Density functional theory rationalization of the substituent effects in trifluoromethyl-pyridinol derivatives

The influence of α-substitution in the structure, bonding and thermochemical properties of trifluoromethyl-pyridinol derivatives and their protonated counterparts has been studied by means of density functional theory. The geometries of the neutral and protonated species were optimized at the B3-LYP/6-311G(d,p) level of theory. Final energies were obtained through single point B3-LYP/6-311+G(3df,2p) calculations. The relative orientation of the different substituents within the heterocycle ring favours the formation of unexpected intramolecular hydrogen bonds (IHB), which have been characterized by means of the Atoms in Molecules theory of Bader. Although weak, these IHB are of great importance for understanding the gas phase structure and the thermodynamical properties of these compounds. Surprisingly, most of the substituted investigated pyridinols present proton affinities below or close to that calculated for the unsubstituted pyridine molecule. Only pyridinols bearing strong σ or π donor activating groups show proton affinities greater than that of pyridine.