title: Edge-to-face CH/pi aromatic interaction and molecular self-recognition in epi-cinchona-based bifunctional thiourea organocatalysis.
abstract: The impact of cooperativity between intermolecular interactions is demonstrated by the molecular self-recognition properties of highly enantioselective epi-cinchona bifunctional thiourea organocatalysts. Low-temperature NMR experiments in inert solvents have revealed two sets of nonequivalent resonances in equal population for thiourea-modified members of the epi-quinine and epi-quinidine families. In solution, the predominance of an asymmetric (C1) dimeric self-assembly with noteworthy structural motifs became evident: simultaneous intra- and intermolecular thiourea hydrogen bonding and a CH/pi interaction were observed. Both the stereochemical and the diverse conformational features of the system favor the observed quinoline T-shaped aromatic pi-pi stacking interaction. The structure findings are supported by quantitative proton-proton distance data that were available from NOE buildup curves. The 3D structure of the dimeric assembly has been modeled in agreement with the H-H distance restraints. Owing to the geometrical preference associated with the dimerization process, the self-assembled bifunctional system is interpreted as a charge-transfer complex with the potential for catalyst self-activation.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for NMR Spectroscopy, Chemical Research Center of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Pusztaszeri út 59-67, 1025, Budapest, Hungary. gtarkanyi@chemres.hu
authors.forename: Gábor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tárkányi
authors.forename: Péter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Király
authors.forename: Szilárd
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Varga
authors.forename: Benedek
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vakulya
authors.forename: Tibor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Soós
mesh_terms: D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D002929:Cinchona / Q000737:chemistry*; D019281:Dimerization; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015394:Molecular Structure; D013696:Temperature; D013816:Thermodynamics; D013890:Thiourea / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates; D013890:Thiourea