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Varadwaj PR. Halogen Bond via an Electrophilic π-Hole on Halogen in Molecules: Does It Exist? Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4587. [PMID: 38731806 PMCID: PMC11083155 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25094587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 03/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
This study reveals a new non-covalent interaction called a π-hole halogen bond, which is directional and potentially non-linear compared to its sister analog (σ-hole halogen bond). A π-hole is shown here to be observed on the surface of halogen in halogenated molecules, which can be tempered to display the aptness to form a π-hole halogen bond with a series of electron density-rich sites (Lewis bases) hosted individually by 32 other partner molecules. The [MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ] level characteristics of the π-hole halogen bonds in 33 binary complexes obtained from the charge density approaches (quantum theory of intramolecular atoms, molecular electrostatic surface potential, independent gradient model (IGM-δginter)), intermolecular geometries and energies, and second-order hyperconjugative charge transfer analyses are discussed, which are similar to other non-covalent interactions. That a π-hole can be observed on halogen in halogenated molecules is substantiated by experimentally reported crystals documented in the Cambridge Crystal Structure Database. The importance of the π-hole halogen bond in the design and growth of chemical systems in synthetic chemistry, crystallography, and crystal engineering is yet to be fully explicated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pradeep R. Varadwaj
- Department of Chemical System Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan;
- Molecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa
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2
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Ahmadi Tabar F, Lowdon JW, Bakhshi Sichani S, Khorshid M, Cleij TJ, Diliën H, Eersels K, Wagner P, van Grinsven B. An Overview on Recent Advances in Biomimetic Sensors for the Detection of Perfluoroalkyl Substances. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 24:130. [PMID: 38202993 PMCID: PMC10781331 DOI: 10.3390/s24010130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of materials that have been widely used in the industrial production of a wide range of products. After decades of bioaccumulation in the environment, research has demonstrated that these compounds are toxic and potentially carcinogenic. Therefore, it is essential to map the extent of the problem to be able to remediate it properly in the next few decades. Current state-of-the-art detection platforms, however, are lab based and therefore too expensive and time-consuming for routine screening. Traditional biosensor tests based on, e.g., lateral flow assays may struggle with the low regulatory levels of PFAS (ng/mL), the complexity of environmental matrices and the presence of coexisting chemicals. Therefore, a lot of research effort has been directed towards the development of biomimetic receptors and their implementation into handheld, low-cost sensors. Numerous research groups have developed PFAS sensors based on molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) or aptamers. In order to transform these research efforts into tangible devices and implement them into environmental applications, it is necessary to provide an overview of these research efforts. This review aims to provide this overview and critically compare several technologies to each other to provide a recommendation for the direction of future research efforts focused on the development of the next generation of biomimetic PFAS sensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Ahmadi Tabar
- Laboratory for Soft Matter and Biophysics ZMB, Department of Physics and Astronomy, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200 D, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium; (F.A.T.); (S.B.S.); (M.K.)
- Sensor Engineering Department, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands (T.J.C.); (K.E.); (B.v.G.)
| | - Joseph W. Lowdon
- Sensor Engineering Department, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands (T.J.C.); (K.E.); (B.v.G.)
| | - Soroush Bakhshi Sichani
- Laboratory for Soft Matter and Biophysics ZMB, Department of Physics and Astronomy, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200 D, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium; (F.A.T.); (S.B.S.); (M.K.)
| | - Mehran Khorshid
- Laboratory for Soft Matter and Biophysics ZMB, Department of Physics and Astronomy, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200 D, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium; (F.A.T.); (S.B.S.); (M.K.)
| | - Thomas J. Cleij
- Sensor Engineering Department, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands (T.J.C.); (K.E.); (B.v.G.)
| | - Hanne Diliën
- Sensor Engineering Department, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands (T.J.C.); (K.E.); (B.v.G.)
| | - Kasper Eersels
- Sensor Engineering Department, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands (T.J.C.); (K.E.); (B.v.G.)
| | - Patrick Wagner
- Laboratory for Soft Matter and Biophysics ZMB, Department of Physics and Astronomy, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200 D, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium; (F.A.T.); (S.B.S.); (M.K.)
| | - Bart van Grinsven
- Sensor Engineering Department, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands (T.J.C.); (K.E.); (B.v.G.)
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3
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Varadwaj PR, Varadwaj A, Marques HM, Yamashita K. Methylammonium Tetrel Halide Perovskite Ion Pairs and Their Dimers: The Interplay between the Hydrogen-, Pnictogen- and Tetrel-Bonding Interactions. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10554. [PMID: 37445738 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The structural stability of the extensively studied organic-inorganic hybrid methylammonium tetrel halide perovskite semiconductors, MATtX3 (MA = CH3NH3+; Tt = Ge, Sn, Pb; X = Cl, Br, I), arises as a result of non-covalent interactions between an organic cation (CH3NH3+) and an inorganic anion (TtX3-). However, the basic understanding of the underlying chemical bonding interactions in these systems that link the ionic moieties together in complex configurations is still limited. In this study, ion pair models constituting the organic and inorganic ions were regarded as the repeating units of periodic crystal systems and density functional theory simulations were performed to elucidate the nature of the non-covalent interactions between them. It is demonstrated that not only the charge-assisted N-H···X and C-H···X hydrogen bonds but also the C-N···X pnictogen bonds interact to stabilize the ion pairs and to define their geometries in the gas phase. Similar interactions are also responsible for the formation of crystalline MATtX3 in the low-temperature phase, some of which have been delineated in previous studies. In contrast, the Tt···X tetrel bonding interactions, which are hidden as coordinate bonds in the crystals, play a vital role in holding the inorganic anionic moieties (TtX3-) together. We have demonstrated that each Tt in each [CH3NH3+•TtX3-] ion pair has the capacity to donate three tetrel (σ-hole) bonds to the halides of three nearest neighbor TtX3- units, thus causing the emergence of an infinite array of 3D TtX64- octahedra in the crystalline phase. The TtX44- octahedra are corner-shared to form cage-like inorganic frameworks that host the organic cation, leading to the formation of functional tetrel halide perovskite materials that have outstanding optoelectronic properties in the solid state. We harnessed the results using the quantum theory of atoms in molecules, natural bond orbital, molecular electrostatic surface potential and independent gradient models to validate these conclusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pradeep R Varadwaj
- Department of Chemical System Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
- School of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa
| | - Arpita Varadwaj
- Department of Chemical System Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Helder M Marques
- School of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa
| | - Koichi Yamashita
- Department of Chemical System Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
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4
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Wacha M, Helm DL, Smart MM, McMillen CD, Casabianca LB, Sachdeva R, Urick CR, Wilson LP, Thrasher JS. A New Motif in Halogen Bonding: Cooperative Intermolecular S-Br⋅⋅⋅O, O⋅⋅⋅F, and F⋅⋅⋅F Associations in the Crystal Packing of α,ω-Di(sulfonyl bromide) Perfluoroalkanes. Chem Asian J 2023; 18:e202300012. [PMID: 36735331 DOI: 10.1002/asia.202300012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
We recently reported the first examples of S-Cl⋅⋅⋅O halogen bonding complemented by short F⋅⋅⋅F contacts between neighboring chains that resulted in stabilized crystals of ClSO2 (CF2 )4 SO2 Cl and ClSO2 (CF2 )6 SO2 Cl. More recently, other researchers studied our crystallographic data further using an Independent Gradient Model (IGM), and they suggested if one goes beyond IUPAC's proposed 'less than the sum of the van der Waals radii' criterion that even more noncovalent interactions between fluorine atoms on neighboring chains as well as Cl⋅⋅⋅Cl, Cl⋅⋅⋅S, O⋅⋅⋅F, and O⋅⋅⋅S attractive interactions can be found. With that said, we have prepared samples of the related BrSO2 (CF2 )n SO2 Br derivatives (where n=4, 6, 8, and others), which give rise to even stronger S-Br⋅⋅⋅O halogen bonding interactions complemented minimally by O⋅⋅⋅F and F⋅⋅⋅F intermolecular interactions as shown by X-ray crystallography and computational chemistry using IGM isosurface plots. Additional spectroscopic characterization (multinuclear NMR, FT-IR, and MS) of the disulfonyl bromide derivatives BrSO2 (CF2 )4 SO2 Br, BrSO2 (CF2 )6 SO2 Br, and BrSO2 (CF2 )8 SO2 Br has also been obtained as well as some preliminary spectroscopic evidence for BrSO2 (CF2 )2 SO2 Br and BrSO2 CF2 O(CF2 )2 OCF2 SO2 Br. The implication of these results toward the preparation of the corresponding disulfonyl iodides is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max Wacha
- Institut für Anorganische und Analytische Chemie, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, GERMANY.,Department of Chemistry, Clemson University, Advanced Materials Research Laboratory, 91 Technology Drive, Anderson, South Carolina, 29625, USA
| | - David L Helm
- Department of Chemistry, Clemson University, Advanced Materials Research Laboratory, 91 Technology Drive, Anderson, South Carolina, 29625, USA.,Department of Chemistry, Clemson University, Hunter Laboratory, 211 S. Palmetto Blvd., Clemson, South Carolina, 29634, USA
| | - Megan M Smart
- Department of Chemistry, Clemson University, Hunter Laboratory, 211 S. Palmetto Blvd., Clemson, South Carolina, 29634, USA
| | - Colin D McMillen
- Department of Chemistry, Clemson University, Hunter Laboratory, 211 S. Palmetto Blvd., Clemson, South Carolina, 29634, USA
| | - Leah B Casabianca
- Department of Chemistry, Clemson University, Hunter Laboratory, 211 S. Palmetto Blvd., Clemson, South Carolina, 29634, USA
| | - Rakesh Sachdeva
- Department of Chemistry, Clemson University, Hunter Laboratory, 211 S. Palmetto Blvd., Clemson, South Carolina, 29634, USA
| | - Catherine R Urick
- Department of Chemistry, Clemson University, Advanced Materials Research Laboratory, 91 Technology Drive, Anderson, South Carolina, 29625, USA.,Department of Chemistry, Clemson University, Hunter Laboratory, 211 S. Palmetto Blvd., Clemson, South Carolina, 29634, USA
| | - London P Wilson
- Department of Chemistry, Clemson University, Advanced Materials Research Laboratory, 91 Technology Drive, Anderson, South Carolina, 29625, USA.,Department of Chemistry, Clemson University, Hunter Laboratory, 211 S. Palmetto Blvd., Clemson, South Carolina, 29634, USA
| | - Joseph S Thrasher
- Department of Chemistry, Clemson University, Advanced Materials Research Laboratory, 91 Technology Drive, Anderson, South Carolina, 29625, USA.,Department of Chemistry, Clemson University, Hunter Laboratory, 211 S. Palmetto Blvd., Clemson, South Carolina, 29634, USA
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Varadwaj A, Varadwaj PR, Marques HM, Yamashita K. The Pnictogen Bond: The Covalently Bound Arsenic Atom in Molecular Entities in Crystals as a Pnictogen Bond Donor. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27113421. [PMID: 35684359 PMCID: PMC9181914 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27113421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2022] [Revised: 05/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
In chemical systems, the arsenic-centered pnictogen bond, or simply the arsenic bond, occurs when there is evidence of a net attractive interaction between the electrophilic region associated with a covalently or coordinately bound arsenic atom in a molecular entity and a nucleophile in another or the same molecular entity. It is the third member of the family of pnictogen bonds formed by the third atom of the pnictogen family, Group 15 of the periodic table, and is an inter- or intramolecular noncovalent interaction. In this overview, we present several illustrative crystal structures deposited into the Cambridge Structure Database (CSD) and the Inorganic Chemistry Structural Database (ICSD) during the last and current centuries to demonstrate that the arsenic atom in molecular entities has a significant ability to act as an electrophilic agent to make an attractive engagement with nucleophiles when in close vicinity, thereby forming σ-hole or π-hole interactions, and hence driving (in part, at least) the overall stability of the system’s crystalline phase. This overview does not include results from theoretical simulations reported by others as none of them address the signatory details of As-centered pnictogen bonds. Rather, we aimed at highlighting the interaction modes of arsenic-centered σ- and π-holes in the rationale design of crystal lattices to demonstrate that such interactions are abundant in crystalline materials, but care has to be taken to identify them as is usually done with the much more widely known noncovalent interactions in chemical systems, halogen bonding and hydrogen bonding. We also demonstrate that As-centered pnictogen bonds are usually accompanied by other primary and secondary interactions, which reinforce their occurrence and strength in most of the crystal structures illustrated. A statistical analysis of structures deposited into the CSD was performed for each interaction type As···D (D = N, O, S, Se, Te, F, Cl, Br, I, arene’s π system), thus providing insight into the typical nature of As···D interaction distances and ∠R–As···D bond angles of these interactions in crystals, where R is the remainder of the molecular entity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arpita Varadwaj
- Department of Chemical System Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo 7-3-1, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan;
- Correspondence: (A.V.); (P.R.V.)
| | - Pradeep R. Varadwaj
- Department of Chemical System Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo 7-3-1, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan;
- Molecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa;
- Correspondence: (A.V.); (P.R.V.)
| | - Helder M. Marques
- Molecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa;
| | - Koichi Yamashita
- Department of Chemical System Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo 7-3-1, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan;
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Varadwaj A, Varadwaj PR, Marques HM, Yamashita K. The Stibium Bond or the Antimony-Centered Pnictogen Bond: The Covalently Bound Antimony Atom in Molecular Entities in Crystal Lattices as a Pnictogen Bond Donor. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:4674. [PMID: 35563065 PMCID: PMC9099767 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23094674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 04/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
A stibium bond, i.e., a non-covalent interaction formed by covalently or coordinately bound antimony, occurs in chemical systems when there is evidence of a net attractive interaction between the electrophilic region associated with an antimony atom and a nucleophile in another, or the same molecular entity. This is a pnictogen bond and are likely formed by the elements of the pnictogen family, Group 15, of the periodic table, and is an inter- or intra-molecular non-covalent interaction. This overview describes a set of illustrative crystal systems that were stabilized (at least partially) by means of stibium bonds, together with other non-covalent interactions (such as hydrogen bonds and halogen bonds), retrieved from either the Cambridge Structure Database (CSD) or the Inorganic Crystal Structure Database (ICSD). We demonstrate that these databases contain hundreds of crystal structures of various dimensions in which covalently or coordinately bound antimony atoms in molecular entities feature positive sites that productively interact with various Lewis bases containing O, N, F, Cl, Br, and I atoms in the same or different molecular entities, leading to the formation of stibium bonds, and hence, being partially responsible for the stability of the crystals. The geometric features, pro-molecular charge density isosurface topologies, and extrema of the molecular electrostatic potential model were collectively examined in some instances to illustrate the presence of Sb-centered pnictogen bonding in the representative crystal systems considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arpita Varadwaj
- Department of Chemical System Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan; (A.V.); (K.Y.)
| | - Pradeep R. Varadwaj
- Department of Chemical System Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan; (A.V.); (K.Y.)
- Molecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa;
| | - Helder M. Marques
- Molecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa;
| | - Koichi Yamashita
- Department of Chemical System Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan; (A.V.); (K.Y.)
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Ibrahim MAA, Moussa NAM, Saad SMA, Ahmed MN, Shawky AM, Soliman MES, Mekhemer GAH, Rady ASSM. σ-Hole and LP-Hole Interactions of Pnicogen···Pnicogen Homodimers under the External Electric Field Effect: A Quantum Mechanical Study. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:11264-11275. [PMID: 35415328 PMCID: PMC8992284 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c00176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
σ-Hole and lone-pair (lp)-hole interactions within σ-hole···σ-hole, σ-hole···lp-hole, and lp-hole···lp-hole configurations were comparatively investigated on the pnicogen···pnicogen homodimers (PCl3)2, for the first time, under field-free conditions and the influence of the external electric field (EEF). The electrostatic potential calculations emphasized the impressive versatility of the examined PCl3 monomers to participate in σ-hole and lp-hole pnicogen interactions. Crucially, the sizes of σ-hole and lp-hole were enlarged under the influence of the positively directed EEF and decreased in the case of reverse direction. Interestingly, the energetic quantities unveiled more favorability of the σ-hole···lp-hole configuration of the pnicogen···pnicogen homodimers, with significant negative interaction energies, than σ-hole···σ-hole and lp-hole···lp-hole configurations. Quantum theory of atoms in molecules and noncovalent interaction index analyses were adopted to elucidate the nature and origin of the considered interactions, ensuring their closed shell nature and the occurrence of attractive forces within the studied homodimers. Symmetry-adapted perturbation theory-based energy decomposition analysis alluded to the dispersion force as the main physical component beyond the occurrence of the examined interactions. The obtained findings would be considered as a fundamental underpinning for forthcoming studies pertinent to chemistry, materials science, and crystal engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud A. A. Ibrahim
- Computational
Chemistry Laboratory, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Minia University, Minia 61519, Egypt
| | - Nayra A. M. Moussa
- Computational
Chemistry Laboratory, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Minia University, Minia 61519, Egypt
| | - Sherif M. A. Saad
- Computational
Chemistry Laboratory, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Minia University, Minia 61519, Egypt
| | - Muhammad Naeem Ahmed
- Department
of Chemistry, The University of Azad Jammu
and Kashmir, Muzaffarabad 13100, Pakistan
| | - Ahmed M. Shawky
- Science
and Technology Unit (STU), Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mahmoud E. S. Soliman
- Molecular
Modelling and Drug Design Research Group, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, Durban 4000, South Africa
| | - Gamal A. H. Mekhemer
- Computational
Chemistry Laboratory, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Minia University, Minia 61519, Egypt
| | - Al-shimaa S. M. Rady
- Computational
Chemistry Laboratory, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Minia University, Minia 61519, Egypt
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8
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Ibrahim MAA, Saeed RRA, Shehata MNI, Ahmed MN, Shawky AM, Khowdiary MM, Elkaeed EB, Soliman MES, Moussa NAM. Type I-IV Halogen⋯Halogen Interactions: A Comparative Theoretical Study in Halobenzene⋯Halobenzene Homodimers. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:3114. [PMID: 35328534 PMCID: PMC8953242 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23063114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
In the current study, unexplored type IV halogen⋯halogen interaction was thoroughly elucidated, for the first time, and compared to the well-established types I−III interactions by means of the second-order Møller−Plesset (MP2) method. For this aim, the halobenzene⋯halobenzene homodimers (where halogen = Cl, Br, and I) were designed into four different types, parodying the considered interactions. From the energetic perspective, the preference of scouted homodimers was ascribed to type II interactions (i.e., highest binding energy), whereas the lowest binding energies were discerned in type III interactions. Generally, binding energies of the studied interactions were observed to decline with the decrease in the σ-hole size in the order, C6H5I⋯IC6H5 > C6H5Br⋯BrC6H5 > C6H5Cl⋯ClC6H5 homodimers and the reverse was noticed in the case of type IV interactions. Such peculiar observations were relevant to the ample contributions of negative-belt⋯negative-belt interactions within the C6H5Cl⋯ClC6H5 homodimer. Further, type IV torsional trans → cis interconversion of C6H5X⋯XC6H5 homodimers was investigated to quantify the π⋯π contributions into the total binding energies. Evidently, the energetic features illustrated the amelioration of the considered homodimers (i.e., more negative binding energy) along the prolonged scope of torsional trans → cis interconversion. In turn, these findings outlined the efficiency of the cis configuration over the trans analog. Generally, symmetry-adapted perturbation theory-based energy decomposition analysis (SAPT-EDA) demonstrated the predominance of all the scouted homodimers by the dispersion forces. The obtained results would be beneficial for the omnipresent studies relevant to the applications of halogen bonds in the fields of materials science and crystal engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud A. A. Ibrahim
- Computational Chemistry Laboratory, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Minia University, Minia 61519, Egypt; (R.R.A.S.); (M.N.I.S.); (N.A.M.M.)
| | - Rehab R. A. Saeed
- Computational Chemistry Laboratory, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Minia University, Minia 61519, Egypt; (R.R.A.S.); (M.N.I.S.); (N.A.M.M.)
| | - Mohammed N. I. Shehata
- Computational Chemistry Laboratory, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Minia University, Minia 61519, Egypt; (R.R.A.S.); (M.N.I.S.); (N.A.M.M.)
| | - Muhammad Naeem Ahmed
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Muzaffarabad 13100, Pakistan;
| | - Ahmed M. Shawky
- Science and Technology Unit (STU), Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Manal M. Khowdiary
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Applied Science, Umm Al-Qura University, Al-Lith Branch, Makkah 24211, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Eslam B. Elkaeed
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, AlMaarefa University, Riyadh 13713, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Mahmoud E. S. Soliman
- Molecular Modelling and Drug Design Research Group, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, Durban 4000, South Africa
| | - Nayra A. M. Moussa
- Computational Chemistry Laboratory, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Minia University, Minia 61519, Egypt; (R.R.A.S.); (M.N.I.S.); (N.A.M.M.)
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9
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Varadwaj PR, Varadwaj A, Marques HM, Yamashita K. The Phosphorus Bond, or the Phosphorus-Centered Pnictogen Bond: The Covalently Bound Phosphorus Atom in Molecular Entities and Crystals as a Pnictogen Bond Donor. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27051487. [PMID: 35268588 PMCID: PMC8911988 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27051487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The phosphorus bond in chemical systems, which is an inter- or intramolecular noncovalent interaction, occurs when there is evidence of a net attractive interaction between an electrophilic region associated with a covalently or coordinately bonded phosphorus atom in a molecular entity and a nucleophile in another, or the same, molecular entity. It is the second member of the family of pnictogen bonds, formed by the second member of the pnictogen family of the periodic table. In this overview, we provide the reader with a snapshot of the nature, and possible occurrences, of phosphorus-centered pnictogen bonding in illustrative chemical crystal systems drawn from the ICSD (Inorganic Crystal Structure Database) and CSD (Cambridge Structural Database) databases, some of which date back to the latter part of the last century. The illustrative systems discussed are expected to assist as a guide to researchers in rationalizing phosphorus-centered pnictogen bonding in the rational design of molecular complexes, crystals, and materials and their subsequent characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pradeep R. Varadwaj
- Department of Chemical System Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Tokyo 7-3-1, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan; (A.V.); (K.Y.)
- Molecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa;
- Correspondence:
| | - Arpita Varadwaj
- Department of Chemical System Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Tokyo 7-3-1, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan; (A.V.); (K.Y.)
| | - Helder M. Marques
- Molecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa;
| | - Koichi Yamashita
- Department of Chemical System Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Tokyo 7-3-1, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan; (A.V.); (K.Y.)
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10
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Chalcogen···Chalcogen Bonding in Molybdenum Disulfide, Molybdenum Diselenide and Molybdenum Ditelluride Dimers as Prototypes for a Basic Understanding of the Local Interfacial Chemical Bonding Environment in 2D Layered Transition Metal Dichalcogenides. INORGANICS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/inorganics10010011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
An attempt was made, using computational methods, to understand whether the intermolecular interactions in the dimers of molybdenum dichalcogenides MoCh2 (Ch = chalcogen, element of group 16, especially S, Se and Te) and similar mixed-chalcogenide derivatives resemble the room temperature experimentally observed interactions in the interfacial regions of molybdenites and their other mixed-chalcogen derivatives. To this end, MP2(Full)/def2-TVZPPD level electronic structure calculations on nine dimer systems, including (MoCh2)2 and (MoChCh′2)2 (Ch, Ch′ = S, Se and Te), were carried out not only to demonstrate the energetic stability of these systems in the gas phase, but also to reproduce the intermolecular geometrical properties that resemble the interfacial geometries of 2D layered MoCh2 systems reported in the crystalline phase. Among the six DFT functionals (single and double hybrids) benchmarked against MP2(full), it was found that the double hybrid functional B2PLYPD3 has some ability to reproduce the intermolecular geometries and binding energies. The intermolecular geometries and binding energies of all nine dimers are discussed, together with the charge density topological aspects of the chemical bonding interactions that emerge from the application of the quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM), the isosurface topology of the reduced density gradient noncovalent index, interaction region indicator and independent gradient model (IGM) approaches. While the electrostatic surface potential model fails to explain the origin of the S···S interaction in the (MoS2)2 dimer, we show that the intermolecular bonding interactions in all nine dimers examined are a result of hyperconjugative charge transfer delocalizations between the lone-pair on (Ch/Ch′) and/or the π-orbitals of a Mo–Ch/Ch′ bond of one monomer and the dπ* anti-bonding orbitals of the same Mo–Ch/Ch′ bond in the second monomer during dimer formation, and vice versa. The HOMO–LUMO gaps calculated with the MN12-L functional were 0.9, 1.0, and 1.1 eV for MoTe2, MoSe2 and MoS2, respectively, which match very well with the solid-state theoretical (SCAN-rVV10)/experimental band gaps of 0.75/0.88, 0.90/1.09 and 0.93/1.23 eV of the corresponding systems, respectively. We observed that the gas phase dimers examined are perhaps prototypical for a basic understanding of the interfacial/inter-layer interactions in molybdenum-based dichalcogenides and their derivatives.
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11
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Ibrahim MAA, Moussa NAM, Soliman MES, Moustafa MF, Al-Fahemi JH, El-Mageed HRA. On the Potentiality of X-T-X 3 Compounds (T = C, Si, and Ge, and X = F, Cl, and Br) as Tetrel- and Halogen-Bond Donors. ACS OMEGA 2021; 6:19330-19341. [PMID: 34337270 PMCID: PMC8320108 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c03183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
The versatility of the X-T-X3 compounds (where T = C, Si, and Ge, and X = F, Cl, and Br) to participate in tetrel- and halogen-bonding interactions was settled out, at the MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ level of theory, within a series of configurations for (X-T-X3)2 homodimers. The electrostatic potential computations ensured the remarkable ability of the investigated X-T-X3 monomers to participate in σ-hole halogen and tetrel interactions. The energetic findings significantly unveil the favorability of the tetrel···tetrel directional configuration with considerable negative binding energies over tetrel···halogen, type III halogen···halogen, and type II halogen···halogen analogs. Quantum theory of atoms in molecules and noncovalent interaction analyses were accomplished to disclose the nature of the tetrel- and halogen-bonding interactions within designed configurations, giving good correlations between the total electron densities and binding energies. Further insight into the binding energy physical meanings was invoked through using symmetry-adapted perturbation theory-based energy decomposition analysis, featuring the dispersion term as the most prominent force beyond the examined interactions. The theoretical results were supported by versatile crystal structures which were characterized by the same type of interactions. Presumably, the obtained findings would be considered as a solid underpinning for future supramolecular chemistry, materials science, and crystal engineering studies, as well as a fundamental linchpin for a better understanding of the biological activities of chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud A. A. Ibrahim
- Computational
Chemistry Laboratory, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Minia University, Minia 61519, Egypt
| | - Nayra A. M. Moussa
- Computational
Chemistry Laboratory, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Minia University, Minia 61519, Egypt
| | - Mahmoud E. S. Soliman
- Molecular
Modelling and Drug Design Research Group, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, Durban 4000, South Africa
| | - Mahmoud F. Moustafa
- Department
of Biology, College of Science, King Khalid
University, Abha 9004, Saudi Arabia
- Department
of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, South Valley University, Qena 83523, Egypt
| | - Jabir H. Al-Fahemi
- Chemistry
Department, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia
| | - H. R. Abd El-Mageed
- Micro-Analysis,
Environmental Research and Community Affairs Center (MAESC), Faculty
of Science, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef 62511, Egypt
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12
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Abstract
The CH3Cl molecule has been used in several studies as an example purportedly to demonstrate that while Cl is weakly negative, a positive potential can be induced on its axial surface by the electric field of a reasonably strong Lewis base (such as O=CH2). The induced positive potential then has the ability to attract the negative site of the Lewis base, thus explaining the importance of polarization leading to the formation of the H3C–Cl···O=CH2 complex. By examining the nature of the chlorine’s surface in CH3Cl using the molecular electrostatic surface potential (MESP) approach, with MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ, we show that this view is not correct. The results of our calculations demonstrate that the local potential associated with the axial surface of the Cl atom is inherently positive. Therefore, it should be able to inherently act as a halogen bond donor. This is shown to be the case by examining several halogen-bonded complexes of CH3Cl with a series of negative sites. In addition, it is also shown that the lateral portions of Cl in CH3Cl features a belt of negative electrostatic potential that can participate in forming halogen-, chalcogen-, and hydrogen-bonded interactions. The results of the theoretical models used, viz. the quantum theory of atoms in molecules; the reduced density gradient noncovalent index; the natural bond orbital analysis; and the symmetry adapted perturbation theory show that Cl-centered intermolecular bonding interactions revealed in a series of 18 binary complexes do not involve a polarization-induced potential on the Cl atom.
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13
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Abstract
In addition to the underlying basic concepts and early recognition of halogen bonding, this paper reviews the conflicting views that consistently appear in the area of noncovalent interactions and the ability of covalently bonded halogen atoms in molecules to participate in noncovalent interactions that contribute to packing in the solid-state. It may be relatively straightforward to identify Type-II halogen bonding between atoms using the conceptual framework of σ-hole theory, especially when the interaction is linear and is formed between the axial positive region (σ-hole) on the halogen in one monomer and a negative site on a second interacting monomer. A σ-hole is an electron density deficient region on the halogen atom X opposite to the R–X covalent bond, where R is the remainder part of the molecule. However, it is not trivial to do so when secondary interactions are involved as the directionality of the interaction is significantly affected. We show, by providing some specific examples, that halogen bonds do not always follow the strict Type-II topology, and the occurrence of Type-I and -III halogen-centered contacts in crystals is very difficult to predict. In many instances, Type-I halogen-centered contacts appear simultaneously with Type-II halogen bonds. We employed the Independent Gradient Model, a recently proposed electron density approach for probing strong and weak interactions in molecular domains, to show that this is a very useful tool in unraveling the chemistry of halogen-assisted noncovalent interactions, especially in the weak bonding regime. Wherever possible, we have attempted to connect some of these results with those reported previously. Though useful for studying interactions of reasonable strength, IUPAC’s proposed “less than the sum of the van der Waals radii” criterion should not always be assumed as a necessary and sufficient feature to reveal weakly bound interactions, since in many crystals the attractive interaction happens to occur between the midpoint of a bond, or the junction region, and a positive or negative site.
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14
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Varadwaj A, Marques HM, Varadwaj PR. Is the Fluorine in Molecules Dispersive? Is Molecular Electrostatic Potential a Valid Property to Explore Fluorine-Centered Non-Covalent Interactions? Molecules 2019; 24:E379. [PMID: 30678158 PMCID: PMC6384640 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24030379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2018] [Revised: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Can two sites of positive electrostatic potential localized on the outer surfaces of two halogen atoms (and especially fluorine) in different molecular domains attract each other to form a non-covalent engagement? The answer, perhaps counterintuitive, is yes as shown here using the electronic structures and binding energies of the interactions for a series of 22 binary complexes formed between identical or different atomic domains in similar or related halogen-substituted molecules containing fluorine. These were obtained using various computational approaches, including density functional and ab initio first-principles theories with M06-2X, RHF, MP2 and CCSD(T). The physical chemistry of non-covalent bonding interactions in these complexes was explored using both Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules and Symmetry Adapted Perturbation Theories. The surface reactivity of the 17 monomers was examined using the Molecular Electrostatic Surface Potential approach. We have demonstrated inter alia that the dispersion term, the significance of which is not always appreciated, which emerges either from an energy decomposition analysis, or from a correlated calculation, plays a structure-determining role, although other contributions arising from electrostatic, exchange-repulsion and polarization effects are also important. The 0.0010 a.u. isodensity envelope, often used for mapping the electrostatic potential is found to provide incorrect information about the complete nature of the surface reactive sites on some of the isolated monomers, and can lead to a misinterpretation of the results obtained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arpita Varadwaj
- Department of Chemical System Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku 113-8656, Japan.
- National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, 1 Chome-1-1 Umezono, Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture, Ibaraki 305-8560, Japan.
| | - Helder M Marques
- Molecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa.
| | - Pradeep R Varadwaj
- Department of Chemical System Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku 113-8656, Japan.
- National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, 1 Chome-1-1 Umezono, Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture, Ibaraki 305-8560, Japan.
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15
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Varadwaj PR, Varadwaj A, Marques HM, Yamashita K. Significance of hydrogen bonding and other noncovalent interactions in determining octahedral tilting in the CH 3NH 3PbI 3 hybrid organic-inorganic halide perovskite solar cell semiconductor. Sci Rep 2019; 9:50. [PMID: 30631082 PMCID: PMC6328624 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-36218-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The CH3NH3PbI3 (methylammonium lead triiodide) perovskite semiconductor system has been viewed as a blockbuster research material during the last five years. Because of its complicated architecture, several of its technological, physical and geometrical issues have been examined many times. Yet this has not assisted in overcoming a number of problems in the field nor in enabling the material to be marketed. For instance, these studies have not clarified the nature and type of hydrogen bonding and other noncovalent interactions involved; the origin of hysteresis; the actual role of the methylammonium cation; the nature of polarity associated with the tetragonal geometry; the unusual origin of various frontier orbital contributions to the conduction band minimum; the underlying phenomena of spin-orbit coupling that causes significant bandgap reduction; and the nature of direct-to-indirect bandgap transition features. Arising from many recent reports, it is now a common belief that the I···H–N interaction formed between the inorganic framework and the ammonium group of CH3NH3+ is the only hydrogen bonded interaction responsible for all temperature-dependent geometrical polymorphs of the system, including the most stable one that persists at low-temperatures, and the significance of all other noncovalent interactions has been overlooked. This study focussed only on the low temperature orthorhombic polymorph of CH3NH3PbI3 and CD3ND3PbI3, where D refers deuterium. Together with QTAIM, DORI and RDG based charge density analyses, the results of density functional theory calculations with PBE with and without van der Waals corrections demonstrate that the prevailing view of hydrogen bonding in CH3NH3PbI3 is misleading as it does not alone determine the a−b+a− tilting pattern of the PbI64− octahedra. This study suggests that it is not only the I···H/D–N, but also the I···H/D–C hydrogen/deuterium bonding and other noncovalent interactions (viz. tetrel-, pnictogen- and lump-hole bonding interactions) that are ubiquitous in the orthorhombic CH3NH3PbI3/CD3ND3PbI3 perovskite geometry. Their interplay determines the overall geometry of the polymorph, and are therefore responsible in part for the emergence of the functional optical properties of this material. This study also suggests that these interactions should not be regarded as the sole determinants of octahedral tilting since lattice dynamics is known to play a critical role as well, a common feature in many inorganic perovskites both in the presence and the absence of the encaged cation, as in CsPbI3/WO3 perovskites, for example.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pradeep R Varadwaj
- Department of Chemical System Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, 113-8656, Japan. .,CREST-JST, 7 Gobancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-0076, Japan. .,The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8560, Japan.
| | - Arpita Varadwaj
- Department of Chemical System Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, 113-8656, Japan.,CREST-JST, 7 Gobancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-0076, Japan.,The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8560, Japan
| | - Helder M Marques
- Molecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2050, South Africa
| | - Koichi Yamashita
- Department of Chemical System Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, 113-8656, Japan.,CREST-JST, 7 Gobancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-0076, Japan
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16
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Varadwaj PR, Varadwaj A, Marques HM, MacDougall PJ. The chalcogen bond: can it be formed by oxygen? Phys Chem Chem Phys 2019; 21:19969-19986. [DOI: 10.1039/c9cp03783g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
This study theoretically investigates the possibility of oxygen-centered chalcogen bonding in several complexes. Shown in the graph is such a bonding scenario formed between the electrophile on O in OF2 and the nucleophile on O in H2CO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pradeep R. Varadwaj
- Department of Chemical System Engineering
- School of Engineering
- The University of Tokyo 7-3-1
- Tokyo 113-8656
- Japan
| | - Arpita Varadwaj
- Department of Chemical System Engineering
- School of Engineering
- The University of Tokyo 7-3-1
- Tokyo 113-8656
- Japan
| | - Helder M. Marques
- Molecular Sciences Institute
- School of Chemistry
- University of the Witwatersrand
- Johannesburg 2050
- South Africa
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Can Combined Electrostatic and Polarization Effects Alone Explain the F···F Negative-Negative Bonding in Simple Fluoro-Substituted Benzene Derivatives? A First-Principles Perspective. COMPUTATION 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/computation6040051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The divergence of fluorine-based systems and significance of their nascent non-covalent chemistry in molecular assemblies are presented in a brief review of the field. Emphasis has been placed to show that type-I and -II halogen-centered F···F long-ranged intermolecular distances viable between the entirely negative fluorine atoms in some fluoro-substituted dimers of C6H6 can be regarded as the consequence of significant non-covalent attractive interactions. Such attractive interactions observed in the solid-state structures of C6F6 and other similar fluorine-substituted aromatic compounds have frequently been underappreciated. While these are often ascribed to crystal packing effects, we show using first-principles level calculations that these are much more fundamental in nature. The stability and reliability of these interactions are supported by their negative binding energies that emerge from a supermolecular procedure using MP2 (second-order Møller-Plesset perturbation theory), and from the Symmetry Adapted Perturbation Theory, in which the latter does not determine the interaction energy by computing the total energy of the monomers or dimer. Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules and Reduced Density Gradient Non-Covalent Index charge-density-based approaches confirm the F···F contacts are a consequence of attraction by their unified bond path (and bond critical point) and isosurface charge density topologies, respectively. These interactions can be explained neither by the so-called molecular electrostatic surface potential (MESP) model approach that often demonstrates attraction between sites of opposite electrostatic surface potential by means of Coulomb’s law of electrostatics, nor purely by the effect of electrostatic polarization. We provide evidence against the standalone use of this approach and the overlooking of other approaches, as the former does not allow for the calculation of the electrostatic potential on the surfaces of the overlapping atoms on the monomers as in the equilibrium geometry of a complex. This study thus provides unequivocal evidence of the limitation of the MESP approach for its use in gaining insight into the nature of reactivity of overlapped interacting atoms and the intermolecular interactions involved.
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