Chalcogen Bonds in Small-Organic Molecule Compounds Derived from the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD)

Albert S Lundemba,Peter A Wood,Dikima D Bibelayi,Jason Cole,Zephirin G Yav,Philippe V Tsalu,Jean S Kayembe

doi:10.4236/csta.2021.104005

Abstract

Growing interest in non-covalent interactions involving chalcogen atoms has been ascribed to their importance in crystal engineering, molecular recognition and macromolecular edifices. The present study is dealing with chalcogen bonds involving divalent Sulphur, Selenium and Tellurium atoms, acting as sigma-hole donors, in small-molecule compounds using the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) in conjunction with ab initio calculations. Results derived from CSD surveys and computational study revealed that nucleophiles formed complexes with the chalcogen-bond donors R1-X-R2 (X = S, Se or Te). The main forces stabilizing the complexes were chalcogen bonds, enhanced by dispersion interactions. Complexation pattern and energetics show that nucleophile bonding at divalent S, Se and Te atoms is a relatively strong and directed interaction. The bond consists of a charge transfer from a nucleophile atom lone pair to an X-R1 or X-R2 antibonding orbital.

Highlights

There are numerous computational studies reporting on interactions of divalent chalcogen atoms, mostly in small-inorganic molecule compounds
Results derived from Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) surveys and computational study revealed that nucleophiles formed complexes with the chalcogen-bond donors R1-X-R2 (X = S, Se or Te)
The present study aims at using crystallographic data derived from the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) to investigate on σ-hole interactions in small-organic molecule compounds containing divalent chalcogen atoms in conjunction with ab initio calculations in order to provide consistent insights into the nature of chalcogen bonding at divalent S, Se and Te atoms acting as σ-hole bond donors

Summary

Introduction

There are numerous computational studies reporting on interactions of divalent chalcogen atoms (acting as σ-hole bond donors), mostly in small-inorganic molecule compounds & Chakrabarti, P., 2001 [1]; Politzer, P. et al, 2007. [2]; Bleiholder, C. et al, 2006 [3]; Clark, T. et al, 2007 [4]; Ramos, L. S., 2013 [8]; Politzer, P. et al, 2014 [9]; Pandiyan, B. Computational studies showed that positive electrostatic potentials as well as σ-hole interactions are strongly affected by the environment of the covalently bonded chalcogen atom (Murray et al, 2007 [15]; Murray & Politzer, 2011 [16]; Politzer & Murray, 2017 [17])

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Results

Conclusion