Tetrel bond of pseudohalide anions with XH3F (X = C, Si, Ge, and Sn) and its role in SN2 reaction.

The complexes of XH3F⋯N3-/OCN-/SCN- (X = C, Si, Ge, and Sn) have been investigated at the MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ(PP) level. The σ-hole of X atom in XH3F acts as a Lewis acid forming a tetrel bond with pseudohalide anions. Interaction energies of these complexes vary from -8 to -50 kcal/mol, mainly depending on the nature of X and pseudohalide anions. Charge transfer from N/O/S lone pair to X-F and X-H σ* orbitals results in the stabilization of these complexes, and the former orbital interaction is responsible for the large elongation of X-F bond length and the remarkable red shift of its stretch vibration. The tetrel bond in the complexes of XH3F (X = Si, Ge, and Sn) exhibits a significant degree of covalency with XH3F distorted significantly in these complexes. A breakdown of the individual forces involved attributes the stability of the interaction to mainly electrostatic energy, with a relatively large contribution from polarization. The transition state structures that connect the two minima for CH3Br⋯N3- complex have been localized and characterized. The energetic, geometrical, and topological parameters of the complexes were analyzed in the different stages of the SN2 reaction N3- + CH3Br → Br- + CH3N3.