Hydrogen‐Bond Cooperative Effects in Small Cyclic Water Clusters as Revealed by the Interacting Quantum Atoms Approach

The cooperative effects of hydrogen bonding in small water clusters (H₂O)_n (n=3–6) have been studied by using the partition of the electronic energy in accordance with the interacting quantum atoms (IQA) approach. The IQA energy splitting is complemented by a topological analysis of the electron density (ρ( r )) compliant with the quantum theory of atoms‐in‐molecules (QTAIM) and the calculation of electrostatic interactions by using one‐ and two‐electron integrals, thereby avoiding convergence issues inherent to a multipolar expansion. The results show that the cooperative effects of hydrogen bonding in small water clusters arise from a compromise between: 1) the deformation energy (i.e., the energy necessary to modify the electron density and the configuration of the nuclei of the isolated water molecules to those within the water clusters), and 2) the interaction energy (E_int) of these contorted molecules in (H₂O)_n. Whereas the magnitude of both deformation and interaction energies is enhanced as water molecules are added to the system, the augmentation of the latter becomes dominant when the size of the cluster is increased. In addition, the electrostatic, classic, and exchange components of E_int for a pair of water molecules in the cluster (H₂O)_n?1 become more attractive when a new H₂O unit is incorporated to generate the system (H₂O)_n with the last‐mentioned contribution being consistently the most important part of E_int throughout the hydrogen bonds under consideration. This is opposed to the traditional view, which regards hydrogen bonding in water as an electrostatically driven interaction. Overall, the trends of the delocalization indices, δ(Ω,Ω′), the QTAIM atomic charges, the topology of ρ( r ), and the IQA results altogether show how polarization, charge transfer, electrostatics, and covalency contribute to the cooperative effects of hydrogen bonding in small water clusters. It is our hope that the analysis presented in this paper could offer insight into the different intra‐ and intermolecular interactions present in hydrogen‐bonded systems.     

Which density functional is close to CCSD accuracy to describe geometry and interaction energy of small noncovalent dimers? A benchmark study using Gaussian09

A benchmark study on all possible density functional theory (DFT) methods in Gaussian09 is done to locate functionals that agree well with CCSD/aug‐cc‐pVTZ geometry and Ave‐CCSD(T)/(Q‐T) interaction energy (E_int) for small non‐covalently interacting molecular dimers in “dispersion‐dominated” (class 1), “dipole‐induced dipole” (class 2), and “dipole‐dipole” (class 3) classes. A DFT method is recommended acceptable if the geometry showed close agreement to CCSD result (RMSD < 0.045) and E_int was within 80–120% accuracy. Among 382 tested functionals, 1–46% gave good geometry, 13–44% gave good E_int, while 1–33% satisfied geometry and energy criteria. Further screening to locate the best performing functionals for all the three classes was made by counting the acceptable values of energy and geometry given by each functionals. The meta‐generalized gradient approximation (GGA) functional M06L was the best performer with total 14 hits; seven acceptable energies and seven acceptable geometries. This was the only functional “recommended” for at least two dimers in each class. The functionals M05, B2PLYPD, B971, mPW2PLYPD, PBEB95, and CAM‐B3LYP gave 11 hits while PBEhB95, PW91B95, Wb97x, BRxVP86, BRxP86, HSE2PBE, HSEh1PBE, PBE1PBE, PBEh1PBE, and PW91TPSS gave 10 hits. Among these, M05, B971, mPW2PLYPD, Wb97x, and PW91TPSS were among the “recommended” list of at least one dimer from each class. Long‐range correction (LC) of Hirao and coworkers to exchange‐correlation functionals showed massive improvement in geometry and E_int. The best performing LC‐functionals were LC‐G96KCIS and LC‐PKZBPKZB. Our results predict that M06L is the most trustworthy DFT method in Gaussian09 to study small non‐covalently interacting systems. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Structures,vibrational frequencies,topologies, and energies of hydrogen bonds in cysteine‐formaldehyde complexes

The hydrogen bonding interactions between cysteine (Cys) and formaldehyde (FA) were studied with density functional theory regarding their geometries, energies, vibrational frequencies, and topological features of the electron density. The quantum theory of atoms in molecules and natural bond orbital analyses were employed to elucidate the interaction characteristics in the Cys‐FA complexes. The intramolecular hydrogen bonds (H‐bonds) formed between the hydroxyl and the N atom of cysteine moiety in some Cys‐FA complexes were strengthened because of the cooperativity. Most of intermolecular H‐bonds involve the O atom of cysteine/FA moiety as proton acceptors, while the strongest H‐bond involves the O atom of FA moiety as proton acceptor, which indicates that FA would rather accept proton than providing one. The H‐bonds formed between the CH group of FA and the S atom of cysteine in some complexes are so weak that no hydrogen bonding interactions exist among them. In most of complexes, the orbital interaction of H‐bond is predominant during the formation of complex. The electron density (ρ_b) and its Laplace (?²ρ_b) at the bond critical point significantly correlate with the H‐bond parameter δR, while a linearly relationship between the second‐perturbation energy E(2) and ρ_b has been found as well. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2012     

A Noncovalent Binding Strategy to Capture Noble Gases,Hydrogen and Nitrogen

A molecular design strategy to develop receptor systems for the entrapment of noble gases, H₂ and N₂ is described using M06L‐D3/6‐311++G(d,p)//M06L/6‐311++G(d,p) DFT method. These receptors made with two‐, three‐, four‐ and five‐fluorinated benzene cores, linked with methelene units viz. R_I, R_II, R_III and R_IV as well as the corresponding non‐fluorinated hydrocarbons viz. R_IH, R_IIH, R_IIIH and R_IVH show a steady and significant increase in binding energy (E_int) with increase in the number of aromatic rings in the receptor. A stabilizing “cage effect” is observed in the cyclophane type receptors R_IV and R_IVH which is 26–48% of total E_int for all except the larger sized Kr, Xe and N₂ complexes. E_int of R_IV…He, R_IV…Ne, R_IV…Ar, R_IV…Kr, R_IV…H₂ and R_IV…N₂ is 4.89, 7.03, 6.49, 6.19, 8.57 and 8.17 kcal/mol, respectively which is 5‐ to9‐fold higher than that of hexafluorobenzene. Similarly, compared to benzene, multiple fold increase in E_int is observed for R_IVH receptors with noble gases, H₂ and N₂. Fluorination of the aromatic core has no significant impact on E_int (∼ ±0.5 kcal/mol) for most of the systems with a notable exception of the cage receptor R_IV for N₂ where fluorination improves E_int by 1.61 kcal/mol. The E_int of the cage receptors may be projected as one of the highest interaction energy ranges reported for noble gases, H₂ and N₂ for a neutral carbon framework. Synthesis of such systems is promising in the study of molecules in confined environment. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Excess properties and spectroscopic studies of binary system 1,4-butanediol + water at T = (293.15, 298.15, 303.15, 308.15, 313.15 and 318.15) K

Density and dynamic viscosity data were measured over the whole concentration range for the binary system 1,4-butanediol (1) + water (2) at T = (293.15, 298.15, 303.15, 308.15, 313.15, and 318.15) K as a function of composition under atmospheric pressure. Based on density and dynamic viscosity data, excess molar density (ρ^E), dynamic viscosity deviation (Δν) and excess molar volume (V_m^E) were calculated. From the dynamic viscosity data, excess Gibbs energies (ΔG*^E), Gibbs free energy of activation of viscous flow (ΔG*), enthalpy of activation for viscous flow (ΔH*) and entropy of activation for viscous flow (ΔS*) were also calculated. The ρ^E, V_m^E, Δν and ΔG*^E values were correlated by a Redlich?Kister-type function to obtain the coefficients and to estimate the standard deviations between the experimental and calculated quantities. Based on FTIR and UV spectral results, the intermolecular interaction of 1,4-butanediol with H₂O was discussed.     

Comprehensive understanding of size‐, shape‐, and composition‐dependent polarizabilities of SimCn (m,n = 1–4) clusters

We performed a comprehensive study of the size‐, shape‐, and composition‐dependent polarizabilities of Si_mC_n (m, n = 1–4) clusters on the basis of the density‐functional‐based coupled perturbed Hartree–Fock calculations. We found better correlations between the polarizabilities and both the binding energies (E_b) and change in charge distribution (Δq) than the energy gaps. The α values exhibit overall decreasing and increasing trends with increases in the E_b and Δq values, respectively. For isomers with the same E_b values and different polarizabilities, Δq can well explain the difference in polarizabilities. The π‐electron delocalization effect is the best factor for understanding the shape‐dependence. For a given m/n value, the linear clusters have an obviously larger polarizability than both the prolate and compact clusters, irrespective of the cluster size. We fit a quantitative expression [α = A ? (A ? B) × exp(?k(m/n))] to describe the composition‐dependent polarizabilities. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Accurate binding energies of hydrogen,halogen, and dihydrogen bonded complexes and cation enhanced binding strengths

Interaction energy (E_int) values of a variety of hydrogen, halogen, and dihydrogen bonded complexes in the weak, medium, and strong regimes have been computed using W1BD, MP2, M06L density functional theory, and hybrid methods MP4//MP2, MP4//M06L, and CCSD(T)//MP2. W1BD level E_int and CCSD(T) results reported in the literature show very good agreement (mean absolute deviation = 0.19 kcal/mol). MP2 underestimates E_int while M06L shows accurate behavior for all except halogen and charge‐assisted hydrogen bonds. MP4//MP2, MP4//M06L, and CCSD(T)//MP2 yield E_int very close to those obtained from W1BD. The high accuracy energy data at MP4/MP2 is used to study the effect of a cation (Li⁺, NH₄⁺) on the E_int. The cation enhances electron donation from the donor to noncovalent bonding region leading to substantial enhancement in E_int (～141–566% for Li⁺ and ～105–539% for NH₄⁺) and promotes a noncovalent bond in the weak regime to medium regime and that in the medium regime to strong regime. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Solid‐State NMR Study on Relationships between Miscibility and Chain Mobility in Poly(4‐Methylstyrene)/Poly(Cyclohexyl Methacrylate) Blend

The phase behavior and motional mobility in binary blends of poly(4‐methylstyrene) (P4MS) and poly(cyclohexyl methacrylate) (PCHMA) have been examined by ¹³C solid state NMR techniques. The blend miscibility was studied by measuring the ¹H spin‐relaxation times in the laboratory frame (T₁^H) and in the rotating frame (T_1ρ^H), respectively. Although intermolecular spin diffusion contributes to the proton relaxations in accordance with homogeneity, T_1ρ^H data shows signs of in complete averaging. The T_1ρ^H relaxation behavior indicates the existence of heterogeneous do mains with shortest dimensions in the nanometer range, which is also sup ported by the intermolecular cross polarization experiments with variable contact times. In addition, according to the resuits of carbon T_1ρ relaxation time measurements, it is concluded that mixing is intimate some what enough to cause a reduction in local chain mobility for P4MS and vice versa for PCHMA.     

Assessment of intermolecular interactions at three sites of the arylalkyne in phenylacetylene‐containing lithium‐bonded complexes: Ab initio and QTAIM studies

The intermolecular interactions existing at three different sites between phenylacetylene and LiX (X = OH, NH₂, F, Cl, Br, CN, NC) have been investigated by means of second‐order Møller?Plesset perturbation theory (MP2) calculations and quantum theory of “atoms in molecules” (QTAIM) studies. At each site, the lithium‐bonding interactions with electron‐withdrawing groups (? F, ? Cl, ? Br, ? CN, ? NC) were found to be stronger than those with electron‐donating groups (? OH and ? NH₂). Molecular graphs of C₆H₅C?CH···LiF and πC₆H₅C?CH···LiF show the same connectional positions, and the electron densities at the lithium bond critical points (BCPs) of the πC₆H₅C?CH···LiF complexes are distinctly higher than those of the σC₆H₅C?CH···LiF complexes, indicating that the intermolecular interactions in the C₆H₅C?CH···LiX complexes can be mainly attributed to the π‐type interaction. QTAIM studies have shown that these lithium‐bond interactions display the characteristics of “closed‐shell” noncovalent interactions, and the molecular formation density difference indicates that electron transfer plays an important role in the formation of the lithium bond. For each site, linear relationships have been found between the topological properties at the BCP (the electron density ρ_b, its Laplacian ?²ρ_b, and the eigenvalue λ₃ of the Hessian matrix) and the lithium bond length d(Li‐bond). The shorter the lithium bond length d(Li‐bond), the larger ρ_b, and the stronger the π···Li bond. The shorter d(Li‐bond), the larger ?²ρ_b, and the greater the electrostatic character of the π···Li bond. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Constructor graph description of hydrogen bonding in a supramolecular assembly of (3,5‐dimethyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐4‐ylmethyl)isopropylammonium chloride monohydrate

Five distinct strong hydrogen‐bonding interactions of four kinds (N—H...Cl, N—H...O, O—H...N, and O—H...Cl) connect molecules of the title compound, C₉H₁₈N₃⁺·Cl⁻·H₂O, in the crystal structure into corrugated sheets stacked along the a axis. The intermolecular interactions are efficiently described in terms of the first‐ through fifth‐level graph sets. A two‐dimensional constructor graph helps visualize the supramolecular assembly.     

Isomorphism in 1‐(2‐halidobenzyl)‐4‐[(E)‐2‐(3‐hydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]pyridinium halide hemihydrates (halide = Cl,Br)

The crystal structures of two (E)‐stilbazolium salts, namely 1‐(2‐chlorobenzyl)‐4‐[(E)‐2‐(3‐hydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]pyridinium chloride hemihydrate, C₂₀H₁₇ClNO⁺·Cl⁻·0.5H₂O, (I), and 1‐(2‐bromobenzyl)‐4‐[(E)‐2‐(3‐hydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]pyridinium bromide hemihydrate, C₂₀H₁₇BrNO⁺·Br⁻·0.5H₂O, (II), are isomorphous; the isostructurality index is 99.3%. In both salts, the azastyryl fragments are almost planar, while the rings of the benzyl groups are almost perpendicular to the azastyryl planes. The building blocks of the structures are twofold symmetric hydrogen‐bonded systems of two cations, two halide anions and one water molecule, which lies on a twofold axis. In the crystal structure, these blocks are connected by means of weaker interactions, viz. van der Waals, weak hydrogen bonding and stacking. This study illustrates the robustness of certain supramolecular motifs created by a spectrum of intermolecular interactions in generating these isomorphous crystal structures.     

Bases,solvates and salts: new benzimidazole‐ and pyridine‐scaffolded ligands

The intermolecular interactions in the structures of a series of Schiff base ligands have been thoroughly studied. These ligands can be obtained in different forms, namely, as the free base 2‐[(2E)‐2‐(1H‐imidazol‐4‐ylmethylidene)‐1‐methylhydrazinyl]pyridine, C₁₀H₁₁N₅, 1 , the hydrates 2‐[(2E)‐2‐(1H‐imidazol‐2‐ylmethylidene)‐1‐methylhydrazinyl]‐1H‐benzimidazole monohydrate, C₁₂H₁₂N₆·H₂O, 2 , and 2‐{(2E)‐1‐methyl‐2‐[(1‐methyl‐1H‐imidazol‐2‐yl)methylidene]hydrazinyl}‐1H‐benzimidazole 1.25‐hydrate, C₁₃H₁₄N₆·1.25H₂O, 3 , the monocationic hydrate 5‐{(1E)‐[2‐(1H‐1,3‐benzodiazol‐2‐yl)‐2‐methylhydrazinylidene]methyl}‐1H‐imidazol‐3‐ium trifluoromethanesulfonate monohydrate, C₁₂H₁₃N₆⁺·CF₃O₃S^?·H₂O, 5 , and the dicationic 2‐{(2E)‐1‐methyl‐2‐[(1H‐imidazol‐3‐ium‐2‐yl)methylidene]hydrazinyl}pyridinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonate), C₁₀H₁₃N₅²⁺·2CF₃O₃S^?, 6 . The connection between the forms and the preferred intermolecular interactions is described and further studied by means of the calculation of the interaction energies between the neutral and charged components of the crystal structures. These studies show that, in general, the most important contribution to the stabilization energy of the crystal is provided by π–π interactions, especially between charged ligands, while the details of the crystal architecture are influenced by directional interactions, especially relatively strong hydrogen bonds. In one of the structures, a very interesting example of the nontypical F…O interaction was found and its length, 2.859 (2) Å, is one of the shortest ever reported.     

Liquid density,viscosity and spectroscopic studies of binary mixture of tetraethylene glycol + 1,2-ethanediamine for CO2 capture

Thermophysical properties for binary mixture of tetraethylene glycol (T₄EG) (1) + 1,2-ethanediamine (EDA) (2), a potential scrubbing solution for the absorption of CO₂, are very important as well as lacking in the literatures. This work reports densities and viscosities over the entire concentration range for the binary mixture at T = (293.15-318.15) K under atmospheric pressure. According to the experimental density and viscosity values, the mixtures’ excess molar volume (V_m^E), absolute viscosity deviation (?η), excess free energies of activation (?G*^E), apparent molar volumes, partial molar volumes and isobaric thermal expansion coefficient were calculated, respectively. Meanwhile, the V_m^E, ?η and ?G*^E values were fitted by a Redlich–Kister equation to obtain coefficients. To further study, the Fourier transform infrared, UV-Vis and fluorescence spectra of T₄EG + EDA mixtures with various concentrations were measured, and the intermolecular interaction of T₄EG with EDA was also discussed as the formation of –OCH₂CH₂O–H···N(H₂)CH₂CH₂(H₂)N···.     

Orientational Preference of Long,Multicenter Bonds in Radical Anion Dimers: A Case Study of π‐[TCNB]22− and π‐[TCNP]22−

The similar shape and electronic structure of the radical anions of 1,2,4,5‐tetracyanopyrazine (TCNP) and 1,2,4,5‐tetracyanobenzene (TCNB) suggest a similar relative orientation for their long, multicenter carbon?carbon bond in π‐[TCNP]₂^2? and in π‐[TCNB]₂^2?, in good accord with the Maximin Principle predictions. Instead, the two known structures of π‐[TCNP]₂^2? have a D_2h(θ=0°) and a C₂(θ=30°) orientation (θ being the dihedral angle that determines the rotation of one radical anion relative to the other along the axis that passes through center of the two six‐membered rings). The only known π‐[TCNB]₂^2? structure has a C₂(θ=60°) orientation. The origin of these preferences was investigated for both dimers by computing (at the RASPT2/RASSCF(30,28) level) the variation with θ of the interaction energy (E_int) and the variation of the E_int components. It was found that: 1) a long, multicenter bond exists for all orientations; 2) the E_int(θ) angular dependence is similar in both dimers; 3) for all orientations the electrostatic component dominates the value of E_int(θ), although the dispersion and bonding components also play a relevant role; and 4) the Maximin Principle curve reproduces well the shape of the E_int(θ) curve for isolated dimers, although none of them reproduce the experimental preferences. Only after the (radical anion)^.? ??? cation⁺ interactions are also included in the model aggregate are the experimental data reproduced computationally.     

The Knoevenagel product of indolin‐2‐one and ferrocene‐1,1′‐dicarbaldehyde

Indolin‐2‐one (oxindole), (I), undergoes a Knoevenagel condensation with ferrocene‐1,1′‐dicarbaldehyde, (II), to afford the title complex 3,3′‐[(E,E)‐ferrocene‐1,1′‐diyldimethylidyne]diindolin‐2‐one dichloromethane disolvate, [Fe(C₂₈H₂₀N₂O₂)]·2CH₂Cl₂, (IV). The structure of (IV) contains two ferrocene complex molecules in the asymmetric unit and displays, as expected, intermolecular hydrogen bonding (N—H...O=C) between the indolin‐2‐one units. Intermolecular π–π stacking interactions are also observed.     

Effect of Medium Acidity and Photostability of 3‐(4‐Dimethylamino‐phenyl)‐1‐(2,5‐dimethyl‐thiophen‐3‐yl)‐propenone (DDTP): A New Green Emitting Laser Dye

On the line of a previous work on the spectral properties of some of heteroaryl chalcone, the effect of medium acidity and photoreactivity of 3‐(4‐dimethylamino‐phenyl)‐1‐(2,5‐dimethyl‐thiophen‐3‐yl)‐propenone (DDTP) has been investigated in dimethylformamide and in chloromethane solvents such as methylenechloride, chloroform and carbon tetrachloride. The dye solution (ca. 5×10⁻⁴ mol·L⁻¹ in DMF) gives a good laser emission in the range 470–560 nm with emission maximum at 515 nm upon pumping by nitrogen laser (λ_ex=337.1 nm). The laser parameters such as gain coefficient (α), emission cross section (δ_e) and half life energy (E_1/2) at maximum laser emission are also determined.     

1,7‐Dideaza‐2′‐deoxy‐6‐nitronebularine: a pyrrolo[2,3‐b]pyridine nucleoside with an intramolecular hydrogen bond stabilizing the syn conformation

The title compound [systematic name: 1‐(2‐deoxy‐β‐D‐erythro‐pentofuranosyl)‐4‐nitro‐1H‐pyrrolo[2,3‐b]pyridine], C₁₂H₁₃N₃O₅, forms an intramolecular hydrogen bond between the pyridine N atom as acceptor and the 5′‐hydroxy group of the sugar residue as donor. Consequently, the N‐glycosylic bond exhibits a syn conformation, with a χ torsion angle of 61.6 (2)°, and the pentofuranosyl residue adopts a C2′‐endo envelope conformation (²E, S‐type), with P = 162.1 (1)° and τ_m = 36.2 (1)°. The orientation of the exocyclic C4′—C5′ bond is +sc (gauche, gauche), with a torsion angle γ = 49.1 (2)°. The title nucleoside forms an ordered and stacked three‐dimensional network. The pyrrole ring of one layer faces the pyridine ring of an adjacent layer. Additionally, intermolecular O—H...O and C—H...O hydrogen bonds stabilize the crystal structure.     

Theoretical study of the effects of substitution,solvation, and structure on the interaction between nitriles and methanol

We report an investigation on intermolecular interactions in R? CN ··· H? OCH₃ (R = H, CH₃, F, Cl, NO₂, OH, SH, SCH₃, CHO, COCH₃, CH₂Cl, CH₂F, CH₂OH, CH₂COOH, CF₃, SCOCH₃, SCF₃, OCHF₂, CH₂CF₃, CH₂OCH₃, and CH₂CH₂OH) complexes using density functional theory. The calculations were conducted on B3LYP/6‐311++G** level of theory for optimization of geometries of complexes and monomers. An improper hydrogen bonding (HB) in the H₃CO? H ··· NC? R complexes was observed in that N atom of the nitriles functions acts as a proton acceptor. Furthermore, quantum theory of “Atoms in Molecules” (AIM) and natural bond orbital (NBO) method were applied to analyze H‐bond interactions in respective complexes. The electron density (ρ) and Laplacian (?²ρ) properties, estimated by atoms in molecules calculations, indicate that H ··· N bond possesses low ρ and positive ?²ρ values, which are in agreement with partially covalent character of the HBs, whereas O? H bonds have negative ?²ρ values. In addition, the weak intermolecular force due to dipole–dipole interaction (U) is also considered for analysis. The examination of HB in these complexes by quantum theory of NBO method fairly supports the ab initio results. Natural population analysis data, the electron density, and Laplacian properties, as well as, the ν(O? H) and γ(O? H) frequencies of complexes, calculated at the B3LYP/6‐311++G** level of theory, are used to evaluate the HB interactions. The calculated geometrical parameters and conformational analysis in water phase solution show that the H₃CO? H ··· NC? R complexes in water are more stable than that in gas phase. The obtained results demonstrated a strong influence of the R substituent on the properties of complexes. Numerous correlations between topological, geometrical, thermodynamic properties, and energetic parameters were also found. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2012