J Chem Crystallogr (2009) 39:407–415
413
Fig. 7 Left, X-ray structure of
6
showing the disorder in the
oxygen atom (O(1), 80% and
O(2), 20% occupancy). Right, 6
is rotated bringing the ethyl
group forward to show the
alignment of O(2) and Hmethyl
OꢀꢀꢀHmethyl Intramolecular Interactions
–CH –R group [7]. An interaction between the oxygen
2
atom of one sulfoxide molecule and the hydrogen from the
Compound 6 has two alkyl groups attached to the sulfoxide
intramolecular
–CH –R group can be difficult to demonstrate because it is
2
moiety, and it appears that an OꢀꢀꢀH
so weak. The OꢀꢀꢀH
distance, the OꢀꢀꢀC
distance,
methyl
alkyl
alkyl
interaction could be present. In 6 there is a disordered
oxygen atom, with 80% O(1) and 20% O(2) occupancy.
Structurally there is a close contact between O(2) and
C(12) (Fig. 7). In addition, O(2) and one Hmethyl are per-
and the OꢀꢀꢀH–C angle can be used as evidence to help
support or contradict this theory.
Significant intermolecular hydrogen bonding interac-
tions are considered in these compounds if the OꢀꢀꢀH
˚
fectly eclipsed with a distance of 2.93(1) A. This
˚
distances are\2.70 A and the OꢀꢀꢀH–C angle is[120° [7].
orientation does not exist when looking at O(1). Even
Table 2 shows the OꢀꢀꢀH
distance, the OꢀꢀꢀC distance,
alkyl
though the O(1)ꢀꢀꢀH
distance is slightly shorter
and the OꢀꢀꢀH–C angle for compounds 1–7. The weaker
OꢀꢀꢀH–C interactions are longer than classical OꢀꢀꢀH–O
methyl
˚
(
2.80(1) A), the atoms are *12° degrees out of alignment.
˚
hydrogen bond distances (*2.30 A), and they are less
S, O Intermolecular Interactions
sensitive to deviations from ideal geometries than stronger
H-bonds [20]. Therefore, a larger OꢀꢀꢀH–C angle can
deviation from linearity, but that doesn’t necessarily mean
the hydrogen bond is weaker [7].
The sulfoxide bond has been described as a single bond
with ionic character, with the sulfur bearing a formal
positive charge and the oxygen bearing a formal negative
charge [1, 3]. The large dipole moments in these bonds
allow unique intermolecular interactions in the packing of
these molecules. The intermolecular SꢀꢀꢀO distances range
In this study, 1 and 6 have two alkyl arms adjacent to the
sulfur. 1 has two benzyl groups (crystallizing with two
independent molecules in the asymmetric unit cell, 1a and
1b). The values in Table 2 show the average interaction
distances associated with each molecule. The average
values for 1a and 1b are very close and are in most cases
within experimental error of each other. Of all of the
reported compounds, 1b has the shortest SꢀꢀꢀO distance
˚
from 3.57(1) to 4.37(1) A. The shortest distance is in 1 and
the longest is in 5 (Table 2). In 1–7 sulfur bound to alkyl
groups tends to have a shorter intermolecular SꢀꢀꢀO distance
than when sulfur is bound to aromatic substituents. This
could be due to one or a combination of several reasons.
When aryl substituents are present, conjugation of the
entire pi system in the molecule could reduce the positive
dipole on the sulfur atom, lengthening the intermolecular
SꢀꢀꢀO distance. Alternatively, alkyl groups could simply
give more space for close approach of the oxygen atom.
Thirdly, when alkyl substituents are present, any intermo-
˚
˚
distance (2.77(1) A),
(3.57(1) A), but the longest OꢀꢀꢀH
alkyl
and the OꢀꢀꢀH–C atoms form a 132.72(1)° angle (Fig. 8).
In 6, the sulfur is flanked by one benzyl group and one
˚
ethyl group. The SꢀꢀꢀO distance is 3.99(1) A, which is
longer than in 1. Intermolecular OꢀꢀꢀH
interactions with
alkyl
the OꢀꢀꢀH–C of the benzyl arm are shorter and more linear
˚
distance in 6 is 2.53(1) A and
than that of 1. The OꢀꢀꢀH
alkyl
lecular OꢀꢀꢀH
interactions could help pull the S and O
an OꢀꢀꢀC–H angle is 145.91(0)°. The ethyl arm shows an
˚
alkyl
closer together.
even shorter OꢀꢀꢀH
distance of 2.48(1) A, with a more
alkyl
linear OꢀꢀꢀC–H angle of 149.04(1)°.
OꢀꢀꢀHalkyl Intermolecular Interactions
Given the benchmarks discussed earlier, if there is an
OꢀꢀꢀH
interaction, it would have to be considered very
alkyl
Sulfoxide compounds display some unique intermolecular
interactions in their crystal packing. It has been suggested
weak. However, two weak OꢀꢀꢀH–C intermolecular inter-
actions could pull the molecules closer together and
decrease the OꢀꢀꢀS distance and decrease the OꢀꢀꢀH–C angle
(Fig. 9).
that a type of intermolecular OꢀꢀꢀH
interaction can
alkyl
occur in sulfoxides when the sulfur atom is flanked by a
123