Experimental charge density of sucrose at 20 K: bond topological, atomic, and intermolecular quantitative properties

The charge density of sucrose was determined from a high-resolution X-ray data set measured at 20 K. The density distribution so obtained was analyzed quantitatively by application of Bader’s atoms in molecules (AIM) formalism, and a comparison was made with corresponding results from a B3LYP (6-311++G(3df,3pd)) calculation at the experimental geometry. Bond topological and atomic properties (volumes and charges) were derived and compared. The influence of hydrogen bonding on the experimental charge density was also studied qualitatively and quantitatively by means of topological properties. In terms of the hydrogen-bond energies, a grouping into strong, medium and very weak hydrogen bonds was made, the latter of which were involved in a bifurcated bond.

Graphical abstractThe electrostatic potential of sucrose, mapped on the isosurface of the experimental electron density at 0.5 e Å−3, makes the polarization of this density visible.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide