Electrostatic interaction of π-Acidic amides with hydrogen-Bond acceptors

Interactions between N-methylacetamide (NMA) and N-methylated derivatives of uracil, isocyanurate and barbituric acid have been studied using ab initio methods at the local MP2/6-31G** level of theory. The results were compared to similar interactions between the oxygen atom of NMA and the π-clouds of perfluorobenzene, quinone and trimethyltriazine. The π-acidic amides of isocyanurate and barbituric acid were found to interact with a hydrogen bond acceptor primarily through electrostatic attractions. These groups may be used as alternatives of a hydrogen bond donor to complement a hydrogen bond acceptor or an anion in molecular recognition and drug design. Examples of such interactions were identified through a search of the CSD database. Computational studies of interactions between N-methylacetamide and uracil, isocyanurate and barbituric acid are reported, suggesting that these π-acidic amides may be used to complement a hydrogen bond acceptor in molecular recognition and drug design.