The Utility of 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene (TBD) as a Hydrogen Bond Acceptor in the Design of Novel Superbasic Guanidines – A Computational Study

New guanidine-derived superbases with TBD-functionalized alkyl side chains have been developed using a computational DFT approach. Exploiting the high hydrogen bond basicity of TBD allowed ac-cess to systems with strong charge-assisted intramolecular hydrogen bonds in the protonated state. The enhanced stability of such guanidines is mirrored in their gas-phase basicities, which cover the range from 1044−1168 kJ mol−1, depending on the number of alkyl side chains, the type of alkyl spac-er and the hydrogen-bonding pattern