Insights into the cooperativity between multiple interactions of dimethyl sulfoxide with carbon dioxide and water

Interactions of dimethyl sulfoxide with carbon dioxide and water molecules which induce 18 significantly stable complexes are thoroughly investigated. An addition of CO₂ or H₂O molecules into the DMSO⋯1CO₂ and DMSO⋯1H₂O systems leads to an increase in the stability of the resulting complexes, in which it is larger for a H₂O addition than a CO₂. The overall stabilization energy of the DMSO⋯1,2CO₂ is mainly contributed by the S=O⋯C Lewis acid–base interaction, whereas the O − H⋯O hydrogen bond plays a significant role in stabilizing complexes of DMSO⋯1,2H₂O and DMSO⋯1CO₂⋯1H₂O. Remarkably, the complexes of DMSO⋯2H₂O are found to be more stable than DMSO⋯1CO₂⋯1H₂O and DMSO⋯2CO₂. The level of the cooperativity of multiple interactions in ternary complexes tends to decrease in going from DMSO⋯2H₂O to DMSO⋯1CO₂⋯1H₂O and finally to DMSO⋯2CO₂. It is generally found that the red shift of the O − H bond involved in an O − H⋯O hydrogen bond increases while the blue shift of a C − H bond in a C − H⋯O hydrogen bond decreases when a cooperative effect occurs in ternary complexes as compared to those of the corresponding binary complexes. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Stand up for Electrostatics: The Disiloxane Case

The basicity of the simplest silicone, disiloxane (H₃Si−O−SiH₃), is strongly affected by the Si−O−Si angle (α). We use high-level ab initio MP2/aug′-cc-pVTZ calculations and the molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) to analyze the relationship between the increase in basicity and the reduction of α. Our results clearly point out that this increase can be explained through the MEP, as the interactions between oxygen from disiloxane and the acceptors are mostly electrostatic. Furthermore, the effect of α on the tetrel bond between disiloxane and several Lewis bases can again be rationalized using the MEP. Finally, we explore the cooperativity throughout α for ternary complexes where disiloxane simultaneously interacts with a Lewis acid and a Lewis base. Both non-covalent interactions remain cooperative for all α values, although the largest cooperativity effects are not always those maximizing the binding energy in the binary complexes. Overall, the MEP remains a powerful predictor for noncovalent interactions.     

Strongly Bound π-Hole Tetrel Bonded Complexes between H2SiO and Substituted Pyridines. Influence of Substituents

Ab initio calculation at the MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ level has been performed on the π-hole based N^…Si tetrel bonded complexes between substituted pyridines and H₂SiO. The primary aim of the study is to find out the effect of substitution on the strength and nature of this tetrel bond, and its similarity/difference with the N^…C tetrel bond. Correlation between the strength of the N^…Si bond and several molecular properties of the Lewis acid (H₂SiO) and base (pyridines) are explored. The properties of the tetrel bond are analyzed using AIM, NBO, and symmetry-adapted perturbation theory calculations. The complexes are characterized with short N^…Si intermolecular distances and high binding energies ranging between −142.72 and −115.37 kJ/mol. The high value of deformation energy indicates significant geometrical distortion of the monomer units. The AIM and NBO analysis reveal significant coordinate covalent bond character of the N⋅⋅⋅Si π-hole bond. Sharp differences are also noticed in the orbital interactions present in the N⋅⋅⋅Si and N⋅⋅⋅C tetrel bonds.     

Comparison of σ-hole and π-hole tetrel bonds in complexes of borazine with TH3F and F2TO/H2TO (T = C,Si, Ge)

The complexes between borazine and TH₃F/F₂TO/H₂TO (T = C, Si, Ge) are investigated with high-level quantum chemical calculations. Borazine has three sites of negative electrostatic potential: the N atom, the ring center, and the H atom of the B H bond, whereas TH₃F and F₂TO/H₂TO provide the σ-hole and π-hole, respectively, for the tetrel bond. The N atom of borazine is the favored site for both the σ and π-hole tetrel bonds. Less-stable dimers include a σ-tetrel bond to the borazine ring center and to the BH proton. The π-hole tetrel-bonded complexes are more strongly bound than are their σ-hole counterparts. Due to the coexistence of both T···N tetrel and B···O triel bonding, the complexes of borazine with F₂TO/H₂TO (T = Si and Ge) are very stable, with interaction energies up to −108 kcal/mol. The strongly bonded complexes are accompanied by substantial net charge transfer from F₂TO/H₂TO to borazine.     

Tetrel bonds between PhSiF3/PhTH3 (T = Si,Ge, Sn) and H3ZO (Z = N,P, As): A pentacoordinate silicon (IV) complex

The nature of the complexes PhTH₃ H₃ZO and PhSiF₃ H₃ZO (T = Si, Ge, and Sn; Z = N, P, and As) has been investigated at the MP2/aug’‐cc‐pVTZ(PP) level. These complexes are primarily stabilized by one T···O tetrel bond. Interaction energies of these complexes vary from 11 to 220 kJ/mol, and T···O separations from 1.89 to 3.09 Å. Charge transfer from the O lone pair into the C T and T H σ* antibonding orbitals leads to the stabilization of these complexes. The T···O tetrel bond between PhTH₃/PhSiF₃ and H₃NO exhibits a significant degree of covalence, characterized by the large interaction energy, negative energy density, and large charge transfer. Furthermore, a pentacoordinate silicon (IV) complex is formed in PhSiF₃ H₃NO with the Si···O distance almost close to the length of Si O bond. This indicates that the oxygen atom in N‐oxides shows a strong affinity to the silicon atom in organosilicon compounds.     

Synergistic and Diminutive Effects between Regium and Aerogen Bonds

The aerogen bond is formed in complexes of HCN−XeF₂O and C₂H₄−XeF₂O. The lone pair on the N atom of HCN is a better electron donor in the aerogen bond than the π electron on the C=C bond of C₂H₄. The coinage substitution strengthens the aerogen bond in MCN−XeF₂O (M=Cu, Ag, and Au) and its enhancing effect becomes larger in the Au<Cu<Ag pattern. The aerogen bond is further enhanced by the regium bond in C₂H₂−MCN−XeF₂O and C₂H₄−MCN−XeF₂O, but is weakened by the regium bond in MCN−C₂H₄−XeF₂O and C₂(CN)₄−MCN−XeF₂O. Simultaneously, the regium bond is also strengthened or weakened in these triads. The synergistic and diminutive effects between regium and aerogen bonds have been explained by means of charge transfer and electrostatic potentials.     

Relationship between the energy of donor–acceptor bond and the reorganization energy in molecular complexes

Donor–acceptor complexes of silicon halides with ammonia, pyridine, and 2,2′bipyridine SiX₄ · nD (X = F, Cl, Br) have been studied at the B3LYP/pVDZ level of theory. Energies of the donor–acceptor bond have been estimated taking into account the reorganization energy of the donor and acceptor fragments and basis set superposition error correction. Despite of the very low (or even negative) dissociation energy of SiX₄ · nD into free fragments, the Si–N bonding in all complexes is rather strong (75–220 kJ mol^?1). It is the reorganization energy of the acceptor SiX₄ (75–280 kJ mol^?1) that governs the dissociation energy of the complex. Thus, in contrast to the complexes of group 13 halides, the reorganization effects are crucial for the complexes of group 14 halides, and their neglecting leads to erroneous conclusions about the strength of the donor–acceptor bond in these systems. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2002     

Engineering Crystals Using sp3-C Centred Tetrel Bonding Interactions

1,1,2,2-Tetracyanocyclopropane derivatives 1 and 2 were designed and synthesized to probe the utility of sp³-C centred tetrel bonding interactions in crystal engineering. The crystal packing of 1 and 2 and their 1,4-dioxane cocrystals is dominated by sp³-C(CN)₂⋅⋅⋅O interactions, has significant C⋅⋅⋅O van der Waals overlap (≤0.266 Å) and DFT calculations indicate interaction energies of up to −11.0 kcal mol⁻¹. A cocrystal of 2 with 1,4-thioxane reveals that the cyclopropane synthon prefers interacting with O over S. Computational analyses revealed that the electropositive C₂(CN)₄ pocket in 1 and 2 can be seen as a strongly directional ‘tetrel-bond donor’, similar to halogen bond or hydrogen bond donors. This disclosure is expected to have implications for the utility of such ‘tetrel bond donors’ in molecular disciplines such as crystal engineering, supramolecular chemistry, molecular recognition and medicinal chemistry.     

New Noncentrosymmetric Tetrel Pnictides Composed of Square-Planar Gold(I) with Peculiar Bonding

Three novel isostructural equiatomic gold tetrel pnictides, AuSiAs, AuGeP, and AuGeAs, were synthesized and characterized. These phases crystallize in the noncentrosymmetric (NCS) monoclinic space group Cc (no. 9), featuring square-planar Au within cis-[AuTt₂Pn₂] units (Tt=tetrel, Si, Ge; Pn=pnictogen, P, As). This is in drastic contrast to the structure of previously reported AuSiP, which exhibits typical linear coordination of Au with Si and P. Chemical bonding analysis through the electron localization function suggests covalent two-center two-electron Tt−Pn bonds, and three-center Au−Tt−Au and Au−Pn−Au bonds with 1.6 e⁻ per bond. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies support the covalent and nonionic nature of Au−Pn and Au−Tt bonds. The title materials were found to be n-type narrow-gap semiconductors or semimetals, with nearly temperature-independent electrical resistivities and low thermal conductivities. A combination of the semimetallic properties with tunable NCS structure provides opportunities for the development of materials based on gold tetrel pnictides.     

Halogen bonding between substituted chlorobenzene and trimethylamine: Decisive role of σ–hole and C?Cl bond breaking energy

Theoretical studies have been carried out on the halogen bonding interaction between para substituted chlorobenzene (Y C₆H₄Cl, Y = H, NH₂, CH₃, F, CN, NO₂) and N(CH₃)₃ using ab initio MP2/aug‐cc‐pVDZ and DFT based wB97XD/6‐311++G(d,p) methods. The positive electrostatic potential (V_S,max) on the Cl atom and the heterolytic bond breaking enthalpy of the C Cl bond have been calculated and their role on halogen bonding is discussed. The heterolytic bond breaking enthalpy of the C Cl bond is proposed as a measure of the strength of the σ‐hole on Cl atom. The binding strength of the complexes ranging between −6.13 kJ mol⁻¹ and −9.29 kJ mol⁻¹ are linearly related to the V_S,max of the Cl atom and the bond breaking enthalpy of the C Cl bond. In addition, energy decomposition analysis was performed on the halogen bonded complexes via symmetry adapted perturbation theory (SAPT) to predict the dominant energy component and the nature of the N···Cl interaction.     

Theoretical Study on the Hydrogen Bonding Interactions in Complexes of 5‐Hydroxytryptamine with Water

The energies, geometries and harmonic vibrational frequencies of 1:1 5‐hydroxytryptamine‐water (5‐HT‐H₂O) complexes are studied at the MP2/6‐311++G(d,p) level. Natural bond orbital (NBO), quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) analyses and the localized molecular orbital energy decomposition analysis (LMO‐EDA) were performed to explore the nature of the hydrogen‐bonding interactions in these complexes. Various types of hydrogen bonds (H‐bonds) are formed in these 5‐HT‐H₂O complexes. The intermolecular C4H5^5‐HT···O^w H‐bond in HTW3 is strengthened due to the cooperativity, whereas no such cooperativity is found in the other 5‐HT‐H₂O complexes. H‐bond in which nitrogen atom of amino in 5‐HT acted as proton donors was stronger than other H‐bonds. Our researches show that the hydrogen bonding interaction plays a vital role on the relative stabilities of 5‐HT‐H₂O complexes.     

From Very Strong to Inexistent Be−Be Bonds in the Interactions of Be2 with π-Systems

Isolated Be₂ is a typical example of a weakly bound system, but interaction with other systems may give rise to surprising bonding features. The interactions between Be₂ and a set of selected neutral C_nH_n (n=2–8) π-systems have been analyzed through the use of G4 and G4MP2 ab initio methods, along with multireference CASPT2//CASPT2 calculations. Our results systematically show that the C_nH_n−Be₂−C_nH_n clusters formed are always very stable. However, the nature of this interaction is completely different when the π-system involved is a closed shell species (n=2, 4, 6, 8), or a radical (n=3, 5, 7). In the first case, the interaction does not occur with the π-system as a whole, but with specific C centers yielding rather polar but strong C−Be bonds. Nonetheless, although the Be−Be distances in these complexes are similar to the ones in compounds with ultra-strong Be−Be bonds, a close examination of their electron density distribution reveals that no Be−Be bonds exist. The situation is totally different when the interaction involves two π-radicals, C_nH_n−Be₂−C_nH_n (n=3, 5, 7). In these cases, a strong Be−Be bond is formed. Indeed, even though Be is electron deficient, the Be₂ moiety behaves as an efficient electron donor towards the two π-radicals, so that the different C_nH_n−Be₂−C_nH_n (n=3, 5, 7) clusters are the result of the interaction between Be₂²⁺ and two L⁻ anions. The characteristics of these two scenarios do not change when dealing with bicyclic π-compounds, such as naphthalene and pentalene, because the interaction with the Be₂ moiety is localized on one of the unsaturated cycles, the other being almost a spectator.     

DFT study on the intermolecular interactions between Aun (n = 2–4) and thymine

Density functional B3LYP method with 6-31++G** basis set is applied to optimize the geometries of the luteolin, water and luteolin–(H₂O)_n complexes. The vibrational frequencies are also studied at the same level to analyze these complexes. We obtained four steady luteolin–H₂O, nine steady luteolin–(H₂O)₂ and ten steady luteolin–(H₂O)₃, respectively. Theories of atoms in molecules (AIM) and natural bond orbital (NBO) are used to investigate the hydrogen bonds involved in all the systems. The interaction energies of all the complexes corrected by basis set superposition error, are within −13.7 to −82.5 kJ/mol. The strong hydrogen bonding mainly contribute to the interaction energies, Natural bond orbital analysis is performed to reveal the origin of the interaction. All calculations also indicate that there are strong hydrogen bonding interactions in luteolin–(H₂O)_n complexes. The OH stretching modes of complexes are red-shifted relative to those of the monomer.     

2‐(2‐Oxazolin‐2‐yl)benzene‐1,4‐diol: X‐ray and density functional theory studies

In the crystal structure of the title compound, C₉H₉NO₃, there are strong intra­molecular O—H⋯N and inter­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds which, together with weak inter­molecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, lead to the formation of infinite chains of mol­ecules. The calculated inter­molecular hydrogen‐bond energies are −11.3 and −2.7 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively, showing the dominant role of the O—H⋯O hydrogen bonding. A natural bond orbital analysis revealed the electron contribution of the lone pairs of the oxazoline N and O atoms, and of the two hydr­oxy O atoms, to the order of the relevant bonds.     

Chemistry of NOx and HNO3 Molecules with Gas-Phase Hydrated O.− and OH− Ions

The gas-phase reactions of O ^{. −}(H₂O)_n and OH⁻(H₂O)_n, n=20–38, with nitrogen-containing atmospherically relevant molecules, namely NO_x and HNO₃, are studied by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometry and theoretically with the use of DFT calculations. Hydrated O ^{. −} anions oxidize NO ^. and NO₂ ^. to NO₂⁻ and NO₃⁻ through a strongly exothermic reaction with enthalpy of −263±47 kJ mol⁻¹ and −286±42 kJ mol⁻¹, indicating a covalent bond formation. Comparison of the rate coefficients with collision models shows that the reactions are kinetically slow with 3.3 and 6.5 % collision efficiency. Reactions between hydrated OH⁻ anions and nitric oxides were not observed in the present experiment and are most likely thermodynamically hindered. In contrast, both hydrated anions are reactive toward HNO₃ through proton transfer from nitric acid, yielding hydrated NO₃⁻. Although HNO₃ is efficiently picked-up by the water clusters, forming (HNO₃)_0–2(H₂O)_mNO₃⁻ clusters, the overall kinetics of nitrate formation are slow and correspond to an efficiency below 10 %. Combination of the measured reaction thermochemistry with literature values in thermochemical cycles yields ΔH_f(O⁻(aq.))=48±42 kJ mol⁻¹ and ΔH_f(NO₂⁻(aq.))=−125±63 kJ mol⁻¹.     

Density Functional Theory Study on Hydrogen Bonding Interaction of Catechin-(H2O)n

Density functional theory B3LYP method with 6‐31G* basis set has been used to optimize the geometries of the catechin, water and catechin‐(H₂O)_n complexes. The vibrational frequencies have been studied at the same level to analyze these complexes. Six and eleven stable structures for the catechin‐H₂O and catechin‐(H₂O)₂ have been found, respectively. Theories of atoms in molecules (AIM) and natural bond orbital (NBO) have been utilized to investigate the hydrogen bonds involved in all the systems. The interaction energies of all the complexes corrected by basis set superposition error, are from ?13.27 to ?83.56 kJ/mol. All calculations also indicate that there are strong hydrogen‐bonding interactions in catechin‐water complexes. The strong hydrogen‐bonding contributes to the interaction energies dominantly. The O–H stretching motions in all the complexes are red‐shifted relative to that of the monomer.     

Coordination-Induced N−H Bond Splitting of Ammonia and Primary Amine of CuI−MOFs

We report a porous three-dimensional anionic tetrazolium based Cu^I−MOF 1 , which is capable of cleaving the N−H bond of ammonia and primary amine, as well as the O−H bond of H₂O along with spontaneous H₂ evolution. In the gas-solid phase reaction of 1 with ammonia and water vapor, Cu^I−MOF 1 was gradually oxidized to NH₂−Cu^II−MOF and OH−Cu^II−MOF, through single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SCSC) structural transformations, which was confirmed by XPS, PXRD and X-ray single-crystal diffraction. Density functional theory (DFT) demonstrated that Cu^I−MOF could lower N−H bond dissociation free energy of ammonia through coordination-induced bond weakening and promote H₂ evolution by the reduction potential of 1 . To our knowledge, this is the first example of MOFs that activate ammonia and amine in gas-solid manner.     

Strengthening Aqueous Electrolytes without Strengthening Water

Aqueous electrolytes typically suffer from poor electrochemical stability; however, eutectic aqueous solutions—25 wt.% LiCl and 62 wt.% H₃PO₄—cooled to −78 °C exhibit a significantly widened stability window. Integrated experimental and simulation results reveal that, upon cooling, Li⁺ ions become less hydrated and pair up with Cl⁻, ice-like water clusters form, and H⋅⋅⋅Cl⁻ bonding strengthens. Surprisingly, this low-temperature solvation structure does not strengthen water molecules’ O−H bond, bucking the conventional wisdom that increasing water's stability requires stiffening the O−H covalent bond. We propose a more general mechanism for water's low temperature inertness in the electrolyte: less favorable solvation of OH⁻ and H⁺, the byproducts of hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions. To showcase this stability, we demonstrate an aqueous Li-ion battery using LiMn₂O₄ cathode and CuSe anode with a high energy density of 109 Wh/kg. These results highlight the potential of aqueous batteries for polar and extraterrestrial missions.     

Ab Initio energetics of Si?O bond cleavage

A multilevel approach that combines high‐level ab initio quantum chemical methods applied to a molecular model of a single, strain‐free Si O Si bridge has been used to derive accurate energetics for Si O bond cleavage. The calculated Si O bond dissociation energy and the activation energy for water‐assisted Si O bond cleavage of 624 and 163 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively, are in excellent agreement with values derived recently from experimental data. In addition, the activation energy for H₂O‐assisted Si O bond cleavage is found virtually independent of the amount of water molecules in the vicinity of the reaction site. The estimated reaction energy for this process including zero‐point vibrational contribution is in the range of −5 to 19 kJ mol⁻¹. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Mutual interplay between pnicogen–π and tetrel bond in PF<Subscript>3</Subscript>⊥X–Pyr…SiH<Subscript>3</Subscript>CN complexes: NMR,SAPT, AIM,NBO, and MEP analysis

The mutual interplay between pnicogen–π and tetrel bond in the formation of PF₃⊥X–Pyr…SiH₃CN ternary complexes has been investigated via a computational chemistry at MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ level of theory. We proved by computational NMR data the effect of electron-withdrawing and electron-donating substituents on ^1tJ(N-Si) across ¹⁵N...³⁵Si tetrel bonds was investigated at M06-2X/aug-cc-pVDZ levels of theory in PF₃⊥CN–Pyr…SiH₃CN complex. The nature of the interactions has been studied by means of symmetry-adapted perturbation theory (SAPT) and molecular electrostatic potentials (MEP). The electrostatic interaction played a major role in the change of tetrel bond interaction strength in the X–Pyr…SiH₃CN binary systems, whereas the change of pnicogen–π strength in the PF₃⊥X–Pyr complexes was caused jointly by the dispersion interactions. Energy decomposition indicates that the percentage of the electrostatic term in the tetrel bond system constitutes in the total attractive binding energies, while the percentage of the dispersion term in the pnicogen bonding constitutes in the attractive binding energies. In addition, atoms in molecules (AIM) and natural bond orbital (NBO) analyses were also performed to unveil the mechanism of these interactions in the title complexes.