Cation-π versus anion-π interactions: a comparative ab initio study based on energetic, electron charge density and aromatic features

A coordination polymer strategy for anion encapsulation: anion–π interactions in (4,4) nets formed from Ag(i) salts and a flexible pyrimidine ligand

Anions encapsulated by a uniform mode of anion-pi binding in isomorphous (4,4) nets formed from Ag(I) salts and bis(4-pyrimidylmethyl)sulfide appear to be structurally directing.

Arene−Cation Interactions of Positive Quadrupole Moment Aromatics and Arene−Anion Interactions of Negative Quadrupole Moment Aromatics

Intermolecular interactions involving aromatic pi-electron density are widely believed to be governed by the aromatic molecular quadrupole moment, Theta(zz). Arene-cation binding is believed to occur primarily with negative Theta(zz) aromatics, and arene-anion binding is believed to occur largely with positive Theta(zz) aromatics. We have performed quantum mechanical computations that show the cation binding of positive Theta(zz) aromatics and the anion binding of negative Theta(zz) aromatics is quite common in the gas phase. The pi-electron density of hexafluorobenzene, the prototypical positive Theta(zz ) aromatic (experimental Theta(zz) = 9.5 +/- 0.5 DA), has a Li+ binding enthalpy of -4.37 kcal/mol at the MP2(full)/6-311G**level of theory. The RHF/6-311G** calculated Theta(zz) value of 1,4-dicyanobenzene is +11.81 DA, yet it has an MP2(full)/6-311G** Li+ binding enthalpy of -12.65 kcal/mol and a Na+ binding enthalpy of -3.72 kcal/mol. The pi-electron density of benzene, the prototypical negative Theta(zz) aromatic (experimental Theta(zz) = -8.7 +/- 0.5 DA), has a F- binding enthalpy of -5.51 kcal/mol. The RHF/6-311G** calculated Theta(zz) of C6H2I4 is -10.45 DA, yet it has an MP2(full)/6-311++G** calculated F- binding enthalpy of -20.13 kcal/mol. Our results show that as the aromatic Theta(zz) value increases the cation binding enthalpy decreases; a plot of cation binding enthalpies versus aromatic Theta(zz) gives a line of best of fit with R2 = 0.778. No such correlation exists between the aromatic Theta(zz) value and the anion binding enthalpy; the line of best fit has R2 = 0.297. These results are discussed in terms of electrostatic and polarizability contributions to the overall binding enthalpies.

Aromaticity Analysis of Lithium Cation/ π Complexes of Aromatic Systems

The changes in the local aromaticity of aromatic rings on complexation with lithium cation are discussed for a series of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by using, as probes of aromaticity, the para-delocalization index (PDI), the aromatic fluctuation index (FLU), the harmonic oscillator model of aromaticity index (HOMA), and the nucleus-independent chemical shift (NICS). In most cases, changes in the electronically based PDI and FLU indices are almost irrelevant. For this reason, the analysis is carried out mainly with the more sensitive HOMA and NICS descriptors. These indices indicate that changes in the local aromatic character of the different rings are small. In general, Li+ interacts more favorably with the ring having the largest pi charge, but there is no correlation between these magnitudes. The ring directly interacting with the lithium cation suffers a slight but significant reduction of aromaticity, while the reduction of the local aromaticity of the adjacent rings is minor. For those rings located further away from the ring directly connected to Li+, we found generally a small increase in aromaticity. Although there is no clear correlation between aromaticity and Li+ binding enthalpies, there is a rough correlation between the latter and the change in the aromaticity of the ring directly interacting with the metal cation.

MD Simulation of the Na+−Phenylalanine Complex in Water: Competition between Cation−π Interaction and Aqueous Solvation

The competition between cation-pi interaction and aqueous solvation for the Na+ ion has been investigated by molecular dynamics simulations, using the phenylalanine amino acid as the test pi system. Starting from one of the best standard force fields, we have developed new parameters that significantly improve the agreement with experimental and high quality quantum mechanical results for the complexes of Na+ with phenylalanine, benzene, and water. The modified force field performs very well in forecasting energy and geometry of cation coordination for the complexes. Next, analysis of MD trajectories and steered MD simulations indicate that the Na+-phenylalanine complex survives for a significant time in aqueous solution and that the free energy barrier opposing dissociation of the complex is sizable. Finally, we analyze the role of different intermolecular interactions in determining the preference for cation-pi bonding with respect to aqueous solvation. We thus confirm that the Na+-phenylalanine stabilization energy may overcome the interactions with water.

Cation [M = H+, Li+, Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, NH4+, and NMe4+] Interactions with the Aromatic Motifs of Naturally Occurring Amino Acids: A Theoretical Study

Ab initio (HF, MP2, and CCSD(T)) and DFT (B3LYP) calculations were done in modeling the cation (H(+), Li(+), Na(+), K(+), Ca(2+), Mg(2+), NH(4)(+), and NMe(4)(+)) interaction with aromatic side chain motifs of four amino acids (viz., phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan and histidine). As the metal ion approaches the pi-framework of the model systems, they form strongly bound cation-pi complexes, where the metal ion is symmetrically disposed with respect to all ring atoms. In contrast, proton prefers to bind covalently to one of the ring carbons. The NH(4)(+) and NMe(4)(+) ions have shown N-H...pi interaction and C-H...pi interaction with the aromatic motifs. The interaction energies of N-H...pi and C-H...pi complexes are higher than hydrogen bonding interactions; thus, the orientation of aromatic side chains in protein is effected in the presence of ammonium ions. However, the regioselectivity of metal ion complexation is controlled by the affinity of the site of attack. In the imidazole unit of histidine the ring nitrogen has much higher metal ion (as well as proton) affinity as compared to the pi-face, facilitating the in-plane complexation of the metal ions. The interaction energies increase in the order of 1-M < 2-M < 3-M < 4-M < 5-M for all the metal ion considered. Similarly, the complexation energies with the model systems decrease in the following order: Mg(2+) > Ca(2+) > Li(+) > Na(+) > K(+) congruent with NH(4)(+) > NMe(4)(+). The variation of the bond lengths and the extent of charge transfer upon complexation correlate well with the computed interaction energies.

Anion Template Effect on the Self-Assembly and Interconversion of Metallacyclophanes

Reactions of 3,6-bis(2-pyridyl)-1,2,4,5-tetrazine (bptz) with solvated first-row transition metals M(II) (M(II) = Ni, Zn, Mn, Fe, Cu) have been explored with emphasis on the factors that influence the identity of the resulting cyclic products for Ni(II) and Zn(II). The relatively small anions, namely [ClO4]- and [BF4]-, lead to the formation of molecular squares [{M4(bptz)4(CH3CN)8} subsetX][X]7, (M = Zn(II), Ni(II); X = [BF4]-, [ClO4]-), whereas the larger anion [SbF6]- favors the molecular pentagon [{Ni5(bptz)5-(CH3CN)10} subsetSbF6][SbF6]9. The molecular pentagon easily converts to the square in the presence of excess [BF4]-, [ClO4]-, and [I]- anions, whereas the Ni(II) square can be partially converted to the less stable pentagon under more forcing conditions in the presence of excess [SbF6]- ions. No evidence for the molecular square being in equilibrium with the pentagon was observed in the ESI-MS spectra of the individual square and pentagon samples. Anion-exchange reactions of the encapsulated ion in [{Ni4(bptz)4(CH3CN)8} subsetClO4][ClO4]7 reveal that a larger anion such as [IO4]- cannot replace [ClO4]- inside the cavity, but that the linear [Br3]- anion is capable of doing so. ESI-MS studies of the reaction between [Ni(CH3CN)6][NO3]2 and bptz indicate that the product is trinuclear. Mass spectral studies of the bptz reactions with Mn(II), Fe(II), and Cu(II), in the presence of [ClO4]- anions, support the presence of molecular squares. The formation of the various metallacyclophanes is discussed in light of the factors that influence these self-assembly reactions, such as choice of metal ion, anion, and solvent.

Racemic monoperoxovanadium(v) complexes with achiral OO and ON donor set heteroligands: synthesis, crystal structure and stereochemistry of [NH3(CH2)2NH3][VO(O2)(ox)(pic)]·2H2O and [NH3(CH2)2NH3][VO(O2)(ox)(pca)]

Monoperoxovanadium(V) complexes, [NH3(CH2)2NH3][VO(O2)(ox)(pic)].2H2O (1) and [NH3(CH2)2NH3][VO(O2)(ox)(pca)] (2) [NH3(CH2)2NH3 = ethane-1,2-diammonium(2+), ox=oxalate(2-), pic=pyridine-2-carboxylate(1-), pca=pyrazine-2-carboxylate(1-)], were synthesized and characterized by X-ray analysis, IR and Raman spectroscopies. The five equatorial positions of the pentagonal bipyramid around the vanadium atoms are occupied by the eta2-peroxo ligand, two oxygen atoms of the ox, and the nitrogen atom of the pic or pca ligands, respectively. The oxo ligand and the oxygen atom of pic or pca are in the axial positions. Networks of X-HO (X=C, N or O) hydrogen bonds, and pi-pi interactions between aromatic rings in and anion-pi interactions in , determine the molecular packings and build up the supramolecular architecture. Three stereochemical rules for occupation of the donor sites in two-heteroligand [VO(O2)(L1)(L2)] complexes (L1, L2 are bidentate neutral or differently charged anionic heteroligands providing an OO, NN or ON donor set) are discussed. and crystallize as racemic compounds. The 51V NMR spectra proved that the parent complex anions of and partially decompose on dissolution in water to the monoperoxo-ox, -pic or -pca complexes.