Improper hydrogen C-H...O bonds cause self-association of alpha, beta-enaminoketones containing fluorosubstituted alkyl groups.

Concentration- and temperature-dependent IR, NMR and dipole-moment studies on 4-N,N-dimethylamino-1,1,1-trifluoro-3-buten-2-one and two of its higher homologues showed that these compounds undergo reversible dimerization in nonpolar solvents. Antiparallel "closed" dimers are formed with a network of improper intermolecular C-H...O hydrogen bonds. Quantitative analysis of the 1H NMR data yielded delta H0 = -17.6 kJ mol-1 and delta S0 = -46.9 J deg-1 mol-1. The interactions observed are the strongest among those involving a C-H group reported so far. The complex described here is the first example of a cyclic complex stabilized by two improper C-H...O hydrogen bonds. The conclusions drawn from the solution and solid-state data were confirmed by ab initio calculations.     

Characterization of persistent intramolecular C-H...X(N,O) bonds in solid state and solution

The formation of intramolecular CH...X(N,O) bonds and their persistence in solution were studied by X-ray crystallography and NMR techniques in two different rotamers of a molecule containing the ortho-carborane cage, an amide group and a quinoline ring. Experimental data were confirmed by theoretical ab initio calculations. From the resolved structure of the two forms of this potentially active drug for boron neutron capture therapy, accurate bonding and geometric parameters were extracted for this non-classic hydrogen interaction, and their strength was calculated. These findings provided new insight in the theory of CH...X bonds, which appear stronger and less rare than it was previously thought.     

Ab initio studies of electron acceptor-donor interactions with blue- and red-shifted hydrogen bonds.

The features of blue- and red-shifted electron acceptor-donor (ACH/B) hydrogen bonds have been compared by using quantum chemical calculations. The geometry, the interaction energy and the vibrational frequencies of both blue- (ACH=F3CH, Cl3CH with B=FCD3) and red-shifted (ACH=F3CH, Cl3CH with B=NH3 and ACH=CH3CCH with B=FCD3, NH3) complexes were obtained by using ab initio MP2(Full)/6-31+G(d,p) calculations with the a priori basis-set superposition error (BSSE) correction method. One-dimensional potential energy and dipole moment functions of the dimensionless normal coordinate Q1, corresponding to the CH stretching mode of ACH, have been compared for both types of complexes. Contributions of separate components of the interaction energy to the frequency shift and the effect of electron charge transfer were examined for a set of intermolecular distances by using the symmetry-adapted perturbation theory (SAPT) approach and natural bond orbitals (NBO) population analysis.     

Contra-thermodynamic behavior in intermolecular hydrogen transfer of alkylperoxy radicals.

Quantum chemical investigation of bimolecular hydrogen transfer involving alkylperoxy radicals, a key reaction family in the free-radical oxidation of hydrocarbons, was performed to establish structure-reactivity relationships. Eight different reactions were investigated featuring four different alkane substrates (methane, ethane, propane and isobutane) and two different alkylperoxy radicals (methylperoxy and iso-propylperoxy). Including forward and reverse pairs, sixteen different activation energies and enthalpies of reaction were used to formulate structure-reactivity relationships to describe this chemistry. We observed that the enthalpy of formation of loosely bound intermediate states has a strong inverse correlation with the overall heat of reaction and that this results in unique contra-thermodynamic behavior such that more exothermic reactions have higher activation barriers. A new structure-reactivity relationship was proposed that fits the calculated data extremely well: E(A)=E(o)+alphaDeltaH(rxn) where alpha=-0.10 for DeltaH(rxn)<0, and alpha=1.10 for DeltaH(rxn)>0 and E(o)=3.05 kcal mol(-1).     

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.     

Homodromic hydrogen bonds in low-energy conformations of single molecule cyclodextrins

Low-energy conformations of β-cyclodextrin under anhydrous conditions in the gas phase were investigated by DFT calculations. In these conformations, two homodromic hydrogen bond rings are formed with very short hydrogen bonds at the narrow side of the cyclodextrin ring and a second one at the wider side. These hypothetical conformations are not comparable to those conformations, which have been studied experimentally, forming inclusion complexes with small and medium-sized guest molecules, but their energy is significantly lower than the open conformations (ΔE = 10 kcal/mol).     

Noncovalent complexes between dimethyl ether and formic acid--an ab initio and matrix isolation study.

The complexes formed by noncovalent interactions between formic acid and dimethyl ether are investigated by ab initio methods and characterized by matrix isolation spectroscopy. Six complexes with binding energies between -2.26 and -7.97 kcal mol(-1) (MP2/cc-pVTZ+zero point vibrational energy+basis set superposition erros) are identified. The two strongest bound complexes are, within a range of 0.3 kcal mol(-1), isoenergetic. The binding in these six dimers can be described in terms of OH...O, C=O...H, C-O...H and CH...O interactions. Matrix isolation spectroscopy allowed to characterize the two strongest bound complexes by their infrared spectra.     

Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics study of the blue-shifted F3CH...FCD3 system in liquid N2.

Fluoroform, as confirmed by both experimental and theoretical studies, can participate in improper H-bond formation, which is characterized by a noticeable increase in the fundamental stretching frequency nu(C-H) (so-called blue frequency shift), an irregular change of its integral intensity, and a C-H bond contraction. A Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics simulation was performed for a complex formed by fluoroform (F3CH) and deuterated methyl fluoride (FCD3) in liquid nitrogen. Vibrational analysis based on the Fourier transform of the dipole moment autocorrelation function reproduces the blue shift of the fundamental stretching frequency nu(C-H) and the decrease in the integral intensity. The dynamic contraction of the C-H bond is also predicted. The stoichiometry of the solvated, blue-shifted complexes and their residence times are examined.     

The importance of tetrahedrally coordinated molecules for the explanation of liquid water properties.

Ab initio calculations on molecular clusters and a quantum statistical model are used to probe the structure of liquid water and its anomalies. Characteristic temperature dependent mixtures of ring and three-dimensional, voluminous water clusters provide the famous density maximum. The mixture model also reproduces the shift of the density maximum as a function of pressure and isotopic substitution. This finding is consistent with femtosecond spectroscopy data suggesting that two distinct molecular species exist in liquid water. The given structures also reproduce the oxygen-oxygen pair correlation function and the vibrational IR spectrum of liquid water. The results underline the importance of three-dimensional, tetrahedrally coordinated structures for the understanding of water anomalies and the existence of two liquid phases in the supercooled region.     

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.     

Spectroscopic and theoretical studies on solid 1,2-ethylenediamine dihydrochloride salt.

A structural study of [H3N(CH2)2NH3)]2+.2Cl-, the smallest element of the homologous series of the alpha,omega-diamine dihydrochlorides, was carried out by means of Raman and FTIR spectroscopy coupled to ab initio molecular orbital (MO) calculations. As a primary concern, an adequate molecular model for the representation of these solid amine salts was chosen. Thus, several models, varying in the number and position of the counterions as well as in the number of diamine units, were considered. It was found that the best molecular system (i.e., that yielding the best compromise between accuracy and computational requirements) consists of one ethylenediamine cation surrounded by six chloride ions in an arrangement based on the crystal structure reported in the literature for [H3N(CH2)2NH3)]2+.2Cl-. This conclusion will hopefully allow for a better understanding of the conformational preferences, in the solid state, of these biologically relevant linear polyamines.     

First investigation of non-classical dihydrogen bonding between an early transition-metal hydride and alcohols: IR, NMR, and DFT approach

The interaction of [NbCp(2)H(3)] with fluorinated alcohols to give dihydrogen-bonded complexes was studied by a combination of IR, NMR and DFT methods. IR spectra were examined in the range from 200-295 K, affording a clear picture of dihydrogen-bond formation when [NbCp(2)H(3)]/HOR(f) mixtures (HOR(f) = hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) or perfluoro-tert-butanol (PFTB)) were quickly cooled to 200 K. Through examination of the OH region, the dihydrogen-bond energetics were determined to be 4.5+/-0.3 kcal mol(-1) for TFE (TFE = trifluoroethanol) and 5.7+/-0.3 kcal mol(-1) for HFIP. (1)H NMR studies of solutions of [NbCp(2)H(2)(B)H(A)] and HFIP in [D(8)]toluene revealed high-field shifts of the hydrides H(A) and H(B), characteristic of dihydrogen-bond formation, upon addition of alcohol. The magnitude of signal shifts and T(1) relaxation time measurements show preferential coordination of the alcohol to the central hydride H(A), but are also consistent with a bifurcated character of the dihydrogen bonding. Estimations of hydride-proton distances based on T(1) data are in good accord with the results of DFT calculations. DFT calculations for the interaction of [NbCp(2)H(3)] with a series of non-fluorinated (MeOH, CH(3)COOH) and fluorinated (CF(3)OH, TFE, HFIP, PFTB and CF(3)COOH) proton donors of different strengths showed dihydrogen-bond formation, with binding energies ranging from -5.7 to -12.3 kcal mol(-1), depending on the proton donor strength. Coordination of proton donors occurs both to the central and to the lateral hydrides of [NbCp(2)H(3)], the former interaction being of bifurcated type and energetically slightly more favourable. In the case of the strong acid H(3)O(+), the proton transfer occurs without any barrier, and no dihydrogen-bonded intermediates are found. Proton transfer to [NbCp(2)H(3)] gives bis(dihydrogen) [NbCp(2)(eta(2)-H(2))(2)](+) and dihydride(dihydrogen) complexes [NbCp(2)(H)(2)(eta(2)-H(2))](+) (with lateral hydrides and central dihydrogen), the former product being slightly more stable. When two molecules of TFA were included in the calculations, in addition to the dihydrogen-bonded adduct, an ionic pair formed by the cationic bis(dihydrogen) complex [NbCp(2)(eta(2)-H(2))(2)](+) and the homoconjugated anion pair (CF(3)COO...H...OOCCF(3))(-) was found as a minimum. It is very likely that these ionic pairs may be intermediates in the H/D exchange between the hydride ligands and the OD group observed with the more acidic alcohols in the NMR studies.     

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.     

A Spectroscopic and Computational Study of Propofol Dimers and Their Hydrated Clusters

Propofol (2,6‐diisopropylphenol, PPF) homodimers and their complexes with one water molecule are analyzed by means of mass‐resolved excitation spectroscopy. Using two‐color resonance‐enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) the S₁ electronic spectra of these systems are obtained, avoiding fragmentation. Due to the large size of these species, the spectra present a large abundance of lines. Using UV/UV hole‐burning spectroscopy, two isomers of PPF₂ are found and the existence of at least three isomers for propofol₂(H₂O)₁ (PPF₂W₁) is demonstrated. Comparison with the structures calculated at the M06‐2X/6‐311++G(d,p) and M06‐2X/6‐31+G(d) levels of theory shows that the main driving forces in PPF₂ are several C? H???π interactions accompanied by dipole–dipole interaction between the OH moieties. On the other hand, there is evidence for the formation of cyclic hydrogen‐bond structures in the heterotrimers. A comparison of the results obtained herein with those of similar systems from previously published studies follows.