The nitrogen atom
is commonly considered to be the positive site
in thiazolium cations. Counterintuitively, the shortest cation···anion
contacts in thiazolium salts and their benzoderivatives involve the
sulfur atom. The geometric features of these contacts allow for their
rationalization as charge assisted chalcogen bonds (ChBs). Analyses
of the Cambridge Structural Database and calculation of the surface
electrostatic potential of benzo[d]thiazolium cations
support this rationalization. The relevance and impact of the general
tendency of thiazolium derivatives to function as ChB donors are exemplified
by the ChBs as short as 87% of the sum of van der Waals radii of involved
atoms in thiamine monophosphate, a key compound in human metabolism,
and in two commonly used thiazolium organocatalysts.
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