The design of inhibitors of protein kinase C; the solution conformation of staurosporine

NMR spectra in several solvents show that the conformation of the tetrahydropyran ring in Staurosporine changes from a chair form in the free base to a boat conformation on protonation, mainly owing to the increased solvation requirement of –NH2Me+vs.–NHMe; implications for the bioactive conformation are discussed.