N—π electron-donor—acceptor complexes—IV. The interaction of aliphatic amines with 1,3-dicyanobenzene in n-hexane. The importance of preferred orientation in the stability of the complexes

Abstract

The stability constants ( K) for the electron-donor—acceptor (EDA) complexes formed between aliphatic amines as n-donors and 1,3-dicyanobenzene (1,3-DCB) have been determined in n-hexane as solvent. By means of free energy substitutent parameters and regression analysis, the electronic and steric effects of the N-amine substituents were quantitatively separated. Thus, values of log K were correlated with Taft's polar substituents, σ*, and Hancock's corrected steric substituent constants, E C s. Large steric effects are inferred which lead us to propose a preferential site of interaction. This preferential orientation may also explain the greater stability of the 1,3-DCB—amine complexes with respect to the corresponding 1,4-DCB—amine complexes. The proposal is supported by the excess of atomic charge predicted by the Mulliken population analysis, obtained by MNDO calculations for the acceptors and by considering that for weak n—π complexes, the electrostatic energy may be of major importance in the energy of interaction.