Optically active tricyclic dilactams with non-planar cis-amide groups: Synthesis, X-ray, NMR and CD studies

Abstract

Three tricyclic dilactams were investigated as models for study of chiroptical properties of homoconjugated non-planar cis-amide groups. Racemic 5,8-diazatricyclo[6,3,0,01,5]undecane-4,9-dione (I) was partially resolved into enantiomers by chromatography on acetylcellulose. The 6-isobutyl (II) and 6-methyl (III) derivatives were prepared in optically pure forms by condensation of diethyl 4-oxoheptanedioate with (S)-1,2-diamino-4-methylpentane and (S)-1,2-diamino-propane, respectively. The respective diamines were synthesized starting from (S)-leucine and (S)-alanine: this determined the absolute configuration on the C(6) atom in both dilactams. As shown by 1H and 13C NMR spectra, the condensation reaction afforded only one of the two possible diastereoisomeric dilactams. The configurational relation between the chiral center at C(6) and the chirality of the tricyclic moiety was derived from coupling constants in the 1H NMR spectra. The configuration of compound II was confirmed by X-ray diffraction. According to 1H NMR spectra, the spatial arrangement of II in solution is similar to that in crystal, the only difference being in the local conformation of the isobutyl side chain at C(6). IR spectroscopy identified only minor differences in geometry of the two lactam groupings in II and III. All CD parameters of compounds I-III, measured in various solvents, are very similar. The CD curves show the same absolute configuration (1S, 6S) of compounds II and III and the opposite configuration of the studied enantiomer of I(1R). Parameters of the n-π dichroic band indicate a non-planar amide-grouping whose geometry is known from the X-ray analysis. Its sign agrees with the relationship derived for the chiroptical properties of defined pyramidicity on nitrogen atom in non-planar amides. The π-π dichroic bands exhibit an exciton splitting into a couplet as a result of interaction between the amide groups.