Exploring the bond topological and electrostatic properties of benzimidazole molecule via experimental and theoretical charge density study

Experimental validation of bifurcated hydrogen bond of 2,5-lutidinium bromanilate and its charge density distribution

Abstract

2,5-Lutidinium bromanilate is a molecular complex that consists of bromanilic acid and 2,5-lutidine in which hydrogen-bonding interactions occur between them, producing a charge-assisted bifurcated N–H…O hydrogen bond. Bond characteristics are determined from the experimental charge density distribution of the molecular complex using the Hansen–Coppens model. The electron density, topological properties, electrostatic potential and atomic charges of the molecule have been investigated to better understand the atomic, molecular and electronic properties in a detailed manner. The electronic nature of the significantly important charge-assisted bifurcated hydrogen bond has been analyzed with the help of topological properties.

Graphic abstract

Experimental and theoretical charge density, intermolecular interactions and electrostatic properties of metronidazole

Metronidazole is a radiosensitizer; it crystallizes in the monoclinic system with space group P2₁/c. The crystal structure of metronidazole has been determined from high-resolution X-ray diffraction measurements at 90 K with a resolution of (sin θ/λ)_max = 1.12 Å^-1. To understand the charge-density distribution and the electrostatic properties of metronidazole, a multipole model refinement was carried out using the Hansen-Coppens multipole formalism. The topological analysis of the electron density of metronidazole was performed using Bader's quantum theory of atoms in molecules to determine the electron density and the Laplacian of the electron density at the bond critical point of the molecule. The experimental results have been compared with the corresponding periodic theoretical calculation performed at the B3LYP/6-31G** level using CRYSTAL09. The topological analysis reveals that the N-O and C-NO₂ exhibit less electron density as well as negative Laplacian of electron density. The molecular packing of crystal is stabilized by weak and strong inter- and intramolecular hydrogen bonding and H...H interactions. The topological analysis of O-H...N, C-H...O and H...H intra- and intermolecular interactions was also carried out. The electrostatic potential of metronidazole, calculated from the experiment, predicts the possible electrophilic and nucleophilic sites of the molecule; notably, the hydroxyl and the nitro groups exhibit large electronegative regions. The results have been compared with the corresponding theoretical results.

Advances in understanding of chemical bonding: inputs from experimental and theoretical charge density analysis

The development of charge density analysis has undergone a major renaissance in the last two decades. In recent years, the characterization of bonding features associated with atoms in molecules and in crystals has been explored using high-resolution X-ray diffraction data (laboratory or synchrotron) complemented by high level ab initio theoretical calculations. The extraction of one electron topological properties, namely, electrostatic charges, dipole moment and higher moments, electrostatic potential, electric field gradients, in addition to evaluation of the local kinetic and potential energy densities, have contributed toward an understanding of the electron density distributions in molecular solids. New topological descriptors, namely, the source function (SF) and electron localization function (ELF) provide additional information as regards characterization of the topology of the electron density. In addition, delocalization indices have also been developed to account for bonding features pertinent to M-M bonds. The evaluation of these properties have contributed significantly toward the understanding of intra- and intermolecular bonding features in organic, inorganic, and biomolecules in the crystalline phase, with concomitant applications in the understanding of chemical reactivity and material/biological properties. In recent years, the focus has strongly shifted toward the understanding of structure-property relationships in organometallic complexes containing labile M-C bonds in the crystal structure with subsequent implications in catalysis. This perspective aims to highlight the major developments in electron density measurements in the past few years and provides pointers directed toward the potential use of this technique in future applications for an improved understanding of chemical bonding in systems that have been unexplored.