Correlation of the partial charge-transfer and covalent nature of halogen bonding with the THz and IR spectral changes

Abstract

The electronic structural origin of the THz and IR spectral changes occurring upon halogen-bond formation is examined by employing the technique of electron density analysis. Theoretical calculations and analyses are conducted for the complexes of pentafluoroiodobenzene (C₆F₅I) and nitryl chloride (O₂NCl) formed with other (halogen-bond accepting) molecules taken as typical examples. It is shown that, in the case of the C–I stretching mode of C₆F₅I appearing in the THz spectral region, the intensity enhancement occurring upon halogen-bond formation arises from the intermolecular charge flux and (together with the vibrational frequency) is correlated to the partial charge-transfer and covalent nature of the halogen bond. For the N–Cl stretching vibration of O₂NCl, it is shown that the high-frequency shift occurring upon complex formation with NH₃ arises mainly from the electrostatic effect, while the reduction of its IR intensity arises from the polarization effect and, to a larger extent, from the intermolecular charge flux. These results indicate, therefore, that there are some observable spectroscopic properties in the THz and IR region that are mainly controlled by (and, hence, shed light on) the partial charge-transfer and covalent nature of halogen bonding.