Journal of Physical Chemistry B, Vol.111, No.8, 2025-2032, 2007
Role of nitrogen atom in aromatic stacking
Aromatic stacking of 9,9'-(alpha,omega-alkanediyl)bis[adenine] (1), 1,1'-(alpha,omega-alkanediyl)bis[benzimidazole] (2), and 9-[omega-(benzimidazol-1-yl)alkyl]adenine (3) were studied at low concentrations of these compounds by means of UV and NMR spectroscopies. The UV hypochromic effect at T degrees C was determined as the ratio of the integration strength B at T degrees C (T = 27, 40, and 50) to that at 60 degrees C. The UV hypochromic effects of 1 and 3 were remarkable in water, suggesting a formation of intramolecular aromatic stacking, while the UV data of 2 did not present unambiguous evidence supporting aromatic stacking. A difference of chemical shift of each aromatic ring proton between 27 and 80 degrees C, that is Delta delta = delta(80 degrees C) - delta(27 degrees C), was given as an indication of the aromatic stacking in the NMR study. On the basis the data of Delta delta, 1 and 3 were stabilized by a stacking interaction in the buffer solution at pD 7.0 but not in the organic solvents. On the other hand, the NMR data did not indicate the formation of aromatic stacking of 2 either in the organic solvents or in the aqueous solution. The thermodynamic parameters of the intramolecular aromatic stacking of 3 were determined by means of NMR spectroscopy.