Dihydrogen Bond Interactions Research Articles

Supramolecular Architectures Bearing Half-Sandwich Iridium- or Rhodium-Based Carboranes: Design, Synthesis, and Applications.

The utilization of carboranes in supramolecular chemistry has attracted considerable attention. The unique spatial configuration and weak interaction forces of carboranes can help to explore the properties of supramolecular complexes, particularly via host-guest chemistry. Additionally, certain difficulties encountered in carborane development─such as controlled B-H bond activation─can be overcome by judiciously selecting metal centers and their adjacent ligands. However, few studies are being conducted in this nascent research area. With advances in this field, novel carborane-based supramolecular complexes will likely be prepared, structurally characterized, and intrinsically investigated. To expedite these efforts, we present major findings from recent studies, including π-π interactions, host-guest associations, and steric effects, which have been leveraged to implement a regioselective process for activating B(2,9)-, B(2,8)-, and B(2,7)-H bonds of para-carboranes and B(4,7)-H bonds of ortho-carboranes. Future studies should clarify the unique weak interactions of carboranes and their potential for enhancing the utility of supramolecular complexes. Although carboranes exhibit several unique weak interactions (such as dihydrogen-bond [Bδ+-Hδ-···Hδ+-Cδ-], Bδ+-Hδ-···M+, and Bδ+-Hδ-···π interactions), the manner in which they can be utilized remains unclear. Supramolecular complexes, particularly those based on host-guest chemistry, can be utilized as a platform for demonstrating potential applications of these weak interactions. Owing to the importance of alkane separation, applications related to the recognition and separation of alkane isomers via dihydrogen-bond interactions are primarily summarized. Advances in the research of unique weak interactions in carboranes will certainly lead to more possibilities for supramolecular chemistry.

Hydration of Nitriles Catalyzed by Ruthenium Complexes: Role of Dihydrogen Bonding Interactions in Promoting Base-Free Catalysis.

Ru(II) complexes of amide-phosphine-based tridentate ligands additionally containing pyridine, isoquinoline, and quinoline rings have been synthesized, and their catalytic utility for the selective hydration of nitriles to amides is explored under the base-containing as well as base-free conditions. The chloride-ligated complexes 1-3 exhibited significant catalytic activity in the presence of a base, whereas hydride-ligated complexes 4-6 carried out the hydration of nitrile without the requirement of any base. The mechanistic studies revealed the involvement of [Ru-H] species as the active catalyst in the catalytic cycle. The [Ru-H] species assisted in the polarization of an incoming water molecule through [Ru-H···H-OH] dihydrogen bonding interaction and consequently aided in the attack of a positioned water molecule to a nitrile coordinated to a ruthenium center. Substrate binding studies and kinetic experiments further supported the mechanism. A wide variety of aromatic nitriles containing both electron-withdrawing and electron-releasing groups as well as other substrates including aliphatic nitriles, base-sensitive nitriles, and a few biologically relevant nitriles were employed for the selective hydration.

Highly Selective Separation of Benzene and Cyclohexane in a Spatially Confined Carborane Metallacage.

Separation of light hydrocarbons (C1-C9) represents one of the "seven chemical separations to change the world". Boron clusters can potentially play an important role in chemical separation, due to their unique three-dimensional structures and their ability to promote a potentially rich array of weak noncovalent interactions. Herein, we report the rational design of metallacages with carborane functionality and cooperative dihydrogen binding sites for the highly selective capture of cyclohexane molecules. The metallacage 1, bearing the ligand 2,4,6-tris(4-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine (TPT), can produce cyclohexane with a purity of 98.5% in a single adsorption-desorption cycle from an equimolar mixture of benzene and cyclohexane. In addition, cyclohexene molecules can be also encapsulated inside the metallacage 1. This selective encapsulation was attributed to spatial confinement effects, C-H···π interactions, and particularly dihydrogen-bond interactions. This work suggests exciting future applications of carborane cages in supramolecular chemistry for the selective adsorption and separation of alkane molecules and may open up a new research direction in host-guest chemistry.

Investigation of dihydrogen bond interaction between cycloalkenes and alkali metal hydrides: a DFT approach

In this work, intermolecular dihydrogen bonded interactions between cycloalkenes (cyclobutene (C4H6), cyclopentene (C5H8), cyclohexene (C6H10)) and alkali metal hydrides H—M (M = Li, Na and K) complexes have been studied using B3LYP/6-311++G** method. The calculated structural parameters correlate well with the interaction energies and smallest dihydrogen bonded distance is observed for C4H6⋯HK complexes. Infrared vibrational frequency analysis indicates that significant red and blue shifts are occurring in the C—H and H—M bonds of all the complexes. The analyses of natural bond orbital, topological parameters based on the quantum theory of atoms in molecule and molecular electrostatic potential aids to know the nature of dihydrogen bonded interaction. The result shows that H⋯H interaction is strengthened in the C4H6⋯HK than the other complexes and henceforth H—K interacting complexes have better dihydrogen bonded interaction.

Estimation of resonance assisted hydrogen bond (RAHB) energies using properties of ring critical points in some dihydrogen-bonded complexes

Intramolecular hydrogen bond (IHB) interactions have investigated in aza-boron-hydrogen rings after formation of dihydrogen bond (DHB) interactions with some substituted aza-boron-hydrogen molecules. These molecules include electron-donating and electron-withdrawing groups. The IHB energies in the dihydrogen-bonded complexes have estimated using a method based on properties of ring critical points (RCPs). There is linear relationship between results of this method and molecular tailoring approach (MTA). Geometrical parameters, spectroscopic information, electronic properties based on atoms in molecules (AIM) method, and natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis have used to find effects of DHB on strength of the IHB interaction. Moreover, aromaticity of resonance-assisted hydrogen bond (RAHB) rings have evaluated using the para delocalization index (PDI), the aromatic fluctuation index (FLU), the average two center index (ATI), and the nucleus-independent chemical shift (NICS) to find relation between π-electron delocalization (π-ED) and properties of these rings. Results show that DHB leads to increase of strength of the IHB interaction. In addition, the PDI benchmark has the best correlation with the IHB descriptors. Additionally, localized molecular orbital energy decomposition analysis (LMO-EDA) reveals that the key components of interaction energies are exchange and electrostatic energy, respectively. Finally, new relations obtained for estimation of the IHB energies based on RCP characteristics and quantum mechanical descriptors.

Intermolecular C-H∙∙∙H-M dihydrogen bonds in five-membered heterocyclic complexes: a DFT and ab-initio study

In this work, dihydrogen bond between five-membered heterocyclic compounds (furan, thiophene, pyrrole, arsole, borole, phosphole, and silole) and alkali metal hydride HM (M = Li, Na, and K) were carried out by density functional theory and ab-initio calculations. A two pure (PBE, M06L) and four hybrids (B3LYP, B3P86, B3PW91, wB97XD) DFT functional and MP2 method with 6–311 + + G** basis set were used for five membered heterocyclic dihydrogen bond interactions. Molecular geometries, puckering parameters, energies, and natural bond orbital analysis of all the complexes were calculated by various DFT functionals and MP2 method. For all the complexes, smallest H∙∙∙H bond distance is observed for thiophene∙∙∙HK which has significant interaction energy (∆EC), while largest H∙∙∙H distance with smallest ∆EC is observed for pyrrole∙∙∙HLi complex. Among all the functionals, M06L predicted the smallest dihydrogen bond distances for all the complexes, while largest dihydrogen bond distance was observed by B3LYP functional. The infrared vibrational frequency analysis for all the complexes has revealed propensities in red and blue shift for the C–H and M–H bonds, respectively. Natural bond orbital and quantum theory of atom in molecules analyses were performed to examine the nature of interaction along with the molecular electrostatic potential which further confirm the existence of dihydrogen bonding.

Metal-like Ductility in Organic Plastic Crystals: Role of Molecular Shape and Dihydrogen Bonding Interactions in Aminoboranes.

Ductility is a common phenomenon in many metals but is difficult to achieve in molecular crystals. Organic crystals bend plastically on one or two face-specific directions but fracture when stressed in any other arbitrary directions. An exceptional metal-like ductility and malleability in the isomorphous crystals of two globular molecules, BH3 NMe3 and BF3 NMe3 , is reported, with characteristic tensile stretching, compression, twisting, and thinning. The mechanically deformed samples, which transition to lower symmetry phases, retain good long-range order amenable to structure determination by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Molecules in these high-symmetry crystals interact through electrostatic forces (B- -N+ ) to form columnar structures with multiple slip planes and weak dispersive forces between columns. On the other hand, the limited number of facile slip planes and strong dihydrogen bonding in BH3 NHMe2 negates ductility. Our study has implications for the design of soft ferroelectrics, solid electrolytes, barocalorics, and soft robotics.

Metal‐like Ductility in Organic Plastic Crystals: Role of Molecular Shape and Dihydrogen Bonding Interactions in Aminoboranes

AbstractDuctility is a common phenomenon in many metals but is difficult to achieve in molecular crystals. Organic crystals bend plastically on one or two face‐specific directions but fracture when stressed in any other arbitrary directions. An exceptional metal‐like ductility and malleability in the isomorphous crystals of two globular molecules, BH3NMe3 and BF3NMe3, is reported, with characteristic tensile stretching, compression, twisting, and thinning. The mechanically deformed samples, which transition to lower symmetry phases, retain good long‐range order amenable to structure determination by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Molecules in these high‐symmetry crystals interact through electrostatic forces (B−−N+) to form columnar structures with multiple slip planes and weak dispersive forces between columns. On the other hand, the limited number of facile slip planes and strong dihydrogen bonding in BH3NHMe2 negates ductility. Our study has implications for the design of soft ferroelectrics, solid electrolytes, barocalorics, and soft robotics.

Dihydrogen Bond Interaction Induced Separation of Hexane Isomers by Self-Assembled Carborane Metallacycles.

Herein, we describe how to utilize dihydrogen bond interactions to achieve alkane recognition and hexane isomer separation. A series of metallacycles based on carborane backbones are presented herein, revealing interdependent B-Hδ-···Hδ+-C proton-hydride interactions. The metallacycles take advantage of these dihydrogen bond interactions for the separation of hexane isomers. We show that the metallacycle 3a, bearing 1,4-di(4-pyridyl)benzene (DPB), can produce n-hexane with a purity of >99% in a single adsorption-desorption cycle from an equimolar mixture of all five isomers of hexane. The isomers 2-methylpentane and 3-methylpentane can be selectively absorbed by metallacycle 4a, which bears 1,2-di(4-pyridyl)ethylene (DPE). The size of the metallacycle, C-H···π interactions, and particularly B-Hδ-···Hδ+-C interactions are the main forces governing the extent of hexane recognition. This work provides a promising principle for the design of supramolecular coordination complexes (SCCs) for the separation of alkanes.

Dual Binding Mode of Metallacarborane Produces a Robust Shield on Proteins.

An inorganic sandwich molecule, Na[Co(C2 B9 H11 )2 ], able to produce vesicles through self-assembly and known to produce strong dihydrogen-bond interactions with amine groups is capable of interacting with proteins. This dual non-bonding ability of Na[Co(C2 B9 H11 )2 ] is what makes this molecule unique: it can be firmly anchored to a protein surface and is capable of extending over it. To prove this, the widely available bovine serum albumin (BSA), which has many pendant amino groups in its structure, has been taken as the model protein. It has been found that around 100 molecules of Na[Co(C2 B9 H11 )2 ] preserve the native structure of BSA, while endorsing it with a significantly increased stability with respect to chemical- and thermal-induced denaturation due to efficient encapsulation. The advantages of this encapsulation technique are two-fold; the first is its simplicity as it relies on the anchoring capacity of Na[Co(C2 B9 H11 )2 ] to the surface of the protein through the amine-containing residues and the second is its self-assembling capacity allowing it to spread across the surface. The dense shield of protection offered by Na[Co(C2 B9 H11 )2 ] has been demonstrated by the inhibition of BSA pseudo-esterase activity, which indicates that the inorganic corset around BSA protects its reactive surface residues, thereby preventing their acetylation.

Nuclear Motion in the Intramolecular Dihydrogen-Bound Regime of an Aminoborane Complex.

The 1,3-diaza-2,4-diborobutane (NBNB) molecule serves as the smallest model complex of an intramolecular "dihydrogen bond," which involves a nominally hydrogen-bonding interaction between amine and borane hydrogen atoms. In the present study, the role of this dihydrogen bond in influencing the inherent molecular dynamics of NBNB is investigated computationally with ab initio molecular dynamics and path integral molecular dynamics techniques, as well as vibrational spectra analysis and static quantum chemistry computations. These simulations indicate that the dihydrogen-bonding interaction impacts both the high- and low-frequency motions of the molecule, with the dominant motions involving low-frequency backbone isomerization and terminal amine rotation. Geometric isotope effects were found to be modest. The analysis also addresses the paradoxical fostering of amine rotation via a relatively strong dihydrogen bond interaction. Electrostatic and geometric factors most directly explain this effect, and although some orbital evidence was found for a small covalent component of this interaction, the dynamics and electronic structure suggest that electrostatic contributions are the controlling factors for molecular motion in NBNB.

Unconventional dihydrogen-bond interaction induced cyanide-bridged chiral nano-sized magnetic molecular wheel: synthesis, crystal structure and systematic theoretical magnetism investigation

The new chiral nano-size compounds showing SMM characteristic have been structurally and magnetically investigated in detail.

Strong cooperative effects between π-hole and dihydrogen bonds interactions: a computational study

ABSTRACTThe aim of this work is to study cooperative effects between the π-hole and dihydrogen bond (DHB) interactions in the ternary X3B⋅⋅⋅NCH⋅⋅⋅HM complexes, where X = H, F and M = Li, Na, BeH, BeF, BeCH3, MgH, MgF, MgCH3. The properties of the resulting complexes are studied by molecular electrostatic potential, non-covalent interaction index and natural bond orbital analyses. It is found that there is a substantial shortening of H⋅⋅⋅H bond distances in the X3B⋅⋅⋅NCH⋅⋅⋅HM complexes, especially in M = Li and Na. Such remarkable variation in the H⋅⋅⋅H binding distances has not been reported for the DHB interactions previously. The formation of a H⋅⋅⋅H interaction in the H3B⋅⋅⋅NCH⋅⋅⋅HM and F3B⋅⋅⋅NCH⋅⋅⋅HM complexes makes an increase in the interaction energy of B⋅⋅⋅N bonds by 3%–22% and 9%–320%, respectively. The cooperative effects in the ternary complexes make a sizable increase in the 15N chemical shielding and total spin–spin coupling constants across the B⋅⋅⋅N bonding, which can be regarded as an evidence for the reinforcement of π-hole interactions in the ternary complexes with respect to the corresponding binary systems.

The mutual influence of Y···N and H···H interactions in XHY···NCH···HM complexes (X = F, Cl, Br; Y = S, Se; M = Li, Na, BeH, MgH): tuning of the chalcogen bond by dihydrogen bond interaction

The equilibrium structures, interaction energies, and bonding properties of ternary XHY···NCH···HM complexes are studied by ab initio calculations, where X = F, Cl, Br, Y = S, Se, and M = Li, Na, BeH, MgH. The ab initio calculations are carried out at the MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ level. The results indicate that all optimized Y···N and H···H binding distances in the ternary complexes are smaller than the corresponding values in the binary systems. The calculated cooperative energies (Ecoop) are between −0.20 kcal/mol in BrHS···NCH···HBeH and −3.29 kcal/mol in FHSe···NCH···HNa. For a given Y and M, the estimated Ecoop values increase as X = F > Cl > Br. In addition, the selenium-bonded complexes exibit larger Ecoop values than those of the sulfur-bonded counterparts. The cooperativity between Y···N and H···H interactions is further analyzed by quantum theory of atoms in molecules and natural bond orbital methods. Cooperative effects make an increase in the J(Y–N) and J(H–H) spin–spin coupling constants of the ternary complexes with respect to the binary systems.

Dihydrogen bond interactions as a result of H2 cleavage at Cu, Ag and Au centres.

A quantum chemical study of H2 activation at fluorides of coinage metals, MF (M = Cu, Ag and Au), and its splitting was performed. The following reaction path was analyzed: FMH2→ FHHM → HMFH, where both the molecular complexes and the corresponding transition states have been characterized at the CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVQZ//MP2/aug-cc-pVQZ level of theory. Further single-point CASSCF/CASPT2 calculations, including spin-orbit coupling effects, were also performed to analyze the role of non-dynamic correlation. The scalar relativistic effects are included via aug-cc-pVQZ-PP basis sets used for the metals. The dihydrogen-bonded copper (FHHCu) and silver (FHHAg) complexes are observed as a result of H2 cleavage, while the corresponding FHHAu gold complex is not found but the HAuHF arrangement is observed, instead. The energetic and geometrical parameters of the complexes have been analyzed and both the Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules approach and the Natural Bond Orbitals method were additionally applied to analyze the intermolecular interactions.

Mutual interplay between pnicogen bond and dihydrogen bond in HMH⋯HCN⋯PH2X complexes (M = Be, Mg, Zn; X = H, F, Cl)

The cooperativity between pnicogen bond and dihydrogen bond interactions in HMH⋯HCN⋯PH2X (M=Be, Mg, Zn; X=H, F, Cl) complexes is studied by ab initio calculations. To understand the properties of the systems better, the corresponding dyads are also investigated. The cooperative effects are analyzed in terms of geometric, energetic and electron charge density properties of the complexes. The estimated values of cooperative energy Ecoop are all negative with much larger Ecoop in absolute value for the systems including PH2F. It is seen that the electrostatic interaction is a dominant factor in enhancing both types of interactions. The electron density at the P⋯N and H⋯H bond critical points can be regarded as a good descriptor of the degree of cooperative effects.

Synthesis and Structure of Six-Coordinate Iron Borohydride Complexes Supported by PNP Ligands

The preparation of a number of iron complexes supported by ligands of the type HN{CH2CH2(PR2)}2 [R = isopropyl (((i)Pr)PNP) or cyclohexyl ((Cy)PNP)] is reported. This is the first time this important bifunctional ligand has been coordinated to iron. The iron(II) complexes (((i)Pr)PNP)FeCl2(CO) (1a) and ((Cy)PNP)FeCl2(CO) (1b) were synthesized through the reaction of the appropriate free ligand and FeCl2 in the presence of CO. The iron(0) complex (((i)Pr)PNP)Fe(CO)2 (2a) was prepared through the reaction of Fe(CO)5 with ((i)Pr)PNP, while irradiating with UV light. Compound 2a is unstable in CH2Cl2 and is oxidized to 1a via the intermediate iron(II) complex [(((i)Pr)PNP)FeCl(CO)2]Cl (3a). The reaction of 2a with HCl generated the related complex [(((i)Pr)PNP)FeH(CO)2]Cl (4a), while the neutral iron hydrides (((i)Pr)PNP)FeHCl(CO) (5a) and ((Cy)PNP)FeHCl(CO) (5b) were synthesized through the reaction of 1a or 1b with 1 equiv of (n)Bu4NBH4. The related reaction between 1a and excess NaBH4 generated the unusual η(1)-HBH3 complex (((i)Pr)PNP)FeH(η(1)-HBH3)(CO) (6a). This complex features a bifurcated intramolecular dihydrogen bond between two of the hydrogen atoms associated with the η(1)-HBH3 ligand and the N-H proton of the pincer ligand, as well as intermolecular dihydrogen bonding. The protonation of 6a with 2,6-lutidinium tetraphenylborate resulted in the formation of the dimeric complex [{(((i)Pr)PNP)FeH(CO)}2(μ2,η(1):η(1)-H2BH2)][BPh4] (7a), which features a rare example of a μ2,η(1):η(1)-H2BH2 ligand. Unlike all previous examples of complexes with a μ2,η(1):η(1)-H2BH2 ligand, there is no metal-metal bond and additional bridging ligand supporting the borohydride ligand in 7a; however, it is proposed that two dihydrogen-bonding interactions stabilize the complex. Complexes 1a, 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a, 6a, and 7a were characterized by X-ray crystallography.

Theoretical Study of Mixed Hydrogen and Dihydrogen Bond Interactions in BH4(NH3)n- Clusters

Ab initio calculations were used to analyze interactions of with 1–4 molecules of NH3 at the MP2/6‐311++G(d,p) and the B3LYP/6‐311++G(d,p) computational levels. In addition to H3B–H⋯H–NH2 dihydrogen bond, the H2N–H⋯NH3 hydrogen bonds were also predicted in clusters. Negative cooperativity in clusters constructed from mixed H3B–H⋯H–NH2 dihydrogen and H2N–H⋯NH3 hydrogen bonds are more remarkable. The negative cooperativity increases with size and number of hydrogen bonds in cluster. The B–H stretching frequencies show blue shifts with respect to cluster formation. Greater blue shift in stretching frequencies was predicted for B–H bonds which did not contribute to dihydrogen bonding with NH3 molecules. The structures were analyzed with the atoms in molecules (AIM) methodology.

DFT study on the mechanism of water-assisted dihydrogen elimination in group 6 octahedral metal hydride complexes

The reaction of water with octahedral bis-, tris- and tetrakis-(phosphine)tungsten, (phosphine)molybdenum and (phosphine)chromium complexes has been studied using B3LYP/def2-TZVPP level of DFT to elucidate dissociative, associative and hydride migratory insertion mechanisms for hydrogen elimination. In the dissociative mechanism, phosphine dissociation requires 19.3-28.5 kcal mol(-1) of energy. The phosphine-water ligand exchange is endergonic due to poor coordination ability of water to group 6 metals (binding energy 8.8-15.5 kcal mol(-1)). The ligand exchange leads to intermolecular M-H···H(2)O dihydrogen interaction and facilitates dihydrogen elimination (G(act) = 6.8-15.5 kcal mol(-1)). In the associative mechanism, a water molecule in the first solvation shell interacts with the M-H bond through a dihydrogen bond (interaction energy 2.7-4.0 kcal mol(-1)) and leads to the elimination of H(2) by forming a hydroxide complex. Compared to the dissociative mechanism, G(act) of associative mechanisms are ~22 kcal mol(-1) higher. In the hydride migratory insertion mechanism, the hydride ligand shifts to the CO ligand (G(act) = 25.4-30.4 kcal mol(-1)) to afford a formyl complex and subsequently the H-H bond coupling occurs between formyl and water ligand (G(act) = 2.8-4.4 kcal mol(-1)). In many cases, the migratory insertion mechanism can simultaneously operate with the dissociative mechanism as a minor pathway, whereas owing to high G(act) value, the associative mechanism can be described as inactive in the reaction. The general argument that dihydrogen elimination is preceded by the formation of a dihydrogen intermediate is not applicable for the systems studied herein as the most favoured dissociative mechanism does not pass through such an intermediate. On the other hand, irrespective of the mechanisms, dihydrogen elimination invariably occurs with the formation of a dihydrogen bonded transition state. Our results also suggest that group 6 octahedral metal hydride complexes are attractive targets for the design of water splitting reactions.

Theoretical study of hydrogen and dihydrogen bond interaction of B6H10 with the HF molecule

Ab initio calculations were used to analyze the interactions of B6H10 with an HF molecule at the MP2/6-311++g(d,p) and B3LYP/6-311++g(d,p) computational levels. B6H10 could interact with HF through both its terminal (Ht) and bridged (Hb) hydrogens. The interaction of Ht and Hb of B6H10 with HF could result in the formation of Ht···H and Hb···F dihydrogen and hydrogen bond complexes, respectively. The obtained structures have been analyzed with the Atoms in Molecules methodology.