Properties of cationic pnicogen-bonded complexes F4-nHnP+:N-base with H–P···N linear andn= 1–4

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.

Theoretical Studies of IR and NMR Spectral Changes Induced by Sigma-Hole Hydrogen, Halogen, Chalcogen, Pnicogen, and Tetrel Bonds in a Model Protein Environment

Various types of σ-hole bond complexes were formed with FX, HFY, H2FZ, and H3FT (X = Cl, Br, I; Y = S, Se, Te; Z = P, As, Sb; T = Si, Ge, Sn) as Lewis acid. In order to examine their interactions with a protein, N-methylacetamide (NMA), a model of the peptide linkage was used as the base. These noncovalent bonds were compared by computational means with H-bonds formed by NMA with XH molecules (X = F, Cl, Br, I). In all cases, the A-F bond, which lies opposite the base and is responsible for the σ-hole on the A atom (A refers to the bridging atom), elongates and its stretching frequency undergoes a shift to the red with a band intensification, much as what occurs for the X-H bond in a H-bond (HB). Unlike the NMR shielding decrease seen in the bridging proton of a H-bond, the shielding of the bridging A atom is increased. The spectroscopic changes within NMA are similar for H-bonds and the other noncovalent bonds. The C=O bond of the amide is lengthened and its stretching frequency red-shifted and intensified. The amide II band shifts to higher frequency and undergoes a small band weakening. The NMR shielding of the O atom directly involved in the bond rises, whereas the C and N atoms both undergo a shielding decrease. The frequency shifts of the amide I and II bands of the base as well as the shielding changes of the three pertinent NMA atoms correlate well with the strength of the noncovalent bond.

Effects of Halogen, Chalcogen, Pnicogen, and Tetrel Bonds on IR and NMR Spectra

Complexes were formed pairing FX, FHY, FH2Z, and FH3T (X = Cl, Br, I; Y = S, Se, Te; Z = P, As, Sb; T = Si, Ge, Sn) with NH3 in order to form an A⋯N noncovalent bond, where A refers to the central atom. Geometries, energetics, atomic charges, and spectroscopic characteristics of these complexes were evaluated via DFT calculations. In all cases, the A-F bond, which is located opposite the base and is responsible for the σ-hole on the A atom, elongates and its stretching frequency undergoes a shift to the red. This shift varies from 42 to 175 cm-1 and is largest for the halogen bonds, followed by chalcogen, tetrel, and then pnicogen. The shift also decreases as the central A atom is enlarged. The NMR chemical shielding of the A atom is increased while that of the F and electron donor N atom are lowered. Unlike the IR frequency shifts, it is the third-row A atoms that undergo the largest change in NMR shielding. The change in shielding of A is highly variable, ranging from negligible for FSnH3 all the way up to 1675 ppm for FBr, while those of the F atom lie in the 55-422 ppm range. Although smaller in magnitude, the changes in the N shielding are still easily detectable, between 7 and 27 ppm.

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.

The potential of pnicogen bonding for catalysis - a computational study

Pnicogen bonding is a noncovalent interaction between the electrophilic region of a phosphorus atom and a Lewis base. Although this interaction can be comparable in strength to other noncovalent interactions, no systematic application in organic synthesis or catalysis is known so far. To identify the potential of this interaction for organocatalysis, we have now analysed different pnicogen-bond donors as catalysts for the activation of three different model reactions employing density functional theory. Our calculations suggest rate accelerations of several orders of magnitude for all cases indicating that synthetic applications should be feasible. Furthermore, our results indicate that pnicogen-bond donors can be comparable to halogen-bond-based catalysts in these reactions.

Theoretical Study on the Aza-Diels-Alder Reaction Catalyzed by PHCl2 Lewis Acid via Pnicogen Bonding

The reaction mechanism of the Aza-Diels-Alder (A-D-A) cycloaddition reaction between X₂C═NNH₂, where X = H, F, Cl, Br, and 1,3-butadiene catalyzed by a PHCl₂ Lewis acid was characterized using density functional theory calculations. The influences of various substituents of X on the studied reaction were analyzed using the activation strain model (ASM), which is also termed as the distortion-interaction model. Calculations showed that the smallest and largest values of the activation energies belong to the substituents of F and Br, respectively. The activation energy of the studied reactions was decreased within 8.6 kcal·mol^-1 in the presence of PHCl₂ catalyst. Investigations showed that the pnicogen bonding is adequately capable of activating the A-D-A reaction. The quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) and natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis were implemented to understand the nature of C_4,Cbut···C_XIm and C_1,Cbut···N_XIm bonds at the TS structures. Additionally, the energy decomposition analysis (EDA) based on the ETS-NOCV scheme was used to characterize the nature of C_4,Cbut···C_XIm and C_1,Cbut···N_XIm bond. The results of the study mirror the fact that the PHCl₂ Lewis acid may be suggested as a simple suitable catalyst for experimental studies on the A-D-A reactions.