C-H...N and C-H...S hydrogen bonds--influence of hybridization on their strength

J Phys Chem A. 2005 Jun 30;109(25):5683-8. doi: 10.1021/jp0511496.

Abstract

Simple complexes connected through C-H...S and C-H...N interactions are investigated: CH4...NH3, C2H4...NH3, C2H2...NH3, CH4...SH2, C2H4...SH2, and C2H2...SH2. Ab initio and DFT calculations are performed (SCF, MP2, B3LYP) using different basis sets up to the MP2/aug-cc-pVQZ//MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ level of approximation. The Bader theory is applied since MP2/6-311++G(d,p) wave functions are used to find and to characterize bond critical points in terms of electron densities and their Laplacians. The influence of hybridization on the properties of C-H...S and C-H...N systems is also studied showing that the strength of such interactions increases in the following order: C(sp3)-H...Y, C(sp2)-H...Y, C(sp)-H...Y, where Y = S, N--it is in line with the previous findings on C-H...O hydrogen bonds. The results also show that CH4...SH2 and C2H4...SH2 complexes should be rather classified as van der Waals interactions and not as hydrogen bonds. The frequency associated with the C-H stretch of C(sp3)-H...S is blue-shifted.