Molecular structure and relative proton and electron affinities of isomeric nitroimidazoles

Abstract

The isomeric 2-nitro, 4-nitro, and 5-nitroimidazoles have been studied in their planar ground state, C—NO2 rotational transition state, 3-H protonated conjugate acid and radical anion forms, with abinitio computations at the split-valence 3-21G basis set level. The stabilities of the parent compounds follow the order 5-NO2 ~ 4-NO2 > 2-NO2. In solution 4-nitro is more stable than 5-nitro; the calculations suggest that this is a solvation effect, since the 4-nitro isomer has a considerably higher dipole moment. Barriers for nitro group rotation range from 10 to 16 kcal/mol. However, the relative change in dipole moment during the rotation is small, suggesting that dipole moments of nitroimidazoles are determined mainly by inductive effects, with resonance interactions being relatively unimportant. This conclusion is supported by calculations of molecular electrostatic potentials of the planar and rotated forms. Electron affinities follow the order [Formula: see text], closely matching the order of biological effectiveness of nitroimidazole radiosensitizers. This is consistent with suggestions that the "nitro:nitro radical anion" redox cycle is an important determinant of biological activity. Keywords: nitroimidazole, abinitio computation, rotational barrier, proton affinity, electron affinity.