Ilya G. Shenderovich

H/D isotope effects on the low-temperature NMR parameters and hydrogen bond geometries of (FH)2F− and (FH)3F− dissolved in CDF3/CDF2Cl

Using liquid state 1H, 2H and 19F NMR spectroscopy in the temperature range 110–130 K we have studied the hydrogen-bonded anions (FH)2F− and (FH)3F− and their partially and fully deuterated analogs dissolved in the low-freezing freon mixture CDF3/CDF2Cl, in the presence of (C4H9)4N+ as the counter cation. The spin multiplets of the three isotopologs HH, HD, DD of (FH)2F−, and of the four isotopologs HHH, HHD, HDD, DDD of (FH)3F− have been resolved and assigned. Thus, we were able to determine the zero-, one- and two-bond H/D isotope effects on the hydrogen and fluorine NMR chemical shifts as well as isotope effects on the scalar spin–spin hydrogen–fluorine and fluorine–fluorine coupling constants. Using the valence bond order model these NMR data are related to H/D isotope effects on the hydrogen bond geometries. A semi-quantitative interpretation of the observed long range isotope effects is proposed in terms of an anti-cooperative coupling between the hydrogen bonds within each anion. The experimental data can be rationalized in terms of an empirical NMR isotope sum rule, which is analogous to a similar rule for the vibrational frequencies.

Symmetrization of Cationic Hydrogen Bridges of Protonated Sponges Induced by Solvent and Counteranion Interactions as Revealed by NMR Spectroscopy

The properties of the intramolecular hydrogen bonds of doubly (15)N-labeled protonated sponges of the 1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene (DMANH(+)) type have been studied as a function of the solvent, counteranion, and temperature using low-temperature NMR spectroscopy. Information about the hydrogen-bond symmetries was obtained by the analysis of the chemical shifts delta(H) and delta(N) and the scalar coupling constants J(N,N), J(N,H), J(H,N) of the (15)NH(15)N hydrogen bonds. Whereas the individual couplings J(N,H) and J(H,N) were averaged by a fast intramolecular proton tautomerism between two forms, it is shown that the sum |J(N,H)+J(H,N)| generally represents a measure of the hydrogen-bond strength in a similar way to delta(H) and J(N,N). The NMR spectroscopic parameters of DMANH(+) and of 4-nitro-DMANH(+) are independent of the anion in the case of CD(3)CN, which indicates ion-pair dissociation in this solvent. By contrast, studies using CD(2)Cl(2), [D(8)]toluene as well as the freon mixture CDF(3)/CDF(2)Cl, which is liquid down to 100 K, revealed an influence of temperature and of the counteranions. Whereas a small counteranion such as trifluoroacetate perturbed the hydrogen bond, the large noncoordinating anion tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate B[{C(6)H(3)(CF(3))(2)}(4)](-) (BARF(-)), which exhibits a delocalized charge, made the hydrogen bond more symmetric. Lowering the temperature led to a similar symmetrization, an effect that is discussed in terms of solvent ordering at low temperature and differential solvent order/disorder at high temperatures. By contrast, toluene molecules that are ordered around the cation led to typical high-field shifts of the hydrogen-bonded proton as well as of those bound to carbon, an effect that is absent in the case of neutral NHN chelates.

Hexagonal Molybdenum Trioxide : Known for 100 Years and Still a Fount of New Discoveries

In 1906, the preparation of “molybdic acid hydrate” was published by Arthur Rosenheim. Over the past 40 years, a multitude of isostructural compounds, which exist within a wide phase range of the system MoO3−NH3−H2O, have been published. The reported molecular formulas of “hexagonal molybdenum oxide” varied from MoO3 to MoO3·0.33NH3 to MoO3·nH2O (0.09 ≤ n ≤ 0.69) to MoO3·mNH3·nH2O (0.09 ≤ m ≤ 0.20; 0.18 ≤ n ≤ 0.60). Samples, prepared by the acidification route were investigated using thermal analysis coupled online to a mass spectrometer for evolved gas analysis, X-ray powder diffraction, Fourier transform infrared, Raman, magic-angle-spinning 1H- and 15N NMR spectroscopy, and incoherent inelastic neutron scattering. A comprehensive characterization of these samples will lead to a better understanding of their structure and physical properties as well as uncover the underlying relationship between the various compositions. The synthesized polymeric parent samples can be represented by the structural formula (NH4)(x∞)(3)[Mo(y square 1−y)O(3y)(OH)(x)(H2O)(m−n)]·nH2O with 0.10 ≤ x ≤ 0.14, 0.84 ≤ y ≤ 0.88, and m + n ≥ 3 − x − 3y. The X-ray study of a selected monocrystal confirmed the presence of the well-known 3D framework of edge- and corner-sharing MoO6 octahedra. The colorless monocrystal crystallizes in the hexagonal system with space group P6(3)/m, Z = 6, and unit cell parameters of a = 10.527(1) Å, c = 3.7245(7) Å, V = 357.44(8) Å3, and ρ = 3.73 g·cm(−3). The structure of the prepared monocrystal can best be described by the structural formula (NH4)(0.13∞)(3)[Mo(0.86 square 0.14)O2.58(OH)0.13(H2O)(0.29−n)]·nH2O, which is consistent with the existence of one vacancy (square) for six molybdenum sites. The sample MoO3·0.326NH3·0.343H2O, prepared by the ammoniation of a partially dehydrated MoO3·0.170NH3·0.153H2O with dry gaseous ammonia, accommodates NH3 in the hexagonal tunnels, in addition to [NH4]+ cations and H2O. The “chimie douce” reaction of MoO3·0.155NH3·0.440H2O with a 1:1 mixture of NO/NO2 at 100 °C resulted in the synthesis of MoO3·0.539H2O. This material is of great interest as a host of various molecules and cations.

Carboxylic Acid-Doped SBA-15 Silica as a Host for Metallo-supramolecular Coordination Polymers

The adsorption of a metallo-supramolecular coordination polymer (Fe-MEPE) in the cylindrical pores of SBA-15 silica with pure and carboxylic acid (CA) carrying pore walls has been studied. Fe-MEPE is an intrinsically stiff polycation formed by complexation of Fe(II)-acetate with an uncharged ditopic bis-terpyridine ligand. The adsorption affinity and kinetics of the Fe-MEPE chains is strongly enhanced when the pore walls are doped with CA, and when the pH of the aqueous medium or temperature is increased. The initial fast uptake is connected with a decrease of pH of the aqueous solution, indicating an ion-exchange mechanism. It is followed by a slower (presumably diffusion-controlled) further uptake. The maximum adsorbed amount of Fe-MEPE in the CA-doped material corresponds to a monolayer of Fe-MEPE chains disposed side-by-side along the pore walls. The stoichiometry of Fe-MEPE in the pores (determined by XPS) was found to be independent of the loading and similar to that of the starting material. The mean chain length of Fe-MEPE before and after embedding in the CA-doped matrix was studied by solid-state 15N NMR using partially 15N-labeled Fe-MEPE. It is shown that the average chain length of Fe-MEPE is reduced when the complex is incorporated in the pores.

NMR Studies of Solid Pentachlorophenol-4-Methylpyridine Complexes Exhibiting Strong OHN Hydrogen Bonds: Geometric H/D Isotope Effects and Hydrogen Bond Coupling Cause Isotopic Polymorphism

We have studied the hydrogen bond interactions of (15)N labeled 4-methylpyridine (4-MP) with pentachlorophenol (PCP) in the solid state and in polar solution using various NMR techniques. Previous spectroscopic, X-ray, and neutron crystallographic studies showed that the triclinic 1:1 complex (4-MPPCP) exhibits the strongest known intermolecular OHN hydrogen bond in the solid state. By contrast, deuteration of the hydrogen bond gives rise to the formation of a monoclinic structure exhibiting a weaker hydrogen bond. By performing NMR experiments at different deuterium fractions and taking advantage of dipolar (1)H-(15)N recoupling under combined fast MAS and (1)H decoupling, we provide an explanation of the origin of the isotopic polymorphism of 4-MPPCP and improve previous chemical shift correlations for OHN hydrogen bonds. Because of anharmonic ground state vibrations, an ODN hydrogen bond in the triclinic form exhibits a shorter oxygen-hydron and a longer oxygen-nitrogen distance as compared to surrounding OHN hydrogen bonds, which also implies a reduction of the local dipole moment. The dipole-dipole interaction between adjacent coupled OHN hydrogen bonds which determines the structure of triclinic 4-MPPCP is then reduced by deuteration, and other interactions become dominant, leading to the monoclinic form. Finally, the observation of stronger OHN hydrogen bonds by (1)H NMR in polar solution as compared to the solid state is discussed.

Geometry and spectral properties of the protonated homodimer of pyridine in the liquid and solid states. A combined NMR, X-ray diffraction and inelastic neutron scattering study.

The structure and spectral signatures of the protonated homodimer of pyridine in its complex with a poorly coordinating anion have been studied in solution in CDF(3)/CDClF(2) down to 120 K and in a single crystal. In both phases, the hydrogen bond is asymmetric. In the solution, the proton is involved in a fast reversible transfer that determines the multiplicity of NMR signals and the sign of the primary H/D isotope effect of --0.95 ppm. The proton resonates at 21.73 ppm that is above any value reported in the past and is indicative of a very short hydrogen bond. By combining X-ray diffraction analysis with model computations, the position of the proton in the crystal has been defined as d(N-H) = 1.123 Å and d(H···N) = 1.532 Å. The same distances have been estimated using a (15)N NMR correlation. The frequency of the protonic out-of-plane bending mode is 822 cm(-1) in agreement with Novaks correlation.

Mutable Lewis and Brønsted acidity of aluminated SBA-15 as revealed by NMR of adsorbed pyridine-15N.

(1)H and variable-temperature (15)N NMR techniques have been used to study the effect of the gradual alumination of SBA-15 on the structure and adsorption properties of this mesoporous material. The interpretation of experimental spectra suggests that aluminum chlorhydrol most effectively reacts with silica surfaces in the confinement of the cavities of rough mesopore walls, instead of forming a homogeneous aluminum film. This first leads to a gradual filling of the cavities and finally results in aluminum islands on the inner surfaces of mesopores. In the sample with a Si/Al atomic ratio of 4.1, up to half of the inner surface area of the mesopores is covered with aluminum. The alumination produces Brønsted acid sites attributed to silanol groups interacting with aluminum but does not affect the proton-donating ability of isolated silanol groups. At high Si/Al ratios, the surface contains only one type of Lewis site attributed to tetracoordinated aluminum. At lower Si/Al ratios, Lewis acid sites with a lower electron-accepting ability appear, as attributed to pentacoordinated aluminum. The numerical values of the surface densities of all chemically active sites have been estimated after annealing at 420 and 700 K. We were surprised to observe that gaseous nitrogen can occupy Lewis acid sites and hinder the interaction of the aluminum with any other electron donor. As a result, aluminated surfaces saturated with nitrogen do not exhibit any Brønsted or Lewis acidity. At room temperature, it takes days before pyridine replaces nitrogen at the Lewis acid sites.

Intrinsic proton-donating power of zinc-bound water in a carbonic anhydrase active site model estimated by NMR.

Using liquid-state NMR spectroscopy we have estimated the proton-donating ability of Zn-bound water in organometallic complexes designed as models for the active site of the metalloenzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA). This ability is important for the understanding of the enzyme reaction mechanism. The desired information was obtained by (1)H and (15)N NMR at 180 K of solutions of [Tp(Ph,Me)ZnOH] [1, Tp(Ph,Me) = tris(2-methyl-4-phenylpyrazolyl)hydroborate] in CD(2)Cl(2), in the absence and presence of the proton donors (C(6)F(5))(3)BOH(2) [aquatris(pentafluorophenyl)boron] and Col-H(+) (2,4,6-trimethylpyridine-H(+)). Col-H(+) forms a strong OHN hydrogen bond with 1, where the proton is located closer to nitrogen than to oxygen. (C(6)F(5))(3)BOH(2), which exhibits a pK(a) value of 1 in water, also forms a strong hydrogen bond with 1, where the proton is shifted slightly across the hydrogen-bond center toward the Zn-bound oxygen. Finally, a complex between Col and (C(6)F(5))(3)BOH(2) was identified, exhibiting a zwitterionic OHN hydrogen bond, where H is entirely shifted to nitrogen. The comparison with complexes of Col with carboxylic acids studied previously suggests that, surprisingly, the Zn-bound water exhibits in an aprotic environment a similar proton-donating ability as a carboxylic acid characterized in water by a pK(a) of 2.2 ± 0.6. This value is much smaller than the value of 9 found for [Zn(OH(2))(6)](2+) in water and those between 5 and 8 reported for different forms of CA. Implications for the biological function of CA are discussed.

NMR and EPR Study of the Nitroxide Radical Tempo Interaction with Phenols

Abstract The 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-I-piperidinyloxy free radical (TEMPO) was used as a probe to study the changes in hydrogen bonding between the phenolic OH group and the ON group of the radical by means of NMR and EPR. 13C NMR contact shifts induced by TEMPO were measured for five phenols. Formation of intermolecular hydrogen bond between a phenol and TEMPO molecule causes noticeable increase of 14N hyperfme coupling constant in the radical and appearance of negative spin density on carbon nuclei of C-OH fragment in the phenol.

Attenuation of London Dispersion in Dichloromethane Solutions

London dispersion constitutes one of the fundamental interaction forces between atoms and between molecules. While modern computational methods have been developed to describe the strength of dispersive interactions in the gas phase properly, the importance of inter- and intramolecular dispersion in solution remains yet to be fully understood because experimental data are still sparse in that regard. We herein report a detailed experimental and computational study of the contribution of London dispersion to the bond dissociation of proton-bound dimers, both in the gas phase and in dichloromethane solution, showing that attenuation of inter- and intramolecular dispersive interaction by solvent is large (about 70% in dichloromethane), but not complete, and that current state-of-the-art implicit solvent models employed in quantum-mechanical computational studies treat London dispersion poorly, at least for this model system.