Experimental and DFT investigation on the role of aromaticity on the stability of hydrogen bonded complexes of cyclohexanone with amines and hydroxyl compounds

Abstract

The existence of intermolecular hydrogen bonded interaction between four structurally hydroxyl and amino compounds namely, phenol (PHE), aniline (ANI), cyclohexanol (CHL) and cyclohexylamine (CHA) with cyclohexanone (CHE) was investigated in n-hexane medium at 303 K by experimental methods (ultrasonic, UV–Visible, IR spectral analysis) and theoretical (DFT, NCI) methods. From the acoustical and excess thermo-acoustical parameters, strong solute–solute interactions of hydrogen bonded type between the solutes were established. The formation of 1:1complexes between cyclohexanone and hydroxyl, amino compounds was confirmed by UV–visible spectral method and the presence of hydrogen bonding in these complexes was proved by IR spectrum. The stability constant of the four hydrogen bonded complexes was calculated by both ultrasonic and UV–Visible spectroscopic methods. Interestingly, it was found that the order of strength of hydrogen bonding between CHE and hydroxyl as well as amino compounds is in the order CHE-PHE > CHE-ANI > CHE-CHL > CHE-CHA. DFT calculations, NBO analysis and NCI plots were also made to quantify the nature of stabilizing interactions between CHE and hydroxyl and amino compounds. Our computed results are in good agreement with the experimental observations. It is observed that aromatic moiety adjacent to hydrogen donor influences significantly the stability of the H-bonded complexes.