The four azole rings place structural restrictions on ascidiacyclamide (ASC). As a result, the structure of ASC exists in an equilibrium between two major forms (i.e. folded and square). [D-βVal3,7]Ascidiacyclamide (βASC) was synthesized by replacing two D-Val-Thz (Val is valine and Thz is thiazole) blocks with D-β-Valine (D-βVal-Thz). This modification expands the peptide ring; the original 24-membered macrocycle of ASC becomes a 26-membered ring. Circular dichroism (CD) spectra showed that, in solution, the structural equilibrium is maintained with βASC, but the folded form is dominant. A copper complex was prepared, namely [[D-βVal3,7]ascidiacyclamide(2−)]aqua-μ-carbonato-dicopper(II) monohydrate, [Cu2(C38H54N8O6S2)(CO3)(H2O)]·H2O, to determine the effect of the change in ring size on the coordinated structure. The obtained bis-CuII–βASC complex contains two water molecules and a carbonate anion. Two CuII ions are chelated by three N-donor atoms of two Thz–Ile–Oxz (Ile is isoleucine and Oxz is oxazoline) units. An O atom of the carbonate anion bridges two CuII ions, forming two square pyramids. These features are similar to the previously reported structure of the CuII–ASC complex, but the two pyramids are enveloped inside the peptide and share one apex. In the CuII–ASC complex, the apex of each square pyramid is an O atom of a water molecule, and the two pyramids are oriented toward the outside of the peptide. The incorporated β-amino acids of βASC make the space inside the peptide large enough to envelop the two square pyramids. The observed structural changes in the bis-CuII–βASC complex arising from ring expansion are particularly interesting in the context of the previously reported structure of the CuII–ASC complex.
Photochemical ring expansion reactions: synthesis of tetrahydrofuran derivatives and mechanism studies