Tetrel Bond between 6-OTX₃-Fulvene and NH₃: Substituents and Aromaticity

Abstract

Carbon bonding is a weak interaction, particularly when a neutral molecule acts as an electron donor. Thus, there is an interesting question of how to enhance carbon bonding. In this paper, we found that the ⁻OCH3 group at the exocyclic carbon of fulvene can form a moderate carbon bond with NH3 with an interaction energy of about −10 kJ/mol. The ⁻OSiH3 group engages in a stronger tetrel bond than does the ⁻OGeH3 group, while a reverse result is found for both ⁻OSiF3 and ⁻OGeF3 groups. The abnormal order in the former is mainly due to the stronger orbital interaction in the ⁻OSiH3 complex, which has a larger deformation energy. The cyano groups adjoined to the fulvene ring not only cause a change in the interaction type, from vdW interactions in the unsubstituted system of ⁻OCF3 to carbon bonding, but also greatly strengthen tetrel bonding. The formation of tetrel bonding has an enhancing effect on the aromaticity of the fulvene ring.

Keywords

• tetrel bonding
• fulvene
• substituents
• aromaticity