The CH•••HC interaction in biphenyl is a delocalized, molecular-wide and entirely non-classical interaction: Results from FALDI analysis

In this study we aim to determine the origin of the electron density describing a CH center dot center dot center dot HC interaction in planar and twisted conformers of biphenyl. In order to achieve this, the fragment, atomic, localized, delocalized, intra- and inter-atomic (FALDI) decomposition scheme was utilized to decompose the density in the inter-nuclear region between the ortho-hydrogens in both conformers. Importantly, the structural integrity, hence also topological properties, were fully preserved as no 'artificial' partitioning of molecules was implemented. FALDI-based qualitative and quantitative analysis revealed that the majority of electron density arises from two, non-classical and non-local effects: strong overlap of ortho C-H sigma-bonds, and long-range electron delocalization between the phenyl rings and ortho carbons and hydrogens. These effects resulted in a delocalized electron channel, that is, a density bridge or a bond path in a QTAIM terminology, linking the H-atoms in the planar conformer. The same effects and phenomena are present in both conformers of biphenyl. We show that the CH center dot center dot center dot HC interaction is a molecular-wide event due to large and long-range electron delocalization, and caution against approaches that investigate CH center dot center dot center dot HC interactions without fully taking into account the remainder of the molecule.

Automated summary

This study aimed to determine the origin of electron density in the CH center dot center dot center dot HC interaction in planar and twisted conformers of biphenyl by utilizing the FALDI decomposition scheme. The analysis revealed that the majority of electron density arises from the strong overlap of ortho C-H sigma-bonds and long-range electron delocalization between the phenyl rings and ortho carbons and hydrogens. This delocalized electron channel acts as a density bridge linking the H-atoms in the planar conformer, indicating that the CH center dot center dot center dot HC interaction is a molecular-wide event due to large and long-range electron delocalization.