Alexandre R. Meyer

Energetic and topological insights into the supramolecular structure of dicationic ionic liquids

The crystal structures of dicationic ILs [DBMIM][2BF4] (1) and [DBMIM][2Br]·[2H2O] (2) were investigated in order to explore the intermolecular interactions in these compounds. An energetic and topological approach for characterization of supramolecular clusters in organic crystals was used. The study of the crystals was done by considering the stabilization energy and topological properties such as contact surfaces and energy content between cations and neighboring anions (supramolecular clusters). The study showed that: 1 is auto-organized into layers (one-dimensional structure) by an anion–cation interaction (weak electrostatic and ionic), and the three-dimensional supramolecular structure of 2 is constructed through simultaneous interactions between cations, anions, and water molecules. This network results in interaction chains in two different directions. Additionally, the supramolecular cluster approach allowed evaluation of the participation of the topological component during the formation of the crystals of 1 and 2. Among the different types of interactions proposed, the most predominant was the one classified as type III, which has small and medium energy values, and a medium-sized contact surface. The thermal and morphological properties were also studied to further characterize these materials and to better understand the resulting structure–property relationships.

Proposal for crystallization of 3-amino-4-halo-5-methylisoxazoles: an energetic and topological approach

The supramolecular structure of 3-amino-4-halo-5-methylisoxazoles (halo = Cl, Br, and I) was investigated in order to suggest a route for crystallization of small molecules. The hierarchy of intermolecular interactions during the growth of the crystal was established by X-ray diffraction, 1H NMR titration, QTAIM analysis and quantum mechanical calculations. The relationship between QTAIM and energetic data was the fundamental innovation in this work. It allowed partitioning of the dimer interaction energy between interacting atoms. The partitioning shows the cooperation of the intermolecular interactions in the stabilization of the dimers and led to observation of the energetic consequences that small changes in the molecular structure of each compound may have on the crystal packing. The proposed route for the crystallization of the supramolecular cluster was based on the energetic hierarchy, in which the hydrogen bond is the strongest interaction and the first to form, and the π-interactions are weaker than the hydrogen bond and cannot compete with it. However, the π-interactions are responsible for the growth of the crystal, connecting the rising layers of the hydrogen bond dimers. The other interaction formed, the halogen bond, is too weak to compete with the other two interactions, but it is fundamental for linking the layer that leads to the final three-dimensional arrangement. Finally, a new way of understanding the crystallization process and the design of new materials is presented.

Energetic and topological approach for characterization of supramolecular clusters in organic crystals

In this work, an approach is proposed for understanding the crystal arrangements of organic compounds. The crystals are studied taking into account the stabilization energy and the topological properties like contact surfaces of a molecule (M1) due to the presence of neighboring Mn (cluster). The molecular system models chosen were five heterocycles and one β-enaminone. The cluster of compounds had a Molecular Coordination Number (MCN) of 14, except for one compound that had an MCN of 16. Our study showed that intermolecular interactions can be divided into four main types: type I, with large energy values and a small contact surface; type II, involving a large value for both the energy and the contact surface; type III, with small and medium energy values, and a medium-sized contact surface; and type IV, with small energy values and a relatively large contact surface. Additionally, from this approach we show that only from the supramolecular cluster is it possible to observe the participation of the topological component during the formation of the crystal. This is demonstrated by the fact that the fragility of the electrostatic interaction between M1 and one Mn in the same plane is compensated by a strong interaction of M1 with a molecule in another plane.

Thermodynamic, energetic, and topological properties of crystal packing of pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines governed by weak electrostatic intermolecular interactions

A series of pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines was used as a molecular model in order to understand the crystal packing of compounds with weak electrostatic intermolecular interactions. Additionally, the relationship between the energetic content of intermolecular interactions, the contact surfaces of molecules, and the thermodynamic properties of the crystal was established. The approach, which is based on a supramolecular cluster, shows that for compounds with weak electrostatic intermolecular interactions, the energetic content of the interactions is associated with a large contact surface. The crystal packing of the studied compounds is mainly governed by interactions that involve high interaction energy over a large contact surface. These results show that π⋯π interaction may be as responsible as other strong interactions for driving the crystal packing of compounds with weak electrostatic intermolecular interactions. Furthermore, the correlation between sublimation enthalpy and cluster energy showed that the theoretical calculation of cluster energy provided the real energetic content of crystal lattice energy and confirmed that the first coordination sphere (the supramolecular cluster) is the smallest portion of the crystal that represents all the information necessary for understanding the intermolecular interactions over the entire crystal.

Polymorphism in an 18-membered macrocycle: an energetic and topological approach to understand the supramolecular structure

The synthesis, crystallization, and theoretical calculations (energetic dimers and QTAIM analyses) of three polymorphs of 3,12-dihydrotetrabenzo[d,h,m,q]-[1–3, 10–12]hexaazacyclooctadeca-1,10-dien-5,14-diyne are reported. The supramolecular cluster approach is proposed for understanding the formation and stabilization of crystal arrangements of the polymorphs. The results show that the π⋯π-interactions were responsible for the crystal packing of the three polymorphs and that they are in a determined energetic region. The energetic difference between the more stable and less stable polymorphs is around 8 kcal mol−1, indicating that if, probably other polymorphs will be formed, all of them will be in the same energetic region. The results confirmed that the first molecular coordination sphere (supramolecular cluster) is the smallest portion of the crystal that represents all necessary energy information for understanding the intermolecular interactions in the entire crystal.

1,1-Difluoro-3-aryl(heteroaryl)-1H-pyrido[1,2-c][1,3,5,2]oxadiazaborinin-9-ium-1-uides: synthesis; structure; and photophysical, electrochemical, and BSA-binding studies

This paper presents a series of six examples of 1,1-difluoro-3-aryl(heteroaryl)-1H-pyrido[1,2-c][1,3,5,2]oxadiazaborinin-9-ium-1-uides (2)—in which aryl(heteroaryl) = phenyl, 4-MeC6H4, 4-N(CH3)2C6H4, 4-NO2C6H4, 2-naphthyl, and 2-thienyl—as pyridine-based boron heterocycles with variable ligand structures. The heterocycles 2 were easily synthesized at yields of 51–70% from reactions—at room temperature for 24 h—of simple N-(pyridin-2-yl)benzamides (1) with BF3·Et2O, and they were fully characterized by 1H-, 13C-, 19F-, and 11B-NMR spectroscopy, GC-MS, and X-ray diffractometry. The optical and electrochemical properties of 2 (UV-vis spectra, fluorescence spectra, quantum yield calculations, Stokes’ shifts, redox potentials, and DFT calculations) were determined and discussed. BSA-binding experiments and molecular docking studies of new complexes 2 were performed and correlated between each other.

Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Supramolecular Understanding of 1,3,5-Tris(1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)benzenes

Understanding the supramolecular environment of crystal structures is necessary to facilitate designing molecules with desirable properties. A series of 12 novel 1,3,5-tris(1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)benzenes was used to assess the existence of planar stacking columns in supramolecular structures of pyrazoles. This class of molecules with different substituents may assist in understanding how small structural changes affect the supramolecular environment. The obtained compounds did not present the formation of planar stacking interactions between benzenes in solid or liquid states. This supposition was indicated by single crystal diffraction, Density Functional Theory (DFT) and quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) calculations, and concentration-dependent liquid-state 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). NMR showed that chemical shifts of benzene and pyrazole hydrogens confirm that planar stacking interactions are not formed in solution. The crystalline structures presented different molecular conformations. The molecular structures of 5 and 9b are in a twisted conformation, while compound 7 showed a conformation analogous to a calyx form.

Synthesis, effect of substituents on the regiochemistry and equilibrium studies of tetrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine/2-azidopyrimidines

An efficient synthesis methodology for a series of tetrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines substituted at the 5- and 7-positions from the cyclocondensation reaction [CCC + NCN] was developed. The NCN corresponds to 5-aminotetrazole and CCC to β-enaminone. Two distinct products were observed in accordance with the β-enaminone substituent. When observed in solution, the compounds can be divided into two groups: (a) precursor compounds with R = CF3 or CCl3, which leads to tetrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines in high regioselectivity with R at the 7-position of the heterocyclic ring; and (b) precursor compounds with R = aryl or methyl, which leads to a mixture of compounds, tetrazolo[1,5-a] pyrimidines (R in the 5-position of the ring) and 2-azidopyrimidines (R in the 4-position of the ring), which was attributed to an equilibrium of azide–tetrazole. In the solid state, all compounds were found as 2-azidopyrimidines. The regiochemistry of the reaction and the stability of the products are discussed on the basis of the data obtained by density functional theory (DFT) for energetic and molecular orbital (MO) calculations.