Ab Initio Quantum Chemical Calculations on the Stability of Different Tautomers of 6- and 7-Phenacetyl Pterin

Abstract

In order to investigate the stabilities of different tautomeric forms of pteridine derivatives with a phenacetyl side chain in the 6- or 7-position, we have performed ab initio quantum chemical geometry optimizations of both the keto form and the vinylogous amide form of 6- and 7-phenacetyl pterin. The results are in accordance with experimental expectations: the keto form is slightly more stable for the 6-substituted derivative (1 .8 kcal per mol). while the vinylogous amide form is substantially more stable for the 7-substituted compound (8 .7 kcal per mol). The vinylogous amide forms are planar molecules, and this geometry enables the interaction between the hydrogen atom at N-5 (or N-8) and the carbonyl function of the side chain. Inspection of the calculated electron densities (population analysis) underlines the suggestion that the vinylogous amide form of 7-phenacetyl pterin is stabilized by a shift of electron density from the nitrogen bonded to C-2 to the carbonyl oxygen atom of the side chain (resonance stabilization via an additional highly conjugated vinylogous amide structure).

Keywords

• ab initio
• keto form
• vinylogous amide
• conformations