IChO 2004 · Theory problem 7

Stereochemistry in Drugs

The Cahn-Ingold-Prelog rules are used to specify the stereochemistry of molecules.

7.1 Order the groups on the answer sheet according to their priority in the Cahn-Ingold-Prelog (CIP)-system.

Pseudoephedrine (1) is a constituent in many common drugs against colds, e.g. in nasal sprays.

Figure 1

7.2 Mark the stereocenters in 1 with an asterisk * on the answer sheet.

Order the substituents on each stereocenter in 1 according to their priority and determine their absolute configuration (\(R\) or \(S\)).

7.3 Draw a Newman or a sawhorse representation of 1.

Draw a Fischer representation of 1.

Treatment of 1 with acidic permanganate solutions under mild conditions yields the stimulant Methcathinone 2:

Figure 2

7.4 Draw the stereochemically correct structure of compound 2 and a balanced redox equation of the reaction. Indicate in your equation the particular oxidation number on all atoms which undergo a change in their formal oxidation numbers.

The treatment of 2 with \(\ce{LiAlH4}\) results exclusively in compound 3, which differs from 1 in its melting point.

Figure 3

7.5
a) Draw the stereochemically correct structure of 3.
b) Decide the statements on the answer sheet concerning isomers.
c) Draw a structural model to rationalize the exclusive formation of 3 from 2.

Official English text of the problem.

Answers

Throughout, \(C_1\) is the carbon attached directly to phenyl and bearing the alcohol or carbonyl group; \(C_2\) is the adjacent carbon bearing methylamino.

  • 7.1: The answer-sheet group list is missing, so its exact ordering cannot be recovered. For the substituent types visible in this problem, decreasing CIP priority is \[ \ce{-OH} > \ce{-NHCH3} > \ce{-CH(OH)Ph} > \ce{-CH(NHCH3)CH3} > \ce{-Ph} > \ce{-CH3} > \ce{-H}. \]

  • 7.2: Mark \(C_1\) and \(C_2\). Both are \(S\).

  • At \(C_1\): \(\ce{OH}>\ce{CH(NHCH3)CH3}>\ce{Ph}>\ce{H}\).
  • At \(C_2\): \(\ce{NHCH3}>\ce{CH(OH)Ph}>\ce{CH3}>\ce{H}\).

Compound 1 is (1S,2S)-pseudoephedrine, or (1S,2S)-2-(methylamino)-1-phenylpropan-1-ol, CN[C@@H](C)[C@@H](O)c1ccccc1.

  • 7.3: One valid staggered Newman projection, looking from \(C_1\) toward \(C_2\), has front groups phenyl at 12 o’clock, hydroxyl at 4 o’clock and hydrogen at 8 o’clock; rear groups methylamino at 2 o’clock, methyl at 6 o’clock and hydrogen at 10 o’clock. For a Fischer projection with phenyl at the top and methyl at the bottom, put hydroxyl on the right at \(C_1\) and methylamino on the left at \(C_2\).

  • 7.4: Compound 2 is (2S)-methcathinone, or (2S)-2-(methylamino)-1-phenylpropan-1-one, CN[C@@H](C)C(=O)c1ccccc1. The balanced redox equation is \[ 5\,\mathbf{1}+2\,\ce{MnO4^-}+6\,\ce{H+} \ce{->} 5\,\mathbf{2}+2\,\ce{Mn^{2+}}+8\,\ce{H2O}. \] The changing oxidation numbers are \(C_1:0\rightarrow+\mathrm{II}\) and manganese \(+\mathrm{VII}\rightarrow+\mathrm{II}\).

  • 7.5(a): Compound 3 is (1R,2S)-ephedrine, or (1R,2S)-2-(methylamino)-1-phenylpropan-1-ol, CN[C@@H](C)[C@H](O)c1ccccc1. In the original drawing, reverse only the hydroxyl-bearing stereocenter.

  • 7.5(b): 1 and 3 are diastereomers, specifically \(C_1\) epimers. The alcohol connectivity admits four configurational stereoisomers, comprising two enantiomeric pairs; none is meso.

  • 7.5(c): An oxygen–nitrogen chelate to aluminium constrains the ketone conformation. Hydride approaches the carbonyl from the face opposite the \(C_2\) methyl group—the Si face in the model described below—giving \(C_1=R\) while retaining \(C_2=S\).

Solution

7.1 — CIP priorities

CIP comparison proceeds as follows:

  1. Compare the atomic numbers of the atoms directly attached to the stereocenter. Higher atomic number gives higher priority.
  2. For isotopes of the same element, higher mass number gives higher priority.
  3. If the directly attached atoms tie, compare their outward attached atoms, arranged in decreasing atomic number, until the first difference.
  4. Treat multiple bonds using duplicate atoms for the purpose of comparison.

The missing answer-sheet list prevents a specific answer for its unknown groups. However, all the substituent types needed for the supplied structures can be ranked:

Decreasing priority Group Fragment SMILES First relevant comparison
1 Hydroxyl [*]O Directly attached oxygen
2 Methylamino [*]NC Directly attached nitrogen
3 Hydroxy(phenyl)methyl [*]C(O)c1ccccc1 Carbon followed by \((\ce{O},\ce{C},\ce{H})\)
4 1-(Methylamino)ethyl [*]C(NC)C Carbon followed by \((\ce{N},\ce{C},\ce{H})\)
5 Phenyl [*]c1ccccc1 Carbon followed by \((\ce{C},\ce{C},\ce{C})\)
6 Methyl [*]C Carbon followed by \((\ce{H},\ce{H},\ce{H})\)
7 Hydrogen [*][H] Directly attached hydrogen

Here [*] denotes the attachment point in a fragment SMILES. The phenyl comparison includes the duplicate carbon arising from its aromatic bonding.

7.2 — Stereocenters and absolute configurations

The side chain is

\[ \ce{Ph-CH(OH)-CH(NHCH3)-CH3}. \]

Both methine carbons have four different substituents, so place an asterisk on each. The secondary amine nitrogen undergoes rapid pyramidal inversion and is not counted as an additional configurationally stable stereocenter.

At \(C_1\), oxygen has highest priority and hydrogen lowest. The two carbon substituents are distinguished by

\[ \begin{aligned} \ce{CH(NHCH3)CH3}&:\quad(\ce{N},\ce{C},\ce{H}),\\ \ce{Ph}&:\quad(\ce{C},\ce{C},\ce{C}). \end{aligned} \]

Because nitrogen outranks carbon,

\[ \boxed{\ce{OH}>\ce{CH(NHCH3)CH3}>\ce{Ph}>\ce{H}}. \]

At \(C_2\), nitrogen has highest priority. The remaining carbon groups give

\[ \begin{aligned} \ce{CH(OH)Ph}&:\quad(\ce{O},\ce{C},\ce{H}),\\ \ce{CH3}&:\quad(\ce{H},\ce{H},\ce{H}), \end{aligned} \]

and hence

\[ \boxed{\ce{NHCH3}>\ce{CH(OH)Ph}>\ce{CH3}>\ce{H}}. \]

In the supplied drawing, both the hydroxyl bond and the methylamino bond are hashed wedges pointing away from the viewer. The omitted hydrogen therefore points toward the viewer at each center.

At each center, the visible \(1\rightarrow2\rightarrow3\) sequence is clockwise. Since priority 4 points toward the viewer, reverse that result: both centers are \(S\).

Thus 1 is \(\boxed{(1S,2S)}\).

7.3 — Newman and Fischer representations

For the Newman projection, look along the \(C_1-C_2\) bond from the alcohol-bearing carbon toward the amino-bearing carbon. Draw \(C_1\) as the central point and \(C_2\) as the rear circle.

Carbon Substituent Clock position
Front, \(C_1\) Phenyl 12
Front, \(C_1\) Hydroxyl 4
Front, \(C_1\) Hydrogen 8
Rear, \(C_2\) Methylamino 2
Rear, \(C_2\) Methyl 6
Rear, \(C_2\) Hydrogen 10

This is a staggered conformer with phenyl and methyl anti. Its two configurations are \(S,S\). The clock positions specify conformation, which the ordinary stereochemical SMILES does not encode.

For the Fischer projection, draw the vertical chain in the order

\[ \ce{Ph}-C_1-C_2-\ce{CH3}, \]

with phenyl at the top and methyl at the bottom. Place the horizontal substituents as follows:

Center Left Right
\(C_1\) \(\ce{H}\) \(\ce{OH}\)
\(C_2\) \(\ce{NHCH3}\) \(\ce{H}\)

Horizontal bonds point toward the viewer; vertical bonds point away. This gives the required \(S,S\) configuration.

7.4 — Oxidation product and redox balance

Oxidation converts the secondary alcohol into a ketone:

\[ \ce{Ph-CH(OH)-CH(NHCH3)-CH3 -> Ph-C(=O)-CH(NHCH3)-CH3}. \]

The carbonyl carbon is trigonal planar, so \(C_1\) ceases to be a stereocenter. No bond at \(C_2\) is broken, and its spatial configuration is retained.

Its CIP priorities also retain their order:

\[ \ce{NHCH3}>\ce{C(=O)Ph}>\ce{CH3}>\ce{H}, \]

because the carbonyl substituent presents \((\ce{O},\ce{O},\ce{C})\), whereas methyl presents \((\ce{H},\ce{H},\ce{H})\). Thus 2 is the \(2S\) ketone.

To draw 2, replace the alcohol-bearing carbon in the original skeleton with a carbonyl group. Keep the methylamino bond at \(C_2\) hashed away from the viewer, with its hydrogen toward the viewer.

For the changing oxidation numbers:

  • At the alcohol carbon, one \(\ce{C-O}\) bond contributes \(+1\), one \(\ce{C-H}\) bond contributes \(-1\), and the carbon–carbon bonds contribute zero. Therefore \(C_1\) initially has oxidation number \(0\).
  • In the ketone, the \(\ce{C=O}\) bond contributes \(+2\), so \(C_1\) becomes \(+\mathrm{II}\).
  • Manganese changes from \(+\mathrm{VII}\) in permanganate to \(+\mathrm{II}\).

The half-equations are

\[ \ce{Ph-CH(OH)-CH(NHCH3)-CH3 -> Ph-C(=O)-CH(NHCH3)-CH3 + 2 H+ + 2 e-} \]

and

\[ \ce{MnO4^- + 8 H+ + 5 e- -> Mn^{2+} + 4 H2O}. \]

Multiplying the first by 5 and the second by 2 gives the balanced equation, with every changing oxidation number identified:

\[ \begin{aligned} &5\,\underbrace{\ce{Ph-CH(OH)-CH(NHCH3)-CH3}}_{\mathbf{1};\ C_1:\,0} +2\,\underbrace{\ce{MnO4^-}}_{\mathrm{Mn}:\,+\mathrm{VII}} +6\,\ce{H+}\\ &\qquad\ce{->} 5\,\underbrace{\ce{Ph-C(=O)-CH(NHCH3)-CH3}}_{\mathbf{2};\ C_1:\,+\mathrm{II}} +2\,\underbrace{\ce{Mn^{2+}}}_{\mathrm{Mn}:\,+\mathrm{II}} +8\,\ce{H2O}. \end{aligned} \]

Five alcohol molecules lose ten electrons, and two permanganate ions gain ten electrons. Both sides have net charge \(+4\).

The inorganic species are permanganate, [O-][Mn](=O)(=O)=O; hydrogen ion, [H+]; manganese(II) ion, [Mn+2]; and water, O.

The equation uses the neutral organic structures shown in the problem. In the acidic medium, their amines are protonated: protonated (1S,2S)-pseudoephedrine, C[NH2+][C@@H](C)[C@@H](O)c1ccccc1, and protonated (2S)-methcathinone, C[NH2+][C@@H](C)C(=O)c1ccccc1. Using these forms on both sides leaves the redox coefficients unchanged.

7.5(a) — Identification of compound 3

Reduction restores the alcohol group and creates a new stereocenter at \(C_1\). The existing \(C_2=S\) center remains unchanged. The two possible alcohol configurations are therefore

\[ (1S,2S)\quad\text{and}\quad(1R,2S). \]

The first is the starting compound 1. Since the problem specifies a different compound with a different melting point, the product is

\[ \boxed{\mathbf{3}=(1R,2S)\text{-ephedrine}}. \]

For the requested drawing, retain the original carbon skeleton and the hashed methylamino bond. Change the hydroxyl bond from a hashed wedge to a solid wedge toward the viewer; its hydrogen now points away.

Equivalently, in a Fischer projection with phenyl at the top and methyl at the bottom:

Center Left Right
\(C_1\) \(\ce{OH}\) \(\ce{H}\)
\(C_2\) \(\ce{NHCH3}\) \(\ce{H}\)

7.5(b) — Isomer relationships

Compounds 1 and 3 have identical connectivity and differ at exactly one of their two stereocenters. Therefore they are diastereomers, specifically epimers at \(C_1\).

The complete configurational stereoisomer set is:

Configuration Name SMILES
\((1S,2S)\) (1S,2S)-Pseudoephedrine, 1 CN[C@@H](C)[C@@H](O)c1ccccc1
\((1R,2R)\) (1R,2R)-Pseudoephedrine CN[C@H](C)[C@H](O)c1ccccc1
\((1R,2S)\) (1R,2S)-Ephedrine, 3 CN[C@@H](C)[C@H](O)c1ccccc1
\((1S,2R)\) (1S,2R)-Ephedrine CN[C@H](C)[C@@H](O)c1ccccc1

The enantiomeric pairs are

\[ (1S,2S)\leftrightarrow(1R,2R), \qquad (1R,2S)\leftrightarrow(1S,2R). \]

There is no internal symmetry allowing a meso form, so all four are chiral. Pure enantiomers have the same melting point under the same achiral conditions; diastereomers can have different melting points. The sign of optical rotation cannot be inferred simply from an \(R\) or \(S\) descriptor.

Compound 2 has one stereocenter and therefore two enantiomers. Its mirror image is (2R)-methcathinone, CN[C@H](C)C(=O)c1ccccc1. It is not an isomer of either alcohol: its formula is \(\ce{C10H13NO}\), whereas 1 and 3 have formula \(\ce{C10H15NO}\).

7.5(c) — Structural model for stereoselective reduction

The reagent is lithium aluminium hydride, [Li+].[AlH4-]. A suitable model is chelation-controlled reduction: the carbonyl oxygen and amino nitrogen bind a common aluminium center, forming a five-membered ring containing aluminium, oxygen, \(C_1\), \(C_2\), and nitrogen.

Describe the model drawing as follows:

  1. Draw the five-membered chelate approximately in the page, with aluminium at the top, oxygen upper left, nitrogen upper right, \(C_1\) lower left, and \(C_2\) lower right. Retain the carbonyl double bond between \(C_1\) and oxygen.
  2. Draw phenyl outward from \(C_1\), toward the lower left in the plane.
  3. At \(C_2\), draw methyl on a solid wedge toward the viewer and hydrogen on a hashed wedge away. This arrangement gives \(C_2=S\).
  4. Draw hydride attack at \(C_1\) from behind the page, opposite the protruding methyl group.

Viewed from the front, the carbonyl substituent priorities are oxygen first, \(C_2\) second, and phenyl third. Their clockwise order identifies the front as the Re face. The rear is consequently the Si face, which is less hindered by the \(C_2\) methyl group.

Transfer of hydride, [H-], to this Si face moves the carbonyl \(\pi\)-electron pair onto oxygen. Protonation during work-up gives the alcohol. The newly introduced hydrogen points away in this drawing, and the remaining priorities run clockwise, so the new center is \(C_1=R\).

The product is therefore \((1R,2S)\)-3. The chelate geometry, attack direction, and electron movements are specified by this model; ordinary SMILES encode the product’s configuration but do not encode those mechanistic details.

The solution was checked against the official solution.