NIEWIDZIALNE, LECZ KLUCZOWE: OPOWIEŚĆ O WIĄZANIU WODOROWYM

The hydrogen bond has recently been one of the most fascinating research topics in chemistry. It plays a crucial role in functioning of the humans, both in the structure of DNA and in numerous biological processes. Deciphering of the human genome and understanding of complex biological mechanisms are hardly possible without a deep insight into the nature of noncovalent interactions. Furthermore, modelling and designing of new drugs and materials require a wide knowledge of the nature of these interactions. This review constitutes a small but significant contribution to understanding of hydrogen bonding. It pays particular attention to the importance of the steric effect as a tool in the design of new materials, describing the influence of a steric hindrance in hydrogen bridges and the isomeric equilibrium of molecules. The paper concerns the influence of a steric effect on hydrogen bridges in ortho-hydroxy aryl Schiff bases, Mannich bases, ketones and proton sponges. Moreover, the influence of ortho-hydroxy-aldimine substituents (those exhibiting tautomeric equilibrium) on the spectroscopic properties of BODIPY-type fluorescent dyes is dealt with. The review reveals the importance of the steric effect as an efficient tool for modeling of the physicochemical properties of functional compounds.