The structures of the N-(hydroxymethyl)acetamide (model molecule of ceramide) dimers have been fully optimized at B3LYP/6-311++G** level. The intermolecular hydrogen bonding interaction energies have been calculated using the B3LYP/6-311++G**, B3LYP/6-311++G(2df,2p), MP2(full)/6-311++G** and MP2(full)/6-311++G(2df,2p) methods, respectively. The results show that the O-H···O, N-H···O, O-H···N, and C-H···O hydrogen bonding interactions could exist in N-(hydroxymethyl)acetamide dimers, and the O-H···O, N-H···O, and O-H···N hydrogen bonding interactions could be stronger than C-H···O. The three-dimensional network structure formed by ceramide molecules through intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions may be the main reason why the stratum corneum of skin could prevent foreign substances from entering our body, as is in accordance with the experimental results. The stability of hydrogen-bonding interactions follow the order of (a) > (b) ≈ (c) > (d) > (e) ≈ (f) > (g) > (h). The analyses of the energy decomposition, frequency, atoms in molecules (AIM), natural bond orbital (NBO), and electron density shift are used to further reveal the nature of the complex formation. In the range of 263.0-328.0 K, the complex is formed via an exothermic reaction, and the solvent with lower temperature and dielectric constant is favorable to this process. Graphical abstract The structures and the O-H···O=C, N-H···O=C and C-H···O=C H-bonding interactions in the N-(hydroxymethyl)acetamide (model molecule of ceramide) dimers were investigated using the B3LYP and MP2(full) methods.

The cooperativity effects between the O/N-H∙∙∙F(-) anionic hydrogen-bonding and O/N-H∙∙∙O hydrogen-bonding interactions and electrostatic potentials in the 1:2 (F(-):N-(Hydroxymethyl)acetamide (signed as "ha")) ternary systems are investigated at the B3LYP/6-311++G** and MP2/6-311++G** levels. A comparison of the cooperativity effect in the "F(-)∙∙∙ha∙∙∙ha" and "FH∙∙∙ha(-)∙∙∙ha" systems is also carried out. The result shows that the increase of the H∙∙∙O interaction energy in the O-H∙∙∙O-H, N-H∙∙∙O-H or N-H∙∙∙O = C link is more notable than that in the O-H∙∙∙O = C contact upon ternary-system formation. The cooperativity effect is found in the complex formed by the O/N-H∙∙∙F(-) and O/N-H∙∙∙O interactions, while the anti-cooperativity effect is present in the system with only the O/N-H∙∙∙F(-) H-bond or the "FH∙∙∙ha(-)∙∙∙ha" complex by the N(-)∙∙∙H-F contact. Atoms in molecules (AIM) analysis and shift of electron density confirm the existence of cooperativity. The most negative surface electrostatic potential (V(S,min)) correlates well with the interaction energy E' int.(ha∙∙∙F-) and synergetic energy E(syn.), respectively. The relationship between the change of V(S,min) (i.e., ΔV(S,min)) and E(syn.) is also found.

No abstract