Towards an unified hydrogen-bond theory

Estimation of the intramolecular O-H···O═C hydrogen bond energy via the molecular tailoring approach. Part I: aliphatic structures

A simple and universal method for the estimation of the intramolecular hydrogen bond (HB) energy (E(HB)) in hydroxycarbonyl aliphatic compounds is proposed by the application of the molecular tailoring approach (MTA) based on calculations at the second-order Møller-Plesset MP2 level. The calculation of EHB can be realized by the one optimization and three single point calculations of the energy for each compound with carbonyl and hydroxyl groups involved in HB. The intramolecular hydrogen bond energies estimated for 153 structures (of 102 compounds) ranged from 1.4 to 13.7 kcal/mol for systems without resonance-assisted hydrogen bonding (RAHB). To verify the method, we show the correlations of the energy (E(HB)) in six-, seven-, and eight-membered HB rings in the optimized multifunctional molecules with the usual geometry descriptors of hydrogen bonds. Moreover, topological parameters from the atoms in molecules (AIM) theory and the calculated infrared and proton NMR spectra are correlated. The effects of conjugation and π-electron delocalization, bifurcation, and cooperativity are discussed, along with the correlation between the strength and geometrical parameters of H bonding.

Comparison of resonance assisted and charge assisted effects in strengthening of hydrogen bonds in dipyrrins

This paper deals with the study of two types of hydrogen bonding: a quasi-aromatic hydrogen bonding in dipyrromethene and the ionic one in dipyrromethane. The study focuses on two phenomena-the proton transfer process and tautomeric equilibrium. Metric parameters and spectroscopic assignments have been calculated; this allowed a further comparison of spectral features calculated with four methods (Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics (CPMD), ab initio, density functional theory (DFT), and numerical calculation of anharmonic vibrational levels via a solution of the corresponding 1D Schrödinger equation). A significant dynamics of the bridged proton and bent vibration of pyrrole fragments in dipyrromethane have been exposed by the CPMD calculations. The prevailing of the ionic effect over the π-electronic coupling in the strengthening of the hydrogen bonding has been shown on the basis of the calculated structural, electron-topological, and spectral data as well as potential energy surface (PES). The analysis of the aromaticity and electronic state of pyrrole and chelate moieties depending on the tautomeric equilibrium by the quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) method was conducted. The principle divergence in the behavior of aromaticity of the chelate chains in the analyzed compounds was demonstrated.

Systematic experimental charge density analysis of anion receptor complexes

The first systematic electronic resolution study of a series of urea-based anion receptor complexes is presented and shows the binding strength to be greater for more basic anion–receptor pairs in the solid state.

Self-assembly of sterically-rigidified 3-connecting benzenetribenzoic acid into (6,3) and (3,3) nets and stabilization of water channel in the crystal lattice

A rigid 3-connecting triacid MeBTB was designed and synthesized in the quest of guest inclusion in the pores of honeycomb network structures generated based on the acid dimer-mediated self-assembly.

An intramolecular hydrogen bond study in some Schiff bases of fulvene: a challenge between the RAHB concept and the σ-skeleton influence

DFT, NBO and AIM analyses have been employed to investigate which one, the resonance-assisted hydrogen bond concept or the σ-skeleton of the system, has more influence on making intramolecular hydrogen bonds stronger.

Experimental and theoretical study of enol–keto prototropic tautomerism and photophysics of azomethine–BODIPY dyads

Enol ↔ keto prototropic tautomerism can be exploited to modulate the photophysics of BODIPY chromophores based on proton-coupled photoinduced electron transfer processes.

A structural framework of biologically active coumarin derivatives: crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis

The relation between the lipophilicity parameter (log P) and the contribution of C–H⋯π interactions to the Hirshfeld surface has been investigated.

Charge density distribution of 3-(1-aminoethylidene)-2-methoxy-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-2λ(5)-benzo[e][1,2]oxaphosphinin-4-one

A combined experimental and theoretical study of one oxaphosphinane derivative was made on the basis of a topological analysis of its electron density distributions. The electron density was determined from a high-resolution X-ray diffraction data set measured with synchrotron radiation at 100 K, whereas theoretical calculations were performed using density functional theory (DFT) methods at the B3LYP\6-311++G(3df,3pd) level of approximation. The charge-density distribution and analysis of topological properties revealed that the P-O bond is of the transit closed-shell type. The crystal structure possesses one intra- and several intermolecular hydrogen bonds. They were characterized quantitatively by topological properties using Bader's Atoms in Molecules theory. All hydrogen bonds were classified as weak. Further analysis of the experimental electron density by the source function allowed the intramolecular hydrogen bond to be characterized as an isolated hydrogen bond, in contrast to the resonance-assisted hydrogen bond in related molecules, such as chromone derivatives.

Intrinsic Atomic Orbitals: An Unbiased Bridge between Quantum Theory and Chemical Concepts

Modern quantum chemistry can make quantitative predictions on an immense array of chemical systems. However, the interpretation of those predictions is often complicated by the complex wave function expansions used. Here we show that an exceptionally simple algebraic construction allows for defining atomic core and valence orbitals, polarized by the molecular environment, which can exactly represent self-consistent field wave functions. This construction provides an unbiased and direct connection between quantum chemistry and empirical chemical concepts, and can be used, for example, to calculate the nature of bonding in molecules, in chemical terms, from first principles. In particular, we find consistency with electronegativities (χ), C 1s core-level shifts, resonance substituent parameters (σR), Lewis structures, and oxidation states of transition-metal complexes.

The prototropic tautomerism and substituent effect through strong electron-withdrawing group in (E)-5-(diethylamino)-2-[(3-nitrophenylimino)methyl]phenol

The prototropic tautomerism in o-Hydroxy Schiff bases results in two forms called phenol-imine and keto-amine. The preference of a particular form by the compound changes in the solid and solvent media. The choice can also be regulated by a substituent with a different electron-donating or withdrawing group. In the present study, the above-mentioned factors are considered in the investigation of (E)-5-(diethylamino)-2-[(3-nitrophenylimino)methyl]phenol compound (an o-Hydroxy Schiff basis) by experimental (XRD, FT-IR and UV-vis) and computational (DFT and TD-DFT) methods. The results show that the title compound adopts only phenol-imine form in the solid and solvent media. This was attributed to the substituent effect through strong electron-withdrawing nitro group.

New insight into adsorption mechanism of ionizable compounds on carbon nanotubes

We studied the pH-dependent adsorption of benzoic acid (BA), phthalic acid (PA), and 2,6-dichloro-4-nitrophenol (DCNP) by hydroxylated, carboxylated, and graphitized carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Adsorption is contributed by formation of a negative charge-assisted H-bond (-)CAHB between a carboxyl group on the solute and a phenolate or carboxylate group on the surface having a comparable pKa. This exceptionally strong H-bond is depicted as (RCO2···H···O-CNTs)(-). Over a limited pH range the free anion undergoes proton exchange with water concurrent with adsorption, releasing hydroxide ion in a stoichiometry of up to 1.0 for BA, 1.7 for PA, and 0.5 for DCNP. Little hydroxide is released upon adsorption by the O-sparse graphitized CNTs. Anion exchange and ligand exchange reactions as a source of hydroxide release were ruled out. The higher stoichiometry for PA indicates involvement of both carboxyl groups with adjacent surface oxyl groups. The lower stoichiometry for DCNP is consistent with steric inhibition of H-bonding by the ortho chlorines. Formation of (-)CAHB helps overcome the unfavorable free energy of proton exchange with water, and results in an upward shift in the pKa in the adsorbed state compared to the dissolved state from 0.9 to 3.1 units. The proposed mechanism is further supported by additional structure-activity considerations. The findings provide new understanding of the interactions between ionizable organic compounds and carbonaceous surfaces, which has implications for noncovalent derivatization of CNTs, fate of ionizable pollutants, and associations of natural organic matter with CNTs and other carbonaceous materials in the environment.

Tautomerism and metal complexation of 2-acylmethyl-2-oxazolines: a combined synthetic, spectroscopic, crystallographic and theoretical treatment

A synthetic, structural and theoretical investigation into the solid-state, solution and gas phase structure(s) of six 2-acylmethyl-4,4-dimethyl-2-oxazolines is reported. Four of these materials, viz.α-[(4,5-dihydro-4,4-dimethyl-2-oxazolyl)methylene]benzenemethanol (3a), α-[(4,5-dihydro-4,4-dimethyl-2-oxazolyl)methylene]-(4-nitrobenzene)methanol (3b), 1-(4,5-dihydro-4,4-dimethyl-2-oxazolyl)-3,3-dimethyl-1-buten-2-ol (3d) and (E)-1-phenyl-2-((3aR)-3,3a,8,8a-tetrahydro-2H-indeno[1,2-d]oxazol-2-ylidene)ethanone (3f) have been characterised in the solid-state by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. These data represent the first solid-state structural studies of this class of compounds and details the first synthesis and full characterisation of chiral derivative 3f. All four of these materials are shown to exist in the solid phase in the enamine tautomeric form (e.g., 3a is best described as 2-[4,4-dimethyl-2-oxazolidinylidene]-1-phenylethanone) and it is suggested (NMR, IR) that this isomeric form is likely also retained in solution (e.g., CDCl3) as the more stable isomer. An investigation of the relative gas phase stabilities of the three possible (i.e., the (Z)-enol, keto and enamine) isomers of all five compounds by DFT at the B3LYP/6-311G(d) level of theory confirms the latter as the most stable form. The energy differences between the enamine and keto tautomers have been calculated to be the lowest for derivative 3d. These results are compared and contrasted with the previously reported NMR studies of such compounds which have identified the keto form as being a minor (albeit solution) tautomer. Equilibrium solution tautomer distributions for 3d are found to be solvent dependent. The protonated form of 3a, isolated as the HSO4(-) salt (i.e.4a), has been further characterised in the solid state by single crystal X-ray diffraction. These data represent the first example of a protonated oxazoline to be structurally elucidated and confirms that upon protonation, the keto (oxazoline) tautomer is the energetically favoured form in the solid-state. This observation is further supported by DFT studies for the gas phase protonated forms of such materials. Further DFT (B3LYP/6-311G(d)) calculations employing the SM8 or SMD solvation models were then applied to address the observed solution isomeric distribution for 3d; these results corroborate the gas phase theoretical treatment and also yield values that predict the higher solution stability of the enamine form as observed, although they fail to account for the existence of the keto form as a minor solution state tautomer. To access the availability of an enol-form, via hypothetical de-protonation to the enolate, compound 3a was treated with hydrated Cu(NO3)2 in EtOH solution. The resulting isolated green-coloured product (5), the first metal derivative of this entire class of ligands, is best described (IR, X-ray diffraction) as a coordinated enolate complex, i.e., Cu(3a-H)2. Complex 5 crystallizes in the P21/c space group with four molecules in the unit cell. The coordination geometry around the formal Cu(2+) metal centre is determined to be highly distorted square planar in nature (τ4 = 0.442). TD-DFT is used to give a reasonable explanation for the intensity of the absorbance band observed in the visible region for solutions of 5. These latter experiments strongly suggest that the title class of compounds may have considerable potential as ligands in coordination chemistry and/or metal-mediated catalysis.

Dynamic behavior of hydrogen bonds from pure closed shell to shared shell interaction regions elucidated by AIM dual functional analysis

The dynamic behavior of hydrogen bonds (HBs) was clarified for the wide range of interactions applying AIM dual functional analysis. Plots of H(b)(r(c)) versus H(b)(r(c)) - V(b)(r(c))/2 are analyzed in the polar (R, θ) representation, where H(b)(r(c)) and V(b)(r(c)) are total electron and potential energy densities at bond critical points, respectively, for the fully optimized structures. Data of the fully optimized structure and four perturbed ones around it are plotted for each interaction, which give a specific curve. The curve is analyzed by (θ(p), κ(p)): θ(p) corresponds to the tangent line from the y-direction and κ(p) is the curvature. Whereas (R, θ) correspond to the static nature, (θ(p), κ(p)) represent the dynamic nature of interactions. Indeed, HBs can be classified only by one parameter of θ, but θ(p) supplies more information necessary for better understanding of HBs. Although H(2)Se-*-HSeH and H(3)N-*-HNH(2) show the nature of pure CS (closed shell) of the vdW-type, H(2)S-*-HSH and H(2)O-*-HOH contain the nature of pure CS other than the vdW-type (HB-typical). The regular CS nature is observed for B-*-HF (B = HF, H(2)Se, H(2)S, H(2)O, and H(2)C═O). The HF-*-HF interaction is described as HB-typical, whereas others are by CT(MC)-type. The nature of H(3)N-*-HX (X = F, Cl, Br) is regular CS of the CT(TBP)-type. HBs in charged species, such as [HOH-*-OH](-) and [H(2)O-*-H-*-OH(2)], show the weak covalent nature of SS (shard shell). The dynamic behavior of HBs helps us to understand HBs in more detail, in addition to the static behavior.

The water–boryl radical as a proton-coupled electron transfer reagent for carbon dioxide, formic acid, and formaldehyde — Theoretical approach

The thermochemistry of the hydrogen atom transfer reactions from the H2O–BX2 radical system (X = H, CH3, NH2, OH, F) to carbon dioxide, formic acid, and (or) formaldehyde, which produce hydroxyformyl, dihydroxymethyl, and hydroxymethyl radicals, respectively, were investigated theoretically at ROMP2/6–311+G(3DF,2P)//UB3LYP/6–31G(D) and UG3(MP2)-RAD levels of theory. Surprisingly, in the cases of a strong Lewis acid (X = H, CH3, F), the spin transfer process from the water–boryl radical to the carbonyl compounds was barrier-free and associated with a dramatic reduction in the B–H bond dissociation energy (BDE) relative to that of isolated water–borane complexes. Examining the coordinates of these reactions revealed that the entire hydrogen atom transfer process is governed by the proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) mechanism. Hence, the elucidated mechanism has been applied in the cases of weak Lewis acids (X = NH2, OH), and the variation in the accompanied activation energy was attributed to the stereoelectronic effect interplaying in CO2 and HCOOH compared with HCHO. We ascribed the overall mechanism as a SA-induced five-center cyclic PCET, in which the proton transfers across the so-called complexation-induced hydrogen bond (CIHB) channel, while the SOMOB–LUMOC=O′ interaction is responsible for the electron migration process. Owing to previous reports that interrelate the hydrogen-bonding and the rate of proton-coupled electron-transfer reactions, we postulated that “the rate of the PCET reaction is expected to be promoted by the covalency of the hydrogen bond, and any factor that enhances this covalency could be considered an activator of the PCET process.” This postulate could be considered a good rationale for the lack of a barrier associated with the hydrogen atom transfer from the water-boryl radical system to the carbonyl compounds. Light has been shed on the water–boryl radical reagent from the thermodynamic perspective.

Hexa-kis-{[1-(dimethyl-amino)-propyl-idene]oxidanium} bis-(dodeca-molybdo-phosphate) N,N-dimethyl-propionamide penta-solvate

In the asymmetric unit of the title salt, (C(5)H(12)NO)(6)[PMo(12)O(40)](2)·5C(5)H(11)NO, there are two independent α-Keggin-type [PMo(12)O(40)](3-) polyoxidoanions, which show characteristic features with respect to bond lengths and angles. One of the [CH(3)CH(2)C(=OH)N(CH(3))(2)](+) cations is hydrogen bonded to the neighboring polyoxidoanion through a C=O-H⋯O(bridge) hydrogen bond. The organic mol-ecules and the remaining organic cations form [(C(5)H(11)NO)(2)H](+) mol-ecule-cation pairs, two of which lie about inversion centers, through O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds.

Structures of benzoxazine-fused triazoles as potential diuretic agents

6,8-Dinitro-2,4-dihydro-1H-benzo[b][1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-d][1,4]oxazin-1-one, C(9)H(5)N(5)O(6), (I), a potential diuretic, and its acetylacetone derivative (E)-2-(2-hydroxy-4-oxopent-2-en-3-yl)-6,8-dinitro-2,4-dihydro-1H-benzo[b][1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-d][1,4]oxazin-1-one, C(14)H(11)N(5)O(8), (II), both crystallize from methanol but in centrosymmetric and noncentrosymmetric space groups, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of crystal structures of benzoxazine-triazole fused systems. The acetylacetone group in (II) exists as the keto-enol tautomer and is oriented perpendicular to the triazol-3-one ring. Of the two nitro groups present, one is rotated significantly less than the other in both structures. The oxazine ring adopts a screw-boat conformation in (II), whereas it is almost planar in (I). N-H···N and N-H···O hydrogen bonds form centrosymmetric dimers in (I), while C-H···O interactions associate the molecules into helical columns in (II).

Single stranded helical chains of C-H⋯π interactions further connected by halogen-halogen interactions of type I to construct supramolecular structure of (E)-5-(diethylamino)-2-[(4-iodophenylimino)methyl]phenol compound

In this study, (E)-5-(diethylamino)-2-[(4-iodophenylimino)methyl]phenol compound was investigated from the point of stacking interactions assembling the supramolecular network, conformational isomerism and tautomerism. For this purpose, X-ray diffraction, FT-IR and UV/Vis spectroscopic techniques were used, giving the following structural and spectroscopic properties of the compound: The title compound has two conformers (anti and eclipsed) in the crystal structure resulting from rotation about C-N single bond of ethyl group. Both conformers prefer enol form in the solid state, adopting E configuration about the CN double bond. The supramolecular architecture of the compound is constructed by two non-covalent interactions as C-H⋯π and halogen-halogen interactions. The repetition of C-H⋯π interactions is resulted in a single-stranded helical structure. The helical structures are further connected by C-I⋯I-C interactions of Type I to construct the two dimensional supramolecular network defined as (6,3)-net in Wells nomenclature. The title compound adopts both enol and keto forms in EtOH (a polar and protic solvent) while enol form is preferred in the solid state.