1-aryl-3-(dimethylamino)propenones: Strong proton acceptors for hydrogen bonds

Because of the electron-donating effects of their terminal dimethylamino groups, the carbonyl units of 1-aryl-3-(dimethylamino)prop-2-en-1-ones are excellent proton acceptors. Intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonds formed by these species were investigated by structural techniques (Xray and neutron diffraction), spectroscopy, and density functional calculations. Co-crystallization of a derivative bearing three (dimethylamino)prop-2-en-1-one units attached at one center in the presence of different proton donors produced one- and two-dimensional H-bridged polymers. ((C) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2003).