IChO 2005 · Theory problem 1

Chemistry of Amides and Phenols

Condensation of a carboxylic acid with an amine gives an amide product. For example, condensation of formic acid with dimethylamine forms N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), which can be described as the following resonance structures.

Figure 1

1.1 Predict the order of melting points among N,N-dimethylformamide (compound A), N-methylacetamide (\(\ce{CH3CONHCH3}\), compound B), and propionamide (compound C, \(\ce{CH3CH2CONH2}\),). Express your answer from high to low melting point as follows:

\(\_\_\_\_ > \_\_\_\_ > \_\_\_\_\)  (Insert compound codes A, B, C)

1.2 Carbonyl groups are usually identified by their characteristic strong absorptions in the infrared spectra. The position of the absorption is dependent on the strength of the \(\ce{C=O}\) bond, which in turn is reflected in their bond lengths. In amides, the strength of the carbonyl groups can be shown by the resonance structure noted above. For example, cyclohexanone shows an absorption at \(1715\ \mathrm{cm^{-1}}\) for the carbonyl group (\(\ce{C=O}\)). In comparison with cyclohexanone, predict the absorption band for the carbonyl group in propionamide. Select your answer from the following choices.

(a) \(1660\ \mathrm{cm^{-1}}\) because of the shorter carbonyl bond length.
(b) \(1660\ \mathrm{cm^{-1}}\) because of the longer carbonyl bond length.
(c) \(1740\ \mathrm{cm^{-1}}\) because of the shorter carbonyl bond length.
(d) \(1740\ \mathrm{cm^{-1}}\) because of the longer carbonyl bond length.

1.3 Glycine (\(\ce{H2N-CH2-COOH}\)) is an \(\alpha\)-amino acid. Three glycine molecules can form a tripeptide Gly-Gly-Gly via amide linkages, accompanied by elimination of two water molecules. Draw the structural formula of this tripeptide.

1.4 When an \(\alpha\)-amino acid contains a substituent, there is a possibility of optical isomers. For example, L-alanine and D-alanine are two enantiomers. What is the number of all possible linear tripeptides that can be formed from the following three amino acids: glycine, L-alanine and D-alanine as the starting materials in the condensation reaction?

Figure 2

1.5 Among the tripeptides synthesized in 1-4, how many are optically active?

Nowadays, polyacrylamide gel associated with electrophoresis (PAGE) was widely used in analyses of proteins and nucleic acids. However, one of the first applications of polyamide gel is the separation of phenol compounds on thin-layer chromatography. The phenol compounds bearing different substituents have varied acidities. The higher acidity results in stronger binding to PAGE gel.

1.6 Predict the binding affinity of phenol (compound D), 4-methylphenol (compound E) and 4-nitrophenol (compound F) with a polyamide gel. Express your answer from high to low binding affinity as follows:

\(\_\_\_\_ > \_\_\_\_ > \_\_\_\_\)  (Insert compound codes D, E, and F)

The absorption maximum of a molecule in its ultraviolet and visible spectrum (UV-vis spectrum) is related to the number of conjugated double bonds in a chain. A compound containing more than 5 conjugated double bonds tends to absorb visible light, and hence shows the complementary colour. For example, phenolphthalein is a commonly used acid-base indicator, which is colourless in acidic and neutral solutions, but reddish pink in basic solutions (\(pH\ 8.3–10.0\)).

Figure 3

1.7 Draw the structural formula of H derived from phenolphthalein that is attributable to the reddish pink colour in aqueous \(\ce{NaOH}\) solution.

1.8 A simple way to prepare phenolphthalein is via condensation of compound G with 2 equivalents of phenol. What is the most effective reagent for G to accomplish this transformation? Select your answer from the following compounds.

Figure 4

\(\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\)

Official English text of the problem.

Answers

  • 1.1 \(\boxed{C>B>A}\): propionamide CCC(=O)N > N-methylacetamide CC(=O)NC > N,N-dimethylformamide CN(C)C=O.
  • 1.2 \(\boxed{\text{(b)}}\): \(1660\ \mathrm{cm^{-1}}\), because the carbonyl bond is longer.
  • 1.3 Glycylglycylglycine (triglycine), NCC(=O)NCC(=O)NCC(=O)O: \[ \boxed{\ce{H2N-CH2-C(=O)-NH-CH2-C(=O)-NH-CH2-COOH}} \]
  • 1.4 \(\boxed{27}\) linear tripeptides.
  • 1.5 \(\boxed{26}\) optically active tripeptides, comprising 13 enantiomeric pairs.
  • 1.6 \(\boxed{F>D>E}\): 4-nitrophenol Oc1ccc([N+](=O)[O-])cc1 > phenol Oc1ccccc1 > 4-methylphenol (p-cresol) Cc1ccc(O)cc1.
  • 1.7 H is the ring-opened quinonoid dianion of phenolphthalein, \(\ce{C20H12O4^{2-}}\). One resonance contributor is O=C([O-])c1ccccc1C(=C1C=CC(=O)C=C1)c1ccc([O-])cc1.
  • 1.8 \(\boxed{\text{(e)}}\): G is phthalic anhydride, O=C1OC(=O)c2ccccc21.

Solution

1.1

These three amides are constitutional isomers with the same molecular formula, \(\ce{C3H7NO}\). Their different capacities for intermolecular hydrogen bonding provide the principal basis for the prediction.

Compound Amide type Number of \(\ce{N-H}\) bonds per molecule
A, N,N-dimethylformamide Tertiary 0
B, N-methylacetamide Secondary 1
C, propionamide Primary 2

All three have a carbonyl oxygen that can accept hydrogen bonds. Propionamide has two hydrogen-bond donor hydrogens and can form an extensive intermolecular network. N-methylacetamide has one, whereas N,N-dimethylformamide has none.

The expected strength of the hydrogen-bonded crystal lattice therefore increases from A to B to C, giving

\[ \boxed{C>B>A}. \]

1.2

The nitrogen lone pair in propionamide is delocalized into the carbonyl group:

\[ \ce{CH3CH2C(=O)NH2} \;\longleftrightarrow\; \ce{CH3CH2C(-O^-)=NH2^+}. \]

The charge-separated resonance contributor of propionamide has SMILES CCC([O-])=[NH2+].

This contribution gives the carbonyl bond some single-bond character. Consequently, compared with the carbonyl bond in cyclohexanone, O=C1CCCCC1, the amide carbonyl bond is longer and has a smaller stretching force constant.

In the harmonic-oscillator approximation,

\[ \tilde{\nu}\approx \frac{1}{2\pi c}\sqrt{\frac{k}{\mu}}, \]

where \(k\) is the force constant and \(\mu\) is the effective reduced mass. The smaller force constant lowers the absorption wavenumber relative to \(1715\ \mathrm{cm^{-1}}\).

Thus the correct choice is

\[ \boxed{\text{(b): }1660\ \mathrm{cm^{-1}},\text{ because of the longer carbonyl bond length}.} \]

1.3

Glycine is NCC(=O)O. Joining three glycine molecules requires two peptide bonds, each formed with elimination of one water molecule, O:

\[ \ce{ 3 H2N-CH2-COOH -> H2N-CH2-C(=O)-NH-CH2-C(=O)-NH-CH2-COOH + 2 H2O }. \]

The product is glycylglycylglycine, also called triglycine, NCC(=O)NCC(=O)NCC(=O)O.

The requested drawing is a linear chain with a free amino group at one end, a free carboxyl group at the other, and two intervening \(\ce{-C(=O)-NH-}\) peptide linkages. Each amino-acid residue has a \(\ce{CH2}\) group at its \(\alpha\)-carbon.

1.4

The available residues are:

Amino acid Configuration SMILES
Glycine Achiral NCC(=O)O
L-alanine \(S\) N[C@@H](C)C(=O)O
D-alanine \(R\) N[C@H](C)C(=O)O

Each of the three positions can independently contain any of these three residues. Repetition is allowed, as illustrated by Gly-Gly-Gly in 1.3.

Peptide sequences are read from the amino terminus to the carboxyl terminus. Because these termini are different, reversing a sequence generally gives a different peptide.

Therefore,

\[ N=3\times3\times3=\boxed{27}. \]

1.5

Gly-Gly-Gly contains no stereogenic centre and is achiral. Every other peptide contains at least one alanine residue.

Taking a mirror image exchanges L-alanine and D-alanine at each occupied position while leaving glycine unchanged. The distinct amino and carboxyl termini prevent a symmetry operation from reversing the chain and identifying different residue positions. Thus mixed L/D sequences do not produce meso peptides.

Only Gly-Gly-Gly is identical to its mirror image. Hence,

\[ N_{\text{optically active}}=27-1=\boxed{26}. \]

These constitute

\[ \frac{26}{2}=\boxed{13} \]

enantiomeric pairs. This counts individual peptide species; an equimolar mixture of an enantiomeric pair would have zero net optical rotation.

1.6

The problem states that greater phenol acidity gives stronger binding to the gel. The acidity order follows from stabilization of the conjugate bases:

Parent compound Conjugate base SMILES of conjugate base
D, phenol Phenoxide [O-]c1ccccc1
E, 4-methylphenol 4-Methylphenoxide Cc1ccc([O-])cc1
F, 4-nitrophenol 4-Nitrophenoxide [O-]c1ccc([N+](=O)[O-])cc1

The para nitro group withdraws electron density through both induction and resonance, stabilizing the conjugate base and increasing acidity. The methyl group donates electron density, making the corresponding phenol less acidic than unsubstituted phenol.

Therefore,

\[ \text{acidity: }F>D>E. \]

Following the stated relationship between acidity and gel binding,

\[ \boxed{\text{binding affinity: }F>D>E}. \]

The phenolic hydrogen can form a hydrogen bond to an amide carbonyl oxygen in the gel; the more acidic phenols are stronger donors in this interaction.

1.7

Neutral phenolphthalein, O=C1OC(c2ccc(O)cc2)(c2ccc(O)cc2)c2ccccc21, contains a closed lactone ring and a tetrahedral central carbon. That carbon interrupts conjugation between the phenol-derived rings.

In the stated basic indicator range, removal of two protons and opening of the lactone ring give the quinonoid phenolphthalein dianion H:

O=C([O-])c1ccccc1C(=C1C=CC(=O)C=C1)c1ccc([O-])cc1

The balanced net ionic equation is

\[ \boxed{\ce{C20H14O4 + 2 OH^- <=> C20H12O4^{2-} + 2 H2O}}. \]

Here hydroxide, [OH-], is supplied by aqueous sodium hydroxide, [Na+].[OH-].

To draw the displayed resonance contributor precisely:

  • Open the lactone by breaking the bond between its ring oxygen and the central carbon. The resulting carboxylate group is ortho to the central-carbon substituent on the original fused benzene ring.
  • Connect the central carbon by single bonds to that benzene ring and to a para-phenoxide ring.
  • Double-bond the central carbon to the second phenol-derived ring. Draw this ring in quinonoid form, with a carbonyl group para to the exocyclic double bond and two internal \(\ce{C=C}\) bonds.
  • Place one negative charge on the phenoxide oxygen and one on a carboxylate oxygen, giving an overall charge of \(2-\).

Electron donation from a deprotonated phenolic oxygen, accompanied by shifts of the ring \(\pi\) bonds and cleavage of the lactone bond, produces this conjugated arrangement. An equivalent resonance contributor exchanges the carbonyl and phenoxide roles of the two phenol-derived rings.

The SMILES represents one contributor; the actual electronic structure has delocalized bonding and charge. The central carbon is now trigonal planar, allowing extended conjugation that shifts absorption into the visible region and produces the reddish pink colour.

1.8

The correct reagent is phthalic anhydride, O=C1OC(=O)c2ccccc21, corresponding to (e).

Its cyclic anhydride supplies the two adjacent carbonyl-derived carbon atoms required for the lactone framework. Acid activation permits condensation with phenol, whose hydroxyl group directs substitution to the para position. Incorporation of two phenol molecules and lactone formation give phenolphthalein.

The balanced overall reaction is

\[ \boxed{\ce{C8H4O3 + 2 C6H5OH -> C20H14O4 + H2O}}. \]

The reactants and product are phthalic anhydride, phenol Oc1ccccc1, and phenolphthalein O=C1OC(c2ccc(O)cc2)(c2ccc(O)cc2)c2ccccc21, respectively.

The stated conditions are concentrated sulfuric acid, OS(=O)(=O)O, at \(180\,^\circ\mathrm{C}\) for \(5\ \mathrm{h}\). The acid promotes the condensation and is not consumed in the net equation. Starting from the anhydride gives one water molecule as the net byproduct.

The solution was checked against the official solution.