CF2H, a Functional Group-Dependent Hydrogen-Bond Donor: Is It a More or Less Lipophilic Bioisostere of OH, SH, and CH3?

Yossi Zafrani*, Gali Sod-Moriah, Dina Yeffet, Anat Berliner, Dafna Amir, Daniele Marciano, Shlomi Elias, Shahaf Katalan, Nissan Ashkenazi, Moran Madmon, Eytan Gershonov, Sigal Saphier

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The effects of the CF2H moiety on H-bond (HB) acidity and lipophilicity of various compounds, when attached directly to an aromatic ring or to other functions like alkyls, ethers/thioethers, or electron-withdrawing groups, are discussed. It was found that the CF2H group acts as a HB donor with a strong dependence on the attached functional group (A = 0.035-0.165). Regarding lipophilicity, the CF2H group may act as a more lipophilic bioisostere of OH but as a similar or less lipophilic bioisostere of SH and CH3, respectively, when attached to Ar or alkyl. In addition, the lipophilicity of ethers, sulfoxides, and sulfones is dramatically increased upon CH3/CF2H exchange at the α position. Interestingly, this exchange significantly affects not only the polarity and the volume of the solutes but also their HB-accepting ability, the main factors influencing log Poct. Accordingly, this study may be helpful in the rational design of drugs containing this moiety.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5628-5637
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Medicinal Chemistry
Volume62
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - 13 Jun 2019
Externally publishedYes

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