Pnicogen-bonded complexes H(n)F(5-n)P:N-base, for n = 0-5.

Ab initio MP2/aug'-cc-pVTZ calculations have been carried out on the pnicogen-bonded complexes H(n)F(5-n)P:N-base, for n = 0-5 and nitrogen bases NC(-), NCLi, NP, NCH, and NCF. The structures of these complexes have either C(4v) or C(2v) symmetry with one exception. P-N distances and interaction energies vary dramatically in these complexes, while F(ax)-P-F(eq) angles in complexes with PF5 vary from 91° at short P-N distances to 100° at long distances. The value of this angle approaches the F(ax)-P-F(eq) angle of 102° computed for the Berry pseudorotation transition structure which interconverts axial and equatorial F atoms of PF5. The computed distances and F(ax)-P-F(eq) angles in complexes F5P:N-base are consistent with experimental CSD data. For a fixed acid, interaction energies decrease in the order NC(-) > NCLi > NP > NCH > NCF. In contrast, for a fixed base, there is no single pattern for the variations in distances and interaction energies as a function of the acid. This suggests that there are multiple factors that influence these properties. The dominant factor appears to be the number of F atoms in equatorial positions, and then a linear F(ax)-P···N rather than H(ax)-P···N alignment. The acids may be grouped into pairs (PF5, PHF4) with four equatorial F atoms, then (PH4F, PH2F3) with F(ax)-P···N linear, and then (PH3F2 and PH5) with H(ax)-P···N linear. The electron-donating ability of the base is also a factor in determining the structures and interaction energies of these complexes. Charge transfer from the N lone pair to the σ* P-A(ax) orbital stabilizes H(n)F(5-n)P:N-base complexes, with A(ax) either F(ax) or H(ax). The total charge-transfer energies correlate with the interaction energies of these complexes. Spin-spin coupling constants (1p)J(P-N) for (PF5, PHF4) complexes with nitrogen bases are negative with the strongest bases NC(-) and NCLi but positive for the remaining bases. Complexes of (PH4F, PH2F3) with these same two strong bases and H4FP:NP have positive (1p)J(P-N) values but negative values for the remaining bases. (PH5, PH3F2) have negative values of (1p)J(P-N) only for complexes with NC(-). Values of (1)J(P-F(ax)) and (1)J(P-H(ax)) correlate with the P-F(ax) and P-H(ax) distances, respectively.