Influence of Substituents in the Benzene Ring on the Halogen Bond of Iodobenzene with Ammonia

The effects on the C?I??N halogen bond between iodobenzene and NH₃ of placing various substituents on the phenyl ring are monitored by quantum calculations. Substituents R=N(CH₃)₂, NH₂, CH₃, OCH₃, COCH₃, Cl, F, COH, CN, and NO₂ were each placed ortho, meta, and para to the I. The depth of the σ-hole on I is deepened as R becomes more electron-withdrawing which is reflected in a strengthening of the halogen bond, which varied between 3.3 and 5.5 kcal mol^?1. In most cases, the ortho placement yields the largest perturbation, followed by meta and then para, but this trend is not universal. Parallel to these substituent effects is a progressive lengthening of the covalent C?I bond. Formation of the halogen bond reduces the NMR chemical shielding of all three nuclei directly involved in the C?I??N interaction. The deshielding of the electron donor N is most closely correlated with the strength of the bond, as is the coupling constant between I and N, so both have potential use as spectroscopic measures of halogen bond strength.