Structure of the aniline–benzene and aniline–cyclohexane clusters based on infrared depletion spectroscopy

Probing cooperativity in C-H⋯N and C-H⋯π interactions: Dissociation energies of aniline⋯(CH4)n (n = 1, 2) van der Waals complexes from resonant ionization and velocity mapped ion imaging measurements

Recent studies of the weakly bound anisole⋯CH₄ complex found a dual mode of binding, featuring both C/H⋯π and C/H⋯O noncovalent interactions. In this work, we examine the dissociation energies of related aniline⋯(CH₄)_n (n = 1, 2) van der Waals clusters, where both C/H⋯π and C/H⋯N interactions are possible. Using a combination of theory and experiments that include mass-selected two-color resonant two-photon ionization spectroscopy, two-color appearance potential (2CAP) measurements, and velocity-mapped ion imaging (VMI), we derive the dissociation energies of both complexes in the ground (S₀), excited (S₁), and cation radical (D₀) states. As the amide group is non-planar in the ground state, the optimized ground state geometry of the aniline⋯CH₄ 1:1 complex shows two isomers, each with the methane positioned above the aniline ring. The observed redshift of the electronic origin from the aniline monomer is consistent with TDDFT calculations for the more stable isomer, where the methane sits on the same face as the amino hydrogens. The dissociation energies of the 1:1 complex, obtained from 2CAP measurements, are in good agreement with the calculated theoretical values from selected density functional theory methods. VMI data for the 1:1 complex gave a binding energy value overestimated by ∼179 cm^-1 when compared to the 2CAP results, indicating that dissociative ionization selectively populates an excited vibrational level of the aniline cation radical. Given that the electron donating ability of aromatic substituents trends as -NH₂ > -OCH₃ > -CH₃, it is noteworthy that the strength of methane binding also trends in this order, as found by experiment (dissociation energies in kJ/mol: 6.6 > 5.8 > 4.5) and predicted by theory (PBE0-D3/def2-QZVPPD, in kJ/mol: 6.9 > 6.0 > 5.0). For the 1:2 complex of aniline and methane, calculations predict that the more stable conformer is the one where the two methane molecules lie on opposite faces of the ring, consistent with the observed redshift of the electronic origin. Unlike the anisole-methane 1:2 complex, which shows an enhanced dissociation energy for the loss of one methane in comparison with the 1:1 complex, here, we find that the energy required to remove one methane from the ground state aniline-methane 1:2 complex is smaller than that of the 1:1 complex, consistent with theoretical expectations.

Dimerization Constants from Acoustic Measurements: Solutions of Benzene, Cyclohexylamine and Aniline in Cyclohexane

A model assuming that the formation of dimers determines the acoustic properties of liquid mixtures, in the inert solvent cyclohexane, was applied to describe the observed dependences of sound speed on composition. The dimerization constants were estimated. The results allow one to propose that the solutes tend to form associates larger than dimers in concentrated solutions, while in dilute systems solute–solvent interactions play an important role.

Anomalous modulation of photoinduced electron transfer of coumarin 102 in aniline-dimethylaniline mixture: dominant role of hydrogen bonding

In a previous study, we reported a striking observation that photoinduced electron transfer (PET) from aniline (AN) to photoexcited coumarin 102 (C102) can be accelerated by adding an inert component (cyclohexane or toluene) to the neat electron donor solvent AN (Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2014, 16, 6159-6166). The H-bond linking the electron donor (D, AN) and the acceptor (A, C102) was proposed to dictate the PET process. To account for the unusual variation of quenching pattern with AN mole fraction, two possible reasons were cited - (1) the D-A (AN-C102) H-bonding may be modulated due to change in polarity of the medium or (2) the additional D-D (AN-AN) H-bonding may restrain the D-A H-bonding to adjust optimally for the PET. Here, we investigate the PET of C102 in an AN-dimethylaniline (DMA) mixture to negate the polarity variation. Since, both AN and DMA have similar polarities, the polarity of the mixture should remain invariant at all compositions. Nevertheless, we found that the fluorescence quantum yield and lifetime of C102 in the mixtures follows a similar unusual trend as observed earlier in the AN-toluene or AN-cyclohexane mixtures; it first decreases up to a particular mole fraction (XD) of the H-bond donor AN and, thereafter, increases on further enrichment of the donor. The observed PET modulation may be rationalized by considering efficient PET in the 1 : 1 H-bonded C102-AN complex but less efficient PET in higher order C102-(AN)n≥2 complexes, where additional D-D (AN-AN) H-bonding may influence the key C102-AN H-bonding and thus inhibit the PET process.

Substituent effects on non-covalent interactions with aromatic rings: insights from computational chemistry

Non-covalent interactions with aromatic rings pervade modern chemical research. The strength and orientation of these interactions can be tuned and controlled through substituent effects. Computational studies of model complexes have provided a detailed understanding of the origin and nature of these substituent effects, and pinpointed flaws in entrenched models of these interactions in the literature. Here, we provide a brief review of efforts over the last decade to unravel the origin of substituent effects in π-stacking, XH/π, and ion/π interactions through detailed computational studies. We highlight recent progress that has been made, while also uncovering areas where future studies are warranted.

Picosecond IR-UV pump-probe spectroscopic study on the intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution of NH2 and CH stretching vibrations of jet-cooled aniline

Intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution (IVR) of the NH2 symmetric and asymmetric stretching vibrations of jet-cooled aniline has been investigated by picosecond time-resolved IR-UV pump-probe spectroscopy. A picosecond IR laser pulse excited the NH2 symmetric or asymmetric stretching vibration of aniline in the electronic ground state and the subsequent time evolutions of the excited level as well as redistributed levels were observed by a picosecond UV pulse. The IVR lifetimes for symmetric and asymmetric stretches were obtained to be 18 and 34 ps, respectively. In addition, we obtained the direct evidence that IVR proceeds via two-step bath states; that is, the NH2 stretch energy first flows into the doorway state and the energy is further dissipated into dense bath states. The rate constants of the second step were estimated to be comparable to or slower than those of the first step IVR. The relaxation behavior was compared with that of IVR of the OH stretching vibration of phenol [Y. Yamada, T. Ebata, M. Kayano, and M. Mikami J. Chem. Phys. 120, 7400 (2004)]. We found that the second step IVR process of aniline is much slower than that of phenol, suggesting a large difference of the "doorway state increasing the dense bath states" anharmonic coupling strength between the two molecules. We also observed IVR of the CH stretching vibrations, which showed much faster IVR behavior than that of the NH2 stretches. The fast relaxation is described by the interference effect, which is caused by the coherent excitation of the quasistationary states.