Comparative structural analysis of cytidine, ethenocytidine, and their protonated salts. I. Crystal and molecular structure of ethenocytidine.

The X-ray crystal and molecular structure of 3,N4-ethenocytidine (comes from Cyd) has been solved and refined on counter data to R = 0.038. A detailed discussion of the base electronic structure, molecular conformation and intermolecular interactions is the starting point for a comparative analysis of the series: Cyd, epsilon Cyd, Cyd . HCll and epsilon Cyd . HCl. Protonation changes the base electronic structure and results in a completely different molecular conformation and intermolecular interactions. Etheno-bridging does not alter the molecular conformation but it also changes the intermolecular interactions.