The CF bond as a tool in the conformational control of amides

The conformation of 2-fluoro-N-(2-fluoroethyl)-propionamide 4 in the solid state indicates the influence of both a β-fluorine-amide gauche effect and an α-fluoroamide effect. The structure reveals the influence of two recently observed stereoelectronic effects associated with the CF bond, which has resulted in the successful prediction of the solid state conformation of amide 4. A gauche relationship (−69.9°) was observed for atoms N(1)C(4)C(5)F and a syn planar (2.0°) relationship was observed for N(1)C(3)C(2)F. The paper demonstrates the predictive power of using the CF bond as a tool in influencing the conformation of amides and peptides.