Interpretation of neighboring group interactions in crystal structures. A solid state and quantum-chemical study of ''incipient nucleophilic attack'' in 2-diazonium benzoic acid and its benzoate

The concept of the Burgi-Dunitz angle of attack on carbonyls is compatible with the electronic structure of carbonyls. However, it is argued here that the generalization asserted to describe the interaction of nucleophiles with diazonium ions is. inappropriate. Distortions in crystal structures of diazonium ions with proximate nucleophiles were interpreted by an incipient nucleophilic attack (INA) on the formally positive-charged N-alpha. This ''N-alpha attraction model'' relies on the assumption that the formal charge in the most commonly used Lewis structure of diazonium ions represents actual charge. We proposed that the close approach of the proximate nucleophile to the diazonium group occurs to enhance attractive 1,3-(C,N-beta)-bridging interactions and despite repulsion between N-alpha and the proximate oxygen (O-pr). The present study combines theoretical analysis of rotamers of 2-diazonium benzoic acid and its conjugate base with experimental results on the same system to provide compelling evidence that the more general conclusions drawn from analyses of neighboring group interactions in propenoic acid models are fully warranted. The crystallographic record is more fully consistent with the ''1,3-bridging attraction model.'' Combined analysis of solid state and gas phase structures reveals the intrinsic features due to INA. Both electrostatic models can account for these features but with different postulates about the electron density distribution. While the structural analysis alone cannot distinguish between the alternative interpretations, the study of the electronic structure allows one to clearly differentiate between these competing interpretations. A method (ESI) for the quantitative evaluation of electrostatic neighboring group interactions has been devised and this ESI concept employs atomic electrical moments (charges, dipoles, and quadrupoles) determined via topological electron density analysis. The results of the ESI analysis support the 1,3-bridging attraction model and eliminate the N-alpha attraction model.