Hydrogen bonding in liquid methanol, methylamine, and methanethiol studied by molecular-dynamics simulations

Molecular-dynamics computer simulations have been carried out on liquid methanol, methylamine, and methanethiol. The local structure of the liquids was studied based on radial distribution functions and the density projections of the neighboring molecules obtained on the basis of simulated molecular configurations. The extent of hydrogen bonding was investigated by direct analysis of the connectivity of molecules forming hydrogen-bonded clusters in these liquids. By this analysis, the methanol molecules were found to form linear chainlike structures. The local structure of hydrogen-bonded molecules of methylamine proved to be rather space filling due to the great extent of chain branching. Methanethiol molecules also proved to form hydrogen bonds forming small compact clusters. No evidence was found, however, for the clustering of hydrophobic methyl groups in any of the liquids. The quality of simulations was checked by derivation of neutron total and composite radial distribution functions and by comparison of those with available experimental data. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.