Template effects in S(N)2 displacements for the preparation of pseudopeptidic macrocycles

Macrocyclisation reactions of C(2)-symmetric pseudopeptides containing central pyridine-derived spacers are affected by the presence of different anions. The selection of the proper anion gives excellent results for the preparation of the corresponding macrocyclic structures. Kinetic studies show that the presence of those anions enhances both the yield and the rate of the reaction. Computational studies at the B3LYP/6-31G* level have allowed us to rationalise the experimental results. The obtained transition states (TSs) show that the interaction between the anion and the open-chain pseudopeptidic chain has a stabilising effect. The anion stabilises the two TSs involved: the first one, which involves the formation of the initial bond between the two subunits and leads to an open-chain intermediate, and the second one, which precedes the formation of the cyclic structure. The optimum anion (Br(-) when the central spacer is derived from 2,6-bis(aminomethyl)pyridine, is able to act as a template, in that it forces the two ends of the open-chain intermediate to approach each other by forming hydrogen bonds with the two amino acid subunits present in the intermediate. This stabilises the second TS to a greater extent than the first one, and thus, favours macrocyclisation over the competing oligomerisation reactions. The computational calculations also allowed us to predict the outcome of new experiments. Accordingly, the synthesis of the pseudopeptidic macrocycle derived from 2,6-diaminopyridine was not successful under the optimised conditions previously used. Nevertheless, calculations predicted that in this case Cl(-) should be more efficient than Br(-), and this was subsequently experimentally confirmed. Interestingly, the presence of different substituents on the constituent amino acids seems to play a minor role in the overall process.