Hydrogen bonding to alkanes: computational evidence

The structural, vibrational, and energetic properties of adducts of alkanes and strong cationic proton donors were studied with composite ab initio calculations. Hydrogen bonding in D-H(+)...H-alkyl adducts contributes to a significant degree to the interactions between the two components, which is substantiated by NBO and AIM results. The hydrogen bonds manifest themselves in the same manner as conventional hydrogen bonds, D-H bond elongation, D-H vibrational stretching frequency red shift and intensity increase, and adduct stabilization. The alkane adducts also exhibit elongation of the C-H bonds involved and a concurrent red shift, which is rationalized in terms of charge-transfer interactions that cause simultaneous weakening of both the O-H and C-H bonds. Like other dihydrogen-bonded adducts, the adducts possess a bent structure and asymmetric bifurcated hydrogen bonds. The hydrogen bonds are stronger in adducts of isobutane and in adducts of stronger acids. Intramolecular hydrogen bonding in protonated long-chain alcohols manifests itself in the same manner as intermolecular hydrogen bonding and can be equally strong.