INFLUENCE OF ISOTOPIC SUBSTITUTION ON STRENGTH OF HYDROGEN BONDS OF COMMON ORGANIC GROUPS

Solvent effects on the thermal isomerization of a rotary molecular motor

Solvent effects on a thermal isomerization process are explored using an exceptionally large data set and statistical analysis.

The structures of heterocyclic complexes ruled by hydrogen bonds and halogen interactions: interaction strength and IR modes

In this work, the existence of multiple interactions in heterocyclic complexes of C2H4O⋯nHCCl3 and C2H4S⋯nHCCl3 with n=2 and 3 was unveiled at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level of theory. The forward analyses of the vibrational spectra revealed the appearing of red-shifts in the H-C bond. In agreement with this and through the optimized geometries of these systems, an increase in the H-C bond length was also observed. Besides O⋯H and S⋯H, other hydrogen bonds formed between chlorine⋯hydrogen and mainly the halogen interactions formed by chlorine⋯chlorine were identified. Thereby, the vibration spectra of the heterocyclic complexes were reanalyzed with the purpose to locate new red-shifts, although only those characterized in H-C have been detected up to then. In addition to the correlation between the frequencies shifted to downward values followed by increases in the bond lengths, the interpretation of the red-shifts was conducted by means of the Bent rule of the hybridization theory. The interaction strength was examined in several viewpoints, and one of them was the relationship between the H-bond energies and the intermolecular electronic density computed by means of the Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules (QTAIM). Moreover, the prediction of the interaction strength was also made through the combination between vibration modes (red-shifts) and variation of topological parameters, such as the electronic density and Laplacian of the proton donor bond (C-H).

Effect of active-site mutation at Asn67 on the proton transfer mechanism of human carbonic anhydrase II

The rate-limiting proton transfer (PT) event in the site-specific mutant N67L of human carbonic anhydrase II (HCA II) has been examined by kinetic, X-ray, and simulation approaches. The X-ray crystallography studies, which were previously reported, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations indicate that the proton shuttling residue, His64, predominantly resides in the outward orientation with a significant disruption of the ordered water in the active site for the dehydration pathway. While disorder is seen in the active-site water, water cluster analysis indicates that the N67L mutant may form water clusters similar to those seen in the wild-type (WT). For the hydration pathway of the enzyme, the active site water cluster analysis reveals an inability of the N67L mutant to stabilize water clusters when His64 is in the inward orientation, thereby favoring PT when His64 is in the outward orientation. The preference of the N67L mutant to carry out the PT when His64 is in the outward orientation for both the hydration and dehydration pathway is reasoned to be the main cause of the observed reduction in the overall rate. To probe the mechanism of PT, solvent H/D kinetic isotope effects (KIEs) were experimentally studied with catalysis measured by the exchange of (18)O between CO(2) and water. The values obtained from the KIEs were determined as a function of the deuterium content of solvent, using the proton inventory method. No differences were detected in the overarching mechanism of PT between WT and N67L HCA II, despite changes in the active-site water structure and/or the orientation of His64.

Calculation of isotope effects from first principles

Various means of calculating the effect of changing the mass of a given atom upon a chemical process are reviewed. Of particular interest is the deuterium isotope effect comparing the normal protium nucleus with its heavier deuterium congener. The replacement of the bridging protium in a neutral hydrogen bond such as the water dimer by a deuterium strengthens the interaction by a small amount via effects upon the vibrational energy. In an ionic H-bond such as the protonated water dimer, on the other hand, the reverse trend is observed in that replacement of the bridging protium by dimer weakens the interaction. In addition to the stability of a given complex, the rate at which a proton transfers from one group to another is likewise affected by deuterium substitution, viz. kinetic isotope effects (KIEs). The KIE is enlarged as the temperature drops, particularly so if the calculation of KIE includes proton tunneling. The KIE is also sensitive to any angular distortions or stretches present in the H-bond of interest. KIEs can be computed either by the standard transition state theory which is derived via only two points on the potential energy surface, or by more complete formalisms which take account of larger swaths of the surface. While more time intensive, the latter can also be applied to provide insights important in interpretation of experimental data.