Frontiers in Chemistry (Feb 2018)

Rotational Spectrum and Conformational Analysis of N-Methyl-2-Aminoethanol: Insights into the Shape of Adrenergic Neurotransmitters

  • Camilla Calabrese,
  • Assimo Maris,
  • Luca Evangelisti,
  • Anna Piras,
  • Valentina Parravicini,
  • Sonia Melandri

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fchem.2018.00025
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 6

Abstract

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We describe an experimental and quantum chemical study for the accurate determination of the conformational space of small molecular systems governed by intramolecular non-covalent interactions. The model systems investigated belong to the biological relevant aminoalcohol's family, and include 2-amino-1-phenylethanol, 2-methylamino-1-phenylethanol, noradrenaline, adrenaline 2-aminoethanol, and N-methyl-2-aminoethanol. For the latter molecule, the rotational spectrum in the 6–18 and 59.6–74.4 GHz ranges was recorded in the isolated conditions of a free jet expansion. Based on the analysis of the rotational spectra, two different conformational species and 11 isotopologues were observed and their spectroscopic constants, including 14N-nuclear hyperfine coupling constants and methyl internal rotation barriers, were determined. From the experimental data a structural determination was performed, which was also used to benchmark accurate quantum chemical calculations on the whole conformational space. Atom in molecules and non-covalent interactions theories allowed the characterization of the position of the intramolecular non-covalent interactions and the energies involved, highlighting the subtle balance responsible of the stabilization of all the molecular systems.

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