IChO 2002 · Theory problem 6

Phospholipids in Membranes

Theme III - Chemistry of Functional Molecules in Nature

A challenge in chemistry is to discover what nature does and how the structures of biologically active molecules are related to what they do.

PROBLEM 6

Phospholipids in Membranes

Biological cell membranes are complex, functional, non-covalent molecular assemblies, largely consisting of lipids and proteins. Their function is of vital importance for life processes. They separate the cell from its environment and also determine the specific flow of information between the cell contents and the environment. Phospholipids are among the most important components of cell membranes. An example is compound A.

Figure 1

Upon dispersion in water (above a low critical concentration) compound A forms closed bilayer structures, called liposomes, which are employed as model compounds for aspects of the chemistry of the structurally much more complex cell membranes. Liposomes are globular aggregates with the polar or ionic head groups in contact with water and with the alkyl tails sequestered in a hydrophobic core. The bilayer structure encloses an aqueous inner compartment.

Double-tailed synthetic surfactants also form closed bilayer assemblies similar to liposomes but now called vesicles. An example is di-n-dodecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC).

Figure 2
Figure 3

6.1 (a) How many stereoisomers are possible for compound A?

(b) How many stereoisomers are possible for the trialkylphosphate B?

Figure 4

A precursor for the synthesis of compound A is the acetonide C derived from glycerol. Part of the \(\ce{^1H}\)-NMR spectrum of compound C is shown below.

6.2 Which signal number in the \(\ce{^1H}\)-NMR spectrum corresponds to proton \(H_{\mathrm c}\)?

Figure 5
Figure 6

The bilayer of a liposome can be characterized by \(V\) (the volume of the hydrocarbon chains), \(a_0\) (optimal cross-sectional surface area of the head groups of the phospholipid in the aggregate) and \(l_{\mathrm c}\) (the maximum chain length that the alkyl group can assume). A good approximation for unbranched alkyl tails containing \(n\) carbon atoms yields:

\[ V=(27.4+26.99\,n)\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm{nm^3} \]

\[ l_{\mathrm c}=(0.154+0.1265\,n)\ \mathrm{nm} \]

For very large \(n\) values, the intertail interactions dominate over the head group repulsions.

6.3 Calculate the minimum cross-sectional surface area of the head groups for such very large \(n\) values.

Vesicles formed from DDAC (above its critical vesicle concentration, cvc) catalyse the unimolecular decarboxylation of 6-nitro-benzisoxazole-3-carboxylate (6-NBIC).

Figure 7

In water at \(25\,^\circ\mathrm{C}\) \(k_1=3.1\times10^{-6}\ \mathrm{s^{-1}}\). At the concentration \(c_1\) of DDAC at which 6-NBIC becomes fully bound to the vesicles, \(k_1=2.1\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm{s^{-1}}\).

6.4 Sketch a plot of \(k_1\) vs. [DDAC] for \(\textbf{[DDAC]}=0\rightarrow3c_1\).

6.5 The main reason for the efficient catalysis of the decarboxylation of 6-NBIC by DDAC vesicles is:

☐ The decarboxylation is catalysed by the \(\ce{Cl-}\) ions bound to the surface of the vesicles.

☐ Efficient loss of hydration of the carboxylate group of vesicle-bound 6-NBIC.

☐ Strong binding of \(\ce{CO2}\) in the interior of the vesicle.

☐ Strong binding of the organic reaction product to the vesicles relative to that of 6-NBIC.

Mark the correct answer.

Official English text of the problem.

Answers

  • 6.1(a): 2 stereoisomers, an enantiomeric pair.
  • 6.1(b): 4 stereoisomers, comprising two enantiomeric pairs.
  • 6.2: Signal 1, at approximately \(\delta=4.14\ \mathrm{ppm}\).
  • 6.3: \(\boxed{a_{0,\min}=0.2134\ \mathrm{nm^2}}\) per head group.
  • 6.4: Begin at \(3.1\times10^{-6}\ \mathrm{s^{-1}}\); above the cvc, rise toward \(2.1\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm{s^{-1}}\), reaching the plateau by \(c_1\). Remain at this plateau through \(3c_1\).
  • 6.5: The second option: efficient loss of hydration of the carboxylate group of vesicle-bound 6-NBIC.

Solution

6.1(a) — Stereoisomers of A

Compound A is distearoylphosphatidylcholine. Its central glycerol carbon is attached to four different groups: hydrogen, an ester oxygen, an esterified terminal methylene group, and a phosphorylated terminal methylene group. It is therefore stereogenic.

The phosphorus atom is not an additional stereogenic center. Its two non-esterified oxygen atoms are constitutionally equivalent: the drawing with one double bond and one negatively charged oxygen represents one resonance contributor. The trimethylammonium nitrogen is also not stereogenic, because three of its substituents are identical methyl groups.

There is consequently one stereogenic center:

\[ N_{\text{stereoisomers}}=2^1=\boxed{2}. \]

The two enantiomers are:

Configuration at the glycerol carbon Isomeric SMILES
\(R\)-distearoylphosphatidylcholine C[N+](C)(C)CCOP(=O)([O-])OC[C@H](OC(=O)CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC)COC(=O)CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
\(S\)-distearoylphosphatidylcholine C[N+](C)(C)CCOP(=O)([O-])OC[C@@H](OC(=O)CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC)COC(=O)CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC

6.1(b) — Stereoisomers of B

Compound B is the phosphate O-methyl ester of distearoylphosphatidylcholine, as its chloride salt.

The glycerol stereogenic center remains. Phosphorus now has four different oxygen-containing ligands: an oxo oxygen, a methoxy group, the choline-derived group, and the glycerol-derived group. Its approximately tetrahedral arrangement therefore introduces a second stereogenic center.

There is no internal symmetry that produces a meso form, so

\[ N_{\text{stereoisomers}}=2^2=\boxed{4}. \]

Writing configurations in the order (glycerol carbon, phosphorus):

Configuration Isomeric SMILES
\((R,R)\) CO[P@](=O)(OCC[N+](C)(C)C)OC[C@H](OC(=O)CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC)COC(=O)CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC.[Cl-]
\((S,R)\) CO[P@](=O)(OCC[N+](C)(C)C)OC[C@@H](OC(=O)CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC)COC(=O)CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC.[Cl-]
\((R,S)\) CO[P@@](=O)(OCC[N+](C)(C)C)OC[C@H](OC(=O)CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC)COC(=O)CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC.[Cl-]
\((S,S)\) CO[P@@](=O)(OCC[N+](C)(C)C)OC[C@@H](OC(=O)CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC)COC(=O)CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC.[Cl-]

The enantiomeric pairs are \((R,R)/(S,S)\) and \((R,S)/(S,R)\).

6.2 — Assignment of \(H_{\mathrm c}\)

Compound C is glycerol acetonide, also called solketal or (2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)methanol. The depicted enantiomer is \(S\), with SMILES CC1(C)OC[C@H](CO)O1.

The methine proton \(H_{\mathrm c}\) has four vicinal proton neighbors:

\[ H_{\mathrm a},\quad H_{\mathrm b},\quad H_{\mathrm d},\quad H_{\mathrm e}. \]

The two protons within each methylene group are diastereotopic and need not have equal coupling constants to \(H_{\mathrm c}\). Thus \(H_{\mathrm c}\) can give a doublet of doublets of doublets of doublets, with overlapping or unresolved lines producing a complex multiplet.

Each of the other labeled protons instead has one geminal partner and one vicinal methine neighbor, giving a simpler principal splitting pattern.

The complex multiplet at approximately \(4.14\ \mathrm{ppm}\), labeled 1, therefore corresponds to \(H_{\mathrm c}\):

\[ \boxed{\text{Signal 1}}. \]

6.3 — Minimum head-group area

In the limiting, densely packed arrangement, the hydrocarbon volume associated with one head group occupies a column of cross-sectional area \(a_0\) and chain projection \(l\):

\[ V=a_0l. \]

Because the chain projection cannot exceed \(l_{\mathrm c}\),

\[ a_0\geq\frac{V}{l_{\mathrm c}}. \]

The smallest area corresponds to maximum chain extension. Using \(V\) as defined in the problem:

\[ \begin{aligned} a_{0,\min} &=\lim_{n\to\infty} \frac{(27.4+26.99n)\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm{nm^3}} {(0.154+0.1265n)\ \mathrm{nm}}\\[2mm] &=\frac{26.99\times10^{-3}}{0.1265}\ \mathrm{nm^2}\\ &=0.213359\ldots\ \mathrm{nm^2}. \end{aligned} \]

Hence

\[ \boxed{a_{0,\min}=0.2134\ \mathrm{nm^2}\text{ per head group}}. \]

6.4 — Rate constant versus DDAC concentration

DDAC is di-\(n\)-dodecyldimethylammonium chloride, SMILES CCCCCCCCCCCC[N+](C)(C)CCCCCCCCCCCC.[Cl-].

Let \(f_{\mathrm b}\) be the fraction of substrate bound to vesicles. Under the usual rapid-exchange description, the observed first-order rate constant is

\[ k_1=(1-f_{\mathrm b})k_{\mathrm w}+f_{\mathrm b}k_{\mathrm v}, \]

where

\[ k_{\mathrm w}=3.1\times10^{-6}\ \mathrm{s^{-1}}, \qquad k_{\mathrm v}=2.1\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm{s^{-1}}. \]

Draw the horizontal axis as \([\mathrm{DDAC}]\), extending from \(0\) to \(3c_1\), and the vertical axis as \(k_1\), in \(\mathrm{s^{-1}}\). The curve should have these features:

  1. From zero to the cvc: an approximately horizontal baseline at \(3.1\times10^{-6}\ \mathrm{s^{-1}}\).
  2. Above the cvc: a monotonic rise as an increasing fraction of 6-NBIC binds to vesicles.
  3. At \(c_1\): the curve reaches the full-binding value \(2.1\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm{s^{-1}}\).
  4. From \(c_1\) to \(3c_1\): a horizontal plateau at \(2.1\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm{s^{-1}}\).

Because the reaction is unimolecular, additional vesicles do not increase the intrinsic rate constant once all substrate is bound. The plateau is approximately

\[ \frac{k_{\mathrm v}}{k_{\mathrm w}} =\frac{2.1\times10^{-3}}{3.1\times10^{-6}} \approx6.8\times10^2 \]

times the aqueous value. On a linear vertical scale, the initial baseline therefore lies very close to zero.

6.5 — Origin of the catalytic effect

The relevant reactant and products are:

Species SMILES
6-Nitro-1,2-benzisoxazole-3-carboxylate, 6-NBIC O=C([O-])c1noc2cc([N+](=O)[O-])ccc12
2-Cyano-5-nitrophenolate N#Cc1ccc([N+](=O)[O-])cc1[O-]
Carbon dioxide O=C=O

Their balanced molecular-formula equation is

\[ \ce{C8H3N2O5^- -> C7H3N2O3^- + CO2}. \]

The transformation involves decarboxylation and opening of the heterocyclic ring: formation of the nitrile group accompanies cleavage of the nitrogen–oxygen bond, whose electron pair moves onto the oxygen that becomes the phenolate oxygen.

In water, SMILES O, hydrogen bonding strongly stabilizes the localized carboxylate charge of the reactant. Binding at the vesicle interface reduces this hydration. The reactant consequently loses more solvation stabilization than the transition state, in which charge is being redistributed during decarboxylation and ring opening. This lowers the activation free energy and accelerates the reaction.

Therefore, mark:

\[ \boxed{\text{Efficient loss of hydration of the carboxylate group of vesicle-bound 6-NBIC.}} \]

The solution was checked against the official solution.