(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl))-thiourea](9-deoxy)-epi-cinchonine organocatalyst is discussed. Low-temperature NMR experiments confirmed a self-association process, which promotes the quinoline rotation between two intramolecularly hydrogen-bonded monomeric conformers of the catalyst. The balanced population of the coexisting monomeric and dimeric species allowed us to conduct a structural study of a rather complex conformational dynamics of the pure catalyst. The study is extended by a comparison with other members of the bifunctional amine-thiourea organocatalyst family. Changes in the molecular structure of the catalysts influence the interplay between intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonding, and yield different extent of catalyst self-association. By assessing the conformation of the individual states, we established the thermodynamic model of a self-association promoted conformational transition.Copyright 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.