AbstractFrom DNA base pairs to drug–receptor binding, hydrogen (H-)bonding and aromaticity are common features of heterocycles. Herein, the interplay of these bonding aspects is explored. H-bond strength modulation due to enhancement or disruption of aromaticity of heterocycles is experimentally revealed by comparing homodimer H-bond energies of aromatic heterocycles with analogs that have the same H-bonding moieties but lack cyclic π-conjugation. NMR studies of dimerization in C6D6 find aromaticity-modulated H-bonding (AMHB) energy effects of approximately ±30 %, depending on whether they enhance or weaken aromatic delocalization. The attendant ring current perturbations expected from such modulation are confirmed by chemical shift changes in both observed ring C−H and calculated nucleus-independent sites. In silico modeling confirms that AMHB effects outweigh those of hybridization or dipole–dipole interaction.

AbstractFrom DNA base pairs to drug–receptor binding, hydrogen (H-)bonding and aromaticity are common features of heterocycles. Herein, the interplay of these bonding aspects is explored. H-bond strength modulation due to enhancement or disruption of aromaticity of heterocycles is experimentally revealed by comparing homodimer H-bond energies of aromatic heterocycles with analogs that have the same H-bonding moieties but lack cyclic π-conjugation. NMR studies of dimerization in C6D6 find aromaticity-modulated H-bonding (AMHB) energy effects of approximately ±30 %, depending on whether they enhance or weaken aromatic delocalization. The attendant ring current perturbations expected from such modulation are confirmed by chemical shift changes in both observed ring C−H and calculated nucleus-independent sites. In silico modeling confirms that AMHB effects outweigh those of hybridization or dipole–dipole interaction.

This in silico survey shows that changes in the (anti)aromatic character of π-conjugated heterocycles can be used to fine-tune their hydrogen (H-)bond strengths. Upon H-bonding dimerization, the π-electrons of these rings can be polarized to reinforce or disrupt their (anti)aromatic π-conjugated circuits (πCCs) and stabilize or destabilize the resulting H-bonded complexes. H-bonding interactions that enhance aromaticity or relieve antiaromaticity are fortified, whereas those that intensify antiaromaticity or disrupt aromaticity are weakened, relative to analogues lacking full π-circuits. Computed dissected nucleus-independent chemical shifts, NICS(1)zz, reveal a uniform pattern and document changes in the magnetic (anti)aromatic character of the heterocycles considered. Recognition of this (anti)aromaticity-modulated H-bonding (AMHB) phenomenon offers insights into a range of fields from organocatalysis and self-assembly to pharmaceutical chemistry and molecular biology.