title: NMR studies of anion-induced conformational changes in diindolylureas and diindolylthioureas.
abstract: The conformational properties of 1,3-diindolylureas and thioureas were studied by a combination of heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy and quantum mechanics calculations. NOE experiments showed that the anti-anti conformer along the C7-N7α bonds was predominant in DMSO-d(6) solution in the absence of anions. Anion-induced changes in the (1)H and (15)N chemical shifts confirm the weak binding of chloride anions with negligible conformational changes. Strong deshielding of ureido protons and moderate deshielding of indole NH was observed upon the addition of acetate, benzoate, bicarbonate and dihydrogen phosphate, which indicated that the predominant hydrogen bond interactions occurred at the urea donor groups. Binding of oxo-anions caused conformational changes along the C7-N7α bonds and the syn-syn conformer was preferred for anion-receptor complexes. The conformational changes upon anion binding are in good agreement with energetic preferences established by ab initio calculations.
authors: Slovenian NMR Centre, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors: Damjan
authors: D
authors: Makuc
authors: Jennifer R
authors: JR
authors: Hiscock
authors: Mark E
authors: ME
authors: Light
authors: Philip A
authors: PA
authors: Gale
authors: Janez
authors: J
authors: Plavec