Cover Feature: An Exploration of the Hydrogen Bond Donor Ability of Ammonia (ChemPhysChem 20/2023)

Ammonia is an important molecule due to its wide use in the fertiliser industry. It is also used in aminolysis reactions. Theoretical studies of the reaction mechanism predict that in reactive complexes and transition states, ammonia acts as a hydrogen bond donor forming N−H⋅⋅⋅O hydrogen bond. Experimental reports of N−H⋅⋅⋅O hydrogen bond, where ammonia acts as a hydrogen bond donor are scarce. Herein, the hydrogen bond donor ability of ammonia is investigated with three chalcogen atoms i. e. O, S, and Se using matrix isolation infrared spectroscopy and electronic structure calculations. In addition, the chalcogen bond acceptor ability of ammonia has also been investigated. The hydrogen bond acceptor molecules used here are O(CH₃)₂, S(CH₃)₂, and Se(CH₃)₂. The formation of the 1 : 1 complex has been monitored in the N−H symmetric and anti-symmetric stretching modes of ammonia. The nature of the complex has been delineated using Atoms in Molecules analysis, Natural Bond Orbital analysis, and Energy Decomposition Analysis. This work presents the first comparison of the hydrogen bond donor ability of ammonia with O, S, and Se.     

One-Step Approach for Constructing High-Density Single-Atom Catalysts toward Overall Water Splitting at Industrial Current Densities

The construction of highly active, durable, and cost-effective catalysts is urgently needed for green hydrogen production. Herein, catalysts consisting of high-density Pt (24 atoms nm⁻²) and Ir (32 atoms nm⁻²) single atoms anchored on Co(OH)₂ were constructed by a facile one-step approach. Remarkably, Pt₁/Co(OH)₂ and Ir₁/Co(OH)₂ only required 4 and 178 mV at 10 mA cm⁻² for hydrogen evolution reaction and oxygen evolution reaction, respectively. Moreover, the assembled Pt₁/Co(OH)₂//Ir₁/Co(OH)₂ system showed mass activity of 4.9 A mg_{noble metal}⁻¹ at 2.0 V in an alkaline water electrolyzer, which is 316.1 times higher than that of Pt/C//IrO₂. Mechanistic studies revealed that reconstructed Ir−O₆ single atoms and remodeled Pt triple-atom sites enhanced the occupancy of Ir−O bonding orbitals and improved the occupation of Pt−H antibonding orbital, respectively, contributing to the formation of the O−O bond and the desorption of hydrogen. This one-step approach was also generalized to fabricate other 20 single-atom catalysts.     

Competition Between Intra- and Intermolecular Hydrogen Bonding: o-Anisic Acid⋅⋅⋅Formic Acid Heterodimer

Four conformers of the heterodimer o-anisic acid–formic acid, formed in a supersonic expansion, have been probed by Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy. Two of these forms have the typical double intermolecular hydrogen-bond cyclic structure. The other two show the o-anisic acid moiety bearing a trans-COOH arrangement supported by an intramolecular O−H⋅⋅⋅O bond to the neighbor methoxy group. In these conformers, formic acid interacts with o-anisic acid mainly through an intermolecular O−H⋅⋅⋅O hydrogen bond either to the O−H or to the C=O moieties, reinforced by other weak interactions. Surprisingly, the most abundant conformer in the supersonic expansion is the complex in which the o-anisic acid is in trans arrangement with the formic acid interacting with the O−H group. Such a trans-COOH arrangement in which the intramolecular hydrogen bond dominates over the usually observed double intermolecular hydrogen bond interaction has never been observed previously in an acid–acid dimer.     

Bis(dl‐cysteinium) oxalate

In the title compound, 2C₃H₈NO₂S⁺·C₂O₄²⁻, the oxalate anion occupies an inversion centre and is coordinated to cysteine molecules of different chirality (l and d ) via O—H...O and N—H...O hydrogen bonds, the resulting cysteine–oxalate stoichiometry in the crystal structure being 2:1. The oxalate anion is completely deprotonated, whereas cysteine has a positively charged –NH₃⁺ group and a neutral protonated carboxyl group. The structure is built from infinite hydrogen‐bonded triple layers, consisting of an oxalate layer in the middle with layers of l ‐ and d ‐cysteine molecules on either side. The thiol groups are at the external sides of the layers and form S—H...O hydrogen bonds with the carboxyl groups of neighbouring cysteine molecules. An interesting feature of the structure is the occurrence of short S...S contacts between SH groups of molecules in neighbouring layers, which form not S—H...S but S—H...O intermolecular hydrogen bonds. Due to the effects of crystal packing and intermolecular hydrogen‐bond formation, the conformation of the cysteine cation in the title structure is different from that calculated theoretically for an individual cation, as well as from those of cysteine zwitterions in crystals of pure cysteine.     

An Experimental Exploration of C−H⋅⋅⋅X Hydrogen Bond in [CHCl3−X(CH3)2] Complexes (X=O,S, and Se)

Among the conglomeration of hydrogen bond donors, the C−H group is prevalent in chemistry and biology. In the present work, CHCl₃ has been selected as the hydrogen bond donor and are X(CH₃)₂ are the hydrogen bond acceptors. Formation of C−H⋅⋅⋅X hydrogen bond under the matrix isolation condition is confirmed by the observation of red-shift in the C−H stretching frequency of CHCl₃ and comparison with the simulated spectra. Stabilisation energy of all the three complexes is almost equal although the observed red-shift for the C−H⋅⋅⋅O complex is less compared to the C−H⋅⋅⋅S/Se complexes. The nature and origin of the hydrogen bond have been delineated using Natural Bond Orbital, Atoms in Molecules, Non-Covalent Interaction analyses, and Energy Decomposition Analysis. Charge transfer is found to be proportional to the observed red-shift. This work provides the first impression of C−H⋅⋅⋅Se hydrogen bond and its comparison with C−H⋅⋅⋅O/S hydrogen bond interaction under experimental condition.     

Complexes H2CO:PXH2 and HCO2H : PXH2 for X=NC,F, Cl,CN, OH,CCH, CH3, and H: Pnicogen Bonds and Hydrogen Bonds

Ab initio MP2/aug’-cc-pVTZ calculations have been carried out to investigate H₂CO : PXH₂ pnicogen-bonded complexes and HCO₂H : PXH₂ complexes that are stabilized by pnicogen bonds and hydrogen bonds, with X=NC, F, Cl, CN, OH, CCH, CH₃, and H. The binding energies of these complexes exhibit a second-order dependence on the O−P distance. DFT-SAPT binding energies correlate linearly with MP2 binding energies. The HCO₂H : PXH₂ complexes are stabilized by both a pnicogen bond and a hydrogen bond, resulting in greater binding energies for the HCO₂H : PXH₂ complexes compared to H₂CO : PXH₂. Neither the O−P distance across the pnicogen bond nor the O−P distance across the hydrogen bond correlates with the binding energies of these complexes. The nonlinearity of the hydrogen bonds suggests that they are relatively weak bonds, except for complexes in which the substituent X is either CH₃ or H. The pnicogen bond is the more important stabilizing interaction in the HCO₂H : PXH₂ complexes except when the substituent X is a more electropositive group. EOM-CCSD spin-spin coupling constants ^1pJ(O−P) across pnicogen bonds in H₂CO:PXH₂ and HCO₂H : PXH₂ complexes increase as the O−P distance decreases, and exhibit a second order dependence on that distance. There is no correlation between ^2hJ(O−P) and the O−P distance across the hydrogen bond in the HCO₂H : PXH₂ complexes. ^2hJ(O−P) coupling constants for complexes with X=CH₃ and H have much greater absolute values than anticipated from their O−P distances.     

Different hydrogen-bonding patterns in two [Zn(ENTPP)] complexes with water or methanol as ligands

We have synthesized zinc complexes of H₂ENTPP (5-(8-ethoxycarbonyl-1-naphthyl)-10,15,20-triphenyl porphyrin) as a model to study hydrogen-bonding interactions. When water or methanol is a ligand, crystals of [Zn(ENTPP)(CH₃OH)] or [Zn(ENTPP)(H₂O)]?·?C₆H₅CH₃ were obtained. In both structures, the ligand has hydrogen-bonding interactions, but in different patterns. In [Zn(ENTPP)(CH₃OH)], the methanol oxygen and carboxylate oxygen in the naphthyl group form an intermolecular hydrogen bond. In [Zn(ENTPP)(H₂O)]?·?C₆H₅CH₃, there are two independent molecules A and B. In molecule B, there is an intramolecular hydrogen bond between the water oxygen and the carboxylate oxygen, while in molecule A, besides the intramolecular hydrogen bond, there is an intermolecular hydrogen bond between the water oxygen and the carboxylate oxygen. ¹H NMR spectra suggest the binding of methanol or water to zinc are equilibrium processes in solution. Equilibrium constant has been determined by UV-Vis measurements, and it suggests the binding affinity of zinc to methanol has been moderately increased.     

Dinicotinamidium squarate

The crystal structure determination of the dinicotinamidium squarate salt, 2C₆H₇N₂O⁺·C₄O₄²⁻, is reported, with the squarate dianion residing on an inversion centre and the unique cation in a general position. Salt formation occurs by donation of two H atoms from squaric acid to the nicotin­amide base. The crystal packing is derived from three types of hydrogen bonding. The primary hydrogen bond involves a squarate anion O atom and an H atom of the protonated pyridine group of the nicotin­amide, with an N⋯O distance of 2.5760 (13) Å. The second hydrogen bond involves a second anion O atom and an amide H atom, with an N⋯O distance of 2.8374 (14) Å. Thirdly, an intermolecular interaction between two coplanar nicotin­amide moieties occurs between an amide O atom and a symmetry‐related amide H atom, with an N1⋯O3 distance of 2.8911 (15) Å. These hydrogen bonds are also responsible for the planarity of the nicotin­amide moiety in the salt.     

Three multinuclear Co(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) complexes based on a single-armed salamo-type bisoxime: syntheses,structural characterizations and fluorescent properties

Three multinuclear complexes, [Co(L)(OAc)Co(CH₃CH₂OH)₂]·H₂O, [Zn(L)(OAc)Zn(CH₃OH)], and [{Cd(L)(OAc)Cd(CH₃OH)}₂], containing a single-armed salamo-type bisoxime H₃L have been synthesized and characterized structurally. The Co(II) complex forms a dimeric unit by intermolecular hydrogen bond interactions of neighboring dimeric molecules. The Zn(II) complex also forms a dimeric unit by intermolecular hydrogen bond interactions. Interesting features of the crystal structure include O?O short contacts. Meanwhile, self-assembling infinite 1-D, 2-D, and 3-D supramolecular structures are formed by intermolecular hydrogen bond and C–H?π interactions. The Cd(II) complex forms an infinite 2-D supramolecular structure by intermolecular hydrogen bond interactions. The photophysical properties of the Co(II), Zn(II), and Cd(II) complexes have also been discussed.     

Low-Barrier Hydrogen Bonds in Negative Thermal Expansion Material H3[Co(CN)6]

The covalent nature of the low-barrier N−H−N hydrogen bonds in the negative thermal expansion material H₃[Co(CN)₆] has been established by using a combination of X-ray and neutron diffraction electron density analysis and theoretical calculations. This finding explains why negative thermal expansion can occur in a material not commonly considered to be built from rigid linkers. The pertinent hydrogen atom is located symmetrically between two nitrogen atoms in a double-well potential with hydrogen above the barrier for proton transfer, thus forming a low-barrier hydrogen bond. Hydrogen is covalently bonded to the two nitrogen atoms, which is the first experimentally confirmed covalent hydrogen bond in a network structure. Source function calculations established that the present N−H−N hydrogen bond follows the trends observed for negatively charge-assisted hydrogen bonds and low-barrier hydrogen bonds previously established for O−H−O hydrogen bonds. The bonding between the cobalt and cyanide ligands was found to be a typical donor–acceptor bond involving a high-field ligand and a transition metal in a low-spin configuration.     

Gallic acid monohydrate

In the crystal structure of the title compound, 3,4,5‐tri­hydroxy­benzoic acid monohydrate, C₇H₆O₅·H₂O, the gallic acid mol­ecule has an intramolecular hydrogen bond involving a pair of hydroxyl groups, and it is also linked to a water mol­ecule by a three‐centre (bifurcated) OW—H?O hydrogen bond. The packing of the mol­ecules is stabilized by intermolecular O—H?O and C—H?O hydrogen bonds.     

2‐[(4‐Hydroxyphenyl)iminomethyl]­thiophene

The molecular structure of the title compound, C₁₁H₉NOS, has three planar moieties, two of which are rings, namely the hydroxy­phenyl and the thio­phene, with an angle of 20.76 (10)° between them. The crystal structure is stabilized by an O—H?N hydrogen bond and by C—H?O intermolecular interactions. The C?O intermolecular contact distance is 3.443 (2) Å.     

(6‐Oxido‐2‐oxo‐1,2‐dihydropyrimidine‐5‐carboxylato‐κ2O5,O6)bis[2‐(2‐pyridyl)‐1H‐benzimidazole‐κ2N2,N3]manganese(II) monohydrate

In the title compound, [Mn(C₅H₂N₂O₄)(C₁₂H₉N₃)₂]·H₂O, the Mn^II centre is surrounded by three bidentate chelating ligands, namely, one 6‐oxido‐2‐oxo‐1,2‐dihydropyrimidine‐5‐carboxylate (or uracil‐5‐carboxylate, Huca²⁻) ligand [Mn—O = 2.136 (2) and 2.156 (3) Å] and two 2‐(2‐pyridyl)‐1H‐benzimidazole (Hpybim) ligands [Mn—N = 2.213 (3)–2.331 (3) Å], and it displays a severely distorted octahedral geometry, with cis angles ranging from 73.05 (10) to 105.77 (10)°. Intermolecular N—H...O hydrogen bonds both between the Hpybim and the Huca²⁻ ligands and between the Huca²⁻ ligands link the molecules into infinite chains. The lattice water molecule acts as a hydrogen‐bond donor to form double O...H—O—H...O hydrogen bonds with the Huca²⁻ O atoms, crosslinking the chains to afford an infinite two‐dimensional sheet; a third hydrogen bond (N—H...O) formed by the water molecule as a hydrogen‐bond acceptor and a Hpybim N atom further links these sheets to yield a three‐dimensional supramolecular framework. Possible partial π–π stacking interactions involving the Hpybim rings are also observed in the crystal structure.     

2′‐Deoxy‐5‐propynyluridine: a nucleoside with two conformations in the asymmetric unit

The title compound, 1‐(2‐deoxy‐β‐d ‐erythro‐pentofuranosyl)‐5‐(prop‐1‐ynyl)pyrimidin‐2,4(1H,3H)‐dione, C₁₂H₁₄N₂O₅, shows two conformations in the crystalline state: conformer 1 adopts a C2′‐endo (close to ²E; S‐type) sugar pucker and an anti nucleobase orientation [χ = −134.04 (19)°], while conformer 2 shows an S sugar pucker (twisted C2′‐endo–C3′‐exo), which is accompanied by a different anti base orientation [χ = −162.79 (17)°]. Both molecules show a +sc (gauche, gauche) conformation at the exocyclic C4′—C5′ bond and a coplanar orientation of the propynyl group with respect to the pyrimidine ring. The extended structure is a three‐dimensional hydrogen‐bond network involving intermolecular N—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen bonds. Only O atoms function as H‐atom acceptor sites.     

Two N‐(2‐phenylethyl)nitroaniline derivatives as precursors for slow and sustained nitric oxide release agents

Notwithstanding its simple structure, the chemistry of nitric oxide (NO) is complex. As a radical, NO is highly reactive. NO also has profound effects on the cardiovascular system. In order to regulate NO levels, direct therapeutic interventions include the development of numerous NO donors. Most of these donors release NO in a single high‐concentration burst, which is deleterious. N‐Nitrosated secondary amines release NO in a slow, sustained, and rate‐tunable manner. Two new precursors to sustained NO‐releasing materials have been characterized. N‐[2‐(3,4‐Dimethoxyphenyl)ethyl]‐2,4‐dinitroaniline, C₁₆H₁₇N₃O₆, (I), crystallizes with one independent molecule in the asymmetric unit. The adjacent amine and nitro groups form an intramolecular N—H…O hydrogen bond. The anti conformation about the phenylethyl‐to‐aniline C—N bond leads to the planes of the arene and aniline rings being approximately perpendicular. Molecules are linked into dimers by weak intermolecular N—H…O hydrogen bonds such that each amine H atom participates in a three‐center interaction with two nitro O atoms. The dimers pack so that the arene rings of adjacent molecules are not parallel and π–π interactions do not appear to be favored. N‐(4‐Methylsulfonyl‐2‐nitrophenyl)‐l ‐phenylalanine, C₁₆H₁₆N₂O₆S, (II), with an optically active center, also crystallizes with one unique molecule in the asymmetric unit. The l enantiomer was established via the configuration of the starting material and was confirmed by refinement of the Flack parameter. As in (I), there is an intramolecular N—H…O hydrogen bond between adjacent amine and nitro groups. The conformation of the molecule is such that the arene rings display a dihedral angle of ca 60°. Unlike (I), molecules are not linked via intermolecular N—H…O hydrogen bonds. Rather, the carboxylic acid H atom forms a classic, approximately linear, O—H…O hydrogen bond with a sulfone O atom. Pairs of molecules related by twofold rotation axes are linked into dimers by two such interactions. The packing pattern features a zigzag arrangement of the arene rings without apparent π–π interactions. These structures are compared with reported analogues, revealing significant differences in molecular conformation, intermolecular interactions, and packing that result from modest changes in functional groups. The structures are discussed in terms of potential NO‐release capability.     

2,2′‐Bipyridinium(1+) bromide monohydrate

In the crystal structure of 2,2′‐bipyridinium(1+) bromide monohydrate, C₁₀H₉N₂⁺·Br⁻·H₂O, the cation has a cisoid conformation with an intramolecular N—H⋯N hydrogen bond. The cation also forms an N—H⋯O hydrogen bond to an adjacent water mol­ecule, which in turn forms O—H⋯Br⁻ hydrogen bonds to adjacent Br⁻ anions. In this way, a chain is formed extending along the b axis. Additional interactions (C—H⋯Br⁻ and π–π) serve to stabilize the structure further.     

An X‐ray crystallographic and density functional theory study of (3Z)‐4‐(5‐ethylsulfonyl‐2‐hydroxyanilino)pent‐3‐en‐2‐one and (3Z)‐4‐(5‐tert‐butyl‐2‐hydroxyanilino)pent‐3‐en‐2‐one

The Schiff base enaminones (3Z)‐4‐(5‐ethylsulfonyl‐2‐hydroxyanilino)pent‐3‐en‐2‐one, C₁₃H₁₇NO₄S, (I), and (3Z)‐4‐(5‐tert‐butyl‐2‐hydroxyanilino)pent‐3‐en‐2‐one, C₁₅H₂₁NO₂, (II), were studied by X‐ray crystallography and density functional theory (DFT). Although the keto tautomer of these compounds is dominant, the O=C—C=C—N bond lengths are consistent with some electron delocalization and partial enol character. Both (I) and (II) are nonplanar, with the amino–phenol group canted relative to the rest of the molecule; the twist about the N(enamine)—C(aryl) bond leads to dihedral angles of 40.5 (2) and −116.7 (1)° for (I) and (II), respectively. Compound (I) has a bifurcated intramolecular hydrogen bond between the N—H group and the flanking carbonyl and hydroxy O atoms, as well as an intermolecular hydrogen bond, leading to an infinite one‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded chain. Compound (II) has one intramolecular hydrogen bond and one intermolecular C=O...H—O hydrogen bond, and consequently also forms a one‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded chain. The DFT‐calculated structures [in vacuo, B3LYP/6‐311G(d,p) level] for the keto tautomers compare favourably with the X‐ray crystal structures of (I) and (II), confirming the dominance of the keto tautomer. The simulations indicate that the keto tautomers are 20.55 and 18.86 kJ mol⁻¹ lower in energy than the enol tautomers for (I) and (II), respectively.     

Supramolecular formation of large hydrogen-bonded rings in the structures of two amino acid derivatives

Two new amino acid derivatives N-(2-oxopyrrolidin-1-ylmethyl)-l-valine (PMV) and N,N-bis(2-oxopyrrolidin-1-ylmethyl)-β-alanine (PMA) were synthesized and their structures were determined by single crystal X-ray crystallography. The geometry and conformation of both molecular aggregates and their hydrogen bond networks are not similar. In the PMV crystal structure, PMV and the solvent water molecule are linked by O–H⋯O intermolecular hydrogen bonds resulting in two ring motifs R₁₂¹²(48) and R₄⁴(22). A three-dimensional supramolecular structure is formed by hydrogen bonds N–H⋯O between the layers. In the PMA crystal structure, each water molecule connects three PMA molecules through O–H⋯O intermolecular hydrogen bonds, and a ring motif R₄⁴(24) is formed in the structure. But there is no hydrogen bond interaction between the layers, in which van der Waals' interaction is involved only.     

Bis[4‐(trimethylammonio)phenyl] disulfide diiodide acetone solvate

The title compound, C₁₈H₂₆N₂S₂²⁺·2I⁻·2C₃H₆O, is an intermediate in the design of the zwitterionic thiolate 4‐(trimethylammonio)benzenethiolate (Tab), in which a pair of aryl‐substituted S atoms are linked by a covalent bond. The central S—S bond length is 2.020 (3) Å and the C_ar—S—S—C_ar torsion angle is −84.1 (2)°. The crystal structure is stabilized by nonclassical hydrogen bonds which occur as intramolecular C—H...I interactions and intermolecular C—H...S and C—H...O contacts. In the crystal structure, both the dication and the two symmetrically independent iodide counter‐anions are located on twofold crystallographic axes, whereas the acetone solvent molecule occupies a general position.     

2‐(4‐Acetyl‐3,5‐di­hydroxy‐2‐methyl­phenoxy)‐4,6‐di­methoxy‐3‐methyl­benzoic acid

In the title compound, C₁₉H₂₀O₈, the benzene rings are nearly perpendicular to each other [dihedral angle 80.2 (2)°]. The carboxy group is twisted out while both the methoxy and acetyl groups are almost coplanar with their attached benzene rings. The hydroxy group is involved in an intramolecular O—H?O hydrogen bond with the acetyl O atom and the compound is connected through an intermolecular O—H?O contact to form a dimer. The crystal structure is stabilized by intermolecular O—H?O hydrogen bonds.