Extremely Strong Halogen Bond. The Case of a Double-Charge-Assisted Halogen Bridge

Halogen Bond via an Electrophilic π-Hole on Halogen in Molecules: Does It Exist?

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.

Methylammonium Tetrel Halide Perovskite Ion Pairs and Their Dimers: The Interplay between the Hydrogen-, Pnictogen- and Tetrel-Bonding Interactions

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 TtX₆^4- octahedra in the crystalline phase. The TtX₄^4- 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.

The Relevance of Experimental Charge Density Analysis in Unraveling Noncovalent Interactions in Molecular Crystals

The work carried out by our research group over the last couple of decades in the context of quantitative crystal engineering involves the analysis of intermolecular interactions such as carbon (tetrel) bonding, pnicogen bonding, chalcogen bonding, and halogen bonding using experimental charge density methodology is reviewed. The focus is to extract electron density distribution in the intermolecular space and to obtain guidelines to evaluate the strength and directionality of such interactions towards the design of molecular crystals with desired properties. Following the early studies on halogen bonding interactions, several "sigma-hole" interaction types with similar electrostatic origins have been explored in recent times for their strength, origin, and structural consequences. These include interactions such as carbon (tetrel) bonding, pnicogen bonding, chalcogen bonding, and halogen bonding. Experimental X-ray charge density analysis has proved to be a powerful tool in unraveling the strength and electronic origin of such interactions, providing insights beyond the theoretical estimates from gas-phase molecular dimer calculations. In this mini-review, we outline some selected contributions from the X-ray charge density studies to the field of non-covalent interactions (NCIs) involving elements of the groups 14-17 of the periodic table. Quantitative insights into the nature of these interactions obtained from the experimental electron density distribution and subsequent topological analysis by the quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) have been discussed. A few notable examples of weak interactions have been presented in terms of their experimental charge density features. These examples reveal not only the strength and beauty of X-ray charge density multipole modeling as an advanced structural chemistry tool but also its utility in providing experimental benchmarks for the theoretical studies of weak interactions in crystals.

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.

Halogen Interactions in Halogenated Oxindoles: Crystallographic and Computational Investigations of Intermolecular Interactions

X-ray structural determinations and computational studies were used to investigate halogen interactions in two halogenated oxindoles. Comparative analyses of the interaction energy and the interaction properties were carried out for Br···Br, C-H···Br, C-H···O and N-H···O interactions. Employing Møller-Plesset second-order perturbation theory (MP2) and density functional theory (DFT), the basis set superposition error (BSSE) corrected interaction energy (E_int(BSSE)) was determined using a supramolecular approach. The E_int(BSSE) results were compared with interaction energies obtained by Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules (QTAIM)-based methods. Reduced Density Gradient (RDG), QTAIM and Natural bond orbital (NBO) calculations provided insight into possible pathways for the intermolecular interactions examined. Comparative analysis employing the electron density at the bond critical points (BCP) and molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) showed that the interaction energies and the relative orientations of the monomers in the dimers may in part be understood in light of charge redistribution in these two compounds.

Cooperation/Competition between Halogen Bonds and Hydrogen Bonds in Complexes of 2,6-Diaminopyridines and X-CY3 (X = Cl, Br; Y = H, F)

The DFT calculations have been performed on a series of two-element complexes formed by substituted 2,6-diaminopyridine (R−PDA) and pyridine (R−Pyr) with X−CY3 molecules (where X = Cl, Br and Y = H, F). The primary aim of this study was to examine the intermolecular hydrogen and halogen bonds in the condition of their mutual coexistence. Symmetry/antisymmetry of the interrelation between three individual interactions is addressed. It appears that halogen bonds play the main role in the stabilization of the structures of the selected systems. However, the occurrence of one or two hydrogen bonds was associated with the favourable geometry of the complexes. Moreover, the impact of different substituent groups attached in the para position to the aromatic ring of the 2,6-diaminopyridine and pyridine on the character of the intermolecular hydrogen and halogen bonds was examined. The results indicate that the presence of electron-donating substituents strengthens the bonds. In turn, the presence of electron-withdrawing substituents reduces the strength of halogen bonds. Additionally, when hydrogen and halogen bonds lose their leading role in the complex formation, the nonspecific electrostatic interactions between dipole moments take their place. Analysis was based on geometric, energetic, and topological parameters of the studied systems.

Halogen Complexes of Anionic N-Heterocyclic Carbenes

The lithium complexes [(WCA-NHC)Li(toluene)] of anionic N-heterocyclic carbenes with a weakly coordinating anionic borate moiety (WCA-NHC) reacted with iodine, bromine, or CCl4 to afford the zwitterionic 2-halogenoimidazolium borates (WCA-NHC)X (X=I, Br, Cl; WCA=B(C6 F5 )3 , B{3,5-C6 H3 (CF3 )2 }3 ; NHC=IDipp=1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene, or NHC=IMes=1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene). The iodine derivative (WCA-IDipp)I (WCA=B(C6 F5 )3 ) formed several complexes of the type (WCA-IDipp)I⋅L (L=C6 H5 Cl, C6 H5 Me, CH3 CN, THF, ONMe3 ), revealing its ability to act as an efficient halogen bond donor, which was also exploited for the preparation of hypervalent bis(carbene)iodine(I) complexes of the type [(WCA-IDipp)I(NHC)] and [PPh4 ][(WCA-IDipp)I(WCA-NHC)] (NHC=IDipp, IMes). The corresponding bromine complex [PPh4 ][(WCA-IDipp)2 Br] was isolated as a rare example of a hypervalent (10-Br-2) system. DFT calculations reveal that London dispersion contributes significantly to the stability of the bis(carbene)halogen(I) complexes, and the bonding was further analyzed by quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) analysis.

The role of sulfur interactions in crystal architecture: experimental and quantum theoretical studies on hydrogen, halogen, and chalcogen bonds in trithiocyanuric acid–pyridine N-oxide co-crystals

Hydrogen, halogen, chalcogen bonds and π interactions of the trithiocyanuric acid ring are responsible for crystal structure architecture and have been classified according to the QTAIM approach as closed-shell interactions.

Halogen bonds and other noncovalent interactions in the crystal structures of trans-1,2-diiodo alkenes: an ab initio and QTAIM study

A series of interatomic interactions interpretable as halogen bonds involving I…I, I…O, and I…C(π), as well as the noncovalent interactions I…H and O…O, were observed in the crystal structures of trans-1,2-diiodoolefins dimers according to ab initio calculations and the quantum theory of "atoms in molecules" (QTAIM) method. The interplay between each type of halogen bond and other noncovalent interactions was studied systematically in terms of bond length, electrostatic potential, and interaction energy, which are calculated via ab initio methods at the B3LYP-D3/6-311++G(d,p) and B3LYP-D3/def2-TZVP levels of theory. Characteristics and nature of the halogen bonds and other noncovalent interactions, including the topological properties of the electron density, the charge transfer, and their strengthening or weakening, were analyzed by means of both QTAIM and "natural bond order" (NBO). These computational methods provide additional insight into observed intermolecular interactions and are utilized to explain the differences seen in the crystal structures. Graphical abstract The contour map presents the regions of electronic concentration and depletion along each bond in one dimer. The blue points denote the BCPs. The blue lines denote positive Laplacian of electron density, which indicate the ionic interactions, van der Waals or intermolecular interactions, and the red lines denote negative Laplacian of electron density which indicate the covalent bonds.

F-Halogen Bond: Conditions for Its Existence

The question as to whether the F atom can engage in a halogen bond (XB) remains unsettled. This issue is addressed via density functional theory calculations which pair a wide range of organic and inorganic F-acids with various sorts of Lewis bases. From an energetic perspective, perfluorinated hydrocarbons with sp, sp², or sp³ C-hybridization are unable to form an XB with an N-base, but a very weak bond can be formed if electron-withdrawing C≡N substituents are added to the acid. There is little improvement for inorganic acids O₂NF, FOF, ClF, BrF, SiF₄, or GeF₄, but F₂ is capable of a stronger XB of up to 5 kcal/mol. These results are consistent with a geometric criterion, which compares the intermolecular equilibrium distance with the sum of atomic van der Waals radii. The intensity of the σ-hole on the F atom has predictive value in that a V_s,max of at least 10-15 kcal/mol is required for XB formation. Adding a positive charge to the Lewis acid enhances the strength of any XB and even more so if the base is anionic. The acid-base interaction induces a contraction of the r(AF) covalent bond in the acid in most cases and a deshielding of the NMR signal of the F nucleus.

Halogen Bonding Between Anions: Association of Anion Radicals of Tetraiodo-p-benzoquinone with Iodide Anions

Halogen bonding between two negatively charged species, tetraiodo-p-benzoquinone anion radicals (I₄ Q^-. ) and iodide anions, was observed and characterized for the first time. X-ray structural and EPR/UV-Vis spectral studies revealed that the anion-anion bonding led to the formation of crystals comprising 2D layers of I₄ Q^-. anion radicals linked by iodides and separated by Et₄ N⁺ counter-ions. Computational analysis suggested that the seemingly antielectrostatic halogen bonds in these systems were formed via a combination of several factors. First, an attenuation of the interionic repulsion by the solvent facilitated close approach of the anions leading to their mutual polarization. This resulted in the appearance of positively charged areas (σ-holes) on the surface of the iodine substituents in I₄ Q^-. responsible for the attractive interaction. Finally, the solid-state associations were also stabilized by multicenter (4:4) halogen bonding between I₄ Q^-. and iodide.

Halogen Bonding in Two-Dimensional Crystal Engineering

Halogen bonds, which provide an intermolecular interaction with moderate strength and high directionality, have emerged as a promising tool in the repertoire of non-covalent interactions. In this review, we provide a survey of the literature where halogen bonding was used for the fabrication of supramolecular networks on solid surfaces. The definitions of, and the distinction between halogen bonding and halogen-halogen interactions are provided. Self-assembled networks formed at the solution/solid interface and at the vacuum-solid interface, stabilized in part by halogen bonding, are discussed. Besides the broad classification based on the interface at which the systems are studied, the systems are categorized further as those sustained by halogen-halogen and halogen-heteroatom contacts.

C70 Fullerene Cage as a Novel Catalyst for Efficient Proton Transfer Reactions between Small Molecules: A Theoretical study

When acids are supplied with an excess electron (or placed in an Ar or the more polarizable N₂ matrix) in the presence of species such as NH₃, the formation of ion-pairs is a likely outcome. Using density functional theory and first-principles calculations, however, we show that, without supplying an external electron or an electric field, or introducing photo-excitation and -ionization, a single molecule of HCl or HBr in the presence of a single molecule of water inside a C₇₀ fullerene cage is susceptible to cleavage of the σ-bond of the Brønsted-Lowry acid into X⁻ and H⁺ ions, with concomitant transfer of the proton along the reaction coordinate. This leads to the formation of an X⁻···⁺HOH₂ (X = Cl, Br) conjugate acid-base ion-pair, similar to the structure in water of a Zundel ion. This process is unlikely to occur in other fullerene derivatives in the presence of H₂O without significantly affecting the geometry of the carbon cage, suggesting that the interior of C₇₀ is an ideal catalytic platform for proton transfer reactions and the design of related novel materials. By contrast, when a single molecule of HF is reacted with a single molecule of H₂O inside the C₇₀ cage, partial proton transfers from HF to H₂O is an immediate consequence, as recently observed experimentally. The geometrical, energetic, electron density, orbital, optoelectronic and vibrational characteristics supporting these observations are presented. In contrast with the views that have been advanced in several recent studies, we show that the encaged species experiences significant non-covalent interaction with the interior of the cage. We also show that the inability of current experiments to detect many infrared active vibrational bands of the endo species in these systems is likely to be a consequence of the substantial electrostatic screening effect of the cage.

Embracing the Diversity of Halogen Bonding Motifs in Fragment-Based Drug Discovery-Construction of a Diversity-Optimized Halogen-Enriched Fragment Library

Halogen bonds have recently gained attention in life sciences and drug discovery. However, it can be difficult to harness their full potential, when newly introducing them into an established hit or lead structure by molecular design. A possible solution to overcome this problem is the use of halogen-enriched fragment libraries (HEFLibs), which consist of chemical probes that provide the opportunity to identify halogen bonds as one of the main features of the binding mode. Initially, we have suggested the HEFLibs concept when constructing a focused library for finding p53 mutant stabilizers. Herein, we broaden and extent this concept aiming for a general HEFLib comprising a huge diversity of binding motifs and, thus, increasing the applicability to various targets. Using the construction principle of feature trees, we represent each halogenated fragment by treating all simple to complex substituents as modifiers of the central (hetero)arylhalide. This approach allows us to focus on the proximal binding interface around the halogen bond and, thus, its integration into a network of interactions based on the fragment's binding motif. As a first illustrative example, we generated a library of 198 fragments that unifies a two-fold strategy: Besides achieving a diversity-optimized basis of the library, we have extended this "core" by structurally similar "satellite compounds" that exhibit quite different halogen bonding interfaces. Tuning effects, i.e., increasing the magnitude of the σ-hole, can have an essential influence on the strength of the halogen bond. We were able to implement this key feature into the diversity selection, based on the rapid and efficient prediction of the highest positive electrostatic potential on the electron isodensity surface, representing the σ-hole, by VmaxPred.

Significance of hydrogen bonding and other noncovalent interactions in determining octahedral tilting in the CH3NH3PbI3 hybrid organic-inorganic halide perovskite solar cell semiconductor

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.

A comparison between hydrogen and halogen bonding: the hypohalous acid–water dimers, HOX⋯H2O (X = F, Cl, Br)

Hypohalous acids (HOX) are a class of molecules that play a key role in the atmospheric seasonal depletion of ozone and have the ability to form both hydrogen and halogen bonds.

Halogen bonding in differently charged complexes: basic profile, essential interaction terms and intrinsic σ-hole

Studies on halogen bonds (XB) between organohalogens and their acceptors in crystal structures revealed that the XB donor and acceptor could be differently charged, making it difficult to understand the nature of the interaction, especially the negatively charged donor's electrophilicity and positively charged acceptor's nucleophilicity. In this paper, 9 XB systems mimicking all possibly charged halogen bonding interactions were designed and explored computationally. The results revealed that all XBs could be stable, with binding energies after removing background interaction as strong as -1.2, -3.4, and -8.3 kcal mol-1 for Cl, Br, and I involved XBs respectively. Orbital and dispersion interactions are found to be always attractive while unidirectional intermolecular electron transfer from a XB acceptor to a XB donor occurs in all XB complexes. These observations could be attributed to the intrinsic σ-hole of the XB donor and the intrinsic electronic properties of the XB acceptor regardless of their charge states. Intramolecular charge redistribution inside both the donor and the acceptor is found to be system-dependent but always leads to a more stable XB. Accordingly, this study demonstrates that the orbital-based origin of halogen bonds could successfully interpret the complicated behaviour of differently charged XB complexes, while electrostatic interaction may dramatically change the overall bonding strength. The results should further promote the application of halogens in all related areas.