Ab initio calculations have been performed for the complexes H-PyTXNH and H-furanTFNH (T = C, Si, and Ge; X = F and Cl) with focus on geometries, energies, orbital interactions, and electron densities to study the influence of protonation on the strength of tetrel bonding. The primary interaction mode between α/β-furanCF/p-PyCF and NH changes from an FH hydrogen bond to a CN tetrel bond as a result of protonation. Importantly, the protonation has a prominent enhancing effect on the strength of tetrel bonding with an increase in binding energy from 14 to 30 kcal mol. The tetrel bonding becomes stronger in the order H-p-PySiFNH < H-m-PySiFNH < H-o-PySiFNH, showing a reverse trend from that of the neutral analogues. In addition, there is competition between the tetrel and hydrogen bonds in the protonated complexes, in which the hydrogen bond is favored in the complexes of H-p-PyCF but the tetrel bond is preferred in the complexes of H-p-PyTX (T = Si, Ge; X = F, Cl) and H-o/m-PySiF.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.