Why 1,2‑quinone derivatives are more stable than their 2,3‑analogues?

In this work, we have studied the relative stability of 1,2- and 2,3-quinones. While 1,2-quinones have a closed-shell singlet ground state, the ground state for the studied 2,3-isomers is open-shell singlet, except for 2,3-naphthaquinone that has a closed-shell singlet ground state. In all cases, 1,2-quinones are more stable than their 2,3-counterparts. We analyzed the reasons for the higher stability of the 1,2-isomers through energy decomposition analysis in the framework of Kohn–Sham molecular orbital theory. The results showed that we have to trace the origin of 1,2-quinones’ enhanced stability to the more efficient bonding in the π-electron system due to more favorable overlap between the SOMOπ of the ·C4n−2H2n–CH·· and ··CH–CO–CO· fragments in the 1,2-arrangement. Furthermore, whereas 1,2-quinones present a constant trend with their elongation for all analyzed properties (geometric, energetic, and electronic), 2,3-quinone derivatives present a substantial breaking in monotonicity.European Union in the framework of European Social Fund through the Warsaw University of Technology Development Programme. O.A. S., H. S. and T.M. K

The electron density of delocalized bonds (EDDB) applied for quantifying aromaticity

In this study the recently developed electron density of delocalized bonds (EDDB) is used to define a new measure of aromaticity in molecular rings. The relationships between bond-length alternation, electron delocalization and diatropicity of the induced ring current are investigated for a test set of representative molecular rings by means of correlation and principal component analyses involving the most popular aromaticity descriptors based on structural, electronic, and magnetic criteria. Additionally, a qualitative comparison is made between EDDB and the magnetically induced ring-current density maps from the ipsocentric approach for a series of linear acenes. Special emphasis is given to the comparative study of the description of cyclic delocalization of electrons in a wide range of organic aromatics in terms of the kekulean multicenter index KMCI and the newly proposed EDDBk indexThe research was supported in part by the Faculty of Chemistry at Jagiellonian University (grant K/DSC/001469, DS), Foundation for Polish Science (FNP START 2015, stipend 103.2015, DS), National Science Centre, Poland (NCN SONATA, grant 2015/17/ D/ST4/00558, DS) as well as the PL-Grid Infrastructure of the Academic Computer Centre CYFRONET with the calculations performed on the cluster platform ‘‘Prometheus’’. MS thanks for the support of the Ministerio de Economa y Competitividad of Spain (Project CTQ2014-54306-P), Generalitat de Catalunya (project number 2014SGR931, Xarxa de Refere`ncia en Qumica Teo`rica i Computacional, and ICREA Academia prize), and European Fund for Regional Development (FEDER grant UNGI10-4E-801

Cooperativity effect in noncovalent interactions of selected molecular complexes stabilised by hydrogen and halogen bonds

Among various so-called weak interactions, a halogen bond [8 and references therein] is currently probably one of more explored by researchers. This is due to the fact that it has several properties in common with the hydrogen bonding, and thus, similarly as already well characterised H-bond, it may have a crucial role in different physical, chemical, and biological processes. This bond is formed due to stabilising interactions between a region of positive charge located on a surface of the halogen atom and the other atomic center possessing the electron charge surplus (e.g. a lone pair) [8]. The region of positive charge appears on the halogen atom surface due to deformation of its electron cloud resulting in its ellipsoidal shape with the short axis opposite the covalent bond and the long axis in the perpendicular direction [11]. This results in a particular distribution of local charges on the atomic surface, as shown in Figure 1. As a consequence the halogen atom may exhibit a dual character, acting as either electron charge donor or acceptor, depending on the type of interaction and the direction of the appearing interactomic contact. A good example of such situation is shown in Figure 2. Thus, one may consider the situation when two interactions are formed simultaneously and the halogen atom acts as an electron charge donor and acceptor at the same time. For such situation the synergism of both interactions may strengthen complexation. In order to analyze that case, various representative complexes were investigated [13, 17, 18, 20, 21] by means of many-body interaction approach [5, 6]. In general, it appears that as distinct to hydrogen bond [2–4], the synergism is rather weak, with some exceptions for iodine atom due to stronger halogen bonds formed by that atomic centre [13, 17, 18]. In the case of halo-amine tetramers [21] the additional stabilising effect derived from back bonding of π type was found – for the first time for a halogen bond

Lack of Cooperativity in the Triangular X₃Halogen-Bonded Synthon?

We have investigated 44 crystal structures, found in the Cambridge Structural Database, containing the X3 synthon (where X = Cl, Br, I) in order to verify whether three type II halogen-halogen contacts forming the synthon exhibit cooperativity. A hypothesis that this triangular halogen-bonded motif is stabilized by cooperative effects is postulated on the basis of structural data. However, theoretical investigations of simplified model systems in which the X3 motif is present demonstrate that weak synergy occurs only in the case of the I3 motif. In the present paper we computationally investigate crystal structures in which the X3 synthon is present, including halomesitylene structures, that are usually described as being additionally stabilized by a synergic interaction. Our computations find no cooperativity for halomesitylene trimers containing the X3 motif. Only in the case of two other structures containing the I3 synthon a very weak or weak synergy, i.e. the cooperative effect being stronger than -0.40 kcal mol-1, is found. The crystal structure of iodoform has the most pronounced cooperativity of all investigated systems, amounting to about 10% of the total interaction energy

Aromaticity Induced by Electric Field: The Case of Polycalicenes

Local and global π-electron delocalization occurring in planar poly-1,7-[<i>N</i>]­calicenes is investigated with use of 10 aromaticity measures based on different physical properties. Systematic change of aromatic character is observed along chains of connected calicene units. Multidimensionality of the aromaticity phenomenon is studied with use of principal component analysis (PCA). The structural characteristics are compared with the properties of the isolated calicene molecule exposed to external electric fields of various intensities. Interrelations between the value of electric field applied and physical properties of the calicene molecule are discussed in the context of calicene unit affected by its surroundings in polycalicene chains. The patterns of global π-electron delocalization are described in graph theory terminology, and interconnections between local and global aromaticity in these systems are established

Fluoride Anions: Unexploited but Effective Halogen Bond Acceptors

Due to their high electron density, fluoride anions can be considered the most effective halogen bond (HaB) acceptors among the halides. However, under common experimental conditions, F- uncommonly acts as HaB acceptor, expectedly as it is present in hydrated form. Herein we report that under specific crystallization conditions a hydrogen bond-free F- functioning as donor of electron density can be obtained, with the formed HaBs constituting the driving force of the observed crystal packings. Computations confirm the strength of these HaBs compared to analogous interactions involving other halides

Aromaticity of acenes : the model of migrating π\pi-circuits

The concept of migrating Clar's sextet is extended to explain the local aromaticity trends in linear acenes predicted by different aromaticity criteria from theoretical calculations as well as from experimental data. The electron density of delocalized bonds is used to assess the link between resonance and reactivity and to rationalize the constant-height AFM image of pentacen

The role of the long-range exchange corrections in the description of electron delocalization in aromatic species

In this article, we address the role of the long-range exchange corrections in description of the cyclic delocalization of electrons in aromatic systems at the density functional theory level. A test set of diversified monocyclic and polycyclic aromatics is used in benchmark calculations involving various exchange-correlation functionals. A special emphasis is given to the problem of local aromaticity in acenes, which has been a subject of long-standing debate in the literature. The presented results indicate that the noncorrected exchange-correlation functionals significantly overestimate cyclic delocalization of electrons in heteroaromatics and aromatic systems with fused rings, which in the case of acenes leads to conflicting local aromaticity predictions from different criteriaThe research was supported in part by the Foundation for Polish Science (FNP START 2015, stipend 103.2015, DS), National Science Centre, Poland (NCN SONATA, grant 2015/17/D/ST4/ 00558, DS) as well as the PL-Grid Infrastructure of the Academic Computer Centre CYFRONET, with the calculations performed on cluster platforms Zeus and Prometheus. MS thanks for the support of the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad of Spain (Project CTQ2014-54306-P), Generalitat de Catalunya (project number 2014SGR931, Xarxa de Referència en Química Teòrica i Computacional, and ICREA Academia prize), and European Fund for Regional Development (FEDER grant UNGI10-4E-801

The role of the long-range exchange corrections in the description of electron delocalization in aromatic species

In this article, we address the role of the long-range exchange corrections in description of the cyclic delocalization of electrons in aromatic systems at the density functional theory level. A test set of diversified monocyclic and polycyclic aromatics is used in benchmark calculations involving various exchange-correlation functionals. A special emphasis is given to the problem of local aromaticity in acenes, which has been a subject of long-standing debate in the literature. The presented results indicate that the noncorrected exchange-correlation functionals significantly overestimate cyclic delocalization of electrons in heteroaromatics and aromatic systems with fused rings, which in the case of acenes leads to conflicting local aromaticity predictions from different criteriaThe research was supported in part by the Foundation for Polish Science (FNP START 2015, stipend 103.2015, DS), National Science Centre, Poland (NCN SONATA, grant 2015/17/D/ST4/ 00558, DS) as well as the PL-Grid Infrastructure of the Academic Computer Centre CYFRONET, with the calculations performed on cluster platforms Zeus and Prometheus. MS thanks for the support of the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad of Spain (Project CTQ2014-54306-P), Generalitat de Catalunya (project number 2014SGR931, Xarxa de Referència en Química Teòrica i Computacional, and ICREA Academia prize), and European Fund for Regional Development (FEDER grant UNGI10-4E-801