Hydrogen bonding effects asymmetric

Absorption, metaboHsm, and biological activities of organic compounds are influenced by molecular interactions with asymmetric biomolecules. These interactions, which involve hydrophobic, electrostatic, inductive, dipole—dipole, hydrogen bonding, van der Waals forces, steric hindrance, and inclusion complex formation give rise to enantioselective differentiation (1,2). Within a series of similar stmctures, substantial differences in biological effects, molecular mechanism of action, distribution, or metaboHc events may be observed. Eor example, (R)-carvone [6485-40-1] (1) has the odor of spearrnint whereas (5)-carvone [2244-16-8] (2) has the odor of caraway (3,4). 

Two molecules with comparable geometry in an asymmetric unit were found for 3,4-bis(4-fluorophenyl)-l,2,5-oxadiazole 2-oxide. The bond length of the dipolar N-O bond is 1.107 (7) A <2006AXEo4827>. In the molecule of 5-(6,7-dimethoxy-l,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-2-yl)-4-phenyl-l,2,5-oxadiazole Ar-oxide, the six-membered heterocyclic ring has a flattened boat form. Intermolecular C-H- O hydrogen bonds link the molecules into dimers, which may be effective in the stabilization of the crystal structure <2006AXEo3130>. 

Homogeneous enantioselective hydrogenation constitutes one of the most versatile and effective methods to convert prochiral substrates to valuable optically active products. Recent progress makes it possible to synthesize a variety of chiral compounds with outstanding levels of efficiency and enantioselectivity through the reduction of the C=C, C=N, and C=0 bonds. The asymmetric hydrogenation of functionalized C=C bonds, such as enamide substrates, provides access to various valuable products such as amino acids, pharmaceuticals, and... 

One aspect of asymmetric catalysis has become clear. Every part of the molecule seems to fulfill a role in the process, just as in enzymic catalysis. Whereas many of us have been used to simple acid or base catalysis, in which protonation or proton abstraction is the key step, bifunctional or even multifunctional catalysis is the rule in the processes discussed in this chapter.Thus it is not only the increase in nucleophilicity of the nucleophile by the quinine base (see Figures 6 and 19), nor only the increase in the electrophilicity of the electrophile caused by hydrogen bonding to the secondary alcohol function of the quinine, but also the many steric (i.e., van der Waals) interactions between the quinoline and quinuclidine portions of the molecule that exert the overall powerful guidance needed to effect high stereoselection. Important charge-transfer interactions between the quinoline portion of the molecule and aromatic substrates cannot be excluded. 

Two examples of conformational effects associated with, and probably even dominated by, changes in the hydrogen-bond network have been reported by Bimbaum and co-workers. Both have three molecules in the asymmetric unit. 

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