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Computational Study on the Conformations of Mitragynine and Mitragynaline
Haining Liu1, Christopher R McCurdy, Robert J Doerksen
1Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Mississippi, MS, 38677-1848, USA.
Computational methods revealed distinct conformational preferences for mitragynine and mitragynaline, natural products from Mitragyna speciosa. Mitragynine exhibits lower energy in a syn conformation due to reduced steric hindrance, aligning with crystal data.
Area of Science:
- Computational Chemistry
- Natural Product Chemistry
- Structural Biology
Background:
- Mitragyna speciosa leaves yield bioactive alkaloids, including mitragynine and mitragynaline.
- Understanding the three-dimensional structures of these compounds is crucial for elucidating their properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To perform a conformational search on mitragynine and mitragynaline using computational methods.
- To compare the conformational flexibility and energy preferences of these related alkaloids.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the MMFF94s force field for molecular mechanics calculations.
- Employed the B3LYP quantum mechanical method for higher accuracy.
- Compared computational results with existing X-ray crystal structure data.
Main Results:
- Identified two main conformers for mitragynine, with the syn lone pair conformation being energetically favored due to reduced steric hindrance.
- Mitragynaline displayed less conformational freedom owing to an additional double bond.
- Found two low-energy conformers for mitragynaline, consistent with experimental structural data.
Conclusions:
- Computational modeling accurately predicts the preferred conformations of mitragynine and mitragynaline.
- Conformational differences are attributed to structural variations, specifically the presence of a double bond in mitragynaline.
- The study provides valuable insights into the structural basis of these natural products.
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