Weak H-bonds. Comparisons of CH∙∙∙O to NH∙∙∙O in Proteins and PH∙∙∙N to Direct P∙∙∙N Interactions
Document Type
Article
Journal/Book Title
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys.
Publication Date
1-1-2011
Volume
13
First Page
13860
Last Page
13872
Abstract
Whereas CH⋯O H-bonds are usually weaker than interpeptide NH⋯O H-bonds, this is not necessarily the case within proteins. The nominally weaker CH⋯O are surprisingly strong, comparable to, and in some cases stronger than, the NH⋯O H-bonds in the context of the forces that hold together the adjacent strands in protein β-sheets. The peptide NH is greatly weakened as proton donor in certain conformations of the protein backbone, particularly extended structures, and forms correspondingly weaker H-bonds. The PH group is a weak proton donor, but will form PH⋯N H-bonds. However, there is a stronger interaction in which P can engage, in which the P atom, not the H, directly approaches the N electron donor to establish a direct P⋯N interaction. This approach is stabilized by the same sort of electron transfer from the N lone pair to the P–H σ* antibond that characterizes the PH⋯N H-bond.
Recommended Citation
Weak H-bonds. Comparisons of CH∙∙∙O to NH∙∙∙O in Proteins and PH∙∙∙N to Direct P∙∙∙N Interactions S. Scheiner Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2011 13 13860 - 13872
