Proving and Probing the Presence of the Elusive C−H⋅⋅⋅O Hydrogen Bond in Liquid Solutions at Room Temperature

Hydrogen bonds (H bonds) play a major role in defining the structure and properties of many substances, as well as phenomena and processes. Traditional H bonds are ubiquitous in nature, yet the demonstration of weak H bonds that occur between a highly polarized C?H group and an electron‐rich oxygen atom, has proven elusive. Detailed here are linear and nonlinear IR spectroscopy experiments that reveal the presence of H bonds between the chloroform C?H group and an amide carbonyl oxygen atom in solution at room temperature. Evidence is provided for an amide solvation shell featuring two clearly distinguishable chloroform arrangements that undergo chemical exchange with a time scale of about 2 ps. Furthermore, the enthalpy of breaking the hydrogen bond is found to be 6–20 kJ mol^?1. Ab‐initio computations support the findings of two distinct solvation shells formed by three chloroform molecules, where one thermally undergoes hydrogen‐bond making and breaking.     

Structure of Amido Pyridinium Betaines: Persistent Intermolecular C−H⋅⋅⋅N Hydrogen Bonding in Solution

A hydrogen bond of the type C?H???X (X=O or N) is known to influence the structure and function of chemical and biological systems in solution. C?H???O hydrogen bonding in solution has been extensively studied, both experimentally and computationally, whereas the equivalent thermodynamic parameters have not been enumerated experimentally for C?H???N hydrogen bonds. This is, in part, due to the lack of systems that exhibit persistent C?H???N hydrogen bonds in solution. Herein, a class of molecule based on a biologically active norharman motif that exhibits unsupported intermolecular C?H???N hydrogen bonds in solution has been described. A pairwise interaction leads to dimerisation to give bond strengths of about 7 kJ mol^?1 per hydrogen bond, which is similar to chemically and biologically relevant C?H???O hydrogen bonding. The experimental data is supported by computational work, which provides additional insight into the hydrogen bonding by consideration of electrostatic and orbital interactions and allowed a comparison between calculated and extrapolated NMR chemical shifts.     

Torsional and Electronic Factors Control the C−H⋅⋅⋅O Interaction

The precise role of non‐conventional hydrogen bonds such as the C?H???O interaction in influencing the conformation of small molecules remains unresolved. Here we survey a series of β‐turn mimetics using X‐ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy in conjunction with quantum calculation, and conclude that favourable torsional and electronic effects are important for the population of states with conformationally influential C?H???O interactions. Our results also highlight the challenge in attempting to deconvolute a myriad of interdependent noncovalent interactions in order to focus on the contribution of a single one. Within a small molecule that is designed to resemble the complexity of the environment within peptides and proteins, the interplay of different steric burdens, hydrogen‐acceptor/‐donor properties and rotational profiles illustrate why unambiguous conclusions based solely on NMR chemical shift data are extremely challenging to rationalize.     

Tuning Dihydrogen Bonds: Enhanced Solid-State Reactivity in a Dihydrogen-Bonded System with Exceptionally Short H⋅⋅⋅H Distances

Topochemical assembly of a covalent material can be achieved with the complex LiBH₄⋅TEA (TEA=triethanolamine; section of structure shown), a dihydrogen-bonded system which has very short H⋅⋅⋅H contacts and high solid-state reactivity due to acidity enhancement in the OH groups by Li⁺ ion complexation.     

Strong N−H⋅⋅⋅O Hydrogen Bonding in a Model Compound of the Catalytic Triad in Serine Proteases

Low-barrier hydrogen bond (LBHB) involvement in enzyme catalysis is examined by analysis of experimental nuclear and electron densities of a model compound for the catalytic triad in serine proteases (shown schematically), which is based on a cocrystal of betaine, imidazole, and picric acid. The three short, strong N−H⋅⋅⋅O hydrogen bonds in the structure have varying degrees of covalent bonding contributions suggesting a gradual transition to the LBHB situation.     

Prereactive Complexes of Dihalogens XY with Lewis Bases B in the Gas Phase: A Systematic Case for the Halogen Analogue B⋅⋅⋅XY of the Hydrogen Bond B⋅⋅⋅HX

Similar and yet also notably different are the B⋅⋅⋅XY and B⋅⋅⋅HX complexes in the gas phase, where B is a simple Lewis base, XY is a homo- or heterodihalogen molecule, and HX is a hydrogen halide. This is demonstrated, for example, by the structures of oxirane⋅⋅⋅ClF and oxirane⋅⋅⋅HCl (see picture). Both bonds are dominated by simple electrostatic interactions, but differ in terms of their propensity for nonlinearity.     

Axial and Equatorial Hydrogen Bonds in the Tetrahydropyran⋅⋅⋅HCl Dimer

Two hydrogen-bond complexes formed between tetrahydropyran and hydrogen chloride have been observed by using a molecular beam Fourier transform microwave spectrometer. The rotation constants are consistent with C_s symmetry, with HCl pointing to the domain of the axial and equatorial lone pair at the oxygen atom (shown on the left and right, respectively). The axial form has been found to be the more stable one.     

Streptococcal Hyaluronate Lyase Reveals the Presence of a Structurally Significant CH⋅⋅⋅O Hydrogen Bond

Carbon‐donated hydrogen bonds (CDHBs) are weak forms of hydrogen bonding (0.5–1.0 kcal mol^?1) that are difficult to detect, and thus their roles in the structure and functionality of chemical systems often go unrecognized. Utilizing a computational approach, the existence of a structurally significant CDHB in the medically relevant protein Streptococcus pneumoniae hyaluronate lyase (SpnHL) is affirmed. The structure of a tetrapeptide fragment model containing the CDHB was optimized with second‐order perturbation theory. From this, a CDHB with bond distance and angle consistent with previously discovered CDHBs and comparable to neighboring traditional HBs in the fragment model was found. The CDHB competes with another donor T253 OH, whereby the two alternate in strength between protein conformations, imbuing αHelix 3 appreciable flexibility. The CDHB seems to exist in spite of torsional and steric strain on the donor methyl group. It is postulated that the CDHB could aid in either counteracting the macrodipole of αHelix 3 or protecting the A249 CO from destabilizing interactions with the adjacent solvent. Employing the energy gradients from the optimization, the torque generated by the fragment model was computed, which accurately predicts the direction of rotation of αHelix 3 observed from experiment. A strongly correlated motion between αHelix 3 and αHelices 2, 4, and 5 was noted, which the interactions of the fragment model help drive by generating a torque much larger than necessary to rotate just αHelix 3. Considering these results, we conclude that CDHBs should be considered as possible beneficial components of chemical and biological phenomena.     

OH⋅⋅⋅N and CH⋅⋅⋅O Hydrogen Bonds Control Hydration of Pivotal Tropane Alkaloids: Tropinone⋅⋅⋅H2O Complex

The effect of monohydration in equatorial/axial isomerism of the common motif of tropane alkaloids is investigated in a supersonic expansion by using Fourier‐transform microwave spectroscopy. The rotational spectrum reveals the equatorial isomer as the dominant species in the tropinone???H₂O complex. The monohydrated complex is stabilized primarily by a moderate O?H???N hydrogen bond. In addition, two C?H???O weak hydrogen bonds also support this structure, blocking the water molecule and avoiding any molecular dynamics in the complex. The water molecule acts as proton donor and chooses the ternary amine group over the carbonyl group as a proton acceptor. The experimental work is supported by theoretical calculations; the accuracy of the B3LYP, M06‐2X, and MP2 methods is also discussed.     

Molecular Engineering of Free‐Base Porphyrins as Ligands—The N−H⋅⋅⋅X Binding Motif in Tetrapyrroles

The core N?H units of planar porphyrins are often inaccessible to forming hydrogen‐bonding complexes with acceptor molecules. This is due to the fact that the amine moieties are “shielded” by the macrocyclic system, impeding the formation of intermolecular H‐bonds. However, methods exist to modulate the tetrapyrrole conformations and to reshape the vector of N?H orientation outwards, thus increasing their availability and reactivity. Strategies include the use of porpho(di)methenes and phlorins (calixphyrins), as well as saddle‐distorted porphyrins. The former form cavities due to interruption of the aromatic system. The latter are highly basic systems and capable of binding anions and neutral molecules via N?H???X‐type H‐bonds. This Review discusses the role of porphyrin(oid) ligands in various coordination‐type complexes, means to access the core for hydrogen bonding, the concept of conformational control, and emerging applications, such as organocatalysis and sensors.     

Sugar–Edge Interactions in a DNA–RNA G‐Quadruplex: Evidence of Sequential C−H⋅⋅⋅O Hydrogen Bonds Contributing to RNA Quadruplex Folding

DNA G‐quadruplexes were systematically modified by single riboguanosine (rG) substitutions at anti‐dG positions. Circular dichroism and NMR experiments confirmed the conservation of the native quadruplex topology for most of the DNA–RNA hybrid structures. Changes in the C8 NMR chemical shift of guanosines following rG substitution at their 3′‐side within the quadruplex core strongly suggest the presence of C8?H???O hydrogen‐bonding interactions with the O2′ position of the C2′‐endo ribonucleotide. A geometric analysis of reported high‐resolution structures indicates that such interactions are a more general feature in RNA quadruplexes and may contribute to the observed preference for parallel topologies.     

Spectroscopic and Ab Initio Investigation of C−H⋅⋅⋅N Hydrogen‐Bonded Complexes of Fluorophenylacetylenes: Frequency Shifts and Correlations

The C?H???N hydrogen‐bonded complexes of several fluorophenyacetylenes with ammonia and methylamine were characterized by a redshift in the acetylenic C?H stretching vibration of the phenylacetylene moiety. These redshifts were linearly correlated with the stabilization energies calculated at the CCSD(T)/CBS//MP2‐aug‐cc‐pVDZ level. Analysis of various components of the interaction energy indicated that the observed redshifts were weakly correlated with the electrostatic component. The weaker linear correlation between the frequency shifts and the electrostatic component between two data sets can perhaps be attributed to the marginal differences in the Stark tuning rate and zero‐field shifts. The induction and exchange‐repulsion components were linearly correlated. However, the dispersion component depends on the nature of the hydrogen‐bond acceptor and shows a quantum jump when the hydrogen‐bond acceptor is changed from ammonia to methylamine. The observed linear correlation between the redshifts in the C?H stretching frequencies and the total stabilization energies is due to mutual cancellation of deviations from linearity between various components.     

Cation–Cation Pairing by NCH⋅⋅⋅O Hydrogen Bonds

The pairing of ions of opposite charge is a fundamental principle in chemistry, and is widely applied in synthesis and catalysis. In contrast, cation–cation association remains an elusive concept, lacking in supporting experimental evidence. While studying the structure and properties of 4‐oxopiperidinium salts [OC₅H₈NH₂]X for a series of anions X^? of decreasing basicity, we observed a gradual self‐association of the cations, concluding in the formation of an isolated dicationic pair. In 4‐oxopiperidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide, the cations are linked by N? H???O?C hydrogen bonds to form chains, flanked by hydrogen bonds to the anions. In the tetra(perfluoro‐tert‐butoxy)aluminate salt, the anions are fully separated from the cations, and the cations associate pairwise by N? C? H???O?C hydrogen bonds. The compounds represent the first genuine examples of self‐association of simple organic cations based merely on hydrogen bonding as evidenced by X‐ray structure analysis, and provide a paradigm for an extension of this class of compounds.     

The Cage Structure of IndanCHF3 is Based on the Cooperative Effects of CH⋅⋅⋅π and CH⋅⋅⋅F Weak Hydrogen Bonds

The structural and energetic features of the C?H???π interaction and the internal dynamics of the CHF₃ group change drastically in going from benzene?CHF₃ to indan?CHF₃, according to the analysis of the rotational spectrum of the latter complex generated in a supersonic expansion.