Quantitative decomposition of resonance-assisted hydrogen bond energy in β-diketones into resonance and hydrogen bonding (π- and σ-) components using molecular tailoring and function-based approaches

Molecular Tailoring Approach for the Direct Estimation of Individual Noncovalent Interaction Energies in Molecular Systems

The noncovalent interactions (NCIs) are omnipresent in chemistry, physics, and biology. The study of such interactions offers insights into various physicochemical phenomena. Some indirect approaches proposed in the literature for exploring the NCIs are briefly reviewed in Section 1 of this Perspective. These include: (i) Shift in the stretching frequency of an X-Y bond involved in X-Y···Z interaction. (ii) Topological analysis of molecular electron density. (iii) Empirical equations derived employing experimental and theoretical quantities. However, a direct method for estimating individual intramolecular/intermolecular interaction energies has been conspicuous by its absence from the literature. We have developed a molecular tailoring approach (MTA)-based method enabling a direct and reliable estimation of the energy of intra- as well as intermolecular interactions. This method offers a direct and reliable estimation of these interactions, in particular of the hydrogen bonds (HB) in molecules/weakly bound clusters along with the respective cooperativity contribution. In Section 2, the basis of our method is discussed, along with some illustrative examples. The application of this method to a variety of molecules and clusters, with a special emphasis on estimating the HB energy along with the energy of other NCIs is presented in Section 3. Section 4 discusses some computational strategies for applying our method to large molecular clusters. The last Section provides a summary and a discussion on future developments.

Revealing the Reasons for Degeneration of Resonance-Assisted Hydrogen Bond on the Aromatic Platform: Calculations of Ortho-, Meta-, Para-Disubstituted Benzenes, and (Z)-(E)-Olefins

The energies of the O-H∙∙∙O=C intramolecular hydrogen bonds were compared quantitatively for the series of ortho-disubstituted benzenes and Z-isomers of olefins via a molecular tailoring approach. It was established that the hydrogen bond energy in the former series is significantly less than that in the latter one. The reason for lowering the hydrogen bond energy in the ortho-disubstituted benzenes compared to the Z-isomers of olefins is the decrease in the π-contribution to the total energy of the complex interaction, in which the hydrogen bond per se is enhanced by the resonance effect. By the example of the para- and meta-disubstituted benzenes, as well as E-isomers of olefins, it was explicitly shown that the aromatic ring is a much poorer conductor of the resonance effect compared to the double bond. The hydrogen bond in the ortho-disubstituted benzenes has a lower energy than a typical resonance-assisted hydrogen bond because the aromatic moiety cannot properly assist the hydrogen bond with a resonance effect. Thus, a hydrogen bond on an aromatic platform should fall into a special category, namely an aromaticity-assisted hydrogen bond, which is closer by nature to a simple hydrogen bond rather than to a resonance-assisted one.

Fast Quantum Approach for Evaluating the Energy of Non-Covalent Interactions in Molecular Crystals: The Case Study of Intermolecular H-Bonds in Crystalline Peroxosolvates

Energy/enthalpy of intermolecular hydrogen bonds (H-bonds) in crystals have been calculated in many papers. Most of the theoretical works used non-periodic models. Their applicability for describing intermolecular H-bonds in solids is not obvious since the crystal environment can strongly change H-bond geometry and energy in comparison with non-periodic models. Periodic DFT computations provide a reasonable description of a number of relevant properties of molecular crystals. However, these methods are quite cumbersome and time-consuming compared to non-periodic calculations. Here, we present a fast quantum approach for estimating the energy/enthalpy of intermolecular H-bonds in crystals. It has been tested on a family of crystalline peroxosolvates in which the H∙∙∙O bond set fills evenly (i.e., without significant gaps) the range of H∙∙∙O distances from ~1.5 to ~2.1 Å typical for strong, moderate, and weak H-bonds. Four of these two-component crystals (peroxosolvates of macrocyclic ethers and creatine) were obtained and structurally characterized for the first time. A critical comparison of the approaches for estimating the energy of intermolecular H-bonds in organic crystals is carried out, and various sources of errors are clarified.

Effect of the content and strength of hard segment on the viscoelasticity of the polyurethane elastomer: insights from molecular dynamics simulation

Due to the wide application, it is very crucial to understand the viscoelasticity of the polyurethane elastomer (PU, denoted by soft-hard block copolymer), which contains the soft segments (SS) and hard segments (HS). Thus, in this work, the effect of the content and strength of HS on the viscoelasticity of PU is explored in detail by adopting a coarse-grained model. First, the phase morphology of PU is characterized where both the single continuous phase and the bicontinuous phase are observed by varying the content of HS. Then, the viscoelasticity of PU is calculated by analyzing the storage modulus, the loss modulus, and the loss factor, which depends on the content and strength of HS. To further elucidate the mechanism for the storage modulus, the normalized interaction energy, the order parameter, and the formation probability of the HS or SS phase are characterized with the shear strain amplitude, which reflects the deformation of the phase structure. Then, the energy dissipation is quantified, which can rationalize the loss modulus well. A parameter is introduced, which considers the relative slippage and the content of HS or SS. It can explain the change in the loss factor with the content and strength of HS. In summary, this work can help to further understand how the content and strength of hard segments affect the viscoelasticity of the soft-hard block PU and structure evolution at the molecular level.

Guide to tuning the chalcone molecular properties based on the push-pull effect energy scale created via the molecular tailoring approach

Using the molecular tailoring approach, a total energy scale for the push-pull effect in the range from -40 to 100 kcal/mol is created for the wide series of neutral, charged and doubly charged compounds on the chalcone platform. Taking into account similar energy scale for hydrogen bonds, the strength of the push-pull effect is ranked in the seven categories, ranging from negative (anti-push-pull) to very weak and very strong push-pull effect. It is demonstrated that the molecular properties of chalcone can be tuned prior synthesis due to the created energy scale for the push-pull effect. The single bonds of the π-spacer in the chalcones are shortened, the double ones are lengthened, and the C=O bond vibrations are red shifted when the push-pull effect is enhanced along the energy scale. The HOMO and LUMO energies change systematically while the HOMO-LUMO energy gap narrows as the strength of the push-pull effect increases.

Resonance-Assisted Hydrogen Bond-Revisiting the Original Concept in the Context of Its Criticism in the Literature

In the presented research, we address the original concept of resonance-assisted hydrogen bonding (RAHB) by means of the many-body interaction approach and electron density delocalization analysis. The investigated molecular patterns of RAHBs are open chains consisting of two to six molecules in which the intermolecular hydrogen bond stabilizes the complex. Non-RAHB counterparts are considered to be reference systems. The results show the influence of the neighbour monomers on the unsaturated chains in terms of the many-body interaction energy contribution. Exploring the relation between the energy parameters and the growing number of molecules in the chain, we give an explicit extrapolation of the interaction energy and its components in the infinite chain. Electron delocalization within chain motifs has been analysed from three different points of view: three-body delocalization between C=C-C, two-body hydrogen bond delocalization indices and also between fragments (monomers). A many-body contribution to the interaction energy as well as electron density helps to establish the assistance of resonance in the strength of hydrogen bonds upon the formation of the present molecular chains. The direct relation between interaction energy and delocalization supports the original concept, and refutes some of the criticisms of the RAHB idea.

Molecular Tailoring Approach for the Estimation of Intramolecular Hydrogen Bond Energy

Hydrogen bonds (HBs) play a crucial role in many physicochemical and biological processes. Theoretical methods can reliably estimate the intermolecular HB energies. However, the methods for the quantification of intramolecular HB (IHB) energy available in the literature are mostly empirical or indirect and limited only to evaluating the energy of a single HB. During the past decade, the authors have developed a direct procedure for the IHB energy estimation based on the molecular tailoring approach (MTA), a fragmentation method. This MTA-based method can yield a reliable estimate of individual IHB energy in a system containing multiple H-bonds. After explaining and illustrating the methodology of MTA, we present its use for the IHB energy estimation in molecules and clusters. We also discuss the use of this method by other researchers as a standard, state-of-the-art method for estimating IHB energy as well as those of other noncovalent interactions.

Focal Point Evaluation of Energies for Tautomers and Isomers for 3-Hydroxy-2-Butenamide: Evaluation of Competing Internal Hydrogen Bonds of Types -OH…O=, -OH…N, -NH…O=, and CH…X (X=O and N)

The title compound is a small molecule with many structural variations; it can illustrate a variety of internal hydrogen bonds, among other noncovalent interactions. Here we examine structures displaying hydrogen bonding between carbonyl oxygen and hydroxyl H; between carbonyl oxygen and amino H; hydroxyl H and amino N; hydroxyl O and amino H. We also consider H-bonding in its tautomer 2-oxopropanamide. By extrapolation algorithms applied to Hartree-Fock and correlation energies as estimated in HF, MP2, and CCSD calculations using the cc-pVNZ correlation-consistent basis sets (N = 2, 3, and 4) we obtain reliable relative energies of the isomeric forms. Assuming that such energy differences may be attributed to the presence of the various types of hydrogen bonding, we attempt to infer relative strengths of types of H-bonding. The Atoms in Molecules theory of Bader and the Local Vibrational Modes analysis of Cremer and Kraka are applied to this task. Hydrogen bonds are ranked by relative strength as measured by local stretching force constants, with the stronger =O…HO- > NH…O= > -OH…N well separated from a cluster > NH…O= ≈ >NH…OH ≈ CH…O= of comparable and intermediate strength. Weaker but still significant interactions are of type CH…N which is stronger than CH…OH.

Finding the direct energy-structure correlations in intramolecular aromaticity assisted hydrogen bonding (AAHB)

A predictive model for intramolecular hydrogen bond energy (E_HB) calculation of polyaromatic ortho-hydroxyaldehydes based on a set of small, functionalized hydrocarbons is developed. The complete data set of 18 compounds was used for this study. The model is based on one of four optional categories of molecular descriptors: geometric, spectroscopic, bond order and topological indices. The model of Wiberg bond indices (WBIs) as descriptors of the CC involved bond based on stepwise regression has acceptable prediction abilities for 14 structures of ortho-hydroxyformylobenzo[a]pyrene derivatives already at the semiempirical level. The presented correlation enables a significantly more rapid and quantitative description of the hydrogen bonding strength than the much more time-consuming MTA method. Thus, WBIs are shown to provide a reliable means for fast prescreening of the energy of chelate hydrogen bonds potentially for any polyaromatic derivatives.

Assessment of O-H⋯O and O-H⋯S intramolecular hydrogen bond energies in some substituted pyrimidines using quantum chemistry methods

Resonance-assisted hydrogen bond (RAHB) theory was studied in some substituted pyrimidines in which encompass O-H⋯Y unit (Y= O and S). Alteration of substituents (R ₁, R₂, R₃ = H, C₂H, C₂F) on pyrimidine ring changes properties of electron charge density at this ring and influences indirectly on strength of intramolecular hydrogen bond (IHB) interactions in the mentioned structures. Then, IHB energies were estimated using cis-trans method (CTM), related rotamers method (RRM), Espinosa' method (EM), and a viewpoint based on properties of electron charge densities at ring critical point (RCP) of RAHB ring. Moreover, the estimated IHB energies with these methods were compared with those obtained using modified Espinosa' method (MEM), Iogansen's relationship, and chemical shift-based method to find more consistent method with the proposed viewpoint based on RCP characteristics. The linear correlations between the all estimated IHB energies and some hydrogen bonding descriptors such as geometrical, spectroscopic, topological, and molecular orbital factors were examined. Results indicated that the IHB energies that obtained by way of MEM and Iogansen's relationship have better correlations with hydrogen bonding descriptors. Also, there are good consistencies between results of these two methods with viewpoint based on properties of RCPs. Therefore, IHB energies can suitably estimate using properties of RCPs in heterocyclic molecular systems especially in cases that rotation around C-C/CC bonds makes additional interactions in isomers and influences on accuracy of calculated IHB energies using approaches such as CTM and RRM.

Intramolecular Hydrogen Bond Energy and Its Decomposition—O–H∙∙∙O Interactions

The method to calculate the energy of intramolecular hydrogen bond is proposed and tested for a sample of malonaldehyde and its fluorine derivatives; the corresponding calculations were performed at the ωB97XD/aug-cc-pVTZ level. This method based on relationships found for related intermolecular hydrogen bonds is compared with other approaches which may be applied to estimate the intramolecular hydrogen bond energy. Particularly, methods based on the comparison of the system that contains the intramolecular hydrogen bond compared with corresponding conformations where such interaction does not occur are discussed. The function-based energy decomposition analysis, FB-EDA, of the intramolecular hydrogen bonds is also proposed here.

Resonance Assisted Hydrogen Bonding Phenomenon Unveiled through Both Experiments and Theory: A New Family of Ethyl N-Salicylideneglycinate Dyes

Extensive experimental and theoretical investigations are reported on the nature of resonance-assisted hydrogen bonding phenomenon (RAHB) and its influence on photophysical properties of the newly designed dyes differing in donor-acceptor properties, namely ethyl N-salicylideneglycinate (1), ethyl N-(5-methoxysalicylidene)glycinate (2), ethyl N-(5-bromosalicylidene)glycinate (3) and ethyl N-(5-nitrosalicylidene)glycinate (4). All compounds are thermochromic in the solid state and they contain a typical intramolecular O-H⋅⋅⋅N hydrogen bond formed between the hydroxyl hydrogen atom and the imine nitrogen atom, yielding the enol form in the solid state. It is unveiled, that the magnitude of RAHB effect fine tunes the strength of the O-H⋅⋅⋅N bonding and accordingly the relative populations of the enol, cis-keto and trans-keto forms leading to variation of the photophysical properties of 1-4. It is determined, that the electron-withdrawing NO₂ in 4 amplifies the most RAHB effect causing the breaking of the O-H⋅⋅⋅N hydrogen bond and accordingly formation of the dominant cis-keto isomer in both the solid state and EtOH. To this end, the UV/Vis spectra of 1-3 in EtOH revealed the exclusive presence of the enol form, while the prevalent contribution of the cis-keto form was found for 4. Furthermore, only compound 4 is emissive in the solid state in ambient condition due to dual emission arising from the cis-keto* and trans-keto* forms, while 2 was found to be highly emissive in EtOH. It is revealed qualitatively and quantitatively, based on the ETS-NOCV charge and energy decomposition scheme and the EDDB population-based method, that RAHB is strongly a non-local phenomenon based on electrons pumping or sucking through both the π- and σ-channels, which accordingly exerts chemical bonding changes at both the phenyl ring and predominantly a distant O-H⋅⋅⋅N area.

A molecular tailoring approach – a new guide to quantify the energy of push–pull effects: a case study on (E)-3-(1H-pyrrol-2-yl)prop-2-enones

We report a new approach to quantify the push–pull effect in molecules with internal charge transfer.