American Chemical Society, Journal of the American Chemical Society, 29(134), p. 12064-12071, 2012
DOI: 10.1021/ja301318a
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Whether nonconventional hydrogen bonds, such as the C-H···O interaction, are a consequence or a determinant of conformation is a long-running and unresolved issue. Here we outline a solid-state and quantum mechanical study designed to investigate whether a C-H···O interaction can override the significant trans-planar conformational preferences of α-fluoroamide substituents. A profound change in dihedral angle from trans-planar((OCCF)) to cis-planar((OCCF)) observed on introducing an acceptor group for a C-H···O hydrogen bond is consistent with this interaction functioning as a determinant of conformation in certain systems. This testifies to the potential influence of the C-H···O hydrogen bond and is consistent with the assignment of this interaction as a contributor to overall conformation in both model and natural systems.