Weak Intermolecular Interactions in a Series of Bioactive Oxazoles

The intermolecular interactions in a series of nine similar 4,5-phenyl-oxazoles were studied on the basis of crystal structures determined by X-ray diffraction. The crystal architectures were analyzed for the importance and hierarchies of different, weak intermolecular interactions using three approaches: the geometrical characteristics, topological analysis (for the model based on the transfer of multipolar parameters), and energetics of the molecule–molecule interactions. The geometries of the molecules were quite similar and close to the typical values. The results of the analysis of the interactions suggest that the number of nonspecific interactions is more important than the apparent strength of the specific interactions. The interactions involving covalently bound bromine and divalent sulfur atoms were classified as secondary, they certainly did not define the crystal packing, and they played a minor role in the overall crystal cohesion energies. Incidentally, another method for confirming the degree of isostructurality, according to the topologies of the interactions, is described.

σ-Hole interactions in small-molecule compounds containing divalent sulfur groups R 1—S—R 2

Hydrogen bonds, aromatic stacking contacts and σ-hole interactions are all noncovalent interactions commonly observed in biological systems. Structural data derived from the Protein Data Bank showed that methionine residues can interact with oxygen atoms through directional S...O contacts in the protein core. In the present work, the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) was used in conjunction with ab initio calculations to explore the σ-hole interaction properties of small-molecule compounds containing divalent sulfur. CSD surveys showed that 7095 structures contained R 1—S—R 2 groups that interact with electronegative atoms like N, O, S and Cl. Frequencies of occurrence and geometries of the interaction were dependent on the nature of R 1 and R 2, and the hybridization of carbon atoms in C,C—S, and C,S—S fragments. The most common interactions in terms of frequency of occurrence were C,C—S...O, C,C—S...N and C,C—S...S with predominance of Csp 2. The strength of the chalcogen interaction increased when enhancing the electron-withdrawing character of the substituents. The most positive electrostatic potentials (V S,max; illustrating positive σ-holes) calculated on R 1—S—R 2 groups were located on the S atom, in the S—R 1 and S—R 2 extensions, and increased with electron-withdrawing R 1 and R 2 substituents like the interaction strength did. As with geometric data derived from the CSD, interaction geometries calculated for some model systems and representative CSD compounds suggested that the interactions were directed in the extensions of S—R 1 and S—R 2 bonds. The values of complexation energies supported attractive interactions between σ-hole bond donors and acceptors, enhanced by dispersion. The interactions of R 1—S—R 2 with large V S,max and nucleophiles with large negative V S,min coherently provided more negative energies. According to NBO analysis, chalcogen interactions consisted of charge transfer from a nucleophile lone pair to an S—R 1 or S—R 2 antibonding orbital. The directional σ-hole interactions at R 1—S—R 2 can be useful in crystal engineering and the area of supramolecular biochemistry.

Sulfane sulfur – new findings on an old topic

Sulfane sulfur is a divalent sulfur atom bonded to another sulfur which is very reactive and labile. Compounds containing this reactive sulfur include persulfides, polysulfides, thiosulfate, thiosulfinates, polythionates, and elemental sulfur. Sulfane sulfur appears in a number of biologically important compounds, including thiocysteine, thiocystine and thiotaurine, products of the cysteine metabolism, as well as glutathione persulfide. Sulfane sulfur compounds can modify cysteine residues in proteins via an S-sulfhydration reaction to produce protein persulfides. It has been also postulated that cysteine persulfides can be incorporated into proteins during translation. Recently, the sulfane sulfur compounds, especially the persulfides and polysulfides, have attracted increasing interest due to their regulatory and antioxidant properties. Compounds containing sulfane sulfur are also regarded as a form of H2S storage, which can easily release this gasotransmitter in response to biological signals. Both reactive sulfur species (H2S and sulfane sulfur) always coexist in biological systems. This review is focused on new findings in the field of sulfane sulfur’s biological role, and disruption of its level in some patho/physiological conditions. A few sulfane sulfur donors with potential applications are presented. In recent years, in parallel to increasing interest in biological importance of sulfane sulfur, new analytical methods have been developed for sensitive and reliable determination of its level in the cells and tissues.