Linear Free Energy Relationships Reveal Structural Changes in Hydrogen-Bonded Host–Guest Interactions

[Image: see text] Hydrogen bond strength in host–guest systems is modulated by many factors including preorganization, steric effects, and electronic effects. To investigate how electronic effects impact barbiturate binding in bifurcated Hamilton receptors, a library of receptors with differing electronic substituents was synthesized and (1)H NMR titrations were performed with diethyl barbital. The Hammett plot revealed a clear break between the different electronic substituents suggesting a change in binding conformation. The titration data were complimented with computational studies confirming the change in structure.