Intermolecular Forces

The study of intermolecular forces began over one hundred years ago in 1873 with the famous thesis of van der Waals. In recent decades, knowledge of this field has expanded due to intensive research into both its theoretical and the experimental aspects. This is particularly true for the type of very strong cohesive force stressed in 1920 by Latimer and Rodebush: the hydrogen bond, a phenomenon already outlined in 1912 by Moore and Winemill. Hydrogen bonds exert a profound influence on most of the physical and chemical properties of the materials in which they are formed. Not only do they govern viscosity and electrical conductivity, they also intervene in the chemical reaction path which determines the kinetics of chemical processes. The properties of chemical substances depend to a large extent on intermolecular forces. In spite of this fundamental fact, too little attention is given to these properties both in research and in university teaching. For instance, in the field of pharmaceutical research, about 13000 compounds need to be studied in order to find a single new product that can be successfully marketed. The recognition of the need to optimize industrial research efficiency has led to a growing interest in promoting the study of inter­ molecular forces. Rising salary costs in industry have encou­ raged an interest in theoretical ideas which will lead to tailor­ made materials.