Halogen bonding as a supramolecular dynamics catalyst.

ABSTRACT: Dynamic processes have many implications in functional molecules, including catalysts, enzymes, host-guest complexes, and molecular machines. Here, we demonstrate via deuterium NMR relaxation experiments how halogen bonding directly impacts the dynamics in solid 2,3,5,6-tetramethylpyrazine cocrystals, catalyzing the methyl group rotation. On average, we observe a reduction of 56% in the rotational activation energy of the methyl groups in the halogen bonded cocrystals, contrasting the reduction of 36% in the hydrogen bonded cocrystals, with respect to pure 2,3,5,6-tetramethylpyrazine. Density functional theory calculations attribute this superior catalytic ability of the halogen bond to the simultaneous destabilization of the staggered conformation and stabilization of the gauche conformat

SUBMITTER: Szell PMJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6385366 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature