From weak interactions to covalent bonds: a continuum in the complexes of 1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene.

Experimental charge density distributions in a series of ionic complexes of 1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene (DMAN) with four different acids: 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylic acid (pyromellitic acid), 4,5-dichlorophthalic acid, dicyanoimidazole, and o-benzoic sulfimide dihydrate (saccharin) have been analyzed. Variation of charge density properties and derived local energy densities are investigated, over all inter- and intramolecular interactions present in altogether five complexes of DMAN. All the interactions studied [[O...H...O](-), C[bond]H...O, [N[bond]H...N](+), O[bond]H...O, C[bond]H...N, C pi...N pi, C pi...C pi, C[bond]H...Cl, N[bond]H(+)] follow exponential dependences of the electron density, local kinetic and potential energies at the bond critical points on the length of the interaction line. The local potential energy density at the bond critical points has a near-linear relationship to the electron density. There is also a Morse-like dependence of the laplacian of rho on the length of interaction line, which allows a differentiation of ionic and covalent bond characters. The strength of the interactions studied varies systematically with the relative penetration of the critical points into the van der Waals spheres of the donor and acceptor atoms, as well as on the interpenetration of the van der Waals spheres themselves. The strong, charge supported hydrogen bond in the DMANH(+) cation in each complex has a multicenter character involving a [[Me(2)N[bond]H....NMe(2)](+)....X(delta-)] assembly, where X is the nearest electronegative atom in the crystal lattice.