A theoretical study of cation--π interactions: Li+, Na+, K+, Be2+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ complexation with mono- and bicyclic ring-fused benzene derivatives

摘要

DFT (B3LYP functional) and MP2 methods using 6-311+G(2d,2p) basis set have been employed to examine the effect of ring fusion to benzene on the cation--π interactions involving alkali metal ions (Li+, Na+, and K+) and alkaline earth metal ions (Be2+, Mg2+ and Ca2+). Our present study indicates that modification of benzene (π-electron source) by fusion of monocyclic or bicyclic (or mixture of these two kinds of rings) strengthens the binding affinity of both alkali and alkaline earth metal cations. The strength of interaction decreases in the following order: Be2+ > Mg2+ > Ca2+ > Li+ > Na+ > K+ for any considered aromatic ligand. The interaction energies for the complexes formed by divalent cations are 4–6 times larger than those for the complexes involving monovalent cations. The structural changes in the ring wherein metal ion binds are examined. The distance between ring centroid and the metal ion is calculated for all of the complexes. Strained bicyclo[2.1.1]hexene ring fusion has substantially larger effect on the strength of cation--π interactions than the monocyclic ring fusion for all of the cations due to the π-electron localization at the central benzene ring.