Abstract
We report evidence of the favorable noncovalent interaction between a covalently bonded atom of Group 18 (known as noble gases or aerogens) and a negative site, for example, a lone pair of a Lewis base or an anion. It involves a region of positive electrostatic potential (σ-hole), therefore it is a totally new and unexplored σ-hole-based interaction, namely aerogen bonding. We demonstrate for the first time the existence of σ-hole regions in aerogen derivatives by means of high-level ab initio calculations. In addition, several crystal structures retrieved from the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) give reliability to the calculations. Energetically, aerogen bonds are comparable to hydrogen bonds and other σ-hole-based interactions but less directional. They are expected to be important in xenon chemistry.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
