No description available.

Weak intermolecular interactions have very strong impact on the structures and properties of life giving molecules like H2O, DNA, RNA etc. These interactions are responsible for many biological phenomena. The directional preference of some of these interactions is used for designing different synthetic approaches in the supramolecular chemistry. The work reported in this Thesis comprises of investigations of weak intermolecular interactions in gas phase using home-built Pulsed Nozzle Fourier Transform Microwave (PN-FTMW) spectrometer as an experimental tool and ab-initio and Atoms in Molecules (AIM) theory as theoretical tools. The spectrometer which is coupled with a pulsed nozzle is used to record pure rotational spectra of the molecular clusters in a jet cooled molecular beam. In the molecular beam molecules/complexes are free from interactions with other molecules/complexes and thus, spectroscopy in the molecular beams provides information about the 'isolated' molecule/complex under investigation. The rotational spectra of the molecules/complexes in the molecular beam provide their geometry in the ground vibrational states. These experimental geometries can be used to test the performance and accuracy of theoretical models like ab-initio theory, when applied to the weakly bound complexes. Further the AIM theory can be used to gain insights into the nature and strength of the intermolecular interactions present in the system under investigation. Chapter I of this Thesis gives a brief introduction of intermolecular interactions. Other than hydrogen bonding, which is considered as the most important intermolecular interaction, many other intermolecular interactions involving different atoms have been observed in past few decades. The chapter summarizes all these interactions. The chapter also gives a brief introduction to the experimental and theoretical methods used to probe these interactions. In Chapter II, the experimental and theoretical methods used in this work are summarized. Details of our home-built PN-FTMW spectrometer are given in this chapter. The chapter also discusses briefly the theoretical methods like ab-initio, AIM and Natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis. We have made few changes in the mode of control of one of our delay generators which have also been described. Chapter III and Chapter V of this Thesis are dedicated to the propargyl alcohol complexes. Propargyl alcohol (PA) is a molecule of astrophysical interest. It is also important in combustion chemistry since propargyl radical is considered as the precursor in soot formation. Moreover, PA is a multifunctional molecule, having a hydroxyl (-OH) and an acetylenic (-C≡C-H) group. Both of the groups can individually act as hydrogen bond acceptor as well as donor and thus PA provides an exciting possibility of studying many different types of weak interactions. Due to internal motion of -OH group, PA monomer can exist in gauche as well as trans form. However, rotational spectra of PA-monomer show the presence of only gauche conformer. In Chapter III, rotational spectra of Ar•••PA complex are discussed. The pure rotational spectra of the parent Ar•••PA complex and its two deuterated isotopologues, Ar•••PA-D (OD species) and Ar•••PA-D (CD species), could be observed and fitted within experimental uncertainty. The structural fitting confirmed a structure in which PA is present as gauche conformer and argon interacts with both the O-H group and the acetylenic group leading to Ar•••H-O and Ar•••π interactions respectively. Presence of these interactions was further confirmed by AIM theoretical analysis. In all the three isotopologues c-type rotational transitions showed significant splitting. Splitting patterns in the three isotopologues suggest that it originates mainly due to the large amplitude motion of the hydroxyl group and the motion is weakly coupled with the carbon chain bending motion. No evidence for the complex with trans conformer of PA was found. Although, we could not observe Ar•••trans-PA complex experimentally, we decided to perform ab-initio and AIM theoretical calculations on this complex as well. AIM calculations suggested the presence of Ar•••H-O and a unique Ar•••C interaction in this complex which was later found to be present in the Ar•••methanol complex as well. This prompted us to explore different possible interactions in methanol, other than the well known O-H•••O hydrogen bonding interactions, and eventually led us to an interesting interaction which we termed as carbon bond. Chapter IV discusses carbon bonding interaction in different complexes. Electrostatic potential (ESP) calculations show that tetrahedral face of methane is electron-rich and thus can act as hydrogen/halogen bond acceptor. This has already been observed in many complexes, e.g. CH4•••H2O/HF/HCl/ClF etc., both experimentally and theoretically. However, substitution of one of the hydrogens of methane with -OH leads to complete reversal of the properties of the CH3 tetrahedral face and this face in methanol is electron-deficient. We found that CH3 face in methanol interacts with electron rich sites of HnY molecules and leads to the formation of complexes stabilized by Y•••C-X interactions. This interaction was also found to be present in the complexes of many different CH3X (X=OH/F/Cl/Br/NO2/NF2 etc.) molecules. AIM, NBO and C-X frequency shift analyses suggest that this interaction could be termed as "carbon bond". The carbon bonding interactions could be important in understanding hydrophobic interactions and thus could play an important role in biological phenomena like protein folding. The carbon bonding interaction could also play a significant role in the stabilization of the transition state in SN2 reactions. In Chapter V of this Thesis rotational spectra of propargyl alcohol dimer are discussed. Rotational spectra of the parent dimer and its three deuterated (O-D) isotopologues (two mono-substituted and one bi-substituted) could be recorded and fitted within experimental uncertainty. The fitted rotational constants are close to one of the ab-initio predicted structure. In the dimer also propargyl alcohol exists in the gauche form. Atoms in molecules analysis suggests that the experimentally observed dimer is bound by O-H•••O, O-H•••π and C-H•••π interactions. Chapter VI of the thesis explores the 'electrophore concept'. To observe the rotational spectra of any species and determine its rotational constant by microwave spectroscopy, the species should have a permanent dipole moment. Can we obtain rotational constants of a species having no dipole moment via microwave spectroscopy? Electrophore concept can be used for this purpose. An electrophore is an atom or molecule which could combine with another molecule having no dipole moment thereby forming a complex with a dipole moment, e.g. Argon atom is an electrophore in Ar•••C6H6 complex. The microwave spectra of Ar•••13CC5H6 and Ar•••C6H5D complexes were recorded and fitted. The A rotational constant of these complexes was found to be equal to the C rotational constant of 13CC5H6 and C6H5D molecules respectively and thus we could determine the C rotational constant of microwave 'inactive' 13CC5H6. This concept could be used to obtain the rotational spectra of parallel displaced benzene-dimer if it exists. We recently showed that the square pyramidal Fe(CO)5 can act as hydrogen bond acceptor. Appendix I summarizes the extension of this work and discusses interactions of trigonal bipyramidal Fe(CO)5 with HF, HCl, HBr and ClF. Our initial attempts on generating a chirped pulse to be used in a new broadband spectrometer are summarized in Appendix II. Preliminary investigations on the propargyl•••water complex are summarized in Appendix III.

O trabalho teve por objetivo principal estudar a reação de hidroteluração de 3-hidróxialcinos (álcoois propargílicos), levando à preparação enantiosseletiva de teluretos vinílicos Z funcionalizados com uma hidroxila. Tais sistemas são interessantes do ponto de vista sintético, uma vez que muitas moléculas de interesse biológico possuem duplas ligações associadas a hidroxilas em sua estrutura. Inicialmente, alguns dos álcoois propargílicos foram preparados em laboratório (Esquema IA) e, em seguida, submetidos à reação de hidroteluração (Esquema IB). (Ver no arquivo). Como resultado da hidroteluração de álcoois propargílicos, obteve-se uma mistura de regioisômeros 1,2-dissubstituído e 1,1-dissubstiuído, sendo que a proporção entre eles variou de acordo com o substituinte R (Tabela I). (Ver no arquivo). Observou-se que quanto mais volumoso o grupo R, maior foi a quantidade do isômero 1,2-dissubstituído (telureto vinílico de interesse) obtida. Assim, decidiu-se proteger os álcoois propargílicos com grupos protetores volumosos e submetê-Ios à reação de hidroteluração, sendo os resultados obtidos bastante satisfatórios (Tabela II) . (Ver no arquivo). Os melhores resultados foram obtidos ao se proteger a hidroxila com o grupo t-butildimetilsilila (TBDMS), na forma de éter de silício e cabe ressaltar que em alguns casos apenas o telureto vinílico de interesse foi obtido. Em seguida, foram feitas diversas tentativas de desproteger os teluretos vinílicos obtidos empregando sais de flúor, mas não foram obtidos resultados satisfatórios, uma vez que não foi possível obter o telureto com a hidroxila desprotegida. No entanto, os resultados obtidos foram muito interessantes, pois pode-se concluir que a regiosseletividade da reação de hidroteluração depende de fatores esféricos e pode ser controlada. Além disso, foram obtidos enantiosseletivamente teluretos vinílicos Z, que representam blocos de construção interessantes para aplicação em síntese orgânica. / This project consisted in studying the main characteristics of the hidrotelluration reation of 3-hydroxy alkynes (propargylic alcohols), which lead to the enantiosselective preparation of Z-vinyl tellurides. Such structures are quite interesting for organic synthesis, due to the fact that a large nurnber of biologically relevant compounds contains Z double bonds and hydroxyl groups. Firstly, propargylic alcohols were prepared (Scheme IA) and submitted to hidrotelluration reation (Scheme IB). (See file). The formation of two isomers was observed as a result of the hydrotelluration of 3-hydroxy alkynes. The ratio between 1,2-disubstituted and 1,1-disubstituted isomers showed to be dependent on the group (R) present in the alkyne structure (Table I). It was observed that more hindered groups lead to the formation of a larger amount of 1,2-disubstituted derivative (desired vinyl telluride). So, the 3-hydroxy alkynes were protected with hindered groups and submited to hydrotelluration reaction (Table II). (See file) The use of TBDMS as protective group generated the best results and it is noteworthy that for some alkynes only the desired vinyl telluride was obtained. The results were interesting and it is noteworthy that in some cases only the desired vinyl telluride was obtained. In the following step, several tries to desprotect the hydroxyl group were perfomed, by the use of diferent fiuorine salts, but it was not possible to obtain the free hydroxyl group. Even though, relevant results were observed because it was possible to conclude that the regiosseiectivity of hudrotelluration reaction is sensitive to steric effects and can be controlled. Besides that, a convenient method for the enantiosselective preparation of Z vinyl tellurides was described, wihch are interesting building blocks for organic synthesis.

O trabalho teve por objetivo principal estudar a reação de hidroteluração de 3-hidróxialcinos (álcoois propargílicos), levando à preparação enantiosseletiva de teluretos vinílicos Z funcionalizados com uma hidroxila. Tais sistemas são interessantes do ponto de vista sintético, uma vez que muitas moléculas de interesse biológico possuem duplas ligações associadas a hidroxilas em sua estrutura. Inicialmente, alguns dos álcoois propargílicos foram preparados em laboratório (Esquema IA) e, em seguida, submetidos à reação de hidroteluração (Esquema IB). (Ver no arquivo). Como resultado da hidroteluração de álcoois propargílicos, obteve-se uma mistura de regioisômeros 1,2-dissubstituído e 1,1-dissubstiuído, sendo que a proporção entre eles variou de acordo com o substituinte R (Tabela I). (Ver no arquivo). Observou-se que quanto mais volumoso o grupo R, maior foi a quantidade do isômero 1,2-dissubstituído (telureto vinílico de interesse) obtida. Assim, decidiu-se proteger os álcoois propargílicos com grupos protetores volumosos e submetê-Ios à reação de hidroteluração, sendo os resultados obtidos bastante satisfatórios (Tabela II) . (Ver no arquivo). Os melhores resultados foram obtidos ao se proteger a hidroxila com o grupo t-butildimetilsilila (TBDMS), na forma de éter de silício e cabe ressaltar que em alguns casos apenas o telureto vinílico de interesse foi obtido. Em seguida, foram feitas diversas tentativas de desproteger os teluretos vinílicos obtidos empregando sais de flúor, mas não foram obtidos resultados satisfatórios, uma vez que não foi possível obter o telureto com a hidroxila desprotegida. No entanto, os resultados obtidos foram muito interessantes, pois pode-se concluir que a regiosseletividade da reação de hidroteluração depende de fatores esféricos e pode ser controlada. Além disso, foram obtidos enantiosseletivamente teluretos vinílicos Z, que representam blocos de construção interessantes para aplicação em síntese orgânica. / This project consisted in studying the main characteristics of the hidrotelluration reation of 3-hydroxy alkynes (propargylic alcohols), which lead to the enantiosselective preparation of Z-vinyl tellurides. Such structures are quite interesting for organic synthesis, due to the fact that a large nurnber of biologically relevant compounds contains Z double bonds and hydroxyl groups. Firstly, propargylic alcohols were prepared (Scheme IA) and submitted to hidrotelluration reation (Scheme IB). (See file). The formation of two isomers was observed as a result of the hydrotelluration of 3-hydroxy alkynes. The ratio between 1,2-disubstituted and 1,1-disubstituted isomers showed to be dependent on the group (R) present in the alkyne structure (Table I). It was observed that more hindered groups lead to the formation of a larger amount of 1,2-disubstituted derivative (desired vinyl telluride). So, the 3-hydroxy alkynes were protected with hindered groups and submited to hydrotelluration reaction (Table II). (See file) The use of TBDMS as protective group generated the best results and it is noteworthy that for some alkynes only the desired vinyl telluride was obtained. The results were interesting and it is noteworthy that in some cases only the desired vinyl telluride was obtained. In the following step, several tries to desprotect the hydroxyl group were perfomed, by the use of diferent fiuorine salts, but it was not possible to obtain the free hydroxyl group. Even though, relevant results were observed because it was possible to conclude that the regiosseiectivity of hudrotelluration reaction is sensitive to steric effects and can be controlled. Besides that, a convenient method for the enantiosselective preparation of Z vinyl tellurides was described, wihch are interesting building blocks for organic synthesis.