Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 13, 2026

Preparation of a Corannulene-functionalized Hexahelicene by Copper(I)-catalyzed Alkyne-azide Cycloaddition of Nonplanar Polyaromatic Units
Published on: September 18, 2016
Conformational analysis of alternariol on the quantum level
Olga Scharkoi1, Konstantin Fackeldey, Igor Merkulow
1Zuse Institut Berlin, Takustr. 7, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
Theoretical calculations reveal alternariol's nonplanar structure is influenced by hydroxyl group orientation. Loss of hydrogen bonds causes significant structural twists, potentially aiding DNA strand cutting.
Area of Science:
- Crystallography
- Computational Chemistry
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Alternariol is a mycotoxin with potential biological activities.
- Understanding the structural properties of alternariol is crucial for elucidating its mechanisms of action.
- Nonplanarity in crystalline structures can significantly impact molecular interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the phenomenon of nonplanarity in crystalline alternariol using theoretical calculations.
- To determine how hydroxyl group orientations affect alternariol's planarity, aromaticity, and structural twists.
- To explore the role of intramolecular hydrogen bonding in stabilizing alternariol's geometry.
Main Methods:
- Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations were employed.
- Analysis of molecular geometry and electronic structure.
- Investigation of intramolecular hydrogen bond formation and disruption.
Main Results:
- Different hydroxyl group orientations lead to varied degrees of nonplanarity and aromaticity in alternariol.
- The presence of an intramolecular hydrogen bond stabilizes a planar geometry.
- Disruption of this hydrogen bond results in a structural twist exceeding 14°.
Conclusions:
- Alternariol's nonplanarity is a tunable property influenced by hydroxyl group configuration and hydrogen bonding.
- The observed structural flexibility, particularly the twist, may be a key factor in alternariol's DNA strand-cutting activity.
- Theoretical calculations provide valuable insights into the structure-activity relationship of alternariol.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Conformations of Cycloalkanes
¹H NMR of Conformationally Flexible Molecules: Variable-Temperature NMR
π Molecular Orbitals of the Allyl Cation and Anion
Conformations of Cyclohexane
The chair form is the most stable and derives its name from its resemblance to the “easy chair.” In the chair conformation, two carbon atoms are arranged out-of-plane — one above and one below, minimizing the torsional strain. In the chair form, the bond angle is very close to the ideal tetrahedral value,...
π Molecular Orbitals of the Allyl Radical
The allyl systems have identical molecular orbitals but differ in the number of π electrons.
Aromatic Hydrocarbon Anions: Structural Overview
Due to the absence of continuous overlap of p...

