Structure, spectroscopy and DFT calculations of 1,2-di(3-hydroxymethylpyridinium)ethane dibromide

Abstract The molecular structure of 1,2-di(3-hydroxymethylpyridinium)ethane dibromide ( 1 ) has been characterized by X-ray diffraction, B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) calculations, FTIR, Raman and NMR spectra. The crystals are monoclinic, space group C2/c . 1,2-Di(3-hydroxymethylpyridinium)ethane dication and hydrogen-bonded bromide anions in crystals are located at the inversion center. The both CH 2 OH groups are engaged in two equal length hydrogen bonds with bromide anions. Two structures ( 2 ) and ( 3 ) were optimized at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level of theory. The optimized complex ( 2) resembles the crystal structure, while complex ( 3 ) is preferred energetically. The O⋯Br − hydrogen bonds distances are: 3.289(2) A in crystals ( 1 ), but in the optimized structures ( 2 ) and ( 3 ) they are 3.303 A and 3.461 A, respectively. The investigated complex is additionally stabilized by the N + ⋯Br − electrostatic attractions. The potential energy distributions (PED) were used for the assignments of IR and Raman frequencies in the experimental and calculated spectra of the title compound. The FTIR spectrum of ( 1 ) is consistent with the X-ray results. Interpretation of the 1 H and 13 C NMR spectra in DMSO- d 6 has been based on 2D experiments. The calculated GIAO/B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) magnetic shielding constants have been used to predict 1 H and 13 C chemical shifts for the optimized structures of ( 2 ) and ( 3 ).