Phenyl glycosides – Solid-state NMR, X-ray diffraction and conformational analysis using genetic algorithm

The X-ray structures of 2,6-dimethylphenyl and phenyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl β-glucosides (1 and 3) and phenyl α-mannoside (6) were obtained. The independent part of the unit cell of the glycosides 1 and 6 was formed by one molecule, and for the glucoside 3, two molecules in the crystal cell were observed. In deacetylated glycosides 4 and 6 the crystal structure was established by a hydrogen bond network formed between the sugar hydroxyls and solvent molecules. The 13C CPMAS NMR spectra of aryl glycosides 1–6 were analysed. In the spectrum of 3, doubling of the C4 aryl signal was observed which confirmed the presence of two independent molecules in the solid sample. The GAAGS (Genetic Algorithm-Assisted Grid Search) method was used to determine the low-energy conformers of α-mannosides and β-glucosides. The orientation of the aryl pendant group was calculated using Molecular Mechanics (MMFF94) as well as Quantum Mechanics theory (DFT, B3LYP/6-31 + G(d,p)).