Statistical analysis of C–H···N hydrogen bonds in the solid state: there are real precedents

(Note: The full text of this document is currently only available in the PDF Version )

Mark Mascal


Abstract

A survey of the Cambridge Structural Database reveals hundreds of C–H···N contacts which are significantly shorter (<2.45 Å) than the sum of the van der Waals radii (2.75 Å), effectively refuting recent claims to the contrary and supporting the description of this interaction as a hydrogen bond.


References

  1. F. A. Cotton, L. M. Daniels, G. T. Jordan IV and C. A. Murillo, Chem. Commun., 1997, 1673 RSC.
  2. M. Mascal, J. L. Richardson, A. J. Blake and W.-S. Li, Tetrahedron Lett., 1996, 37, 3505 CrossRef CAS.
  3. Version 5.13 (167 797 structures, April 1996 update): F. H. Allen and O. Kennard, Chemical Design Automation News, 1993, 8, 31 Search PubMed.
  4. Twenty-one entries with r values between 1.47 and 1.99 Å were found dubious and therefore not used in the final analysis. If the range is increased to r≤ 2.50 Å with 120 ≤α≤ 180°, a total of 1841 observations are found with r= 2.42 and ᾱ= 154°. An identical search involving neutron diffraction structures (in which all protons are accurately located) produces 13 observations with [r with combining macron]= 2.43 Å(range 2.32–2.50 Å) and ᾱ= 150°(range 139–166°).
  5. R. Taylor and O. Kennard, Acc. Chem. Res., 1984, 17, 320 CrossRef CAS.
  6. E. Weber, S. Franken, H. Puff and J. Ahrendt, J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun., 1986, 467 RSC.
  7. R. Taylor and O. Kennard, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1982, 104, 5063 CrossRef CAS.
  8. (C–)H atoms did however show a significant tendency to form close intermolecular contacts to oxygen (see also ref. 9). Due to the limited amount of data in this study, no real conclusions were drawn concerning C–H⋯N contact.
  9. J. A. R. P. Sarma and G. R. Desiraju, Acc. Chem. Res., 1986, 19, 222 CrossRef CAS; G. R. Desiraju, Acc. Chem. Res., 1991, 24, 290 CrossRef CAS.
  10. M. H. Abraham, Chem. Soc. Rev., 1993, 22, 73 RSC.
  11. A. Bondi, J. Phys. Chem., 1964, 68, 441 CrossRef CAS; A recent revision of the van der Wasls radius of nitrogen to 1.60 Å would acually put the H to N contact distance at 2.80 Å(see S. C. Nyburg and C. H. Faerman, Acta Crystallogr., Sect. B, 1985, 41, 274), while the Pauling radius of N (1.5 Å) gives a total of 2.7 Å(see L. Pauling, The Nature of the Chemical Bond, Comell University Press, Ethica, 1942, p. 192) Search PubMed.
  12. The United Kingdom Chemical Database Service: D. A. Fletcher, R. F. McMeeking and D. Parkin, J. Chem. Inf. Comput. Sci., 1996, 36, 746 Search PubMed.
Click here to see how this site uses Cookies. View our privacy policy here.