Theoretical study of properties of H bonds and intermolecular interactions in linear cis-,trans-cyclotriazane clusters (n = 2-8)

Our calculations based upon Becke's three-parameter functional of density-functional theory (DFT) with the correlation of Lee, Yang, and Parr (B3LYP), natural bond orbital, and atoms in molecule indicate that in drastic contrast to most H-bonded systems, the anticooperative and cooperative effects coexist in the linear H-bonded cis-,trans (c,t)-cyclotriazane clusters (n = 2-8). As cluster size increases, the properties along the H-bonded chains at trans-positions take on the unexpectedly anticooperative changes which are reflected in elongation of the N...H hydrogen bonds, frequency blueshift in the N-H stretching vibrations, decay in the n(N)-->sigma*(N-H) charge transfers, and weakening of strengths of the N...H bonds. And the cooperative changes in the corresponding properties for the cis- H-bonded chains are observed to be concurrent with the anticooperativities. The rise and fall in the n(N)-->sigma*(N-H) interactions cause increment and decrement in capacities of the clusters to concentrate electrons at the bond critical points of the N...H bonds, and thereby leading to the cooperative and the anticooperative changes especially in the N...H lengths and the N-H stretching frequencies. In terms of three-body symmetry-adapted perturbation theory (three-body SAPT), the first exchange nonadditivity plays a more important role in stabilizing trimer than the nonadditive induction. However, the dominance of the first exchange nonadditivity in three-body interaction unexpectedly triggers the anticooperative effect that counteracts the concurrent cooperative effect. According to the SAPT(DFT), which is a combination of SAPT with asymptotically corrected DFT, DFT/B3LYP is able to succeed in describing the electrostatic, exchange, and induction components, but fails to yield satisfactory interaction energies due to the fact that about 40% of short-range dispersion energy is neglected by the DFT, which is different from many H-bonded described well by the DFT. A quantum cluster equilibrium model illustrates that the c,t-cyclotriazane liquid phase exhibits a weak cooperative effect.     

Cooperative effects and strengths of hydrogen bonds in open-chain cis-triaziridine clusters (n = 2-8): a DFT investigation

We employ DFT/B3LYP method to investigate linear open-chain clusters (n = 2-8) of the cis-triaziridine molecule that is a candidate molecule for high energy density materials (HEDM). Our calculations indicate that the pervasive phenomena of cooperative effects are observed in the clusters of n = 3-8, which are reflected in changes in lengths of N...H hydrogen bonds, stretching frequencies, and intensities of N-H bonds, dipole moments, and charge transfers as cluster size increases. The n(N) --> sigma*(N-H) interactions, i.e., the charge transfers from lone pairs (n(N)) of the N atoms into antibonds (sigma*) of the N-H bonds acting as H-donors, can be used to explain the observed cooperative phenomena. The approaches based upon natural bond orbital (NBO) method and theory of atoms in molecule (AIM) to evaluating N...H strengths are found to be equivalent. In the process of N...H bonding, cooperative nature of n(N) --> sigma*(N-H) interactions promotes formation of stronger N...H bonds as reflected in increases in the capacities of cis-triaziridine clusters to concentrate electrons at the bond critical points of N...H bonds. The calculated nonadditive energies also show that the cooperative effects due to n(N) --> sigma*(N-H) interactions indeed provide additional stabilities for the clusters.     

Density functional theory study of the properties of N-H...N, non-cooperativities, and intermolecular interactions in linear trans-diazene clusters up to ten molecules

We investigate aspects of N-H...N hydrogen bonding in the linear trans-diazene clusters (n=2-10) such as the N...H and N-H lengths, n(N) --> sigma(N-H) interactions, N...H strengths, and frequencies of the N-H stretching vibrations utilizing the DFT/B3LYP theory, the natural bond orbital (NBO) method, and the theory of atoms in molecules (AIM). Our calculations indicate that the structure and energetics are qualitatively different from the conventional H-bonded systems, which usually exhibit distinct cooperative effects, as cluster size increases. First, a shortening rather than lengthening of the N-H bond is found and thus a blue rather than red shift is predicted. Second, for the title clusters, any sizable cooperative changes in the N-H and N...H lengths, n(N) --> sigma(N-H) charge transfers, N...H strengths, and frequencies of the N-H stretching vibrations for the linear H-bonded trans-diazene clusters do not exist. Because the n(N) --> sigma(N-H) interaction hardly exhibits cooperative effects, the capability of the linear trans-diazene cluster to localize electrons at the N...H bond critical point is almost independent of cluster size and thereby leads to the noncooperative changes in the N...H lengths and strengths and the N-H stretching frequencies. Third, the dispersion energy is sizable and important; more than 30% of short-range dispersion energy not being reproduced by the DFT leads to the underestimation of the interaction energies by DFT/B3LYP. The calculated nonadditive interaction energies show that, unlike the conventional H-boned systems, the trans-diazene clusters indeed exhibit very weak nonadditive interactions.     

Theoretical study of hydrogen bonding interaction in nitroxyl (HNO) dimer: interrelationship of the two N-H...O blue-shifting hydrogen bonds

The hydrogen bonding interactions of the HNO dimer have been investigated using ab initio molecular orbital and density functional theory (DFT) with the 6-311++G(2d,2p) basis set. The natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis and atom in molecules (AIM) theory were applied to understand the nature of the interactions. The interrelationship between one N-H...O hydrogen bond and the other N-H...O hydrogen bond has been established by performing partial optimizations. The dimer is stabilized by the N-H...O hydrogen bonding interactions, which lead to the contractions of N-H bonds as well as the characteristic blue-shifts of the stretching vibrational frequencies nu(N-H). The NBO analysis shows that both rehybridization and electron density redistribution contribute to the large blue-shifts of the N-H stretching frequencies. A quantitative correlations of the intermolecular distance H...O (r(H...O)) with the parameters: rho at bond critical points (BCPs), s-characters of N atoms in N-H bonds, electron densities in the sigma*(N-H), the blue-shift degrees of nu(N-H) are presented. The relationship between the difference of rho (|Deltarho|) for the one hydrogen bond compared with the other one and the difference of interaction energy (DeltaE) are also illustrated. It indicates that for r(H...O) ranging from 2.05 to 2.3528 A, with increasing r(H...O), there is the descending tendency for one rho(H...O) and the ascending tendency for the other rho(H...O). r(H...O) ranging from 2.3528 to 2.85 A, there are descending tendencies for the two rho(H...O) with increasing r(H...O). On the potential energy surface of the dimer, the smaller the difference between one rho(H...O) and the other rho(H...O) is, the more stable the structure is. As r(H...O) increases, the blue-shift degrees of nu(N-H) decrease. The cooperative descending tendencies in s-characters of two N atoms with increasing r(H...O) contribute to the decreases in blue-shift degrees of nu(N-H). Ranging from 2.05 to 2.55 A, the increase of the electron density in one sigma*(N-H) with elongating r(H...O) weakens the blue-shift degrees of nu(N-H), simultaneously, the decrease of the electron density in the other sigma*(N-H) with elongating r(H...O) strengthens the blue-shift degrees of nu(N-H). Ranging from 2.55 to 2.85 A, the cooperative ascending tendencies of the electron densities in two sigma*(N-H) with increasing r(H...O) contribute to the decreases in blue-shift degrees of nu(N-H).     

Hydrogen bonding in methanol clusters probed by inner-shell photoabsorption spectroscopy in the carbon and oxygen K-edge regions

Hydrogen bonding in methanol clusters has been investigated by using inner-shell photoabsorption spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) calculations in the carbon and oxygen K-edge regions. The partial-ion-yield (PIY) curves of H(CH(3)OH)(n)(+) were measured as the soft x-ray absorption spectra of methanol clusters. The first resonance peak in the PIY curves, which is assigned to the sigma*(O-H) resonance transition, exhibits a 1.20 eV blueshift relative to the total-ion-yield (TIY) curves of molecular methanol in the oxygen K-edge region, while it exhibits a shift of only 0.25 eV in the carbon K-edge region. Decreased intensities of the transitions to higher Rydberg orbitals were observed in the PIY curves of the clusters. The drastic change in the sigma*(O-H) resonance transition is interpreted by the change in the character of the sigma*(O-H) molecular orbital at the H-donating OH site due to the hydrogen-bonding interaction.     

Remarkable metal counterion effect on the internucleotide J-couplings and chemical shifts of the N-H...N hydrogen bonds in the W-C base pairs

The effects of metal ion binding on the (2h) J(NN)-coupling and delta( (1)H)/Deltadelta( (15)N) chemical shifts of N-H...N H-bond units in internucleotide base pairs were explored by a combination of density functional theory calculations and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Results indicate that the NMR parameters vary considerably upon cation binding to the natural GC or AT base pairs, and thus can be used to identify the status of the base pairs, if cation-perturbed. The basic trend is that cation perturbation causes (2h) J(NN) to increase, Deltadelta( (15)N) to decrease, and delta( (1)H) to shift upfield for GC, and in the opposite directions for AT. The magnitudes of variation are closely related to the Lewis acidity of the metal ions. For both base pair series (M(z+)GC and M(z+)AT), these NMR parameters are linearly correlated among themselves. Their values depend strongly on the energy gaps (Delta(ELP-->sigma*)) and the second-order interaction energies ( E(2)) between the donor N lone pair (LP(N)) and the acceptor sigma* N-H localized NBO orbitals. In addition, the (2h) J NN changes are also sensitive to the amount of sigma charge transfer from LP(N) to sigma*(N-H) NBOs or from the purine to the pyrimidine moieties. The different trends are a consequence of the different H-bond patterns combined with the polarization effect of the metal ions in the cationized M(z+)AT series, M(z+) <-- A --> T, and the cationized GC series, M(z+) <-- G <-- C. The predicted cation-induced systematic trends of (2h) J(NN) and delta( (15)N, (1)H) in N-H...N H-bond units may provide a new approach to the determination of H-bond structure and strength in Watson-Crick base pairs, and provide an alternative probe of the heterogeneity of DNA sequences.     

Electron density characteristics in bond critical point (QTAIM) versus interaction energy components (SAPT): the case of charge-assisted hydrogen bonding

Charge-assisted hydrogen bonds (CAHBs) of N-H···Cl, N-H···Br, and P-H···Cl type were investigated using advanced computational approach (MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ level of theory). The properties of electron density function defined in the framework of Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules (QTAIM) were estimated as a function of distance in H-bridges. Additionally, the interaction energy decomposition was performed for H-bonded complexes with different H-bond lengths using the Symmetry-Adapted Perturbation Theory (SAPT). In this way both QTAIM parameters and SAPT energy components could be expressed as a function of the same variable, that is, the distance in H-bridge. A detailed analysis of the changes in QTAIM and SAPT parameters due to the changes in H···A distance revealed that, over some ranges of H···A distances, electrostatic, inductive and dispersive components of the SAPT interaction energy show a linear correlation with the value of the electron density at H-BCP ρ(BCP). The linear relation between the induction component, E(ind), and ρ(BCP) confirms numerically the intuitive expectation that the ρ(BCP) reflects directly the effects connected with the sharing of electron density between interacting centers. These conclusions are important in view of charge density studies performed for crystals in which the distance between atoms results not only from effects connected with the interaction between atomic centers directly involved in bonding, but also from packing effects which may strongly influence the length of the H-bond.     

A theoretical study on structural, spectroscopic and energetic properties of acetamide clusters [CH3CONH2] (n=1-15)

Insights into the formation of hydrogen bonded clusters are of outstanding importance and quantum chemical calculations play a pivotal role in achieving this understanding. Structure and energetic comparison of linear, circular and standard forms of (acetamide)(n) clusters (n = 1-15) at the B3LYP/D95** level of theory including empirical dispersion correction reveals significant cooperativity of hydrogen bonding and size dependent structural preference. A substantial amount of impact of BSSE is observed in these calculations as the cluster size increases irrespective of the kind of arrangement. The interaction energy per monomer increases from dimer to 15mer by 90% in the case of the circular arrangement, by 76% in the case of the linear arrangement and by 34% in the case of the standard arrangement respectively. The cooperativity in hydrogen bonding is also manifested by a regular decrease in average OH and C-N bond distances, while average C=O and N-H bond lengths increase with increasing cluster size. Atoms-In-Molecules (AIM) analysis is used to characterize the nature of hydrogen bonding between the acetamide molecules in the cluster on the basis of electron density (ρ) values obtained at the bond critical point. An analysis of N-H bond stretching frequencies as a function of the cluster size shows a marked red shift as the cluster size increases from 1 to 15.     

Stereoelectronic effects in ring-chain tautomerism of 1,3-diarylnaphth[1,2-e][1,3]oxazines and 3-alkyl-1-arylnaphth[1,2-e][1,3]oxazines

The disubstitution effects of X and Y in 1-(Y-phenyl)-3-(X-phenyl)-2,3-dihydro-1H-naphth[1,2-e][1,3]oxazines on the ring-chain tautomerism, the delocalization of the nitrogen lone pair (anomeric effect), and the (13)C NMR chemical shifts were analyzed by using multiple linear regression analysis. Study of the three-component equilibrium B<==>A<==>C revealed that the chain<==>trans (A<==>B) equilibrium constants are significantly influenced by the inductive effect (sigma(F)) of substituent Y on the 1-phenyl ring. In contrast, no significant substituent dependence on Y was observed for the chain<==>cis (A<==>C) equilibrium. There was an analogous dependence for the epimerization (C<==>B) constants of 1-(Y-phenyl)-3-alkyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-naphth[1,2-e][1,3]oxazines. With these model compounds, significant overlapping energies of the nitrogen lone pair was observed by NBO analysis in the trans forms B (to sigma*(C1-C1'), sigma*(C1-C10b), and sigma*(C3-O4)) and in the cis forms C (to sigma*(C1-H), sigma*(C1-C10b), and sigma*(C3-O4)). The effects of disubstitution revealed some characteristic differences between the cis and trans isomers. However, the results do not suggest that the anomeric effect predominates in the preponderance of the trans over the cis isomer. When the (13)C chemical shift changes induced by substituents X and Y (SCS) were subjected to multiple linear regression analysis, negative rho(F)(Y) and rho(F)(X) values were observed at C-1 and C-3 for both the cis and trans isomers. In contrast, the positive rho(R)(Y) values at C-1 and the negative rho(R)(X) values at C-3 observed indicated the contribution of resonance structures f (rho(R) > 0) and g (rho(R) < 0), respectively. The classical double bond-no-bond resonance structures proved useful in explaining the substituent sensitivities of the donation energies and the behavior of the SCS values.     

Interaction of the important species HNO and HFSO2 in the atmosphere: Theoretical study of the N?H and S?H blue‐shifted hydrogen bonds

Ab initio molecular orbital and density functional theory (DFT) in conjunction with different basis sets calculations were performed to study the N? H…O and S? H…O blue‐shifted H‐bonds in the HNO…HFSO₂ complex. The geometric structures, vibrational frequencies, and interaction energies were calculated by both standard and CP‐corrected methods. Natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis was used to investigate the origin of blue‐shifted H‐bonds, showing that the decrease in the σ*(N? H) and σ*(S? H) is due to the electron density redistribution effect. The structure reorganization effect on the blue‐shifted hydrogen bonds was discussed in detail. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007     

Bonding nature and vibrational signatures of oxirane:(water)(n=1-3). Assessment of the performance of the dispersion-corrected DFT methods compared to the ab initio results and Fourier transform infrared experimental data

Spectroscopic properties of 1:n complexes (n = 1, 2, and 3) formed between an oxirane molecule and water clusters have been evaluated using experimental techniques (FTIR spectroscopy using a new supersonic jet experiment coupled to the infrared AILES beamline of synchrotron SOLEIL and also cryogenic neon matrix device) and theoretical approaches (SAPT, ab initio, DFT, and topological analyses). From a systematic comparison between the theoretical results (obtained with both wave function based methods and several newly hydrogen bonded adapted functionals) with the available experimental results on the studied compounds, it was concluded that only the wave function based methods (particularly coupled clusters ones) are able to well describe these compounds, while the newly hydrogen bonded adapted functionals (long-range and/or dispersion-corrected ones and also double hybrids) cannot adequately describe all the spectroscopic properties in a systematic way. The MP2 method, although more expensive than DFT, still offers a reliable method to study both isolated molecules and hydrogen bonded complexes provided the contribution of the dispersion energy in total energy is properly taken into account. The nature of interaction between oxirane and water molecules has been analyzed using the symmetry adapted perturbation theory (SAPT) method. It was evidenced that the water-oxirane interaction corresponds to the hydrogen-bonded systems with a large contribution of the dispersion energy. The nature of the oxirane-water bonding has been studied using two topological methods: atoms in molecules and electron-localization function (ELF). Geometrical structures of the titled complexes were rationalized from the spatial arrangement of ELF attractors. Secondary interaction was also accounted for the bond critical points found at H(oxirane)···O(water) bond paths.     

Atoms-in-molecules analysis of extended hypervalent five-center, six-electron (5c-6e) C(2)Z(2)O interactions at the 1,8,9-positions of anthraquinone and 9-methoxyanthracene systems

To clarify the nature of five-center, six-electron (5c-6e) C(2)Z(2)O interactions, atoms-in-molecules (AIM) analysis has been applied to an anthraquinone, 1,8-(MeZ)(2)ATQ (1 (Z=Se), 2 (Z=S), and 3 (Z=O)), and a 9-methoxyanthracene system, 9-MeO-1,8-(MeZ)(2)ATC (4 (Z=Se), 5 (Z=S), and 6 (Z=O)), as well as 1-(MeZ)ATQ (7 (Z=Se), 8 (Z=S), and 9 (Z=O)) and 9-MeO-1-(MeZ)ATC (10 (Z=Se), 11 (Z=S), and 12 (Z=O)). The total electronic energy density (H(b)(r(c))) at the bond critical points (BCPs), an appropriate index for weak interactions, has been examined for 5c-6e C(2)Z(2)O and 3c-4e CZO interactions of the n(p)(O)sigma*(Z--C) type in 1-12. Some hydrogen-bonded adducts were also re-examined for convenience of comparison. The total electronic energy densities varied in the following order: OO (3: H(b)(r(c))=0.0028 au)=OO (6: 0.0028 au)>OO (9: 0.0025 au)> or =NNHF (0.0024 au)> or =OO (12: 0.0023 au)>H(2)OHOH (0.0015 au)>SO (8: 0.0013 au)=SO (2: 0.0013 au)> or =SO (11: 0.0012 au)=SO (5: 0.0012 au)>HFHF (0.0008 au)=SeO (10: 0.0008 au)=SeO (4: 0.0008 au)> or =SeO (1: 0.0007 au)> or =SeO (7: 0.0006 au)>HCNHF (-0.0013 au). H(b)(r(c)) values for SO were predicted to be smaller than the hydrogen bond of H(2)OHOH and H(b)(r(c)) values for SeO are very close to or slightly smaller than that for HFHF in both the ATQ and 9-MeOATC systems. In the case of Z=Se and S, H(b)(r(c)) values for 5c-6e C(2)Z(2)O interactions are essentially equal to those for 3c-4e CZO if Z is the same. The results demonstrate that two n(p)(O)sigma*(Z--C) 3c-4e interactions effectively connect through the central n(p)(O) orbital to form the extended hypervalent 5c-6e system of the sigma*(C--Z)n(p)(O)sigma*(Z--C) type for Z=Se and S in both systems. Natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis revealed that n(s)(O) also contributes to some extent. The electron charge densities at the BCPs, NBO analysis, and the total energies calculated for 1-12, together with the structural changes in the PhSe derivatives, support the above discussion.     

Manifestation of stereoelectronic effects on the calculated carbon-hydrogen bond lengths and one bond (1)J(C-H) NMR coupling constants in cyclohexane,six-membered heterocycles,and cyclohexanone derivatives

Cyclohexane (1), oxygen-, sulfur-, and/or nitrogen-containing six-membered heterocycles 2-5, cyclohexanone (6), and cyclohexanone derivatives 7-16 were studied theoretically [B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) and PP/IGLO-III//B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) methods] to determine the structural (in particular C-H bond distances) and spectroscopic (specifically, one bond (1)J(C-H) NMR coupling constants) consequences of stereoelectronic hyperconjugative effects. The results confirm the importance of n(X) --> sigma*(C-H)(app) (where X = O, N), sigma(C-H)(ax) --> pi*(C=O), sigma(S-C) --> sigma*(C-H)(app), sigma(C-S)-->sigma*(C-H)(app), beta-n(O) --> sigma*(C-H), and sigma(C-H) --> sigma*(C-H)(app) hyperconjugation, as advanced in previous theoretical models. Calculated r(C-H) bond lengths and (1)J(C-H) coupling constants for C-H bonds participating in more than one hyperconjugative interaction show additivity of the effects.     

The effect of carbonyl group in the asymmetry of 3,4JCH coupling constants in norbornanones

A rationalization of the known difference between the 3,4JC4H1 and 3,4JC1H4 couplings transmitted mainly through the 7-bridge in norbornanone is presented in terms of the effects of hyperconjugative interactions involving the carbonyl group. Theoretical and experimental studies of 3,4JCH couplings were carried out in 3-endo- and 3-exo-X-2-norbornanone derivatives (X = Cl, Br) and in exo- and endo-2-noborneol compounds. Hyperconjugative interactions were studied with the natural bond orbital (NBO) method. Hyperconjugative interactions involving the carbonyl pi*(C2=O) and sigma*(C2=O) antibonding orbitals produce a decrease of three-bond contribution to both 3,4JC4H1 and 3,4JC1H4 couplings. However, the latter antibonding orbital also undergoes a strong sigmaC3--C4 --> sigma*(C2=O) interaction, which defines an additional coupling pathway for 3,4JC4H1 but not for 3,4JC1H4. This pathway is similar to that known for homoallylic couplings, the only difference being the nature of the intermediate antibonding orbital; i.e. for 3,4JC4H1 it is of sigma*-type, while in homoallylic couplings it is of pi*-type.     

Unraveling weak interactions in aniline-pyrrole dimer clusters

Weak intermolecular interactions in aniline-pyrrole dimer clusters have been studied by the dispersion-corrected density functional theory(DFT) calculations. Two distinct types of hydrogen bonds are demonstrated with optimized geometric structures and largest interaction energy moduli. Comprehensive spectroscopic analysis is also addressed revealing the orientation-dependent interactions by noting the altered red-shifts of the infrared and Raman activities. Then we employ natural bond orbital(NBO)analysis and atom in molecules(AIM) theory to have determined the origin and relative energetic contributions of the weak interactions in these systems. NBO and AIM calculations confirm the V-shaped dimer cluster is dominated by N.H···N and C.H···π hydrogen bonds, while the J-aggregated isomer is stabilized by N.H···π, n→π* and weak π···π* stacking interactions.The noncovalent interactions are also demonstrated via energy decomposition analysis associated with electrostatic and dispersion contributions.     

Correlated intermolecular interaction components from asymptotically corrected Kohn-Sham orbitals

In these years there was considerable interest inunderstanding of intermolecular forces in energetic(explosive) systems[1—3]. The supermolecular approach(SM) is widely adopted for calculating ab initio in-termolecular interactions. Nevertheless, it is unable toprovide physically meaningful interaction contribu-tions such as electrostatic, induction, repulsion anddispersion energies. In contrast, the symmetry-adaptedperturbation theory (SAPT)[4—8] has the ability to de-rive these correlated…     

The structure and chemical bonding in the N(2)-CuX and N(2)...XCu (X = F, Cl, Br) systems studied by means of the molecular orbital and Quantum Chemical Topology methods

Ab initio studies carried out at the MP2(full)/6-311+G(2df) and MP2(full)/aug-cc-pVTZ-PP computational levels reveals that dinitrogen (N(2)) and cuprous halides (CuX, X = F, Cl, Br) form three types of systems with the side-on and end-on coordination of N(2): N[triple bond]N-CuX (C(infinity v)), N(2)-CuX (C(2v)) stabilized by the donor-acceptor bonds and weak van der Waals complexes N(2)...XCu (C(2v)) with dominant dispersive forces. An electron density transfer between the N(2) and CuX depends on type of the N(2) coordination and a comparison of the NPA charges yields the [N[triple bond]N](delta+)-[CuX](delta-) and [N(2)](delta-)-[CuX](delta+) formula. According to the NBO analysis, the Cu-N coordinate bonds are governed by predominant LP(N2)-->sigma*(Cu-X) "2e-delocalization" in the most stable N[triple bond]N-CuX systems, meanwhile back donation LP(Cu)-->pi*(N-N) prevails in less stable N(2)-CuX molecules. A topological analysis of the electron density (AIM) presents single BCP between the Cu and N nuclei in the N[triple bond]N-CuX, two BCPs corresponding to two donor-acceptor Cu-N bonds in the N(2)-CuX and single BCP between electron density maximum of the N[triple bond]N bond and halogen nucleus in the van der Waals complexes N(2)...XCu. In all systems values of the Laplacian nabla(2)rho(r)(r(BCP)) are positive and they decrease following a trend of the complex stability i.e. N[triple bond]N-CuX (C(infinity v)) > N(2)-CuX (C(2v)) > N(2)...XCu (C(2v)). A topological analysis of the electron localization function (ELF) reveals strongly ionic bond in isolated CuF and a contribution of covalent character in the Cu-Cl and Cu-Br bonds. The donor-acceptor bonds Cu-N are characterized by bonding disynaptic basins V(Cu,N) with attractors localized at positions corresponding to slightly distorted lone pairs V(N) in isolated N(2). In the N[triple bond]N-CuX systems, there were no creation of any new bonding attractors in regions where classically the donor-acceptor bonds are expected and there is no sign of typical covalent bond Cu-N with the bonding pair. Calculations carried out for the N[triple bond]N-CuX reveal small polarization of the electron density in the N[triple bond]N bond, which is reflected by the bond polarity index being in range of 0.14 (F) to 0.11 (Cl).     

Comparison of intermolecular interaction energies from SAPT and DFT including empirical dispersion contributions

The dispersion correction based on damped atom-atom long-range interaction contributions has been tested for an extended S22 database of intermolecular complexes using density functional theory (DFT) and symmetry adapted perturbation theory (SAPT) to account for the remaining interaction energy contributions. In the case of DFT, the dispersion correction of Grimme (J. Comput. Chem. 2006, 27, 1787) was used, while for SAPT, another damping function has been developed that has been optimized particularly for the database. It is found that both approaches yield about the same accuracy for the mixed-type complexes, while the DFT plus dispersion method performs better for the hydrogen-bridged systems and the SAPT plus dispersion approach is better for the dispersion-dominated complexes if compared with coupled cluster singles-doubles with perturbative triples interaction energies as a reference.