Structure-based evaluation of the resonance interactions and effectiveness of the charge transfer in nitroamines

Abstract

Structural data for five nitroamines of general formula Me2N–G–NO2 show effectiveness of the ground-state charge transfer to be most and least efficient in N,N-dimethylnitramine and in 4-N,N-dimethylamino-β-nitrostyrene, respectively. Electron-donor power of the amino nitrogen atom in the latter compound is less than that in 4-nitro-β-N,N-dimethylaminostyrene (these two compounds are isomers). Natural population analysis shows that the charge transfer from the amino to the nitro oxygen atoms is most effective in N,N-dimethylnitramine, Me2N–NO2. The nitro oxygen atoms are not the only acceptors of the negative charge lost by the amino nitrogen atom. The nitro group in two substituted nitrobenzenes studied was found to be independent on substituent (nitro group attached to the benzene ring withdraws a constant electron density regardless the substitution).