Abstract

LAMOUREUX, Guy  and  CHAVES-CARBALLO, Katherine. H-Bridges with OH Donors in Organic Chemistry. Educ. quím [online]. 2022, vol.33, n.3, pp.61-79.  Epub Apr 14, 2023. ISSN 0187-893X.  https://doi.org/10.22201/fq.18708404e.2022.3.81302.

This article discusses the H-bridge formation amongst functional groups containing different H-bridge acceptors with OH donors. A series of circular grids is introduced as a visual aid for the organization and the comparison of the diversity of H-bridges present in organic molecules, emphasizing in the case where the H-bridge donor is an OH group (primarily alcohols and phenols). The H-bridges are classified as “unlikely”, “less significant” and “significant” based on experimental and/or theoretical evidence, and analyzed in terms of electronic, steric, thermodynamic, substitutional, or situational effects. Using these grids, students can predict and classify the likeliness of an H-bridge interaction between common organic molecules and understand their effects in more complex systems.

Keywords : Undergraduate; Organic chemistry; Hydrogen bonds; H-bridges; O-H donor groups; Misconceptions.