Weak intramolecular proton-hydride and proton-fluoride interactions:: Experimental (NMR, X-ray) and DFT studies of the bis(NBH3) and bis(NBF3) adducts of 1,3-dimethyl-1,3-diazolidine

Bis(NBH3), bis(NBF3), and NBF3/NBH3 adducts 1-3 were prepared from 1,3-dimethyl-1,3-diazolidine and characterized by the H-1, C-13, B-11, F-19, 2D H-1-C-13 HETCOR and NOESY NMR spectra. The structures and conformations of the adducts were established by the variable-temperature H-1 NMR spectra, the X-ray diffraction method (adduct 2A), and density functional calculations at different theoretical levels. The experimental and theoretical data have revealed that bis adducts 1-3 prefer trans orientations of the borane groups (1A, 2A, 3A) in solution, the solid state, and the gas phase. The studies have shown that the energetic preference of trans adducts with respect to cis compounds, decreasing as 2A (2.9 kcal/mol) > 3A (2.7 kcal/ mol) > 1A (1.4 kcal/mol), is dictated by spatially repulsive interactions between the CH3, BH3, and BF3 groups. The results of DFT calculations agree well with an experimental trans/cis isomeric ratio of 9:1 determined in solutions of adduct 1. The calculated geometry and energy, as well as the topological analysis of electronic densities, show that trans adducts 1-3 should exist in gas phase as twist conformations T-2 stabilized by the intramolecular C-Hdelta+. . . H-delta-B or C-Hdelta+. . . F-delta-B interactions. These interactions are characterized as closed-shell. The energy of one proton-hydride and proton-fluoride intramolecular contact, estimated as 1.9 1A-T-2) and 0.7 (2A-T-2) kcal/mol, respectively, classifies the "elongated" intramolecular interactions CHdelta+. . . -deltaHB and CHdelta+. . . -deltaFB as weak ones. It has been established that, on going from gas phase to a condensed phase (solution and solid), the twist-conformations T-2 transform to conformations T-1, probably by intermolecular dipole-dipole interactions. The data presented in this work show that despite a weakness of the "elongated" proton-hydride and proton-fluoride interactions, they can play a significant role in the stabilization of conformational molecular states, especially when cooperativity is in action.