Proposal for crystallization of 3-amino-4-halo-5-methylisoxazoles: an energetic and topological approach

Abstract

The supramolecular structure of 3-amino-4-halo-5-methylisoxazoles (halo = Cl, Br, and I) was investigated in order to suggest a route for crystallization of small molecules. The hierarchy of intermolecular interactions during the growth of the crystal was established by X-ray diffraction, ¹H NMR titration, QTAIM analysis and quantum mechanical calculations. The relationship between QTAIM and energetic data was the fundamental innovation in this work. It allowed partitioning of the dimer interaction energy between interacting atoms. The partitioning shows the cooperation of the intermolecular interactions in the stabilization of the dimers and led to observation of the energetic consequences that small changes in the molecular structure of each compound may have on the crystal packing. The proposed route for the crystallization of the supramolecular cluster was based on the energetic hierarchy, in which the hydrogen bond is the strongest interaction and the first to form, and the π-interactions are weaker than the hydrogen bond and cannot compete with it. However, the π-interactions are responsible for the growth of the crystal, connecting the rising layers of the hydrogen bond dimers. The other interaction formed, the halogen bond, is too weak to compete with the other two interactions, but it is fundamental for linking the layer that leads to the final three-dimensional arrangement. Finally, a new way of understanding the crystallization process and the design of new materials is presented.