Importance of Isomeric Forms Carbon Isomerism Importance of Isomeric Forms

CARBON Atomic #: 6 1st level: 2 2nd Level: 4 # of bonds able to form – 4 - allows the formation of numerous different compounds - compounds that contain carbon are called ORGANIC except for a few very common ones such as CO and CO2

The bonding versatility of carbon Allows it to form many diverse molecules, including carbon skeletons and the base for all the biological molecules (a) Methane (b) Ethane (c) Ethene (ethylene) Molecular Formula Structural Formula Ball-and-Stick Model Space-Filling Model H C CH4 C2H6 C2H4 Name and Comments Figure 4.3 A-C

The electron configuration of carbon gives it covalent compatibility with many different elements Hydrogen (valence = 1) Oxygen (valence = 2) Nitrogen (valence = 3) Carbon (valence = 4) Figure 4.4

BOND TYPES Covalent single - hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen and hydroxyl double - oxygen, carbon, nitrogen triple - carbon, nitrogen C-H - hydrocarbon - non-polar C-O - polar C-N- slightly polar

Molecular Diversity Arising from Carbon Skeleton Variation Carbon chains Form the skeletons of most organic molecules Vary in length and shape H C (a) Length (b) Branching (c) Double bonds (d) Rings Ethane Propane Butane 2-methylpropane (commonly called isobutane) 1-Butene 2-Butene Cyclohexane Benzene Figure 4.5 A-D

Representing 3D bonds in 2D

Carbon: Base of All Biological Molecules Forms simple to extremely complex molecules. Because carbon can bond four times, it can form many types of isomers. Types of Isomers Constitutional Isomers: same chemical formula but have a different structure Ex: butane and 2-methylpropane

2. Conformational Isomers: same chemical formula but structure looks different due to the rotation around a single bond – rotating the bond gives the same structure In reality – not really an isomer – can be called rotamers Rotation around the axis gives three basic forms that can be viewed using a Newman projection where the groups bonded to the carbons are viewed along the Carbon-Carbon axis. Three Forms: Eclipsed – where the groups overlap and have a degree difference of 0o but is drawn with a slight gap Staggered – the groups are as far apart as possible having angles of 180o

3. Gauche form: when each carbon has a functional group and they are NOT eclipsed if they are completely staggered, they are in the Anti form if they are partially staggered, they are Gauche

Importance of rotational forms. Stability is determined by the level of Torsional and Steric Strain. As the atoms bonded to the carbons rotate, the electrons in the bonds interact and repel each other pushing them into the favored staggered forms. Torsional Strain refers to the atoms directly bonded to the carbons Steric Strain refers when there are four or more bonds separating the repelling groups

Configurational Isomers: isomers with a different configuration that cannot be changed into one another by rotating around a single bond Two Types: 1) Geometric Isomers 2) Stereoisomers (optical isomers) - Enantiomers - Diastereomers

Geometric Isomers: Isomerism results from different bonding patterns around a double bond Ex: cis and trans

2) Stereoisomers (optical isomers): same chemical formula and same order of bonding, but differ in their 3D orientation - contain at least one CHIRAL Carbon - Chiral Carbon is bonded to four different atoms or groups

Determining Carbon Chirality Is the carbon bonded to four different groups? Double or triple bond = NO = Not Chiral 2) Are the four groups different from one another? No = Not Chiral Yes = Chiral

Examples: 1) 2-butanol

Examples: 1) 2-butanol

2) 3-pentanol

2) 3-pentanol

3) 2-butanone

3) 2-butanone

4) 3-methylcyclohexanone

4) 3-methylcyclohexanone

5) 1-bromo-4-methylcyclohexane

5) 1-bromo-4-methylcyclohexane

Types of Stereoisomers: Enantiomers: - two molecules that are mirror images, but cannot be superimposed upon one another

Importance of Enantiomers: Completely different biological interactions Chirality in your everyday life. Examples: 1) Thalidomide was released in 1956 as a mild sedative used to treat nausea in pregnant women. (Withdrawn from the market in 1961 once it was discovered thalidomide was a human teratogen.) o As little as one dose could cause a significant birth defect. o Over 10,000 infants were born with birth defects to women who ingested thalidomide during pregnancy. o In 1998, it was rereleased for leprosy selling over $300M in sales.

Laboratory tests after the thalidomide disaster showed that in some animals the 'S' enantiomer was tetragenic but the 'R' isomer was an effective sedative. It is now known that even when a stereo selective sample of thalidomide (only one of the optical isomers) is created, if administered pH in the body, can cause racemizing. The means that both enantiomers are formed in a roughly equal mix in the blood. So, even if a drug of only the 'R' isomer had been created, the disaster would not have been averted.

2) D-glucose and L-glucose We can taste D-glucose and digest it but L-glucose is flavorless and won’t be metabolized.

3) Artificial Sweeteners Aspartame® is a sweetening agent (Equal) that is more than a 180 times sweeter than sucrose. Only the R-enantiomer is desired as the S-enantiomer does not have the correct shape to fit the binding site of the 'sweetness' receptors on the tongue.

Neotame (NutraSweet) is between 7,000-13,000 times sweeter than sucrose.

Ibuprofen - R enantiomer is fairly inactive in the body. S enantiomer is 160 times more active

(effective against Parkinson’s disease) D-Dopa (biologically inactive) L-Dopa (effective against Parkinson’s disease) D-Dopa (biologically inactive) Figure 4.8

Naming Enantiomers Enantiomers can be named: R or S D or L + or – Every physical property of enantiomers are identical (melting point, boiling point, solubility, molar mass), except for how they bend light. Since the chiral molecules are mirror images, they bend light in opposite directions.

If a sample bends light to the right it is called R, D, or + R = rectus (Latin for “correct”) D = Dextrorotary (right) The enantiomer of an R/D/+ will bend the light to the left and be called S, L, or -. S= sinister (Latin for “left”) L = Levorotary (left) Molecular drawings and models can be used to determine R or S chirality. Orientation of the chiral carbon is determined by the priority of the groups bonded to the chiral carbon and the direction of rotation (Right (R) or Left (S)) around the central carbon.

Rules for Determining Priority Higher Atomic Numbers Get Priority If the atoms are the same, priority is determined by the next atom attached. Priority is assigned by the first point of difference.

3) Atoms with double or triple bonds are considered to be bonded to the equivalent number of similar single bonds.

To label the groups bonded to chiral carbon, the group with the lowest priority is orientated to the back position. The remaining groups are labeled based on their priority from 1 to 3. If the direction of the numbering goes clockwise (to the right), it is given the R configuration. If the direction of the numbering goes counter clockwise (to the left, it is given the L configuration.

Prioritize the Groups, placing the lowest priority (H) away from you.

3 3 2 2 1 1

3 3 2 2 1 1 Determine the direction the prioritized atoms rotate around the chiral carbon.

3 3 2 2 1 1 Determine the direction the prioritized atoms rotate around the chiral carbon. To the Right = R To the Left = S

3 3 2 2 1 1 S R