How can fluorine directly and indirectly affect the hydrogen bonding in molecular systems? - A case study for...

Hydrogen bonds (HBs) directly engaging fluorine has been extensively studied, but the indirect effect of fluorine on adjacent donors and acceptors is poorly understood and still difficult to predict. The indirect and direct effect of the fluorination of aniline on HB patterns observed in monofluoroanilines was studied via experimental (vibrational spectroscopy and crystal structure analysis) and theoretical (ab initio molecular dynamics and electrostatic surface potential) methods. It was found that a fluorine substituent decreases the strength and frequency of N-H⋯N HBs and, at the same time, increases the acidity of CH protons, enhancing the competitiveness of weaker interactions. Additionally, the position of fluorine in the aromatic ring strongly affects the C-F bond length, and a direct intramolecular N-H⋯F HB causes an increase in the N-H bond stability. We also provide a methodology to identify and separate individual HBs concerning the type of donor or acceptor from the ab initio molecular dynamics trajectories.