Competitive and cooperative n →π* and n →σ* interactions in benzaldehyde-formaldehyde: rotational characterization

Decrypting the critical point of internal rotation of formaldehyde: A rotational study of the acrolein-formaldehyde complex

The rotational spectrum of an acrolein-formaldehyde complex has been characterized using pulsed jet Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy complemented with quantum chemical calculations. One isomer has been observed in pulsed jets, which is stabilized by a dominant O=C⋯O tetrel bond (n → π* interaction) and a secondary C-H⋯O hydrogen bond. Splittings arising from the internal rotation of formaldehyde around its C2v axis were also observed, from which its V2 barrier was evaluated. It seems that when V2 equals or exceeds 4.61 kJ mol-1, no splitting of the spectral lines of the rotational spectrum was observed. The nature of the non-covalent interactions of the target complex is elucidated through natural bond orbital analysis. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding on the non-covalent interactions within the dimeric complex formed by two aldehydes.

n → π* Interaction Enabling Transient Inversion of Chirality

This study reports the observation and characterization of two isomers of the acrolein dimer by using high-resolution rotational spectroscopy in pulsed jets. The first isomer is stabilized by two hydrogen bonds, adopting a planar configuration, and is energetically favored over the second isomer, which exhibits a dominant n → π* interaction in a nearly orthogonal arrangement. Surprisingly, the n → π* interaction was revealed to enable a concerted tunneling motion of two moieties along the carbonyl group. This motion leads to the inversion of transient chirality associated with the exchange of donor-acceptor roles, as revealed by the spectral feature of quadruplets. Inversion of transient chirality is a fundamental phenomenon in quantum mechanics and commonly observed for only inversional motions of protons. It is the first discovery, to the best of our knowledge, that such heavy moieties can also undergo chirality inversion.

Intermolecular n→π* Interactions in Supramolecular Chemistry and Catalysis

The n→π* interactions describing attractive force between lone pairs (lps) of nucleophile and carbonyl or polarized unsaturated bonds have recently attracted growing attentions in various disciplines. So far, such non-covalent driving force are mainly concentrated to intramolecular systems. Intermolecular n→π* interactions in principle could produce fascinated supramolecular systems or facilitate organic reactions, however, they remain largely underexplored due to the very weak energy of individual interaction. This review attempts to give an overview of the challenging intermolecular n→π* interactions, much efforts emphasize the supramolecular systems, catalytic processes and spectroscopic measurements.

Double n→π* Interactions with One Electron Donor: Structural and Mechanistic Insights

Double n→π* interactions between one common electron donor of the carbonyl oxygen and two individual acceptor aldehyde/imine units are presented. The structural and mechanistic insights were revealed through a collection of experimental and computational evidence. The orientation and further energetic dependence of orbital interactions were facilely regulated by the size of cyclic urea scaffolds, the bulkiness of aldehydes/imines, and the flexibility of imine macrocycles.

Three non-bonding interaction topologies of the thiazole-formaldehyde complex observed by rotational spectroscopy

When an aldehyde molecule interacts with a nitrogen atom inserted in an aromatic ring, they form a number of non-bonding topologies. We measured the rotational spectra of three different isomers of the thiazole-formaldehyde adduct. In all of them, formaldehyde interacts specifically with thiazole through an n → π* interaction (along the Bürgi-Dunitz trajectory) and a C-H⋯O (acting as a proton acceptor) weak hydrogen bond, or through C-H⋯N (acting as a proton donor) and C-H⋯O (acting as a proton acceptor) weak hydrogen bonds. The spectra of isotopic substituted species were also measured to draw the molecular structures. Two n → π* stabilized isomers show a vertical structure in which the two molecular planes are perpendicular to each other, and the hydrogen bonded isomers feature a co-planar architecture. The competition between these non-bonding interactions was unveiled from experiments and theoretical calculations.

Intermolecular noncovalent interactions with carbon in solution

One of the most familiar carbon-centered noncovalent interactions (NCIs) involving an antibonding π*-orbital situated at the Bürgi-Dunitz angle from the electron donor, mostly lone pairs of electrons, is known as n → π* interactions, and if it involves a σ* orbital in a linear fashion, then it is known as the carbon bond. These NCIs can be intra- or inter-molecular and are usually weak in strength but have a paramount effect on the structure and function of small-molecular crystals and proteins. Surprisingly, the experimental evidence of such interactions in the solution phase is scarce. It is even difficult to determine the interaction energy in the solution. Using NMR spectroscopy aided with molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and high-level quantum mechanical calculations, herein we provide the experimental evidence of intermolecular carbon-centered NCIs in solution. The challenge was to find appropriate heterodimers that could sustain room temperature thermal energy and collisions from the solvent molecules. However, after several trial model compounds, the pyridine-N-oxide:dimethyltetracyanocyclopropane (PNO-DMTCCP) complex was found to be a good candidate for the investigation. NBO analyses show that the PNO:DMTCCP complex is stabilized mainly by intermolecular n → π* interaction when a weaker carbon bond gives extra stability to the complex. From the NMR study, it is observed that the NCIs between DMTCCP and PNO are enthalpy driven with an enthalpy change of -28.12 kJ mol-1 and dimerization energy of ∼-38 kJ mol-1 is comparable to the binding energies of a conventional hydrogen-bonded dimer. This study opens up a new strategy to investigate weak intermolecular interactions such as n → π* interaction and carbon bonds in the solution phase.

Interaction Types in C6H5(CH2)nOH-CO2 (n = 0-4) Determined by the Length of the Side Alkyl Chain

C₆H₅(CH₂)_nOH-CO₂ complexes have been investigated using rotational spectroscopy (n = 0-2) complemented by quantum chemical calculations (n = 0-4), which implies that the side alkyl chain length can determine the types of intermolecular interactions. Unlike the in-plane C···O tetrel bond in phenol-CO₂, the π*_CO2···π_aromatic interaction has been shown to link CO₂ to phenylmethanol and 2-phenylethanol, which is, to the best of our knowledge, the first time it has been demonstrated by rotational spectroscopy. Further elongations of the side alkyl chain gradually increase the energies of intramolecular hydrogen bonds in 3-phenylpropanol and 4-phenylbutanol so that CO₂ cannot break it. CO₂ will be pushed farther from the monomers and link with the -OH group through a dominating C···O tetrel bond. Our observations would allow, with the choice of the proper length of the side alkyl chain, new strategies for engineering C···π_aromatic-centered noncovalent bonding schemes for the capture, utilization, and storage of CO₂.

Competitive tetrel bond and hydrogen bond in benzaldehyde-CO2: characterization via rotational spectroscopy

The rotational spectrum of the 1 : 1 benzaldehyde-CO₂ complex has been investigated using pulsed-jet Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy complemented with quantum chemical calculations. Two isomers, both characterized by one C⋯O tetrel bond (n → π* interaction) and one C-H⋯O hydrogen bond (n → σ* interaction), have been observed in the pulsed jet. Competition between the tetrel bond and the hydrogen bond has been disclosed by natural bond orbital analysis: isomer I is characterized by one dominating OC_CO2⋯O tetrel bond (12.6 kJ mol^-1) and a secondary (C-H)_formyl⋯O hydrogen bond (2.2 kJ mol^-1); by contrast, in isomer II the (C-H)_phenyl⋯O hydrogen bond (7.6 kJ mol^-1) becomes the dominant bond, while the OC_CO2⋯O tetrel bond (5.8 kJ mol^-1) becomes much weaker with respect to that of isomer I. Using intensity measurements the relative population ratio of the two isomers was estimated to be N_I/N_II ≈ 2/1.