Can lone pair-pi and cation-pi interactions coexist? A theoretical study

Abstract

The interplay between two important noncovalent interactions involving different aromatic rings is studied by means of ab initio calculations (MP2/6-31++G**) computing the non-additivity energies. In this study we demonstrate the existence of cooperativity effects when cation and lone pair interactions coexist in the same system. These effects are studied theoretically using energetic and geometric features of the complexes. In addition we use Bader's theory of atoms-in-molecules and Molecular Interaction Potential with polarization (MIPp) partition scheme to characterize the interactions. Experimental evidence for this combination of interactions has been obtained from the Cambridge Structural Database