NMR Quantification of Hydrogen-Bond-Activating Effects for Organocatalysts including Boronic Acids

The hydrogen-bonding activation for 66 organocatalysts has been quantified using a ³¹P NMR binding experiment with triethylphosphine oxide (TEPO). Diverse structural classes, including phenols, diols, silanols, carboxylic acids, boronic acids, and phosphoric acids, were examined with a variety of steric and electronic modifications to understand how the structure and secondary effects contribute to hydrogen-bonding ability and catalysis. Hammett plots demonstrate high correlation for the Δδ ³¹P NMR shift to Hammett parameters, establishing the ability of TEPO binding to predict electronic trends. Upon correlation to catalytic activity in a Friedel-Crafts addition reaction, data demonstrate that ³¹P NMR shifts correlate to catalytic activity better than p K_a values. Boronic acids were investigated, and ³¹P NMR binding experiments predicted strong hydrogen-bonding ability, for which catalytic activity was confirmed, resulting in the greatest rate enhancement observed in the Friedel-Crafts addition of all organocatalysts studied. A detailed investigation supports that boronic acid activation proceeds through hydrogen-bonding interactions and not coordination with the Lewis acidic boron center. Using ³¹P NMR spectroscopy offers a simple and rapid tool to quantify and predict hydrogen-bonding abilities for the design and applications of new organocatalysts and supramolecular synthons.

Synthon preference in the cocrystal of 3,4,5-trifluorophenylboronic acid with urea

The comprehensive description of the crystal structure of a novel 1:1 cocrystal of 3,4,5-trifluorophenylboronic acid with urea, C₆H₄BF₃O₂·CH₄N₂O, is presented. Both components are good candidates for crystal engineering as they can create a variety of supramolecular synthons. The preference for the formation of different hetrosynthons is verified based on theoretical calculations. The syn-anti conformation of boronic acid has been found to be the most favourable in the formation of intermolecular interactions with urea. Moreover, the distortions present in the boron coordination sphere have been described quantitatively based on experimental data according to bond-valence vector model calculations. The results revealed that the deformation of the sphere is typical for a syn-anti conformation of boronic acids. The supramolecular structure of the cocrystal is composed of large synthons in the form of layers made up of O-H...O and N-H...O hydrogen bonds. The layers are joined via N-H...F hydrogen bonds which are unusual for urea cocrystal structures.

Monosubstituted Phenylboronic Acids, R-B(OH)2 (R = C6H5, C6H4CH3, C6H4NH2, C6H4OH, and C6H4F): A Computational Investigation

Phenylboronic acids (PBAs) are an important class of compounds with diverse applications in synthetic, biological, medicinal, and materials chemistry. In this investigation we report structural and thermochemical parameters for several monosubstituted ortho, meta, and para PBAs, R-B(OH)2 (R = C6H5, C6H4CH3, C6H4NH2, C6H4OH, and C6H4F). Equilibrium geometries of all the PBAs discussed in this article were obtained using second-order Møller-Plesset perturbation theory (MP2) with the Dunning-Woon aug-cc-pVDZ basis set; heats of formation (HOF) were calculated at the Gaussian-3 (G3) level of theory. The endo-exo conformers of all the positional isomers of these PBAs were lowest in energy. Using HOF for the monosubstituted PBAs calculated at the G3 level of theory, in conjunction with the experimental HOF for benzene, toluene, aniline, phenol, and fluorobenzene, the values of [Formula: see text] for the transfer processes C6H6 + C6H4X-B(OH)2 → C6H5X + C6H5-B(OH)2 (X = CH3, NH2, OH, and F) are found to be in good agreement with values of [Formula: see text] calculated at the MP2(FC)/aug-cc-pVTZ//MP2(FC)/aug-cc-pVTZ computational level; the bonding in the reactants and products for these transfer reactions are well-matched and thermochemical calculations at this level are expected to be very accurate, providing checks on the G3 HOF calculations.

Versatile Self-Adapting Boronic Acids for H-Bond Recognition: From Discrete to Polymeric Supramolecules

Because of the peculiar dynamic covalent reactivity of boronic acids to form tetraboronate derivatives, interest in using their aryl derivatives in materials science and supramolecular chemistry has risen. Nevertheless, their ability to form H-bonded complexes has been only marginally touched. Herein we report the first solution and solid-state binding studies of the first double-H-bonded DD·AA-type complexes of a series of aromatic boronic acids that adopt a syn-syn conformation with suitable complementary H-bonding acceptor partners. The first determination of the association constant (K_a) of ortho-substituted boronic acids in solution showed that K_a for 1:1 association is in the range between 300 and 6900 M^-1. Crystallization of dimeric 1:1 and trimeric 1:2 and 2:1 complexes enabled an in-depth examination of these complexes in the solid state, proving the selection of the -B(OH)₂ syn-syn conformer through a pair of frontal H-bonds with the relevant AA partner. Non-ortho-substituted boronic acids result in "flat" complexes. On the other hand, sterically demanding analogues bearing ortho substituents strive to retain their recognition properties by rotation of the ArB(OH)₂ moiety, forming "T-shaped" complexes. Solid-state studies of a diboronic acid and a tetraazanaphthacene provided for the first time the formation of a supramolecular H-bonded polymeric ribbon. On the basis of the conformational dynamicity of the -B(OH)₂ functional group, it is expected that these findings will also open new possibilities in metal-free catalysis or organic crystal engineering, where double-H-bonding donor boronic acids could act as suitable organocatalysts or templates for the development of functional materials with tailored organizational properties.

Supramolecular networks in molecular complexes of pyridine boronic acids and polycarboxylic acids: synthesis, structural characterization and fluorescence properties

3- and 4-pyridineboronic acids have been combined with trimesic and pyromellitic acids to give three molecular complexes.

Association of phenyldiboronic acids with hydrogen bond acceptors to form hydrogen bonded DD·AA-type complexes: a DFT study

DD·AA-type complexes of phenyldiboronic acids.

Geometry of trigonal boron coordination sphere in boronic acids derivatives - a bond-valence vector model approach

The systematic analysis of the geometry of three-coordinate boron in boronic acid derivatives with a common [CBO2] skeleton is presented. The study is based on the bond-valence vector (BVV) model [Zachara (2007). Inorg. Chem. 46, 9760-9767], a simple tool for the identification and quantitative estimation of both steric and electronic factors causing deformations of the coordination sphere. The empirical bond-valence (BV) parameters in the exponential equation [Brown & Altermatt (1985). Acta Cryst. B41, 244-247] rij and b, for B-O and B-C bonds were determined using data deposited in the Cambridge Structural Database. The values obtained amount to rBO = 1.364 Å, bBO = 0.37 Å, rBC = 1.569 Å, bBC = 0.28 Å, and they were further used in the calculation of BVV lengths. The values of the resultant BVV were less than 0.10 v.u. for 95% of the set comprising 897 [CBO2] fragments. Analysis of the distribution of BVV components allowed for the description of subtle in- and out-of plane deviations from the `ideal' (sp(2)) geometry of boron coordination sphere. The distortions specific for distinct groups of compounds such as boronic acids, cyclic and acyclic esters, benzoxaboroles and hemiesters were revealed. In cyclic esters the direction of strains was found to be controlled by the ring size effect. It was shown that the syn or anti location of substituents on O atoms is decisive for the deformations direction for both acids and acyclic esters. The greatest strains were observed in the case of benzoxaboroles which showed the highest deviation from the zero value of the resultant BVV. The out-of-plane distortions, described by the vz component of the resultant BVV, were ascertained to be useful in the identification of weak secondary interactions on the fourth coordination site of the boron centre.

Experimental and theoretical studies of molecular complexes of theophylline with some phenylboronic acids

Molecular complexes of active pharmaceutical ingredient theophylline with p-substituted-chloro, -bromo, -iodo and -hydroxyphenylboronic acids as well as 1,4-phenylene-bis-boronic acid have been reported.

Crystal structure of 4-(meth-oxy-carbon-yl)phenyl-boronic acid

In the title compound, C8H9BO4, the meth-oxy-carbonyl group is rotated out of the plane of the benzene ring by 7.70 (6)°. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked via pairs of O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, involving the boronic acid OH groups, forming inversion dimers. The dimers are linked via O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, involving a boronic acid OH group and the carbonyl O atom, forming undulating sheets parallel to (10-2). Within the sheets there are also C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds present, also involving the carbonyl O atom. The sheets are linked via C-H⋯π and offset face-to-face π-inter-actions between inversion-related mol-ecules [inter-centroid distance = 3.7843 (16) Å, inter-planar distance = 3.3427 (4) Å and offset = 1.744 Å], forming a three-dimensional structure.

Formation of isostructural solid solutions in 2,6-disubstituted N-phenylformamides and N-phenylthioamides

In order to investigate possible isostructural solid solutions of disubstituted N-phenylformamides and thioamides, we have studied the re-crystallization of pairs of compounds selected from 2,6-difluoro-N-phenylformamide (I), 2,6-dichloro-N-phenylformamide (II), 2,6-dimethyl-N-phenylformamide (III), 2,6-dichloro-N-phenylthioamide (IV), 2,6-dimethyl-N-phenylthioamide (V), 2,6-diisopropyl-N-phenylformamide (VI) and 2,6-diisopropyl-N-phenylthioamide (VII). For single-component 2,6-disubstituted-N-phenylformamides only the trans form occurs in the pure crystal, while for thioamides the cis form occurs, with only one exception. By forming solid solutions of pairs of these molecules the resulting structures all adopt similar N-H...O/S chains in the crystals. Solid solutions (1), (2) and (3), resulting from the mixing of (I) and (II), (II) and (III), and (IV) and (V), respectively, are all isostructural with each other (space group Pbca). Only co-crystal (1) is isostructural to both starting materials, while (2) is isostructural to only one of the starting pair, (II). Solid solution (3), which adopts the same Pbca structure as (1) and (2), is different to the monoclinic structures of both the reactants. Solid solution (4) is monoclinic, with similar hydrogen-bonded chains, and isostructural to the two components, resulting from the composition from the mixing of (VI) and (VII). Isostructural indices were used to quantify crystal-packing similarities and differences. Occupancy factors of the reactants in each co-crystal differ widely.

Altering physical properties of pharmaceutical co-crystals in a systematic manner

Systematic structure–property studies on a series of co-crystals of potential cancer drugs with aliphatic dicarboxylic acids were undertaken.

Intramolecular interactions in ortho-methoxyalkylphenylboronic acids and their catechol esters

Catechol esters of ortho-methoxyalkylphenylboronic acids have been synthesized and characterized by (17)O NMR spectroscopy. The results were compared with the data for the parent acids. The influence of intramolecular and intermolecular hydrogen bonds on the properties of the boronic acids has been discussed. The (17)O NMR data for the boronic esters proved that there are no O → B interactions in the investigated compounds. This fact is connected with weak Lewis acidity of the parent acids and their low sugars' receptors activity. Crystal structure of ortho-methoxyphenylboronic acid catechol ester was determined.

Bis[3-(dihydroxy-boryl)anilinium] sulfate

In the title compound, 2C₆H₉BNO₂⁺·SO₄²⁻, the dihydroxy­boryl group of one of the two independent boronic acid mol­ecules participates in (B)O—H⋯O_B and N—H⋯O_B hydrogen bonds, while the second is involved mainly in the formation of the charge-assisted heterodimeric synthon –B(OH)₂⋯⁻O₂SO₂⁻. These aggregates are further connected through N—H⋯O_sulfate inter­actions, forming a complex three-dimensional hydrogen-bonded network.

Benzene-1,4-diboronic acid-4,4'-bipyridine-water (1/2/2)

In the presence of water, benzene-1,4-diboronic acid (1,4-bdba) and 4,4'-bipyridine (4,4'-bpy) form a cocrystal of composition (1,4-bdba)(4,4'-bpy)(2)(H(2)O)(2), in which the molecular components are organized in two, so far unknown, cyclophane-type hydrogen-bonding patterns. The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C(6)H(8)B(2)O(4).2C(10)H(8)N(2).2H(2)O, contains two 4,4'-bpy, two water molecules and two halves of 1,4-bdba molecules arranged around crystallographic inversion centers. The occurrence of O-H...O and O-H...N hydrogen bonds involving the water molecules and all O atoms of boronic acid gives rise to a two-dimensional hydrogen-bonded layer structure that develops parallel to the (01-4) plane. This supramolecular organization is reinforced by pi-pi interactions between symmetry-related 4,4'-bpy molecules.

3-Carb-oxy-2-methoxy-phenyl-boronic acid

The mol-ecular structure of the title compound, 3-COOH-2-CH(3)O-C(6)H(3)B(OH)(2) or C(8)H(9)BO(5), is stabilized in part due to the presence of an intra-molecular O-H⋯O hydrogen bond. In the crystal structure, mol-ecules are linked by inter-molecular O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, generating a two-dimensional sheet structure aligned parallel to the (11) plane.