Creating σ-Holes through the Formation of Beryllium Bonds

Through the use of ab initio theoretical models based on MP2/aug‐cc‐pVDZ‐optimized geometries and CCSD(T)/aug‐cc‐pVTZ and CCSD(T)/aug‐c‐pVDZ total energies, it has been shown that the significant electron density rearrangements that follow the formation of a beryllium bond may lead to the appearance of a σ‐hole in systems that previously do not exhibit this feature, such as CH3OF, NO2F, NO3F, and other fluorine‐containing systems. The creation of the σ‐hole is another manifestation of the bond activation–reinforcement (BAR) rule. The appearance of a σ‐hole on the F atoms of CH3OF is due to the enhancement of the electronegativity of the O atom that participates in the beryllium bond. This atom recovers part of the charge transferred to Be by polarizing the valence density of the F into the bonding region. An analysis of the electron density shows that indeed this bond becomes reinforced, but the F atom becomes more electron deficient with the appearance of the σ‐hole. Importantly, similar effects are also observed even when the atom participating in the beryllium bond is not directly attached to the F atom, as in NO2F, NO3F, or NCF. Hence, whereas the isolated CH3OF, NO2F, and NO3F are unable to yield F⋅⋅⋅Base halogen bonds, their complexes with BeX2 derivatives are able to yield such bonds. Significant cooperative effects between the new halogen bond and the beryllium bond reinforce the strength of both noncovalent interactions. The σ‐hole truth: By using ab initio theoretical models, it has been shown that significant electron density rearrangements following the formation of a beryllium bond may lead to the appearance of a σ‐hole in systems that previously did not exhibit this feature, such as CH3OF, NO2F, NO3F and other fluorine‐containing systems (see figure).