Extremely Strong Halogen Bond. The Case of a Double-Charge-Assisted Halogen Bridge

The stable model of a double (±)charge-assisted halogen bridge has been built on the basis of searches of the Crystal Structure Database. The model, investigated by DFT theory, consists of quinuclidine-like cation derivatives and a set of simple anions. These charged fragments form halogen-bonded complexes of which the energy of complexation in some cases reaches 100 kcal/mol. Even for such strong interactions, the QTAIM characteristics are similar to those of the more classic, relatively weak halogen bonds. An important effect of complexation is the charge transfer measured by means of QTAIM and NBO. It can also be supposed, on the basis of detailed structural and QTAIM analysis, that the delocalization of the charge in a quinuclidine moiety occurs through space and not necessarily along formal bonds. The analysis of only partially charged and fully neutral counterparts of a double (±)charge-assisted halogen bridge shows significantly weaker bonding, being less than 10 kcal/mol.