Crystallographic and DFT Studies on Pyrrolo[1,2-<i>c</i>]imidazole Scaffolds

Jayaraman, Manikandan; Balakrishnan, Rajarathinam; Muthu, Kannan; Panneerselvam, Manivel; Gnanasambandam, Vasuki; Ramadas, Krishna

doi:https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/369061

Journal of Crystallography

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Research Article | Open Access

Volume 2014 | Article ID 369061 | https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/369061

Crystallographic and DFT Studies on Pyrrolo[1,2-c]imidazole Scaffolds

Manikandan Jayaraman,¹Rajarathinam Balakrishnan,²Kannan Muthu,¹Manivel Panneerselvam,¹Vasuki Gnanasambandam,²and Krishna Ramadas¹

Academic Editor: Abdul Razak Ibrahim

Received30 Oct 2013

Accepted17 Feb 2014

Published14 Apr 2014

Abstract

The crystal structures of the compounds C₁₅H₁₄N₄O₂ (1) and C₁₆H₁₆N₄O₄ (2) are reported and analyzed by single crystal X-ray diffraction technique. Compounds (1) and (2) crystallized in monoclinic space group P21/c and Cc with four molecules in the unit cell, respectively. The unit cell parameters for compound (1) are = 11.4501(15) Å, = 9.7869(11) Å, = 12.3653(15) Å, β = 90.997(11)°, and Volume = 1385.5(3) Å³ and for compound (2) are = 13.865(2) Å, = 6.9538(8) Å, = 16.841(2) Å, β = 98.602(11)°, and Volume = 1605.4(4) Å³. In both compounds (1) and (2), the pyrrolidine ring adopts half-chair conformation. Moreover, both inter- and intramolecular N–H⋯O hydrogen bonds stabilize the crystal structure and play a crucial role in crystal packing. This intermolecular interaction alone constructs chain motif in both compounds. It is also supported by weak intermolecular π-π interaction which is essential for the stability of the crystal packing. Further, the Density Functional Theory (B3LYP) method with standard 6-31G basis set was used in the calculation and calculated geometrical parameter is correlated with the corresponding experimental data. The obtained HOMO and LUMO energies are in negative values indicating that the compounds are in stable state.

1. Introduction

The five-membered heterocyclic pyrrolidine ring system commonly occurs in many natural products and these five members are leading components of alkaloids [1]. They are essential synthetic components of HIV reverse transcriptase enzyme and inhibitors of substance P neurotransmitters [2, 3]. Further, they also act as antibacterial and antiamnestic agents [4, 5]. The heterocyclic imidazole derivatives are also considered to be an important synthetic precursor in drug designing and discovery process [6, 7]. These imidazole derivatives have antitumor, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activity and they also inhibit MAP kinase p38 protein [8]. Also, the novel Py-Im derivatives have been established as powerful partial agonists of the 1A adrenoceptor (GPCR known as adrenergic receptor) and have shown better response over the 1B, 1D, and 2A receptor subtypes [9]. The fused Py-Im derivative also inhibits the JNK (c-Jun-N-terminal kinase) pathway which is the fascinating drug target for several neurodegenerative disorders. In view of the growing biological importance of Py-Im derivatives, the single crystal X-ray diffraction studies on the compounds were carried out and analyzed.

2. Experimental

2.1. Synthesis

Synthesis of (trans-7,7a)-5-Amino-2-methyl-1,3-dioxo-7-(p-tolyl)-2,3,7,7a-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[1,2-c]imidazole-6-carbonitrile: Compound (1). 3-Methylhydantoin (342 mg, 3 mmol), malononitrile (198 mg, 3 mmol), 4-methylbenzaldehyde (0.35 mL, 3 mmol), piperidine 10 mmol% and 25 mL of water were stirred in a 50 mL RB flask for 3 h at 70°C. The solid which separated from the reaction mixture was filtered and washed with hexane/ethylacetate mixture (8 : 2 ratio, 20 mL). The pure product was characterized by FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and HRMS data, which were all in good agreement with the assigned structure. The product was recrystallized from acetonitrile solvent [10].

Synthesis of (trans-7,7a)-5-Amino-7-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-methyl-1,3-dioxo-2,3,7,7a-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[1,2-c]imidazole-6-carbonitrile: Compound (2). 3-Methylhydantoin (342 mg, 3 mmol), malononitrile (198 mg, 3 mmol), 3,4-dimethoxy benzaldehyde (500 mg, 3 mmol), piperidine 10 mmol% and 25 mL of water were stirred in a 50 mL RB flask for 3 h at 70°C. The solid which separated from the reaction mixture was filtered and washed with hexane/ethylacetate mixture (8 : 2 ratio, 20 mL). The pure product was characterized by FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and HRMS data, which were all in good agreement with the assigned structure. The product was recrystallized from acetonitrile solvent [10].

2.2. Crystallographic Data Collection and Refinement

Colorless plate shape single crystals with dimensions of 0.3 × 0.25 × 0.1 mm (1) and 0.5 × 0.4 × 0.1 mm (2) were selected and X-ray data were collected on a Xcalibur, Eos diffractometer, using CrysAlisPro software and graphite-monochromated Mo-k ( = 0.7107 Å) at 298 K. The structures were solved by direct methods using SHELXS-97 [11] and refined by SHELXL-97 [11] with the full-matrix least square procedure. For data collection, data reduction, and space group determination of compounds, CrysAlisPro [12] software was used. All of the nonhydrogen atoms were refined anisotropically while the hydrogen atoms were refined isotropically. H atoms were positioned geometrically and allowed to ride on their parent atoms, with d(N–H) = 0.86 Å, d(C–H) = 0.93 Å for CH and aromatic and 0.96 Å for CH₃ atoms. The U_iso values were constrained to be 1.5 U_eq of the carrier atom for methyl H atoms and 1.2 U_eq for the remaining H atoms. By using ORTEP [13] and Platon [14] programs, thermal ellipsoid and crystal packing diagrams were created. Mercury [15] program was used for analyzing the hydrogen bonding graph-set motif.

2.3. Computational Details

The molecular structures of compounds (1) and (2) were subjected to quantum chemical density functional calculation with Jaguar software package using the Becke-3Lee-Yang-Parr (B3LYP) hybrid functional with the standard 6-31G(TM (6D) basis set indicates that it places polarization functions on all atoms except for transition metals, + option places diffuse function on all atoms except H and He, and 6D represents d shells including the six Cartesian d functions 2, 2, 2, , , and ) used to calculate the HOMO (highest occupied molecular orbital) and LUMO (lowest unoccupied molecular orbital) energy distribution and HOMO-LUMO energy gap.

3. Results and Discussion

The crystal data and structure refinement of compounds (1) and (2) were given in Table 1. The selected geometric parameters of compounds (1) and (2) were given in Table 2. Hydrogen bonds for the compounds (1) and (2) are listed in Table 3. The chemical structures for compounds are shown in Figure 1. The ORTEP diagram and graph-set motif of the compounds (1) and (2) are shown in Figures 2 and 3, respectively. Intermolecular C–H⋯π and π-π interactions of the compounds are displayed in Figure 4.

(a)

(b)

(a)

(b)

(a)

(b)

(a)

(b)

3.1. Geometrical Parameters Analysis

Bond lengths of compounds (1) and (2) are in normal range [16] and showing average mean bond distances of C–C = 1.434 Å, C–O = 1.205 Å for compound (1) and C–C = 1.431 Å, C–O = 1.327 Å for compound (2), respectively. In compound (1) the bond distances of C1=O1 and C2=O2 show 1.203(3) to 1.207(2) Å, respectively, whereas in compound (2) C1=O1 and C2=O2 distances vary from 1.217(7) to 1.199(7) Å, respectively, which are comparable with the reported double bond lengths [17]. In addition to that, both compounds display the electron delocalization over the atoms of C3–C4–C8 between the amine and nitrile group. The nitrile N4≡C8 bond length [1.154(3) Å for compound (1) and 1.153(7) Å for compound (2)] is the shortest N–C bond and falls into the range of a triple bond [17], confirming the presence of the nitrile group. In both (1) and (2), the sum of bond angle around the N1 atom of the pyrrolidine ring [C1–N1–C2, C1–N1–C7, and C2–N1–C7 = 358.4(4)° for compound (1) and 360.1(6)° for compound (2)] indicates sp² hybridization and the bond angle of C1–N1–C2, C6–N2–C3, and C11–C12–C13 deviates from 120° due to the presence of substituents. The imidazole ring fused bisectionally with pyrrolidine ring at an angle of 42.74(11)° for compound (1) and 47.3(3)° for compound (2). In compounds (1) and (2), the benzene ring is planar [maximum deviation of −0.0039 Å and −0.017 Å] and forms (+) syn-clinal and (+) syn-periplanar conformation with fused Py-Im ring with the dihedral angles of 68.4(2)° for compound (1) and 2.2(7)° for compound (2) [C4–C5–C9–C14], respectively. In compound (1), the methyl group attached to the p-tolyl is coplanar with benzene ring and forms (−) antiperiplanar conformation [C15–C12–C11–C10 = −179.8(2)°]. However, two methoxy groups present in compound (2); the para-methoxy group is essentially coplanar with the attached benzene ring with the torsional angle of C11–C12–O3–C15 = 2.6(9)°, whereas the meta-positioned methoxy is deviated from plane with the torsional angle of C14–C13–O4–C16 = −13.2(9)° which subsequently forms (+) and (−) syn-periplanar conformation, respectively.

3.2. Ring Puckering Analysis

Cremer and Pople ring puckering analysis is an essential criterion for understanding the shape and conformation of rings [18]. In compound (1), the five-membered imidazole ring [N1–C1–C6–N2–C2] adopts envelope conformation with the puckered atom N1 having the maximum of −0.0621(18) Å deviation and the puckering parameters = 0.098(2) Å and Φ = 179.1(12)°, whereas pyrrolidine ring [N2–C3–C4–C5–C6] adopts twisted half-chair conformation with the puckering parameters = 0.146(2) Å and Φ = 124.1(8)°. In case of compound (2), both pyrrolidine and imidazole rings adopt half-chair conformation with the puckering parameters = 0.082(5) Å, Φ1 = 125(4)°, and = 0.223(5) Å, Φ2 = 126.4(14)°, respectively.

3.3. Intra- and Intermolecular Interactions and Crystal Packing Analysis

The crystal structures of compounds (1) and (2) are stabilized via intramolecular N–H⋯O hydrogen bond and intermolecular C–H⋯O, N–H⋯O, and N–H⋯N hydrogen bonds. In addition, the packing is stabilized by special type of interaction such as C–H⋯π, C–N⋯π, and π-π interactions. The crystal structure of compound (1) is stabilized by intramolecular N3–H3B⋯O2 hydrogen bond, in which the amine N3 acts as a donor and makes hydrogen bond with carbonyl O2 with the bond length of 2.99(2) Å. Further, the crystal packing is stabilized by two intermolecular N3–H3A⋯O2 and N3–H3B⋯N4 hydrogen bonds with the bond distances of 2.993(2) Å and 3.125(2) Å, respectively. Intermolecular N3–H3A⋯O2 (symmetry code: ) hydrogen bond generates chain (6) motif [19] with the bond length of 2.14 Å (Figure 3(a)). N–H⋯N (symmetry code: ) hydrogen bond formed between amine N and nitrile N group with a bond length of 3.125(2) Å, whereas in compound (2), two intramolecular hydrogen bonds contribute to crystal packing such as N3–H3B⋯O2 and C10–H10⋯O1 with the bond distances of 3.011(7) and 3.354(8) Å, respectively. Atoms O1 and O2 act as a hydrogen bond acceptor for C–H⋯O[C10–H10⋯O1] and N–H⋯O[N3–H3B⋯O2] contacts. Additionally, there are four intermolecular hydrogen bonds which include N3–H3A⋯O1 (symmetry code: ), N3–H3B⋯N4 (symmetry code: ), C5–H5⋯O4 (symmetry code: ), and C7–H7A⋯O3 (symmetry code: ) contributing to crystal packing. The intermolecular N–H⋯O [N3–H3A–O1] hydrogen bond generates chain (7) motif [19] with the bond length of 2.02 Å (Figure 3(b)).

In the crystal structure of (1), the molecules are linked by intermolecular C-H⋯π interaction [C15–H15C⋯ Cg3: H15C⋯ Cg3: 2.980 Å, ] between the methyl hydrogen of imidazole ring and the centre of benzene ring with the bond distance of 3.667(2) Å. In addition, the nitrile group makes C–N⋯π interaction [C7–N4⋯ Cg1: N4⋯Cg1: 3.128(2) Å, ] to the centre of imidazole ring with the bond length of 3.752(2) Å, where Cg1 and Cg3 are the centroids of N1–C1–C6–N2–C2, C8–C9–C10–C11–C12–C13 rings, respectively (Figure 4(a)). Moreover, weak π-π intermolecular interactions [Cg1⋯ Cg3; 4.916(14) Å, for compound (1) and 3.507(3) Å, for compound (2), resp.] are observed and contribute to packing arrangement and stability.

3.4. Molecular Orbital Analysis

The HOMO-LUMO energy gap of a molecule will play a crucial role in deciding its bioactive properties and is a very important parameter for quantum chemistry. The HOMO energy distinguishes the capacity of electron donor, whereas LUMO energy characterizes the capacity of electron acceptor, and the gap distinguishes the chemical stability [20]. The HOMO-LUMO energy gap for the compounds (1) and (2) was calculated by 6-31G(TM (6D) basis set [20] and the values are −0.175 a.u (1) and −0.160 a.u (2). The energies of HOMO and LUMO and the HOMO-LUMO energy gap are given in Table 4. The HOMO-LUMO orbital schemes of compounds (1) and (2) are shown in Figure 5 (positives phases are mentioned in red and the negatives ones in blue). The electron density of HOMO in compounds (1) and (2) shows that the HOMO is localized on fused Py-Im ring, methyl, and carbonyl groups. In case of LUMO, the electron density is localized on benzene ring only in compound (1) while in compound (2) the electron density is fully localized in carbonyl group and partially localized in benzene ring. The HOMO to LUMO transition signifies that an electron density transfers from fused Py-Im ring to benzene ring and the HOMO-LUMO energy gap (−0.160 a.u) in compound (2) is the smallest indicator that the molecule of compound (2) is more stable compared to compound (1). The HOMO to LUMO transition indirectly explains the descriptor of electron donor and acceptor in order to understand their interacting ability with their target molecules.

(a)

(b)

4. Conclusions

In the present study, we presented the structural details of fused Py-Im compounds, C₁₅H₁₅N₄O₂ (1) and C₁₆H₁₆N₄O₄ (2), by using single crystal X-ray diffraction data. DFT calculation was performed with standard 6-31G(TM (6D) basis set to analyze the molecular geometry and compared with experimentally available X-ray crystal data of compounds (1) and (2). The calculated HOMO-LUMO energy gap in compound (2) is −0.160 a.u and this small gap value indicates that compound (2) is chemically reactive compared to compound (1). Further, the crystal structure is stabilized by both intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonds in which intermolecular N–H⋯O hydrogen bond generates (6) and (7) chain motif in compounds (1) and (2), respectively. In addition, the packing is also stabilized by intermolecular C–H⋯O, N–H⋯N hydrogen bonds and special type of interaction such as C–H⋯π, C–N⋯π, and π-π interactions.

Abbreviations

Py-Im:	Pyrroloimidazole
HOMO:	Highest occupied molecular orbital
LUMO:	Lowest unoccupied molecular orbital
p:	Para.

Conflict of Interests

The authors have no conflict of interests with the mentioned commercial entity.

Authors’ Contribution

Manikandan Jayaraman and Rajarathinam Balakrishnan contributed equally.

Acknowledgments

B. Rajarathinam and G. Vasuki thank CSIR (01(2500)/11/EMR-II Dt: 05.05.2011) and DST (SR/S5/GC-22/2007), Government of India, for financial support and the Department of Chemistry (DST-FIST), Pondicherry University, for FT-IR and single crystal XRD facilities. M. Kannan (No. F. 14-2(SC)/2009 (SA-III)) thanks UGC for Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship for pursueing his Ph.D. degree. R. Krishna also thanks Department of Biotechnology and Department of Information Technology, Government of India, New Delhi, for the financial support to Centre for Bioinformatics, Pondicherry University.

Supplementary Materials

X-ray crystallographic files in CIF format, for the structures of compounds (1) CCDC: 931913, (2) CCDC: 931914 have been deposited with the Cambridge crystallographic Data Center. The data can be obtained free of charge from The Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre via http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/data_request/cif by e-mailing data request @ccdc cam.ac.uk. Or by contacting The Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre, 12 Union Road, Cambridge CB2 1EZ, UK; fax: +44(0) 1223-33603

Supplementary Material

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Copyright © 2014 Manikandan Jayaraman et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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