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An empirical model was developed to predict organic solvophobic effects usingN‐phenylimide molecular balances functionalized with non‐polar alkyl groups. Solution studies and X‐ray crystallography confirmed intramolecular alkyl‐alkyl interactions in theirfoldedconformers. The structural modularity of the balances allowed systematic variation of alkyl group lengths. Control balances were instrumental in isolating weak organic solvophobic effects by eliminating framework solvent‐solute effects. A¹⁹F NMR label enabled analysis across 46 deuterated and non‐deuterated solvent systems. Linear correlations were observed between organic solvophobic effects and solvent cohesive energy density (ced) as well as changes in solvent‐accessible surface areas (SASA). Using these empirical relationships, a model was constructed to predict organic solvophobic interaction energy per unit area for any organic solvent with knowncedvalues. The predicted interaction energies aligned with recent organic solvophobic measurements and literature values for the hydrophobic effect on non‐polar surfaces confirmed the model‘s accuracy and utility.

 

An empirical model was developed to predict organic solvophobic effects usingN‐phenylimide molecular balances functionalized with non‐polar alkyl groups. Solution studies and X‐ray crystallography confirmed intramolecular alkyl‐alkyl interactions in theirfoldedconformers. The structural modularity of the balances allowed systematic variation of alkyl group lengths. Control balances were instrumental in isolating weak organic solvophobic effects by eliminating framework solvent‐solute effects. A¹⁹F NMR label enabled analysis across 46 deuterated and non‐deuterated solvent systems. Linear correlations were observed between organic solvophobic effects and solvent cohesive energy density (ced) as well as changes in solvent‐accessible surface areas (SASA). Using these empirical relationships, a model was constructed to predict organic solvophobic interaction energy per unit area for any organic solvent with knowncedvalues. The predicted interaction energies aligned with recent organic solvophobic measurements and literature values for the hydrophobic effect on non‐polar surfaces confirmed the model‘s accuracy and utility.

 

The ability to control molecular-scale motion using electrostatic interactions was demonstrated using an N -phenylsuccinimide molecular rotor with an electrostatic pyridyl-gate. Protonation of the pyridal-gate forms stabilizing electrostatic interactions in the transition state of the bond rotation process that lowers the rotational barrier and increases the rate of rotation by two orders of magnitude. Molecular modeling and energy decomposition analysis confirm the dominant role of attractive electrostatic interactions in lowering the bond rotation transition state. 

Stabilizing nitrogen pnictogen bond interactions were measured using molecular rotors. Intramolecular C=O⋅⋅⋅N interactions were formed in the bond rotation transition states which lowered the rotational barriers and increased the rates of rotation, as measured by EXSY NMR. The pnictogen interaction energies show a very strong correlation with the positive electrostatic potential on nitrogen, which was consistent with a strong electrostatic component. In contrast, the NBO perturbation and pyramidalization analyses show no correlation, suggesting that the orbital‐orbital component is minor. The strongest C=O⋅⋅⋅N pnictogen interactions were comparable to C=O⋅⋅⋅C=O interactions and were stronger than C=O⋅⋅⋅Ph interactions, when measured using the sameN‐phenylimide rotor system. The ability of the nitrogen pnictogen interactions to stabilize transition states and enhance kinetic processes demonstrates their potential in catalysis and reaction design.

 

Stabilizing nitrogen pnictogen bond interactions were measured using molecular rotors. Intramolecular C=O⋅⋅⋅N interactions were formed in the bond rotation transition states which lowered the rotational barriers and increased the rates of rotation, as measured by EXSY NMR. The pnictogen interaction energies show a very strong correlation with the positive electrostatic potential on nitrogen, which was consistent with a strong electrostatic component. In contrast, the NBO perturbation and pyramidalization analyses show no correlation, suggesting that the orbital‐orbital component is minor. The strongest C=O⋅⋅⋅N pnictogen interactions were comparable to C=O⋅⋅⋅C=O interactions and were stronger than C=O⋅⋅⋅Ph interactions, when measured using the sameN‐phenylimide rotor system. The ability of the nitrogen pnictogen interactions to stabilize transition states and enhance kinetic processes demonstrates their potential in catalysis and reaction design.

 

A series of molecular rotors was designed to study and measure the rate accelerating effects of an intramolecular hydrogen bond. The rotors form a weak neutral O–H⋯OC hydrogen bond in the planar transition state (TS) of the bond rotation process. The rotational barrier of the hydrogen bonding rotors was dramatically lower (9.9 kcal mol −1 ) than control rotors which could not form hydrogen bonds. The magnitude of the stabilization was significantly larger than predicted based on the independently measured strength of a similar O–H⋯OC hydrogen bond (1.5 kcal mol −1 ). The origins of the large transition state stabilization were studied via experimental substituent effect and computational perturbation analyses. Energy decomposition analysis of the hydrogen bonding interaction revealed a significant reduction in the repulsive component of the hydrogen bonding interaction. The rigid framework of the molecular rotors positions and preorganizes the interacting groups in the transition state. This study demonstrates that with proper design a single hydrogen bond can lead to a TS stabilization that is greater than the intrinsic interaction energy, which has applications in catalyst design and in the study of enzyme mechanisms. 

Substituent–π interactions associated with aromatic stacking interactions were experimentally measured using a small N -phenylimide molecular balance model system. The direct interaction of the substituent (NH 2 , CH 3 , OH, F, Br, CF 3 and NO 2 ) with an aromatic ring was measured in the absence of the aromatic stacking interactions in solution. The measured substituent–π energies were found to correlate well with the Hammett σ m parameter similar to the substituent effects observed in aromatic stacking systems. The persistent electrostatic trends in substituent effects can arise from the direct electrostatic interactions between substituents and opposing π-systems.