Analysis of Proton NMR in Hydrogen Bonds in Terms of Lone‐Pair and Bond Orbital Contributions

NMR spectroscopic parameters of the proton involved in hydrogen bonding are studied theoretically. The set of molecules includes systems with internal resonance‐assisted hydrogen bonds, internal hydrogen bonds but no resonance stabilization, the acetic acid dimer (AAD), a DNA base pair, and the hydrogen succinate anion (HSA). Ethanol and guanine represent reference molecules without hydrogen bonding. The calculations are based on zero‐point vibrationally averaged molecular structures in order to include anharmonicity effects in the NMR parameters. An analysis of the calculated NMR shielding and J‐coupling is performed in terms of “chemist’s orbitals”, that is, localized molecular orbitals (LMOs) representing lone‐pairs, atomic cores, and bonds. The LMO analysis associates some of the strong de‐shielding of the protons in resonance‐assisted hydrogen bonds with delocalization involving the π‐backbone. Resonance is also shown to be an important factor causing de‐shielding of the OH protons for AAD and HSA, but not for the DNA base pair. Nitromalonamide (NMA) and HSA have particularly strong hydrogen bonds exhibiting signs of covalency in the associated J‐couplings. The analysis results show how NMR spectroscopic parameters that are characteristic for hydrogen bonded protons are influenced by the geometry and degree of covalency of the hydrogen bond as well as intra‐ and intermolecular resonance.     

Multiple Decay Mechanisms and 2D‐UV Spectroscopic Fingerprints of Singlet Excited Solvated Adenine‐Uracil Monophosphate

The decay channels of singlet excited adenine uracil monophosphate (ApU) in water are studied with CASPT2//CASSCF:MM potential energy calculations and simulation of the 2D‐UV spectroscopic fingerprints with the aim of elucidating the role of the different electronic states of the stacked conformer in the excited state dynamics. The adenine ¹L_a state can decay without a barrier to a conical intersection with the ground state. In contrast, the adenine ¹L_b and uracil S(U) states have minima that are separated from the intersections by sizeable barriers. Depending on the backbone conformation, the CT state can undergo inter‐base hydrogen transfer and decay to the ground state through a conical intersection, or it can yield a long‐lived minimum stabilized by a hydrogen bond between the two ribose rings. This suggests that the ¹L_b, S(U) and CT states of the stacked conformer may all contribute to the experimental lifetimes of 18 and 240 ps. We have also simulated the time evolution of the 2D‐UV spectra and provide the specific fingerprint of each species in a recommended probe window between 25 000 and 38 000 cm^?1 in which decongested, clearly distinguishable spectra can be obtained. This is expected to allow the mechanistic scenarios to be discerned in the near future with the help of the corresponding experiments. Our results reveal the complexity of the photophysics of the relatively small ApU system, and the potential of 2D‐UV spectroscopy to disentangle the photophysics of multichromophoric systems.     

Strong CH⋅⋅⋅Halide Hydrogen Bonds from 1,2,3‐Triazoles Quantified Using Pre‐Organized and Shape‐Persistent Triazolophanes

The structures associated with halide (F^?, Cl^?, Br^?) complexation inside CH hydrogen‐bonding macrocyclic receptors, called triazolophanes, are characterized using density functional theory (DFT). The associated binding energies in the gas and solution phases are evaluated. The ruffles in the empty triazolophane become smoothed‐out upon Cl^?‐ and Br^?‐ion binding directly into the middle of the cavity. The largely pre‐organized cavity morphs into an elliptical shape to facilitate shorter hydrogen bonds in the north and south regions and longer ones west and east. The smaller F^? ion sits in, and flattens‐out, only the north (or south) region. The 1,2,3‐triazoles show shorter CH???Cl^? contacts than for the phenylenes. Both Cl^? and Br^? show the same binding geometries but Cl^? has a larger binding energy consistent with its stronger Lewis basicity. Model triads were used to decompose the overall binding energy into those of its components. In the course of this triad analysis, anion polarization was identified and its contribution to the triad???Cl^? binding energy estimated. Consequently, the binding energies for the individual aryl units within the comparatively non‐polarized triazolophanes were estimated. The 1,2,3‐triazoles are twice as strong as the phenylenes thus contributing most of the interaction energy to Cl^?‐ion binding. Therefore, the 1,2,3‐triazoles appear to approach the hydrogen bond strengths of the NH donors of pyrrole units.     

Preparing Gold(I) for Interactions with Proton Donors: The Elusive [Au]⋅⋅⋅HO Hydrogen Bond

MP2 and DFT calculations with correlation consistent basis sets indicate that isolated linear anionic dialkylgold(I) complexes form moderately strong (ca. 10 kcal mol^?1) Au???H hydrogen bonds with single H₂O molecules as donors in the absence of sterically demanding substituents. Relativistic effects are critically important in the attraction. Such bonds are significantly weaker in neutral, strong σ‐donor N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes (ca. 5 kcal mol^?1). The overall association (>11 kcal mol^?1), however, is strengthened by co‐operative, synergistic classical hydrogen bonding when the NHC ligands bear NH units. Further manipulation of the interaction by ligands positioned trans to the carbene, is possible.     

Ultrafast Decay of the Excited Singlet States of Thioxanthone by Internal Conversion and Intersystem Crossing

The experimental ultrafast photophysics of thioxanthone in several aprotic organic solvents at room temperature is presented, measured using femtosecond transient absorption together with high‐level ab initio CASPT2 calculations of the singlet‐ and triplet‐state manifolds in the gas phase, including computed state minima and conical intersections, transition energies, oscillator strengths, and spin–orbit coupling terms. The initially populated singlet ππ* state is shown to decay through internal conversion and intersystem crossing processes via intermediate nπ* singlet and triplet states, respectively. Two easily accessible conical intersections explain the favorable internal conversion rates and low fluorescence quantum yields in nonpolar media. The presence of a singlet–triplet crossing near the singlet ππ* minimum and the large spin–orbit coupling terms also rationalize the high intersystem crossing rates. A phenomenological kinetic scheme is proposed that accounts for the decrease in internal conversion and intersystem crossing (i.e. the very large experimental crescendo of the fluorescence quantum yield) with the increase of solvent polarity.     

C?H bonds with a Positive Dipole Gradient Can Form Blue‐Shifting Hydrogen Bonds: The Complex of Halothane with Methyl Fluoride

The complex of halothane (CF₃CBrClH) with ([D₃])methyl fluoride is investigated theoretically by means of ab initio calculations at the MP2/6‐311++G(d,p) level and experimentally by infrared spectroscopy of solutions in liquid krypton. The complexation energy is calculated to be ?12.5 kJ mol^?1. The dipole moment of halothane monomer as a function of the C? H stretching coordinate is calculated with different methodologies and the value of (?μ/?Q₁)₀ is found to be positive. In the spectra, formation of a 1:1 complex is observed. The standard complexation enthalpy is measured to be ?8.4(2) kJ mol^?1. The C? H stretching vibration of halothane shows a blueshift of +15.4 cm^?1 on complexation, and its infrared intensity ratio ε_complex/ε_monomer is found to be 1.39(7). The frequency shift is analyzed by a Morokuma analysis, and the infrared intensities are rationalized by using a model which includes the mechanical and electrical anharmonicity of the C? H stretching vibration.     

The Role of Intramolecular Hydrogen Bonds vs. Other Weak Interactions on the Conformation of Hyponitrous Acid and Its Mono- and Dithio-Derivatives

High level ab initio and density functional theory calculations have been carried out to investigate the relative stability of the different conformers of hyponitrous acid and its mono- and dithio-derivatives. Geometries and vibrational frequencies were obtained at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) level and final energies through B3LYP/6-311++G(3df,2pd) single point calculations. The reliability of this theoretical scheme has been assessed by comparing these DFT results with those obtained at the G3 level of theory, for some suitable cases. The cis conformers of hyponitrous acid and its mono- and dithio-derivatives are systematically more stable than the trans ones because in the cis conformation a dative interaction between the nitrogen-lone pairs and the σ_NX^* antibonding orbital is significantly favored. Quite interestingly, in general, the conformers presenting an intramolecular hydrogen bond (IHB) are not the global minima of the corresponding potential energy surfaces and only for hyponitrous acid the conformer with a OH ⋅s O IHB is slightly more stable than the cis conformer without IHB. The low stability of the tautomers with IHB is closely related with another weak intramolecular interaction which involves the lone-pairs of the chalcogen atoms and the π_NN^* antibondig orbital, and which is significantly perturbed when the IHB is formed.     

Understanding Regium Bonds and their Competition with Hydrogen Bonds in Au2:HX Complexes

A theoretical study of the regium and hydrogen bonds (RB and HB, respectively) in Au₂:HX complexes has been carried out by means of CCSD(T) calculations. The theoretical study shows as overall outcome that in all cases the complexes exhibiting RB are more stable that those with HB. The binding energies for RB complexes range between −24 and −180 kJ ⋅ mol^−1, whereas those of the HB complexes are between −6 and −19 kJ ⋅ mol⁻¹. DFT-SAPT also indicated that HB complexes are governed by electrostatics, but RB complexes present larger contribution of the induction term to the total attractive forces. ¹⁹⁷Au chemical shifts have been calculated using the relativistic ZORA Hamiltonian.     

Cooperativity between the Halogen Bond and the Hydrogen Bond in H3N⋅⋅⋅XY⋅⋅⋅HF Complexes (X,Y=F,Cl, Br)

Ab initio calculations are used to provide information on H₃N???XY???HF triads (X, Y=F, Cl, Br) each having a halogen bond and a hydrogen bond. The investigated triads include H₃N???Br₂‐HF, H₃N???Cl₂???HF, H₃N???BrCI???HF, H₃N???BrF???HF, and H₃N???ClF???HF. To understand the properties of the systems better, the corresponding dyads are also investigated. Molecular geometries, binding energies, and infrared spectra of monomers, dyads, and triads are studied at the MP2 level of theory with the 6‐311++G(d,p) basis set. Because the primary aim of this study is to examine cooperative effects, particular attention is given to parameters such as cooperative energies, many‐body interaction energies, and cooperativity factors. The cooperative energy ranges from ?1.45 to ?4.64 kcal mol^?1, the three‐body interaction energy from ?2.17 to ?6.71 kcal mol^?1, and the cooperativity factor from 1.27 to 4.35. These results indicate significant cooperativity between the halogen and hydrogen bonds in these complexes. This cooperativity is much greater than that between hydrogen bonds. The effect of a halogen bond on a hydrogen bond is more pronounced than that of a hydrogen bond on a halogen bond.     

Role of weak C—H…O and strong N—H…O intermolecular interactions on the high‐symmetry molecular packing of trans‐cyclohexane‐1,4‐dicarboxamide

An unpredicted fourfold screw N—H…O hydrogen bond C(4) motif in a primary dicarboxamide (trans‐cyclohexane‐1,4‐dicarboxamide, C₈H₁₄N₂O₂) was investigated by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and IR and Raman spectroscopies. Electron‐density topology and intermolecular energy analyses determined from ab initio calculations were employed to examine the influence of weak C—H…O hydrogen‐bond interactions on the peculiar arrangement of molecules in the tetragonal P4₃2₁2 space group. In addition, the way in which the co‐operative effects of those weak bonds might modify their relative influence on molecular packing was estimated from cluster calculations. Based on the results, a structural model is proposed which helps to rationalize the unusual fourfold screw molecular arrangement.     

Uncovering Intramolecular π‐Type Hydrogen Bonds in Solution by NMR Spectroscopy and DFT Calculations

Reaction between the phosphinito bridged diplatinum species [(PHCy₂)Pt(μ‐PCy₂){κ²P,O‐μ‐P(O)Cy₂}Pt(PHCy₂)](Pt–Pt) ( 1 ), and (trimethylsilyl)acetylene at 273 K affords the σ‐acetylide complex [(PHCy₂)(η¹‐Me₃SiC≡C)Pt(μ‐PCy₂)Pt(PHCy₂){κP‐P(OH)Cy₂}](Pt–Pt) ( 2 ) featuring an intramolecular π‐type hydrogen bond. Scalar and dipolar couplings involving the POH proton were detected by 2D NMR experiments. Relativistic DFT calculations of the geometry, relative energy, and NMR properties of model systems of 2 confirmed the structural assignment and allowed the energy of the π‐type hydrogen bond to be estimated (ca. 22 kJ mol^?1).     

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.     

Cooperative and Diminutive Effects of Pnicogen Bonds and Cation–π Interactions

The interplay between pnicogen bonds and cation–π interactions has been investigated at the MP2/aug‐cc‐pVDZ level. Interesting cooperative and diminutive effects are observed when pnicogen bonds and cation–π interactions coexist in the same complex. These effects have been analyzed in terms of the structural, energetic, and charge‐transfer properties of the complexes. The variations in electron density at critical points of the intermolecular bond have been used to analyze bond strengthening or weakening. The nature of the interactions and the mechanisms of cooperative and diminutive effects have been studied by means of symmetry‐adapted perturbation theory and molecular electrostatic potentials.     

Interactions of Aromatic Heterocycles with Water: The Driving Force from Free‐Jet Rotational Spectroscopy and Model Electrostatic Calculations

The interaction of isolated aromatic nitrogen atoms with water is explored within free jets by using rotational spectroscopy. To the existing data on diazines, we add the case of the 1:1 complex of 1,3,5‐triazine and water (where water donates a proton to one of the nitrogen heterocyclic atoms to form a planar adduct). An electrostatic model based on distributed multipoles accurately reproduces the structures of the four azine–water complexes and allows us to understand the forces that stabilize these structures. The applied intermolecular potential allows us to estimate the changes in the thermodynamic functions of the complexes—compared to the separated constituents—and evaluate the temperature at which the complexes are stable under standard conditions.     

Cooperativity between the Dihydrogen Bond and the N⋅⋅⋅HC Hydrogen Bond in LiH–(HCN)n Complexes

The cooperativity between the dihydrogen bond and the N???HC hydrogen bond in LiH–(HCN)_n (n=2 and 3) complexes is investigated at the MP2 level of theory. The bond lengths, dipole moments, and energies are analyzed. It is demonstrated that synergetic effects are present in the complexes. The cooperativity contribution of the dihydrogen bond is smaller than that of the N???HC hydrogen bond. The three‐body energy in systems involving different types of hydrogen bonds is larger than that in the same hydrogen‐bonded systems. NBO analyses indicate that orbital interaction, charge transfer, and bond polarization are mainly responsible for the cooperativity between the two types of hydrogen bonds.     

Contributions of Various Noncovalent Bonds to the Interaction between an Amide and S‐Containing Molecules

N‐Methylacetamide, a model of the peptide unit in proteins, is allowed to interact with CH₃SH, CH₃SCH₃, and CH₃SSCH₃ as models of S‐containing amino acid residues. All of the minima are located on the ab initio potential energy surface of each heterodimer. Analysis of the forces holding each complex together identifies a variety of different attractive forces, including SH???O, NH???S, CH???O, CH???S, SH???π, and CH???π H‐bonds. Other contributing noncovalent bonds involve charge transfer into σ* and π* antibonds. Whereas some of the H‐bonds are strong enough that they represent the sole attractive force in several dimers, albeit not usually in the global minimum, charge‐transfer‐type noncovalent bonds play only a supporting role. The majority of dimers are bound by a collection of several of these attractive interactions. The SH???O and NH???S H‐bonds are of comparable strength, followed by CH???O and CH???S.