C-H...N and C-H...S hydrogen bonds--influence of hybridization on their strength

Simple complexes connected through C-H...S and C-H...N interactions are investigated: CH4...NH3, C2H4...NH3, C2H2...NH3, CH4...SH2, C2H4...SH2, and C2H2...SH2. Ab initio and DFT calculations are performed (SCF, MP2, B3LYP) using different basis sets up to the MP2/aug-cc-pVQZ//MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ level of approximation. The Bader theory is applied since MP2/6-311++G(d,p) wave functions are used to find and to characterize bond critical points in terms of electron densities and their Laplacians. The influence of hybridization on the properties of C-H...S and C-H...N systems is also studied showing that the strength of such interactions increases in the following order: C(sp3)-H...Y, C(sp2)-H...Y, C(sp)-H...Y, where Y = S, N--it is in line with the previous findings on C-H...O hydrogen bonds. The results also show that CH4...SH2 and C2H4...SH2 complexes should be rather classified as van der Waals interactions and not as hydrogen bonds. The frequency associated with the C-H stretch of C(sp3)-H...S is blue-shifted.     

An investigation of weak CH...O hydrogen bonds in maltose anomers by a combination of calculation and experimental solid-state NMR spectroscopy

Two-dimensional (1)H-(13)C MAS-J-HMQC solid-state NMR spectra of the two anomeric forms of maltose at natural abundance are presented. The experimental (1)H chemical shifts of the CH and CH(2) protons are assigned using first-principles chemical shift calculations that employ a plane-wave pseudopotential approach. Further calculations show that the calculated change in the (1)H chemical shift when comparing the full crystal and an isolated molecule is a quantitative measure of intermolecular C-H...O weak hydrogen bonding. Notably, a clear correlation between a large chemical shift change (up to 2 ppm) and both a short H...O distance (<2.7 A) and a CHO bond angle greater than 130 degrees is observed, thus showing that directionality is important in C-H...O hydrogen bonding.     

Understanding hydrogen scrambling and infrared spectrum of bare CH5+ based on ab initio simulations

A comprehensive study of the properties of protonated methane obtained from ab initio molecular dynamics simulations is presented. Comparing computed infrared spectra to the measured one gives further support to the high fluxionality of bare CH(5)(+). The computational trick to partially freezing out large-amplitude motion, in particular hydrogen scrambling and internal rotation of the H(2) moiety, leads to an understanding of the measured IR spectrum despite the underlying rapid hydrogen scrambling motion that interconverts dynamically structures of different symmetry and chemical bonding pattern. In particular, the fact that C-H stretching modes involving the carbon nucleus and those protons that form the H(2) moiety and the CH(3) tripod, respectively, result in distinct peaks is arguably experimental support for three-center two-electron bonding being operative at experimental conditions. It is proposed that hydrogen scrambling is associated with the softening of a mode that involves the bending of the H(2) moiety relative to the CH(3) tripod, which characterizes the C(s) ground-state structure. The potential energy surface that is mapped on to a two dimensional subspace of internal coordinates provides insight into the dynamical mechanism for exchange of hydrogens between CH(3) tripod and the three-center bonded H(2) moiety that eventually leads to full hydrogen scrambling.     

Multicenter bonding in organic chemistry. Geometry-sensitive 3c-2e bonding in (C...H...C) fragments of organic cations

This paper reports the application of a new general tool for the study of multicenter bonding, namely the so-called generalized population analysis, to the investigation of interesting geometry dependent variation of 3c-2e bonding in the (C...H...C) fragments of ingeniously designed organic cations I and II. This phenomenon was previously characterized by the correlation between experimental (1)H NMR chemical shifts of the central hydrogen in the (C...H...C) fragment and the changes in the corresponding C-H-C bond angle. The observed values of both chemical shifts and C-H-C angles are shown herein to correlate with the calculated 3-center bond indices but the dependence displays splitting into two separate lines according to the type of corresponding cation.     

Strongly blue-shifted C-H stretches: interaction of formaldehyde with hydrogen fluoride clusters

The equilibrium structures, binding energies, and vibrational spectra of the cyclic, hydrogen-bonded complexes formed between formaldehyde, H(2)CO, and hydrogen fluoride clusters, (HF)(1< or =n < or =4), are investigated by means of large-scale second-order M?ller-Plesset calculations with extended basis sets. All studied complexes exhibit marked blue shifts of the C-H stretching frequencies, exceeding 100 cm(-1) for n = 2-4. It is shown that these blue shifts are, however, only to a minor part caused by blue-shifting hydrogen bonding via C-H...F contacts. The major part arises due to the structural relaxation of the H(2)CO molecule under the formation of a strong C=O...H-F hydrogen bond which strengthens as n increases. The close correlation between the different structural parameters in the studied series of complexes is demonstrated, and the consequences for the frequency shifts in the complexes are pointed out, corroborating thus the suggestion of the primary role of the C=O...H-F hydrogen bonding for the C-H stretching frequency shifts. This particular behavior, that the appearance of an increasingly stronger blue shift of the C-H stretching frequencies is mainly induced by the formation of a progressively stronger C=O...H-F hydrogen bond in the series of H(2)CO...(HF)(1< or =n < or =4), complexes and only to a lesser degree by the formation of the so-called blue-shifting C-H...F hydrogen bond, is rationalized with the aid of selected sections of the intramolecular H(2)CO potential energy surface and by performing a variety of structural optimizations of the H(2)CO molecule embedded in external, differently oriented dipole electric fields, and also by invoking a simple analytical force-field model.     

Aromatic C-H...O interactions in a series of bindone analogues. NMR and quantum mechanical study

The aromatic C-H...O hydrogen bonding within the series of the structurally relative indenone derivatives has been studied. The presence of the hydrogen bonds is corroborated by the large low-field chemical shifts of the protons involved in the hydrogen bond observed experimentally and reproduced by quantum mechanical calculations. Further confirmation is provided by analysis of the orbital overlap coefficients, (13)C NMR chemical shifts, and one-bond spin-spin coupling constants J((13)C-(1)H). The relationship between molecular geometry and (1)H NMR chemical shifts of involved protons has a complex nature, but the C-H...O distance is the principal factor.     

Complexes of atmospheric alpha-dicarbonyls with water: FTIR matrix isolation and theoretical study

The complexes of glyoxal (Gly), methylglyoxal (MGly), and diacetyl (DAc) with water have been studied using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) matrix isolation spectroscopy and MP2 calculations with 6-311++G(2d,2p) basis set. The analysis of the experimental spectra of the Gly(MGly,DAc)/H2O/Ar matrixes indicates formation of one Gly...H2O complex, three MGly...H2O complexes, and two DAc...H2O ones. All the complexes are stabilized by the O-H...O(C) hydrogen bond between the water molecule and carbonyl oxygen as evidenced by the strong perturbation of the O-H, C=O stretching vibrations. The blue shift of the CH stretching vibration in the Gly...H2O complex and in two MGly...H2O ones suggests that these complexes are additionally stabilized by the improper C-H...O(H2) hydrogen bonding. The theoretical calculations confirm the experimental findings. They evidence the stability of three hydrogen-bonded Gly...H2O and DAc...H2O complexes and six MGly...H2O ones stabilized by the O-H...O(C) hydrogen bond. The calculated vibrational frequencies and geometrical parameters indicate that one DAc..H2O complexes, two Gly...H2O, and three MGly...H2O ones are additionally stabilized by the improper hydrogen bonding between the C-H group and water oxygen. The comparison of the theoretical frequencies with the experimental ones allowed us to attribute the calculated structures to the complexes present in the matrixes.     

Quantifying weak hydrogen bonding in uracil and 4-cyano-4'-ethynylbiphenyl: a combined computational and experimental investigation of NMR chemical shifts in the solid state

Weak hydrogen bonding in uracil and 4-cyano-4'-ethynylbiphenyl, for which single-crystal diffraction structures reveal close CH...O=C and C[triple bond]CH...N[triple bond]C distances, is investigated in a study that combines the experimental determination of 1H, 13C, and 15N chemical shifts by magic-angle spinning (MAS) solid-state NMR with first-principles calculations using plane-wave basis sets. An optimized synthetic route, including the isolation and characterization of intermediates, to 4-cyano-4'-ethynylbiphenyl at natural abundance and with 13C[triple bond]13CH and 15N[triple bond]C labeling is described. The difference in chemical shifts calculated, on the one hand, for the full crystal structure and, on the other hand, for an isolated molecule depends on both intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions and aromatic ring current effects. In this study, the two effects are separated computationally by, first, determining the difference in chemical shift between that calculated for a plane (uracil) or an isolated chain (4-cyano-4'-ethynylbiphenyl) and that calculated for an isolated molecule and by, second, calculating intraplane or intrachain nucleus-independent chemical shifts that quantify the ring current effects caused by neighboring molecules. For uracil, isolated molecule to plane changes in the 1H chemical shift of 2.0 and 2.2 ppm are determined for the CH protons involved in CH...O weak hydrogen bonding; this compares to changes of 5.1 and 5.4 ppm for the NH protons involved in conventional NH...O hydrogen bonding. A comparison of CH bond lengths for geometrically relaxed uracil molecules in the crystal structure and for geometrically relaxed isolated molecules reveals differences of no more than 0.002 A, which corresponds to changes in the calculated 1H chemical shifts of at most 0.1 ppm. For the C[triple bond]CH...N[triple bond]C weak hydrogen bonds in 4-cyano-4'-ethynylbiphenyl, the calculated molecule to chain changes are of similar magnitude but opposite sign for the donor 13C and acceptor 15N nuclei. In uracil and 4-cyano-4'-ethynylbiphenyl, the CH hydrogen-bonding donors are sp2 and sp hybridized, respectively; a comparison of the calculated changes in 1H chemical shift with those for the sp3 hybridized CH donors in maltose (Yates et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005, 127, 10216) reveals no marked dependence on hybridization for weak hydrogen-bonding strength.     

Transformations of griseofulvin in strong acidic conditions--crystal structures of 2'-demethylgriseofulvin and dimerized griseofulvin

The structure of griseofulvic acid, C16H15ClO6, at 100 K has orthorhombic (P2(1)2(1)2) symmetry. It is of interest with respect to biological activity. The structure displays intermolecular O-H...O, C-H...O hydrogen bonding as well as week C-H...pi and pi...pi interactions. In strong acidic conditions the griseofulvin undergoes dimerization. The structure of dimerized griseofulvin, C34H32C12O12 x C2H6O x H2O, at 100 K has monoclinic (P2(1)) symmetry. The molecule crystallized as a solvate with one ethanol and one water molecule. The dimeric molecules form intermolecular O-H...O hydrogen bonds to solvents molecules only but they interact via week C-H...O, C-H...pi, C-Cl...pi and pi...pi interactions with other dimerized molecules.     

Weak, improper, C-O...H-C hydrogen bonds in the dimethyl ether dimer

The ground-state rotational spectrum of the dimethyl ether dimer, (DME)(2), has been studied by molecular beam Fourier transform microwave and free jet millimeter wave absorption spectroscopies. The molecular beam Fourier transform microwave spectra of the (DME-d(6))(2), (DME-(13)C)(2), (DME-d(6))...(DME), (DME-(13)C)...(DME), and (DME)...(DME-(13)C) isotopomers have also been assigned. The rotational parameters have been interpreted in terms of a C(s) geometry with the two monomers bound by three weak C-H...O hydrogen bonds, each with an average interaction energy of about 1.9 kJ/mol. The experimental data combined with high-level ab initio calculations show this kind of interaction to be improper, blue-shifted hydrogen bonding, with an average shortening of the C-H bonds involved in the hydrogen bonding of 0.0014 A. The length of the C-H...O hydrogen bonds, r(O...H), is in the range 2.52-2.59 A.     

Hydrogen bond stabilization in 1,3-dimethylimidazolium methyl sulfate and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate probed by high pressure: the role of charge-enhanced C-H...O interactions in the room-temperature ionic liquid

The hydrogen bonding structures of room-temperature ionic liquids 1,3-dimethylimidazolium methyl sulfate and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate have been studied by infrared spectroscopy. High-pressure infrared spectral profiles and theoretical calculations allow us to make a vibrational assignment of these compounds. The imidazolium C-H bands of 1,3-dimethylimidazolium methyl sulfate display anomalous non-monotonic pressure-induced frequency shifts. This discontinuity in frequency shift is related to enhanced C-H...O hydrogen bonding. This behavior is in contrast with the trend of blue shifts in frequency for the methyl C-H stretching mode at ca. 2960 cm(-1). Our results indicated that the imidazolium C-H groups are more favorable sites for hydrogen bonding than the methyl C-H groups in the pure 1,3-dimethylimidazolium methyl sulfate. Nevertheless, both methyl C-H and imidazolium C-H groups are favorable sites for C-H...O hydrogen bonding in a dilute 1,3-dimethylimidazolium methyl sulfate/D(2)O mixture. Hydrogen bond-like C-H...F interactions were observed between PF(6)(-) and H atoms on the alkyl side chains and imidazolium ring for 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate.     

Cocrystallization of N-donor type compounds with 5-sulfosalicylic acid: The effect of hydrogen-bonding supramolecular architectures

Benzotriazole,N,N’-dimethylpiperazine and N-methylpiperazine were applied to crystallize with 5-sulfosalicylic acid(5-H2SSA),affording three new binary molecular cocrystals [(C6H6N3+).(C7H5O6S-)].H2O(1),[(C6H16N22+)1/2.(C7H5O6S-)].H2O(2) and [(C5H14N22+).(C7H5O6S-)2].3H2O(3) under general conditions.Proton-transferring occurs from acid to nitrogen of N-donor compounds in all compounds 1,2 and 3.Analysis of the hydrogen-bonding synthons and their effects on crystal packing were also presented in the context of crystal engineering and host-guest chemistry.In compound 1,1-D infinite chains are extended to a 2-D layered architecture via strong O-H...O hydrogen bonds and then to a 3-D network by N-H...O interactions.Compound 2 and 3 both have the 1-D chain which is formed by O-H...O bonds and weak C-H...O hydrogen bonds.A common intramolecular S(6) [synthon I] ring is formed by the hydroxyl with the carboxyl group in all three compounds.     

A case for linear agostic interactions: identification by DFT calculation in a complex of Ta containing a uniquely caged triphenylmethyl C-H hydrogen

Reaction of one equivalent of tris(3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxy)methane with TaCl5 in CH2Cl2 along with Et3N gave a solid which on prolonged crystallisation led to a small quantity of crystalline material. An X-ray crystal structure determination showed one crystal was [TaCl3[[OC6H2(CMe3)2-2,4]3CH]]- Et2NH2+.3C6H6.1.5H2O with the anion consisting of three chloro ligands and three phenoxides of the tripodal ligand about the tantalum centre. The triphenylmethyl group proton was located and refined and was found to be enclosed in a cage making contacts of 2.09(8), 2.09(8) and 1.89(12)A with the phenoxide ligand oxygens consistent with weak C-H bond hydrogen bonding. The hydrogen atom points at the tantalum atom at a distance of 2.14(11) A from it, the TaH-C angle is 166 degrees and the C-H bond distance is 1.04(12) A. DFT calculations at the B3LYP level indicate that where a hydrogen atom is attached to the triphenylmethyl carbon on the inside of the cage, there is good agreement with the crystal structure. The C-H bond points directly at the tantalum centre and an NBO analysis indicates there is significant overlap of the triphenylmethyl C-H bond electron density in a linear sense with an "unfilled" metal d orbital. Based on the NBO analysis, the C-HTa overlap would appear to be an example of a linear agostic interaction under the definition of agostic bonding.     

Spectroscopic, thermal and voltammetric studies of crystalline complex trans-N,N'-bis(salicylidene)-1',2'-cyclohexanediamine with Cu(II)

The dimeric complex, [C20H20CuN2O2]2, has been prepared and characterized by thermal analysis, IR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. The Cu atom in the binuclear complex exists in a distorted square-pyramidal configuration, defined by three O atoms and two N atoms. The crystal structure is stabilized by intermolecular C-H...O hydrogen bonding interaction. The electrochemical property of the complex was investigated in CH2Cl2 by cyclic voltammetry at 100 mV s(-1) scan rate.     

Rebek imides and their adenine complexes: preferences for Hoogsteen binding in the solid state and in solution

Rebek imides (3), formed from Kemp's triacid, were developed in the mid-1980's as model receptors for adenine derivatives. We report here the first account of their hydrogen-bonding preferences upon binding 9-ethyladenine (1a) in the solid state. Structural analysis begins with simple imides 3a-e that form discrete dimers, while bis-imide 4 forms ribbon-like structures in the crystalline phase. The hydrogen-bonding interface within each of the representative assemblies features short intermolecular N(3)imide...O(8*)imide* distances (ca. 2.95 A), indicative of two-point hydrogen bonding. Imides 3f-h could be co-crystallized with 1a; single-crystal X-ray analysis of the resulting complexes reveals hydrogen-bonding geometries nearly identical to those observed in nucleobase complexes of adenine and pyrimidine derivatives. Imides 3f and 3g form 2:1 ternary assemblies with 1a; the complex of the former, (3f)2 x 1a, displays both Watson-Crick- and Hoogsteen-type hydrogen bonding, whereas the complex of the latter, (3g)2 x 1a, shows the Hoogsteen motif and imide hydrogen bonding to N(3) of the purine base (N(3)adenine...N(3')imide = 3.07(1) A). Imide 3h forms a 1:1 complex with 1a (3h x 1a x CHCl3) and displays Hoogsteen binding exclusively. All of the 3 x 1a assemblies show C(adenine)...O(imide) distances (3.38-3.75 A) that are consistent with C-H...O hydrogen bonding. Base-pairing preferences for the Rebek imides are further explored in solution by 1H NMR one-dimensional NOE experiments and by computational means; in all cases the Hoogsteen motif is modestly favored relative to its Watson-Crick counterpart.     

Long-range deuterium isotope effects on (13)C chemical shifts of intramolecularly hydrogen-bonded N-substituted 3-(cycloamine)thiopropionamides or amides: a case of electric field effects

A series of intramolecularly hydrogen-bonded N-substituted 3-(piperidine, morpholine, N-methylpiperazine)thiopropionamides and some corresponding amides have been studied with special emphasis on hydrogen bonding. The compounds have been selected in order to vary and to minimize the N...N distance. Geometries, charge distributions, and chemical shifts of these compounds are obtained from DFT-type BP3LYP calculations. 1H and 13C 1D and 2D NMR experiments were performed to obtain H,H coupling constants, 13C chemical shifts assignments, and deuterium isotope effects on13C chemical shifts. Variable-temperature NMR studies and 2D exchange NMR spectra have been used to describe the rather complicated conformational behavior mainly governed by the ring flipping of the piperidine (morpholine) rings and intramolecular hydrogen bonding. Unusual long-range deuterium isotope effects on 13C chemical shifts are observed over as far as eight bonds away from the site of deuteriation. The isotope effects are related to the N...N distances, thus being related to the hydrogen bonding and polarization of the N-H bond. Arguments are presented showing that the deuterium isotope effects on 13C chemical shifts originate in electric field effects.     

Direct observation of C2 hydrocarbon-oxygen complexes on Ag(110) with a variable-low-temperature scanning tunneling microscope

A variable-low-temperature scanning tunneling microscope (STM) was used to observe oxygen (O2), ethylene (C2H4), and acetylene (C2H2) molecules on a Ag(110) surface and the various complexes that were formed between these two hydrocarbons and oxygen at 13 K. Ethylene molecule(s) were moved to the vicinity of O2 either by STM tunneling electrons at 13 K or thermally at 45 K to form (C2H4)x-O2 (x = 1-4) complexes stabilized by C-H...O hydrogen bonding. Acetylene-oxygen complexes involving one or two acetylene molecules were observed.     

Experimental evidence for intramolecular blue-shifting C-H...O hydrogen bonding by matrix-isolation infrared spectroscopy

Experimental evidence for intramolecular blue-shifting C-H...O hydrogen bonding is presented. Argon matrix-isolation infrared spectra of 1-methoxy-2-(dimethylamino)ethane exhibit a band at 3016.5 cm-1. Spectral behavior with annealing indicates that this band is assigned to the most stable conformer, trans-gauche-(trans|gauche'), with an intramolecular C-H...O hydrogen bond. Density functional calculations show that this band arises from the stretching vibration of the C-H bond participating in the formation of the C-H...O hydrogen bond. The C-H bond is shortened by 0.004 A, and the C-H stretching band is blue-shifted by at least 35 cm-1 on the formation of the hydrogen bond. The (C)H...O distance is calculated as 2.38 A, which is shorter than the corresponding van der Waals separation by 0.3 A.     

Supramolecular silanol chemistry in the gas phase. Topological (AIM) and population (NBO) analyses of hydrogen-bonded complexes between H3SiOH and selected O- and N-acceptor molecules

Hydrogen bonding of the type SiO-H...A (A = O, N) has been studied in the gas phase for simple H3SiOH.acceptor complexes with the acceptor molecules being O(H)SiH3, OH2, O(H)CH3, O(CH3)2, O(CH3)SiH3, O(SiH3)2, NH3, N(CH3)H2, N(CH3)2H, N(CH3)3, N(CH3)2C6H5, and NC5H5, respectively, at the B3LYP/6-311+(2d,p) level of theory, using Bader's atoms in molecules (AIM) and Weinhold's natural bond orbital (NBO) methodology. For all complexes (except H3SiOH.N(CH3)2C6H5) the complex energy Eadd. is a good estimate for the hydrogen bond energy EHB, which is generally higher in N-acceptor complexes (-5.52 to -7.17 kcal mol-1) than in O-acceptor complexes (-2.09 to -5.06 kcal mol-1). In case of H3SiOH.N(CH3)2C6H5, EHB and Eadd. differ by the energy associated with the loss of n(N)-->pi conjugation in N(CH3)2C6H5 upon complex formation. EHB shows no correlation with O...A distances and the red shifts Deltanu(OH) of the OH-stretching vibrations when different acceptors are compared, although both parameters are commonly used to estimate the strength of the hydrogen bond from spectroscopic and diffraction data. A good linear correlation of the hydrogen bond energy EHB has been established with parameters derived from the AIM and NBO analyses, namely, the electron densities rho(HA) and rho(OH) at the H...A and O-H bond critical points (BCPs) and the NLMO bond orders BONLMO(HA) of the H...A bonds of the H3SiOH.acceptor complexes as well as the change of natural charges DeltaqNPA(O) at the O-donor atom upon H3SiOH.acceptor complex formation. Hydrogen bonding of the type SiO-H...A (A = O, N) has been also studied in the related cyclic multiple H3SiOH.acceptor complexes (H3SiOH)3, (H3SiOH)2.NC5H5, and (H3SiOH)4, respectively, at the same level of theory. Cooperative hydrogen bonding is evident for all cyclic multiple H3SiOH.acceptor complexes, whereby the strongest concomitant strengthening of the hydrogen bonds is observed for (H3SiOH)4 and (H3SiOH)2.NC5H5.     

Investigating the effect of hydrogen bonding environments in amide cleavage reactions at zinc(II) complexes with intramolecular amide oxygen co-ordination

Amide oxygen co-ordination to a zinc(II) ion around a hydrogen bonding microenvironment is a common structural/functional feature of metalloproteases. We report two strategies to position hydrogen bonding groups in the proximity of a zinc(II)-bound amide oxygen, and we investigate their effect on the stability of the amide group. Polydentate tripodal ligands (6-R1-2-pyridylmethyl)-R2 (R1= NHCOtBu, R2= N(CH2-py-6-X)2 X = H L1, X = NH2, H L2, X = NH2 L3) form [(L)Zn]2+ cations (L =L1, 1; L2, 2; L3, 3) with intramolecular amide oxygen co-ordination (1-3), and intramolecular N-H...O=C(amide) hydrogen bonding (2, 3) rigidly fixed by the ligand framework. 1-3 undergo cleavage of the tert-butyl amide upon addition of Me4NOH.5H2O (1 equiv.) in methanol at 50(1) degrees C. Under these conditions the half-life, t(1/2), of the amide bond is 0.4 h for 1, 9 h for 2 and 320 h for 3. Mononuclear zinc(II) complexes of (6-NHCOtBu-2-pyridylmethyl)-R2(R2= N(CH2CH2)2S) L4 and chelating N2 ligands without hydrogen bonding groups (1,10-phenanthroline L5, 2-(aminomethyl)pyridine L6) as control compounds, and with an amino hydrogen bonding group (6-amino-2-(aminomethyl)pyridine L7) have been synthesised. Amide cleavage is in this case faster at the zinc(II) complex with the amino hydrogen bonding group. Thus, hydrogen bonding environments can both accelerate and slow down amide bond cleavage reactions at zinc(II) sites. Importantly, the magnitude of the effect exerted by the hydrogen bonding environments was found to be significant; 800-fold rate difference. This result highlights the importance of hydrogen bonding environments around metal centres in amide cleavage reactions, which may be relevant to the chemistry of natural metalloproteases and applicable to the design of more efficient artificial protein cleaving agents.