Anti-cooperativity of the two water OH groups

This paper presents the results concerning anti-cooperativity effects between two H-bonds of a water molecule. The IR OH stretching band shifts Δν—as a measure of the H-bond energy—are compared for HOD with different bases B of 1:1 complexes B…HOD…Cl₄ (Δν₁₁) and 1:2 complexes B…HOD…B (Δν₁₂). We found that Δν₁₂ of the 1:2 complexes for different bases B are 25% smaller than Δν₁₁ for the 1:1 complexes. Corrections for the solvent shifts are introduced. This effect is in line with different observations concerning cooperativity effects of OH H-bonds by polarization with neighbouring molecules. The reduction of Δν₁₂ in 1:2 complexes can be understood on the assumption of a negative polarization by the first H-bond to the second OH or OD group and is called anti-cooperativity. This anti-effect has been already detected by NMR observation on NH₂.

We already observe a decrease of the CCl₄ solvent shift by van der Waals forces OH…CCl₄ of 1:1 complexes, induced by the H-bond of the other OH or OD group. This decrease is measured by the CCl₄ solvent effect for monomers. This indicates a real negative polarization by the H-bond in 1:1 complexes on the second OH/OD. This experiment establishes the real polarization and excludes the importance of repulsions of the bases as the cause. The dependence of intermolecular forces is known on the polarizability. Our method demonstrates directly the polarization by interactions.

The anti-cooperativity of symmetric complexes B₁…HOD…B₁ by a strong base B₁ can be reduced in unsymmetric 1:2 complexes B₁…HOD…B₂ by weaker bases B₂. This weakening of the anti-cooperativity of the stronger base could be predicted quantitatively. Similarly, the anti-cooperativity of the weaker base B₂ is strengthened in unsymmetric 1:2 complexes by stronger bases B₁.

It is known that H-bonds XH…B can be strengthened by cooperativity with a second H-bond XH…XH…B. They can be weakened for water by anti-cooperativity of two H-bonds B…HOH…B. The H-bond B₁…HO of 1:2 complexes B₁…HOH…B₂ can be weakened if the base strength of B₂ is stronger than of B₁ or strengthened if B₂ is weaker than B₁. Nature may use these possibilities in biochemistry.