Resonance-Assisted Hydrogen Bond-Revisiting the Original Concept in the Context of Its Criticism in the Literature

The pattern of bifurcated hydrogen bonds in thiourea cocrystals with diazine derivatives: experimental and quantum theoretical studies

Cocrystals of thiourea with pyrazine N-oxide as thiourea-pyrazine N-oxide (2/1), C4H4N2O·2CH4N2S, (I), and with phenazine as thiourea-phenazine (6/7), 7C12H8N2·6CH4N2S, (II), both crystallize in the monoclinic space group P21/c. In the crystalline state, molecules of both components are linked by N-H...N hydrogen bonds. In addition, there are R22(8) hydrogen-bond synthons between thiourea molecules in both crystal structures. Furthermore, bifurcated hydrogen bonds between the -NH groups in the thiourea molecule and the N and O atoms in the N-oxide ring [in (I)], as well as the N atom in the central phenazine ring [in (II)], play a significant role in both structures. This emerging motif was thoroughly examined using quantum chemistry methods.

Amine-catalyzed substitution in CpFe(CO)2I by phosphine and bisphosphine ligands

We have found that amines significantly accelerate iodide substitution in CpFe(CO)2I (1) (Cp = η5-cyclopentadienyl) with phosphines and allow the synthesis of new complexes that are not available through reactions carried out without an amine. The reaction of equimolar amounts of 1 and triphenylphosphine in toluene containing DIPA afforded [CpFe(CO)2PPh3]+I- within 5 min at room temperature in 72% yield (90% after 24 h). DIPA and pyrrolidine gave the highest yields of the tested amines. We performed a similar reaction using model bisphosphines 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe) and 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene (dppf). The products depended on the reagent ratio and bore the CpFe(CO)2 moiety coordinated to one or two phosphine phosphorus atoms. Chelates [CpFe(CO)(dppe)]+I- (4) and [Cp2Fe2(CO)4(dppe)]2+2I- (5) were formed in 72% and 98% yield, respectively. We also performed the DIPA-catalyzed reaction of 1 with triethyl phosphite and obtained the product of an Michaelis-Arbuzov-like rearrangement, CpFe(CO)2[P(O)(OCH2CH3)2] (11). All complexes were characterized with spectroscopic analysis by NMR, FT-IR, and ESI-MS, and by XRD for three complexes. To clarify the reaction mechanism, we performed theoretical calculations of the intermolecular interactions between 1 and amine molecules. We propose two possible reaction mechanisms to explain the formation of products.

DNA as a perfect quantum computer based on the quantum physics principles

DNA is a complex multi-resolution molecule whose theoretical study is a challenge. Its intrinsic multiscale nature requires chemistry and quantum physics to understand the structure and quantum informatics to explain its operation as a perfect quantum computer. Here, we present theoretical results of DNA that allow a better description of its structure and the operation process in the transmission, coding, and decoding of genetic information. Aromaticity is explained by the oscillatory resonant quantum state of correlated electron and hole pairs due to the quantized molecular vibrational energy acting as an attractive force. The correlated pairs form a supercurrent in the nitrogenous bases in a single band π -molecular orbital ( π -MO). The MO wave function ( Φ ) is assumed to be the linear combination of the n constituent atomic orbitals. The central Hydrogen bond between Adenine (A) and Thymine (T) or Guanine (G) and Cytosine (C) functions like an ideal Josephson Junction. The approach of a Josephson Effect between two superconductors is correctly described, as well as the condensation of the nitrogenous bases to obtain the two entangled quantum states that form the qubit. Combining the quantum state of the composite system with the classical information, RNA polymerase teleports one of the four Bell states. DNA is a perfect quantum computer.

Azaindolizine proton cranes attached to 7-hydroxyquinoline and 3-hydroxypyridine: a comparative theoretical study

Theoretical design of several proton cranes, based on 7-hydroxyquinoline and 3-hydroxypyridine as proton-transfer frames, has been attempted using ground and excited-state density functional theory (DFT) calculations in various environments. Imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine, pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridine and benzimidazole were considered as proton crane units. The proton crane action requires the existence of a single enol-like form in the ground state, which under excitation goes to the end keto-like one through a series of consecutive excited-state intramolecular proton transfers (ESIPT) and twisting steps with the participation of a crane unit, resulting in a long-range intramolecular proton transfer. The results suggest that 3-hydroxypyridine is not suitable for a proton-transfer frame and 8-(imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl)quinolin-7-ol and 8-(pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridin-2-yl)quinolin-7-ol behave as non-conjugated proton cranes, instead of tautomeric re-arrangement in the latter, which was thought to be possible.

Effect of a Substituent on the Properties of Salicylaldehyde Hydrazone Derivatives

The present study investigates the effect of the substitution of salicylaldehyde hydrazones at two selected positions, i.e., the para-position with regard to the proton-donating and proton-accepting centers forming the hydrogen bridge. A detailed analysis of structural data obtained by theoretical approaches and X-ray experiments, together with original resonance Hammett's constants, indicates that the strength of the intramolecular hydrogen bonding present in salicylaldehyde hydrazones can be selectively modulated by substitution of the parent molecular system with the chemical group of known π-electron-donating or -accepting properties. Our findings provide an insight into planning synthesis pathways for salicylaldehyde hydrazone species and predicting their result with regard to their H-bonding and related physical and chemical properties.

Revealing the Reasons for Degeneration of Resonance-Assisted Hydrogen Bond on the Aromatic Platform: Calculations of Ortho-, Meta-, Para-Disubstituted Benzenes, and (Z)-(E)-Olefins

The energies of the O-H∙∙∙O=C intramolecular hydrogen bonds were compared quantitatively for the series of ortho-disubstituted benzenes and Z-isomers of olefins via a molecular tailoring approach. It was established that the hydrogen bond energy in the former series is significantly less than that in the latter one. The reason for lowering the hydrogen bond energy in the ortho-disubstituted benzenes compared to the Z-isomers of olefins is the decrease in the π-contribution to the total energy of the complex interaction, in which the hydrogen bond per se is enhanced by the resonance effect. By the example of the para- and meta-disubstituted benzenes, as well as E-isomers of olefins, it was explicitly shown that the aromatic ring is a much poorer conductor of the resonance effect compared to the double bond. The hydrogen bond in the ortho-disubstituted benzenes has a lower energy than a typical resonance-assisted hydrogen bond because the aromatic moiety cannot properly assist the hydrogen bond with a resonance effect. Thus, a hydrogen bond on an aromatic platform should fall into a special category, namely an aromaticity-assisted hydrogen bond, which is closer by nature to a simple hydrogen bond rather than to a resonance-assisted one.

Self Cycloaddition of o-Naphthoquinone Nitrosomethide to (±) Spiro{naphthalene(naphthopyranofurazan)}-one Oxide: An Insight into its Formation

2-Hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde oxime was oxidized by AgO (or Ag2O), in presence of N-methyl morpholine N-oxide (NMMO), to the title spiro adduct-dimer (±)-Spiro{naphthalene-1(2H),4'-(naphtho[2',1':2,3]pyrano[4,5-c]furazan)}-2-one-11'-oxide by a Diels-Alder(D-A) type self-cycloaddition, through the agency of an o-naphthoquinone nitrosomethide (o-NQM). Moreover, 2-hydroxy-8-methoxy-1-naphthaldehyde oxime was prepared and subjected to the same oxidation conditions. Its sterically guided result, 9-methoxynaphtho[1,2-d]isoxazole, was isolated, instead of the expected spiro adduct. The peri intramolecular H bonding in the oxime is considered to have a key contribution to the outcome. Geometry and energy features of the oxidant- and stereo-guided selectivity of both oxidation outcomes have been explored by DFT, perturbation theory and coupled cluster calculations. The reaction free energy of the D-A intermolecular cycloaddition is calculated at -82.0 kcal/mol, indicating its predominance over the intramolecular cyclization of ca. -37.6 kcal/mol. The cycloaddition is facilitated by NMMO through dipolar interactions and hydrogen bonding with both metal complexes and o-NQM. The 8(peri)-OMe substitution of the reactant oxime sterically impedes formation of the spiro adduct, instead it undergoes a more facile cyclodehydration to the isoxazole structure by ca. 4.9 kcal/mol.