Exploring (NH2F)2, H2FP:NFH2, and (PH2F)2 Potential Surfaces: Hydrogen Bonds or Pnicogen Bonds?

Experimental validation of 'pnicogen bonding' in nitrogen by charge density analysis

The participation of a nitrogen atom acting as an electrophile in pnicogen bonding, a hitherto unexplored interaction has been established by experimental charge density analysis. QTAIM and NBO analyses ratify this observation.

Complexes between hypohalous acids and phosphine derivatives. Pnicogen bond versus halogen bond versus hydrogen bond

The complexes of HOBr:PH2Y (Y=H, F, Cl, Br, CH3, NH2, OH, and NO2), HOCl:PH2F, and HOI:PH2F have been investigated with ab initio calculations at the MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ level. Four types of structures (1, 2, 3a, and 3b) were observed for these complexes. 1 is stabilized by an O⋯P pnicogen bond, 2 by a P⋯X halogen bond, 3a by a H⋯P hydrogen bond and a P⋯X pnicogen bond, and 3b by H⋯P and H⋯Br hydrogen bonds. Their relative stability is related to the halogen X of HOX and the substituent Y of PH2Y. These structures can compete with interaction energy of -10.22∼-29.40 kJ/mol. The HO stretch vibration shows a small red shift in 1, a small irregular shift in 2, but a prominent red shift in 3a and 3b. The XO stretch vibration exhibits a smaller red shift in 1, a larger red shift in 2, but an insignificant blue shift in 3a and 3b. The PY stretch vibration displays a red shift in 1 but a blue shift in 2, 3a, and 3b. The formation mechanism, stability, and properties of these structures have been analyzed with molecular electrostatic potentials, orbital interactions, and non-covalent interaction index.

Strength of the pnicogen bond in complexes involving group Va elements N, P, and As

A set of 36 pnicogen homo- and heterodimers, R3E···ER3 and R3E···E′R′3, involving differently substituted group Va elements E = N, P, and As has been investigated at the ωB97X-D/aug-cc-pVTZ level of theory to determine the strength of the pnicogen bond with the help of the local E···E′ stretching force constants k(a). The latter are directly related to the amount of charge transferred from an E donor lone pair orbital to an E′ acceptor σ* orbital, in the sense of a through-space anomeric effect. This leads to a buildup of electron density in the intermonomer region and a distinct pnicogen bond strength order quantitatively assessed via k(a). However, the complex binding energy ΔE depends only partly on the pnicogen bond strength as H,E-attractions, H-bonding, dipole-dipole, or multipole-multipole attractions also contribute to the stability of pnicogen bonded dimers. A variation from through-space anomeric to second order hyperonjugative, and skewed π,π interactions is observed. Charge transfer into a π* substituent orbital of the acceptor increases the absolute value of ΔE by electrostatic effects but has a smaller impact on the pnicogen bond strength. A set of 10 dimers obtains its stability from covalent pnicogen bonding whereas all other dimers are stabilized by electrostatic interactions. The latter are quantified by the magnitude of the local intermonomer bending force constants XE···E′. Analysis of the frontier orbitals of monomer and dimer in connection with the investigation of electron difference densities, and atomic charges lead to a simple rationalization of the various facets of pnicogen bonding. The temperature at which a given dimer is observable under experimental conditions is provided.

Traditional and ion-pair halogen-bonded complexes between chlorine and bromine derivatives and a nitrogen-heterocyclic carbene

A theoretical study of the halogen-bonded complexes (A-X···C) formed between halogenated derivatives (A-X; A = F, Cl, Br, CN, CCH, CF3, CH3, H; and X = Cl, Br) and a nitrogen heterocyclic carbene, 1,3-dimethylimidazole-2-ylidene (MeIC) has been performed using MP2/aug'-cc-pVDZ level of theory. Two types of A-X:MeIC complexes, called here type-I and -II, were found and characterized. The first group is described by long C-X distances and small binding energies (8-54 kJ·mol(-1)). In general, these complexes show the traditional behavior of systems containing halogen-bonding interactions. The second type is characterized by short C-X distances and large binding energies (148-200 kJ·mol(-1)), and on the basis of the topological analysis of the electron density, they correspond to ion-pair halogen-bonded complexes. These complexes can be seen as the interaction between two charged fragments: A(-) and (+)[X-CIMe] with a high electrostatic contribution in the binding energy. The charge transfer between lone pair A(LP) to the σ* orbital of C-X bond is also identified as a significant stabilizing interaction in type-II complexes.

Pnicogen bonds between X═PH3 (X = O, S, NH, CH2) and phosphorus and nitrogen bases

Ab initio MP2/aug'-cc-pVTZ calculations have been carried out to investigate the pnicogen bonded complexes formed between the acids O═PH3, S═PH3, HN═PH3, and H2C═PH3 and the bases NH3, NCH, N2, PH3, and PCH. All nitrogen and phosphorus bases form complexes in which the bases are lone pair electron donors. The binding energies of complexes involving the stronger bases NH3, NCH, and PH3 differentiate among the acids, but the binding energies of complexes with the weaker bases do not. These complexes are stabilized by charge transfer from the lone pair orbital of N or P to the σ*P═A orbital of X═PH3, where A is the atom of X directly bonded to P. PCH also forms complexes with the X═PH3 acids as a π electron donor to the σ*P═A orbital. The binding energies and the charge-transfer energies of the π complexes are greater than those of the complexes in which PCH is a lone pair donor. Whether the positive charge on P increases, decreases, or remains the same upon complex formation, the chemical shieldings of (31)P decrease in the complexes relative to the corresponding monomers. (1p)J(P-N) and (1p)J(P-P) values correlate best with the corresponding P-N and P-P distances as a function of the nature of the base. (1)J(P-A) values do not correlate with P-A distances. Rather, the absolute values of (1)J(P-O), (1)J(P-S), and (1)J(P-N) decrease upon complexation. Decreasing (1)J(P-A) values correlate linearly with increasing complex binding energies. In contrast, (1)J(P-C) values increase upon complexation and correlate linearly with increasing binding energies.

Intramolecular pnicogen interactions in phosphorus and arsenic analogues of proton sponges

A computational study of the intramolecular pnicogen bond in 1,8-bis-substituted naphthalene derivatives (ZXH and ZX₂ with Z = P, As and X = H, F, Cl, and Br), structurally related to proton sponges, has been carried out.

Properties of complexes H2C═(X)P:PXH2, for X = F, Cl, OH, CN, NC, CCH, H, CH3, and BH2: P···P pnicogen bonding at σ-holes and π-holes

Ab initio MP2/aug'-cc-pVTZ calculations have been carried out on complexes H2C═(X)P:PXH2, for X = F, Cl, OH, CN, NC, CCH, H, CH3, and BH2. Three sets of complexes have been found on the potential surfaces. Conformation A complexes have A-P···P-A approaching linearity, with A the atom of X directly bonded to P. Conformation B complexes have A-P···P linear, but the P···P═C orientation of H2C═PX may differ significantly from linearity. Conformation C complexes are unique, since the pnicogen bond involves π-electron donation and acceptance by H2C═PX. The order of binding energies of the three conformations of H2C═(X)P:PXH2 is C > A > B, with two exceptions. Although the binding energies of conformation C complexes tend to be greater than the corresponding conformation A complexes, intermolecular distances in conformation C tend to be longer than those in conformation A. Charge transfer stabilizes H2C═(X)P:PXH2 complexes. The preferred direction of charge transfer is from H2C═PX to PXH2. In conformations A and B, charge transfer occurs from a P lone pair on one molecule to an antibonding σ* orbital on the other. However, in conformation C, charge transfer occurs from the π orbital of H2C═PX to the σ*P-A orbital of PXH2, and from the lone pair on P of PXH2 through the π-hole to the π*P═C orbital of H2C═PX. Changes in charges on P upon complexation do not correlate with changes in (31)P chemical shieldings. Computed EOM-CCSD spin-spin coupling constants correlate with P-P distances. At each distance, the ordering of (1p)J(P-P) is A > B > C. Binding energies and spin-spin coupling constants of conformation A complexes of (PH2X)2, H2C═(X)P:PXH2, and (H2C═PX)2 with A-P···P-A approaching linearity have been compared. For complexes with the more electronegative substituents, binding energies are ordered (PH2X)2 > H2C═(X)P:PXH2 > (H2C═PX)2, while the order is reversed for complexes formed from the more electropositive substituents. A plot of ΔE(PH2X)2/ΔE(H2C═PX)2 versus ΔE[H2C═(X)P:PXH2]/ΔE(H2C═PX)2 indicates that there is a systematic relationship among the stabilities of these complexes. Complexes (PH2X)2 tend to have larger spin-spin coupling constants and shorter P-P distances than H2C═(X)P:PXH2, which in turn have larger coupling constants and shorter P-P distances than (H2C═PX)2, although there is some overlap. Complexes having similar P-P distances have similar values of (1p)J(P-P).

Pnicogen bonded complexes of PO2X (X = F, Cl) with nitrogen bases

An ab initio MP2/aug'-cc-pVTZ study has been carried out on complexes formed between PO2X (X = F and Cl) as the Lewis acids and a series of nitrogen bases ZN, including NH3, H2C═NH, NH2F, NP, NCH, NCF, NF3, and N2. Binding energies of these complexes vary from -10 to -150 kJ/mol, and P-N distances from 1.88 to 2.72 Å. Complexes ZN:PO2F have stronger P(...)N bonds and shorter P-N distances than the corresponding complexes ZN:PO2Cl. Charge transfer from the N lone pair through the π-hole to the P-X and P-O σ* orbitals leads to stabilization of these complexes, although charge-transfer energies can be evaluated only for complexes with binding energies less than -71 kJ/mol. Complexation of PO2X with the strongest bases leads to P···N bonds with a significant degree of covalency, and P-N distances that approach the P-N distances in the molecules PO2NC and PO2NH2. In these complexes, the PO2X molecules distort from planarity. Changes in (31)P absolute chemical shieldings upon complexation do not correlate with changes in charges on P, although they do correlate with the binding energies of the complexes. EOM-CCSD spin-spin coupling constants (1p)J(P-N) are dominated by the Fermi-contact term, which is an excellent approximation to total J. (1p)J(P-N) values are small at long distances, increase as the distance decreases, but then decrease at short P-N distances. At the shortest distances, values of (1p)J(P-N) approach (1)J(P-N) for the molecules PO2NC and PO2NH2.

Complexes between dihydrogen and amine, phosphine, and arsine derivatives. Hydrogen bond versus pnictogen interaction

A theoretical study of the complexes between dihydrogen, H2, and a series of amine, phosphine, and arsine derivatives (ZH3 and ZH2X, with Z = N, P, or As and X = F, Cl, CN, or CH3) has been carried out using ab initio methods (MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ). Three energetic minima configurations have been characterized for each case with the H2 molecule in the proximity of the pnictogen atom (Z). In configuration A, the σ-electrons of H2 interact with σ-hole region of the pnictogen atom generated by the of X-Z bond. These complexes can be ascribed as pnictogen bonded. In configuration C, the lone electron pair of Z acts as the Lewis base, and H2 plays the role of the Lewis acid. Finally, configuration B presents a variety of noncovalent interactions depending on the binary complex considered. The atoms-in-molecules theory (AIM), natural bond orbitals (NBO) method as well as the density functional theory-symmetry adapted perturbation theory (DFT-SAPT) approach were used in this study to deepen the nature of the interactions considered.

Intramolecular pnicogen interactions in PHF-(CH2)(n)-PHF (n=2-6) systems

A computational study of the intramolecular pnicogen bond in PHF-(CH2)n-PHF (n=2-6) systems was carried out. For each compound, two different conformations, (R,R) and (R,S), were considered on the basis of the chirality of the phosphine groups. The characteristics of the closed conformers, in which the pnicogen interaction occurs, were compared with those of the extended conformer. In several cases, the closed conformations are more stable than the extended conformations. The calculated interaction energies of the pnicogen contact, by means of isodesmic reactions, provide values between -3.4 and -26.0 kJ mol(-1). Atoms in molecules and electron localization function analysis of the electron density showed that the systems in the closed conformations with short P···P distances have a partial covalent character in this interaction. The calculated absolute chemical shieldings of the P atoms showed an exponential relationship with the P···P distance. In addition, a search in the Cambridge crystallographic database was carried out to detect those compounds with a potential intramolecular pnicogen bond in the solid phase.