title: The Limit of Intramolecular H-Bonding.
abstract: Hydrogen bonds are ubiquitous interactions in molecular recognition. The energetics of such processes are governed by the competing influences of pre-organization and flexibility that are often hard to predict. Here we have measured the strength of intramolecular interactions between H-bond donor and acceptor sites separated by a variable linker. A striking distance-dependent threshold was observed in the intramolecular interaction energies. H-bonds were worth less than -1 kJ mol-1when the interacting groups were separated by ≥6 rotating bonds, but ranged between -5 and -9 kJ mol-1for ≤5 rotors. Thus, only very strong external H-bond acceptors were able to compete with the stronger internal H-bonds. In addition, a constant energetic penalty per rotor of ∼5-6 kJ mol-1was observed in less strained situations where the molecule contained ≥4 rotatable bonds.
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Hubbard
authors.affiliation: Afton Chemical Limited , London Road, Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 2UW, U.K.
authors.forename: Alisdair J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Afton Chemical Limited , London Road, Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 2UW, U.K.
authors.forename: Ian A W
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: Scott L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Cockroft