A network of small molecules connected by cross-linked NH bonds

The synthesis of the small pseudopeptide Boc-L-Phe-D-Imz-OBn (Imz = imidazolidin-2-one-4-carboxylate) is reported. Crystallization of this peptide from methanol, ethanol, and isopropanol leads to isostructural solvates when the solvent is methanol or ethanol with a peptide/solvent ratio of 2:1 and to an unsolvated polymorph in the case of isopropanol. The solvate peptide crystallizes forming infinite chains with the monomers in parallel orientation connected by a single hydrogen bond. The chains are arranged in antiparallel direction and cross-linked through the NH group of the imidazolidin heterocycle with formation of a stable 2D network. Crystals from isopropanol form a different 2D network. The degree of order in the crystal assembly decreases from methanol and ethanol solvates to the unsolvated pseudopeptide grown from isopropanol. Quantum chemical calculations at the HF/6-31G* level of ab initio MO theory, carried out on the two different packings, show a slight preference for the unsolvated packing.