Effects of Fluorine Substitution on the Shape of Neurotransmitters: the Rotational Spectrum of 2‐(2‐Fluorophenyl)Ethanamine

The effects of fluorination on the conformational landscape of adrenergic neurotransmitters is exemplified trough the conformation analysis of 2‐(2‐F‐phenyl)ethanamine (2FPEA) carried out by microwave spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations. Five different conformers of the nine possible stable ones for 2FPEA are observed by molecular‐beam Fourier‐transform microwave spectroscopy. Their unambiguous identification is possible by comparing the experimental rotational constants and the quadrupole coupling constants with those obtained by quantum chemical calculations carried out at the MP2/6‐311++G(d,p) level of theory. The relative abundances of the conformers in the jet are estimated from the relative intensities in the observed spectra. A qualitative agreement between experimental and theoretical energies was found, and the remaining deviations are explained by population transfer taking place during the adiabatic expansion. The energy landscape, which also takes the interconversion barriers between the conformers into consideration, is thus characterized completely by the strong interplay of quantum chemical methods and precise experimental data. Significant changes in energy and structure of the 2FPEA conformers are found compared to those obtained for the prototype molecule 2‐phenylethanamine (PEA).     

Fluorine Substitution Effects on Flexibility and Tunneling Pathways: The Rotational Spectrum of 2‐Fluorobenzylamine

The effect of ring fluorination on the structural and dynamical properties of the flexible model molecule 2‐fluorobenzylamine has been studied by rotational spectroscopy in free‐jet expansion and quantum chemical methods. The complete potential energy surface originating from the flexibility of the aminic side chain has been calculated at the B3LYP/6‐311++G** level of theory and the stable geometries were also characterized with MP2/6‐311++G**. The rotational spectra show the presence of two of the predicted four stable conformers: the global minimum (I), in which the side chain’s dihedral angle with the phenyl plane is almost perpendicular, is stabilized by an intramolecular hydrogen bond between the fluorine atom and one hydrogen of the aminic group; and a second conformer II (E_II?E_I≈5 kJ mol^?1) in which the dihedral angle is smaller and the amino group points towards the aromatic ortho hydrogen atom. This conformation is characterized by a tunneling motion between two equivalent positions of the amino group with respect to the phenyl plane, which splits the rotational transition. The ortho fluorination increases, with respect to benzylamine, the tunneling splitting of this motion by four orders of magnitude. The motion is analyzed with a one‐dimensional flexible model, which allows estimation of the energy barrier for the transition state as approximately 8.0 kJ mol^?1.     

Interactions between Freons: A Rotational Study of CH2F2–CH2Cl2

The rotational spectra of two isotopologues of a 1:1 difluoromethane–dichloromethane complex have been investigated by pulsed‐jet Fourier‐transform microwave spectroscopy. The assigned (most stable) isomer has C_s symmetry and it displays a network of two C? H???Cl? C and one C? H???F? C weak hydrogen bonds, thus suggesting that the former interactions are stronger. The hyperfine structures owing to ³⁵Cl (or ³⁷Cl) quadrupolar effects have been fully resolved, thus leading to an accurate determination of the three diagonal (χ_gg; g=a, b, c) and the three mixed quadrupole coupling constants (χ_gg′; g, g′=a, b, c; g≠g′). Information on the structural parameters of the hydrogen bonds has been obtained. The dissociation energy of the complex has been estimated to be 7.6 kJ mol^?1.     

Unusual H‐Bond Topology and Bifurcated H‐bonds in the 2‐Fluoroethanol Trimer

By using a combination of rotational spectroscopy and ab initio calculations, an unusual H‐bond topology was revealed for the 2‐fluoroethanol trimer. The trimer exhibits a strong heterochiral preference and adopts an open OH???OH H‐bond topology while utilizing two types of bifurcated H‐bonds involving organic fluorine. This is in stark contrast to the cyclic OH???OH H‐bond topology adopted by trimers of water and other simple alcohols. The strengths of different H‐bonds in the trimer were analyzed by using the quantum theory of atoms in molecules. The study showcases a remarkable example of a chirality‐induced switch in H‐bond topology in a simple transient chiral fluoroalcohol. It provides important insight into the H‐bond topologies of small fluoroalcohol aggregates, which are proposed to play a key role in protein folding and in enantioselective reactions and separations where fluoroalcohols serve as a (co)solvent.     

Frontiers in Rotational Spectroscopy: Shapes and Tunneling Dynamics of the Four Conformers of the Acrylic Acid—Difluoroacetic Acid Adduct

The rotational spectra of four conformers of the acrylic acid—difluoroacetic acid adduct (CH₂=CHCOOH–CHF₂COOH, AA‐DFA) are reported and information on their internal dynamics is supplied. This represents an unprecedented result for the conformational analysis, with microwave spectroscopy, of such a heavy molecular adduct.     

Molecular beam rotational spectrum of cyclobutanone-trifluoromethane: nature of weak CH...O=C and CH...F hydrogen bonds

The molecular beam Fourier transform microwave spectrum of cyclobutanone-trifluoromethane has been assigned and measured. The carbon atom of trifluoromethane lies in the plane of the heavy atoms of cyclobutanone. The complex is stabilized by one C-H...O=C and two C-H...F-C weak hydrogen bonds. The C-H...O=C interaction, involving one carbonylic oxygen, is studied for the first time in detail with rotationally resolved spectroscopy. The two C-H...F-C weak hydrogen bonds involve two fluorine atoms of trifluoromethane and two hydrogens of the same methylenic group in the alpha position.     

Shapes and Internal Dynamics of the 1:1 Adducts of Ammonia with trans and gauche Ethanol: A Rotational Study

Two 1:1 adducts of ammonia with ethanol have been characterized by using pulsed‐jet FT microwave spectroscopy. They are formed with two different (trans and gauche), stable conformers of ethanol. Several internal‐dynamics effects are reflected in the features of the rotational spectra. The trans complex shows the tunneling effects owing to internal rotation of both ammonia and the methyl group. The rotational transitions of the gauche species exhibit a small splitting that is related to tunneling through the potential‐energy barrier between the two equivalent minima.     

Hydrogen‐Bond Cooperativity in Formamide2–Water: A Model for Water‐Mediated Interactions

The rotational spectrum of formamide₂–H₂O formed in a supersonic jet has been characterized by Fourier‐transform microwave spectroscopy. This adduct provides a simple model of water‐mediated interaction involving the amide linkages, as occur in protein folding or amide‐association processes, showing the interplay between self‐association and solvation. Mono‐substituted ¹³C, ¹⁵N, ¹⁸O, and ²H isotopologues have been observed and their data used to investigate the structure. The adduct forms an almost planar three‐body sequential cycle. The two formamide molecules link on one side through an N?H???O hydrogen bond and on the other side through a water‐mediated interaction with the formation of C=O???H?O and O???H?N hydrogen bonds. The analysis of the quadrupole coupling effects of two ¹⁴N‐nuclei reveals the subtle inductive forces associated to cooperative hydrogen bonding. These forces are involved in the changes in the C=O and C?N bond lengths with respect to pure formamide.     

Highly Effective Recognition of Carbohydrates by Phenanthroline‐Based Receptors: α‐ versus β‐Anomer Binding Preference

¹H NMR spectroscopic titrations in competitive and non‐competitive media, as well as binding studies in two‐phase systems, such as phase transfer of sugars from aqueous into organic solvents and dissolution of solid carbohydrates in apolar media revealed both highly effective recognition of neutral carbohydrates and interesting binding preferences of an acyclic phenanthroline‐based receptor 1 . Compared to the previously described acyclic receptors, compound 1 displays significantly higher binding affinities, the rare capability to extract sugars from water into non‐polar organic solutions and α‐ versus β‐anomer binding preference in the recognition of glycosides, which differs from those observed for other receptor systems. X‐ray crystallographic investigations revealed the presence of water molecules in the binding pocket of 1 that are engaged in the formation of hydrogen‐bonding motifs similar to those suggested by molecular modelling for the sugar OH groups in the receptor–sugar complexes. The molecular modelling calculations, synthesis, crystal structure and binding properties of 1 are described and compared with those of the previously described receptors.     

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.