Unusual Changes of C-H Bond Lengths in Chiral Zinc Complexes Induced by Noncovalent Interactions

In order to better understand the effect of non-covalent weak interactions on molecules, we have explored a variety of weak interactions, such as improper H-bonding (HB), tetrel bonds (TBs) and halogen bonds, in fluorinated chiral zinc complexes. High resolution neutron diffraction studies revealed a methylene carbon-hydrogen bond elongation and shortening due to TB and improper HB interactions, respectively. To show the accumulative effects of multiple weak interactions on the C-H bond, three types of tetrel bonds have been carefully examined. We have also shown how C-H bond elongation can be easily offset by forming an improper HB with the H atom from this C-H bond. Non-covalent interaction and electrostatic potential analysis investigations have been used to affirm the nature of the interactions based on density functional theory (DFT) and other related calculations.