Paulo R. S. Salbego

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.

Understanding the crystalline formation of triazene N-oxides and the role of halogen⋯π interactions

The crystallization of a series of 1-(4-halophenyl)-3-phenyltriazenide N1-oxides (1–4) and 1-(phenyl)-3-phenyltriazenide N1-oxide (5) was evaluated using the supramolecular cluster approach. This method is an efficient tool to assess the crystallization mechanism of compounds and, consequently, the steps involved in crystal formation. Compounds 1 and 4 show crystallization in two main steps while compounds 2 and 3 present three main steps, in which column formation occurs in the first step. The crystallization process for 5 occurs in 3 main steps, starting from a robust dimer formation (−16.82 kcal mol−1). Two new parameters – NCG% (topological and energetic contribution percentage) and NG/NC (energetic parameter/topological parameter ratio) – assisted in the interpretation of crystal growth. Compounds 1–4 showed NCG% = 50 in the first step while compound 5 reached only 50% of the contribution in the second step. The differences in NCG% were attributed to strong hydrogen bonds in the non-halogenated compound. The dominant parameter in each step of the crystallization process was indicated by the NG/NC parameter. The crystallization mechanism in all compounds was initially driven by an energetic process followed by a topological process. The existence of X⋯π interactions was shown and was observed to be a consequence of a topological process and without any major contributions to crystal formation. Thermal analysis and UV-vis spectral data were also discussed regarding the properties of these compounds.

Insights on the Similarity of Supramolecular Structures in Organic Crystals Using Quantitative Indexes

The quest for concepts of isostructurality in organic crystals has been long and mostly based on geometric data, even with the development of modern software. This field of study is of great interest to the pharmaceutical industry and for the prediction of crystal structures. Despite this, there is still no methodology that provides broad quantitative and comparable similarity data between two complete crystalline structures. The present study demonstrated that the similarity between two crystalline structures could be estimated from the similarity between the two “supramolecular clusters”. Quantitative indexes for similarity comparisons of crystal structures were shown using nine 5-aryl-1-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-1H-pyrazoles as a model. This proposal includes the quantitative data of a geometric parameter (ID), a contact area parameter (IC), and an energetic parameter (IG). The proposed indexes exhibited good perspective regarding the similarity data and distinct regions of similarity. The range of similarity was set at IX ≥ 0.80, 0.80 > IX > 0.60, and IX ≤ 0.60 (X = D, C, or G). Indexes with a value near 1.0 indicate systems with isostructural, isocontact, and isoenergetic behavior. The results indicated that supramolecular structures with high similarity must have high values for all three indexes (ID, IC, and IG).

Insights on conformation in the solid state: a case study – s-cis and/or s-trans crystallization of 5(3)-aryl-3(5)-carboxyethyl-1-tert-butylpyrazoles

A series of 5(3)-aryl-3(5)-carboxyethyl-1-tert-butylpyrazoles (aryl, 4-X-C6H4, where X = H, F, Cl and Br) were studied in the solid state. The 1,3-regioisomers (carboxyethyl group in 3-position) of t-butylpyrazoles crystalized in three different forms: s-cis, s-trans or s-cis + s-trans. On the other hand, the 1,5-regioisomers (carboxyethyl group in 5-position) of t-butylpyrazoles showed only s-trans conformation. The 13C CPMAS and SCXRD data confirmed that each 1,3- and 1,5-regioisomers of t-butylpyrazoles crystallized only one of the three mentioned forms. The potential energy surface (PES) yielded insights regarding the formation of each conformer. In general, quantum mechanical calculations showed that the conformer s-trans is more stable than s-cis, and the calculated stability difference was 0.7 kcal mol−1 for the 1,3-regioisomers and 3.5 kcal mol−1 for the 1,5-regioisomers. Moreover, 1,5-regioisomers of t-butylpyrazoles showed intramolecular interactions of type CH⋯OC between the carbonyl and t-butyl group, which was obtained by QTAIM analysis. This interaction can influence the stabilization for s-trans conformation in the solid state. In contrast, the 1,3-regioisomers did not show intramolecular interaction with the COOEt group, and the conformation adopted in the solid state should be the consequence of the crystalline packing. The QTAIM analysis of the more stable dimers of s-trans-conformation for X = Cl, Br showed that the halogen atoms interact with the COOEt group, helping stabilize this conformation. On the other hand, in the s-cis⋯s-cis conformation dimer (X = Cl, Br), the COOEt group was stabilized by the phenyl group, which is the same stabilization for X = H.

Impact of Anions on the Partition Constant, Self-Diffusion, Thermal Stability, and Toxicity of Dicationic Ionic Liquids

Partition constants (KD°), molecular dynamics (T1, T2, and DOSY measurements), thermal stability, and toxicity of dicationic ionic liquids (ILs) were determined. The dicationic ILs derived from 1,n-bis(3-methylimidazolim-1-yl)octane, [BisOct(MIM)2][2X] (in which X = Cl, Br, NO3, SCN, BF4, and NTf2), were evaluated to verify the influence of anion structure on the IL properties. A monocationic IL [Oct(MIM)][Br] was also monitored for comparison. In general, the solubility of the ILs followed the anion free energy of hydration (ΔG°hyd). The thermokinetic and thermodynamic functions of activation of the ILs were determined via thermogravimetric data, and it was observed that polyatomic anions influence the decomposition mechanism of these IL structures. Furthermore, [Oct(MIM)][Br] had a decomposition rate greater than that of the dicationic analogue, and the thermodynamic parameters of activation data corroborate these results. Finally, the dicationic ILs did not indicate toxic effects (LD50 > 40 mM).

Supramolecular Packing of a Series of N-Phenylamides and the Role of NH···O═C Interactions

A series of seven N-phenylamides [R–C(O)NHPh, in which R: CH3, C(CH3)3, Ph, CF3, CCl3, CBr3, and H] were used as models in this study. Molecular packing and intermolecular interactions were evaluated by theoretical calculations, solution NMR, and quantum theory of atoms in molecules analyses. Crystallization mechanisms were proposed based on the energetic and topological parameters using the supramolecular cluster as demarcation. Concentration-dependent 1H NMR experiments corroborated the proposed interactions between molecules. For all compounds (except for R: H, which initially formed tetramers), layers (two-dimensional) or chains (one-dimensional) were formed in the first stage of the proposed crystallization mechanisms. The presence of strong intermolecular NH···O=C interactions promoted the first stages. The study in solution provided different values of association constant (Kass) governed by the hydrogen bond NH···O=C, showing that the stronger interactions are directly influenced by the substituent steric hindrance. A correlation between Kass(NH···O=C) from the solution and the NH···O=C interaction energy in the crystal showed a good trend.

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.