Theoretical study on the complexation of the chloride, bromide, and iodide anions with dodecabenzylbambus[6]uril

Abstract

Using quantum mechanical calculations, the most probable structures of the anionic complex species dodecabenzylbambus[6]uril–Cl−, dodecabenzylbambus[6]uril–Br−, and dodecabenzylbambus[6]uril–I− were derived. In these three complexes, each of the considered univalent halide anions, included in the center of the macrocyclic cavity, is bound by 12 weak C–H···X− (X− = Cl−, Br−, I−) hydrogen bonds between methine hydrogen atoms on the convex face of glycoluril units and the respective anion. The lengths of these C–H···X− hydrogen bonds increase in the series of Cl− < Br− < I−.