A novel definition for the hydrogen bond is recommended here. It takes into account the theoretical and experimental knowledge acquired over the past century. This definition insists on some evidence. Six criteria are listed that could be used as evidence for the presence of a hydrogen bond.

The topological and energetic properties of the electron density distribution ρ(r) of the isolated pairwise H⋯F interaction have been theoretically calculated at several geometries (0.8<d<2.5 Å) and represented against the corresponding internuclear distances. From long to short geometries, the results presented here lead to three characteristic regions, which correspond to three different interaction states. While the extreme regions are associated to pure closed-shell (CS) and shared-shell (SS) interactions, the middle one has been related to the redistribution of ρ(r) between those electronic states. The analysis carried out with this system has permitted to associate the transit region between pure CS and SS interactions to internuclear geometries involved in the building of the H–F bonding molecular orbital. A comparative analysis between the formation of this orbital and the behavior of some characteristic ρ(r) properties has indicated their intrinsic correspondence, leading to the definition of a bond degree parameter [BD=HCP/ρCP; HCP and ρCP being the total electron energy density and the electron density value at the H⋯F (3,−1) critical point]. Along with the isolated pairwise H⋯F interaction, 79 X–H⋯F–Y (neutral, positively and negatively charged) complexes have been also theoretically considered and analyzed in terms of relevant topological and energetic properties of ρ(r) found at their H⋯F critical points. In particular, the interaction energies of X–H⋯F–Y pure CS interactions have been estimated by using the bond degree parameter. On the other hand, the [F⋯H⋯F]− proton transfer geometry has been related to the local maximum of the electron kinetic energy density (GCP)max.

The hydrogen bond (HB) basicity of a series of ylides containing nitrogen, oxygen, or carbon as heavy atoms, as well as the influence of the formation of the HB complexes on their structure, has been studied. In addition, in this paper we propose the formation of some rather strong HBs (that could be considered low-barrier hydrogen bonds, LBHBs) between ylides and different neutral molecules. The ylides chosen for the study wereAs HB donors, classical donors such as HF, HCN, and HCCH were used. The analysis of the protonation energies of the ylides and the optimized geometries, interaction energies, and characteristics of the electron density of the complexes shows that these ylides are very good HB acceptors, forming stable complexes even with weak HB donors. With strong donors, when the proton transfer did not take place, very strong HBs were formed with quite large interaction energies and very short HB distances which could be considered as LBHBs. Moreover, we have found that the sign of the Laplacian of the electron density at the bond critical point (∇ 2 F BCP ) and that of the energy density (H BCP ) could characterize the strength of HBs. Thus, weak HBs (E I < 12.0 kcal/mol) show both ∇ 2 F BCP and H BCP > 0, and medium HBs (12.0 < E I < 24.0 kcal/mol) show ∇ 2 F BCP > 0 and H BCP < 0, while strong HBs (and therefore LBHBs; E I > 24.0 kcal/mol) show both ∇ 2 F BCP and H BCP < 0.

Abstract:The term "hydrogen bond" has been used in the literature for nearly a century now. While its importance has been realized by physicists, chemists, biologists, and material scientists, there has been a continual debate about what this term means. This debate has intensified following some important experimental results, especially in the last decade, which questioned the basis of the traditional view on hydrogen bonding. Most important among them are the direct experimental evidence for a partial covalent nature and the observation of a blue-shift in stretching frequency following X-HؒؒؒY hydrogen bond formation (XH being the hydrogen bond donor and Y being the hydrogen bond acceptor). Considering the recent experimental and theoretical advances, we have proposed a new definition of the hydrogen bond, which emphasizes the need for evidence. A list of criteria has been provided, and these can be used as evidence for the hydrogen bond formation. This list is followed by some characteristics that are observed in typical hydrogen-bonding environments.

The complexes formed by a variety of anions with perfluoro derivatives of benzene, naphthalene, pyridine, thiophene, and furan have been calculated using DFT (B3LYP/6-31++G**) and MP2 (MP2/6-31++G** and MP2/6-311++G**) ab initio methods. The minimum structures show the anion interacting with the pi-cloud of the aromatic compounds. The interaction energies obtained range between -8 and -19 kcal mol(-1). The results obtained at the MP2/6-31++G** and MP2/6-311++G** levels are similar. However, the B3LYP/6-31++G** results provide longer interaction distances and smaller interaction energies than do the MP2 results. The interaction energies have been partitioned using an electrostatic, polarization, and van der Waals scheme. The AIM analysis of the electron density shows a variety of topologies depending on the aromatic system considered.