Reaction of the thallium(I) cation with [2.2]paracyclophane: Experimental and theoretical study

Abstract

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry was used to investigate the cation-π interaction of Tl+ cation with [2.2]paracyclophane. It was found that 1:1 cationic complex species is formed in the gas phase. Further, applying quantum mechanical calculations in the frame of the density functional theory, applying B3LYP functional with Def2TZVP basis set, the most probable structure of the proved [2.2]paracyclophane – Tl+ complex was derived. In the resulting complex, the cation Tl+ is bounded to six carbon atoms of one benzene ring of [2.2]paracyclophane ligand via cation-π interaction. The interaction energy, E(int), of this cation-π complex was calculated to be −133.59 kJ/mol, which is consistent with the formation of the considered Tl+ – [2.2]paracyclophane complex species.