Exploring (NH2F)2, H2FP:NFH2, and (PH2F)2 Potential Surfaces: Hydrogen Bonds or Pnicogen Bonds?

Tetrel Bonds between Phenyltrifluorosilane and Dimethyl Sulfoxide: Influence of Basis Sets, Substitution and Competition

Ab initio calculations have been performed for the complexes of DMSO and phenyltrifluorosilane (PTS) and its derivatives with a substituent of NH₃, OCH₃, CH₃, OH, F, CHO, CN, NO₂, and SO₃H. It is necessary to use sufficiently flexible basis sets, such as aug’-cc-pVTZ, to get reliable results for the Si···O tetrel bonds. The tetrel bond in these complexes has been characterized in views of geometries, interaction energies, orbital interactions and topological parameters. The electron-donating group in PTS weakens this interaction and the electron-withdrawing group prominently strengthens it to the point where it exceeds that of the majority of hydrogen bonds. The largest interaction energy occurs in the p-HO₃S-PhSiF₃···DMSO complex, amounting to −122 kJ/mol. The strong Si···O tetrel bond depends to a large extent on the charge transfer from the O lone pair into the empty p orbital of Si, although it has a dominant electrostatic character. For the PTS derivatives of NH₂, OH, CHO and NO₂, the hydrogen bonded complex is favorable to the tetrel bonded complex for the NH₂ and OH derivatives, while the σ-hole interaction prefers the π-hole interaction for the CHO and NO₂ derivatives.

Nitrogen as a pnicogen?: evidence for π-hole driven novel pnicogen bonding interactions in nitromethane-ammonia aggregates using matrix isolation infrared spectroscopy and ab initio computations

The role of nitrogen, the first member of the pnicogen group, as an electron donor in hypervalent non-covalent interactions has been established long ago, while observation of its electron accepting capability is still elusive experimentally, and remains quite intriguing, conceptually. In the light of minimal computational exploration of this novel class of pnicogen bonding so far, the present work provides experimental proof with unprecedented clarity, for the existence of N(acceptor)N(donor) interaction using the model nitromethane (NM) molecule with ammonia (AM) as a Lewis base in NM-AM aggregates. The NM-AM dimer, in which the nitrogen atom of NM (as a unique pnicogen) accepts electrons from AM (the traditional electron donor), was synthesized at low temperatures under isolated conditions within inert gas matrixes and was characterized using infrared spectroscopy. The experimental generation of the NM-AM dimer stabilized via NN interaction has strong corroboration from ab initio calculations. Furthermore, confirmation regarding the directional prevalence of this NN interaction over C-HN and N-HO hydrogen bonding is elucidated quantitatively by quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM), electrostatic potential mapping (ESP), natural bond orbital (NBO), non-covalent interaction (NCI) and energy decomposition (ED) analyses. The present study also allows the extension of σ-hole/π-hole driven interactions to the atoms of the second period, in spite of their low polarizability.

Unusual blue to red shifting of C-H stretching frequency of CHCl3 in co-operatively P⋯Cl phosphorus bonded POCl3-CHCl3 heterodimers at low temperature inert matrixes

Heterodimers of POCl₃-CHCl₃ were generated in Ne, Ar, and Kr matrixes at low temperatures and were studied using infrared spectroscopy. The remarkable role of co-operative pentavalent phosphorus bonding in the stabilization of the structure dictated by hydrogen bonding is deciphered. The complete potential energy surface of the heterodimer was scanned by ab initio and density functional theory computational methodologies. The hydrogen bond between the phosphoryl oxygen of POCl₃ and C-H group of CHCl₃ in heterodimers induces a blue-shift in the C-H stretching frequency within the Ne matrix. However, in Ar and Kr matrixes, the C-H stretching frequency is exceptionally red-shifted in stark contrast with Ne. The plausibility of the Fermi resonance by the C-H stretching vibrational mode with higher order modes in the heterodimers has been eliminated as a possible cause within Ar and Kr matrixes by isotopic substitution (CDCl₃) experiments. To evaluate the influence of matrixes as a possible cause of red-shift, self-consistent Iso-density polarized continuum reaction field model was applied. This conveyed the important role of the dielectric matrixes in inducing the fascinating vibrational shift from blue (Ne) to red (Ar and Kr) due to the matrix specific transmutation of the POCl₃-CHCl₃ structure. The heterodimer produced in the Ne matrix possesses a cyclic structure stabilized by hydrogen bonding with co-operative phosphorus bonding, while in Ar and Kr the generation of an acyclic open structure stabilized solely by hydrogen bonding is promoted. Compelling justification regarding the dispersion force based influence of matrix environments in addition to the well-known dielectric influence is presented.

Understanding noncovalent bonds and their controlling forces

The fundamental underpinnings of noncovalent bonds are presented, focusing on the σ-hole interactions that are closely related to the H-bond. Different means of assessing their strength and the factors that control it are discussed. The establishment of a noncovalent bond is monitored as the two subunits are brought together, allowing the electrostatic, charge redistribution, and other effects to slowly take hold. Methods are discussed that permit prediction as to which site an approaching nucleophile will be drawn, and the maximum number of bonds around a central atom in its normal or hypervalent states is assessed. The manner in which a pair of anions can be held together despite an overall Coulombic repulsion is explained. The possibility that first-row atoms can participate in such bonds is discussed, along with the introduction of a tetrel analog of the dihydrogen bond.

Dominance of unique Pπ phosphorus bonding with π donors: evidence using matrix isolation infrared spectroscopy and computational methodology

Albeit the first account of hypervalentπ interactions has been reported with halogenπ interactions, the feasibility of their extension to other hypervalent atoms as possible Lewis acids is still open. In this work, the role of phosphorus as an acceptor from the π electron cloud (Pπ pnicogen or phosphorus bonding) in PCl3-C2H2 and PCl3-C2H4 heterodimers is explored, by combining matrix isolation infrared spectroscopy with ab initio and DFT computational methodologies. The respective potential energy surfaces of the PCl3-C2H2 and PCl3-C2H4 heterodimers reveal unique minima stabilized by a concert of reasonably strong to weak interactions, of which Pπ phosphorus bonding was energetically dominant. Heterodimers, trimers and tetramers bound primarily by this unique phosphorus bond were generated at low temperatures. The dominance of phosphorus bonding in the PCl3-C2H2 and PCl3-C2H4 heterodimers over other interactions (such as Hπ, HCl, HP, Clπ and lone pair-π interactions) was confirmed and substantiated using extended quantum theory of atoms in molecules, natural bond orbital, electrostatic potential mapping and energy decomposition analyses. The following inferences in correlation with results from non-covalent-interaction analysis offer a complete understanding of the nature of the Pπ phosphorus bonding interactions. The significance of electrostatic forces kinetically favoring the formation of phosphorus bonded heterodimers, in addition to thermodynamic stabilization, is demonstrated experimentally.

Elusive hypervalent phosphorus⋯π interactions: evidence for paradigm transformation from hydrogen to phosphorus bonding at low temperatures

A paradigm transformation from hydrogen to phosphorus bonding is found to depend on the proton affinity of the interacting π-systems.

Pentavalent phosphorus as a unique phosphorus donor in POCl3 homodimer and POCl3–H2O heterodimer: matrix isolation infrared spectroscopic and computational studies

Phosphorus, an important element among the pnicogen group, opens up avenues for experimental and computational explorations of its interaction in a variety of compounds.

Calculation of 15N NMR chemical shifts: Recent advances and perspectives

Recent advances in computation of ¹⁵N NMR chemical shifts are reviewed, concentrating mainly on practical aspects of computational protocols and accuracy factors. The review includes the discussion of the level of theory, the choice of density functionals and basis sets together with taking into account solvent effects, rovibrational corrections and relativistic effects. Computational aspects of ¹⁵N NMR are illustrated for the series of neutral and protonated open-chain nitrogen-containing compounds and nitrogen heterocycles, coordination and intermolecular complexes.

Cooperativity between the hydrogen bonding and σ-hole interaction in linear NCX···(NCH)n=2–5 and O3Z···(NCH)n=2–5 complexes (X = Cl, Br; Z = Ar, Kr): a comparative study

Quantum chemical calculations are performed to investigate the cooperativity of hydrogen bonding with halogen or aerogen bonding interactions in linear NCX···(NCH)n=2–5 and O3Z···(NCH)n=2–5 clusters, where X = Cl, Br and Z = Ar, Kr. To understand the cooperativity mechanism in these systems, the corresponding binary NCX···NCH and O3Z···NCH complexes are also considered. The binding distances, interaction energies, and bonding properties of the NCX···(NCH)n=2–5 and O3Z···(NCH)n=2–5 clusters are analyzed in detail. It is found that the cooperative effects in the hydrogen bonding tend to strengthen X···N and Z···N interactions. For both NCX···(NCH)n and O3Z···(NCH)n clusters, a small bond shrinkage is observed from n = 4 to n = 5, which suggests that the cooperativity effects are almost saturated in the larger clusters (n > 5). As the size of the X or Z atom is increased, the magnitude of the cooperative energy in these systems is also increased, which is mainly ascribed to changes in electrostatic potentials and orbital interactions. Our results indicate that the cooperative effects lead to a substantial change in the 14N nuclear quadrupole coupling constants of the NCH molecule.

Modulating of the pnicogen-bonding by a H⋯π interaction: An ab initio study

An ab initio study of the cooperativity in XH₂P⋯NCH⋯Z and XH₂P⋯CNH⋯Z complexes (X=F, Cl, Br, CN, NC; Z=C₂H₂,C₆H₆) connected by pnicogen-bonding and H⋯π interactions is carried out by means of MP2 computational method. A detailed analysis of the structures, interaction energies and bonding properties is performed on these systems. For each set of the complexes considered, a favorable cooperativity is observed, especially in X=F and CN complexes. However, for a given X or Z, the amount of cooperativity effects in XH₂P⋯CNH⋯Z complexes are more important than XH₂P⋯NCH⋯Z counterparts. Besides, the influence of a H⋯π interaction on a P⋯N (C) bond is more pronounced than that of a P⋯N (C) bond on a H⋯π bond. The quantum theory of atoms in molecules shows that ternary complexes have increased electron densities at their bond critical points relative to the corresponding binary systems. The results also indicate that the strength of the P⋯N(C) and H⋯π interactions increases in the presence of the solvent.

Influence of the protonation of pyridine nitrogen on pnicogen bonding: competition and cooperativity

Ab initio MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ calculations were performed to investigate the pnicogen-bonded complexes of PyZX₂ (Py = pyridine, Z = P and As, X = H and F) and their protonated analogues.

Weak interactions within nitryl halide heterodimers

Nitryl halides (XNO₂, X = F, Cl, Br and I) are versatile molecules that exhibit several types of interactions within XNO₂:YNO₂ heterodimers mainly governed by dispersion.

Modulating intramolecular P⋯N pnictogen interactions

The strength of P⋯N intramolecular pnictogen interactions can be modulated, enhanced or diminished upon substitution of different electron withdrawing or donor groups.

PCl3–C6H6 heterodimers: evidence for P⋯π phosphorus bonding at low temperatures

A phosphorous trichloride (PCl₃)–benzene (C₆H₆) heterodimer was generated in a low temperature N₂ matrix and was characterized using infrared spectroscopy.

Novel pnicogen bonding interactions with silylene as an electron donor: covalency, unusual substituent effects and new mechanisms

An analogue of carbene, singlet silylene (H3P=N)2Si, was paired with the mono-substituted phosphines XH2Y (X = P, As, and Sb; Y = F, Cl, Br, and I) to form unconventional pnicogen-bonded complexes. All structures have Cs symmetry except the Sb complex, showing a deviation from this symmetry due to the coexistence of H···H interactions. The P and As complexes have different geometries from conventional pnicogen-bonded ones because the Y-X···Si line shows a large deviation from the molecular plane composed of two N atoms and one Si atom of (H3P=N)2Si. This deviation can be attributed to a new formation mechanism of the pnicogen bond due to the combined result of the LPSi→ BD*X-Y and LPX→ LP*Si orbital interactions. Generally, the pnicogen bond becomes stronger in the order of F < Cl < Br < I and weaker in the order of P > As > Sb, exhibiting an unexpected substitution effect and dependence on the nature of the pnicogen atom. These orders are inconsistent with the MEP on the X atom but can be better explained by the above orbital interactions. The Si···X interaction displays a character of covalent or partially covalent interaction, evidenced by the high interaction energy of -59.9 to -105.4 kJ mol(-1) as well as the negative energy density and the great charge transfer.

Chalcogen bonds in complexes of SOXY (X, Y = F, Cl) with nitrogen bases

SOF2, SOFCl, and SOCl2 were each paired with a series of N bases. The potential energy surface of the binary complexes were characterized by MP2 calculations with double and triple-ξ basis sets, extrapolated to complete sets. The most stable configurations contained a S···N chalcogen bond with interaction energies as high as 6.8 kcal/mol. These structures are stabilized by a Nlp → σ*(S-Z) electron transfer (Z = O, F, Cl), complemented by Coulombic attraction of N to the σ-hole opposite the Z atom. N···S-F and N···S-Cl chalcogen bonds are stronger than N···S═O interactions. Formation of each chalcogen bond elongates all of the internal covalent bonds within SOXY, especially the S-Cl bond. Halogen-bonded (N···Cl-S) complexes were also observed, but these are more weakly bound, by less than 3 kcal/mol.

Halogen, chalcogen and pnictogen interactions in (XNO2)2homodimers (X = F, Cl, Br, I)

XNO₂(X = F, Cl, Br and I) homodimers present a large variety of interactions. A combination of pnictogen and chalcogen is stronger than single halogen bonds.

The dual role of pnicogen as Lewis acid and base and the unexpected interplay between the pnicogen bond and coordination interaction in H3N⋯FH2X⋯MCN (X = P and As; M = Cu, Ag, and Au)

Ternary systems H₃N⋯FH₂X⋯MCN (X = P and As; M = Cu, Ag, and Au) as well as the corresponding pnicogen-bonded and coordination-bonded binary systems have been studied.