Abstract
Short atom-atom distances between molecules are almost always indicative of specific intermolecular bonding. These distances may be used to assess the significance of all hydrogen bonds, including the C-H⋯O and even weaker C-H⋯F varieties.
Highlights
Dunitz refers to the atoms in molecules (AIM) approach (Bader, 1990) and while there are opposite points of view, a beginning can be made if one states that when a bond critical point (BCP) is absent, there is no interaction
Most short contact distances in crystals arise from stabilizing interactions that originate from attraction
Any generalization that all short C–HÁ Á ÁC, C–HÁ Á ÁO, C–HÁ Á ÁF, C–HÁ Á ÁCl or C–ClÁ Á ÁCl interactions found in crystals are repulsive or destabilizing, or that they arise purely as a result of accompanying stronger interactions or vague close packing considerations is certainly not justified
Summary
Dunitz refers to the atoms in molecules (AIM) approach (Bader, 1990) and while there are opposite points of view, a beginning can be made if one states that when a bond critical point (BCP) is absent, there is no interaction. Most short contact distances in crystals arise from stabilizing interactions that originate from attraction.
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