ISSN:
0020-7608
Keywords:
Computational Chemistry and Molecular Modeling
;
Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
Notes:
The aim of this study has been to determine how the hydrogen bond between formaldehyde and ammonia is affected by the ring-opening interaction of protonated ethylene oxide with the ammonia nitrogen. Our purpose is to gain insight into the possible effect of carcinogenic epoxides upon the hydrogen bonding within DNA base pairs; it is known that such epoxides react with nucleophilic sites in DNA, including amine nitrogens that are involved in hydrogen bonds to carbonyl groups. We have used an ab initio self-consistent-field molecular orbital procedure to compute optimized structures, interaction energies, and other properties of interest. The H2CO·HNH2 system and the protonated epoxide were found to form two stable complexes, with syn and anti orientations. Their formation is accompanied by a significant overall strengthening of the H2CO·HNH2 hydrogen bond, as indicated by both calculated force constants and bond lengths. An analysis of these and other properties, such as atomic charges, suggests that the interaction is leading to the formation of N-protonated ethanolamine, which is linked to the formaldehyde through the proton on the nitrogen. If carcinogenic epoxides have a similar strengthening effect upon some of the hydrogen bonds in DNA, it could interfere in the replication and transcription processes.
Additional Material:
4 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/qua.560250509
