Triel bonds within anion···anion complexes†
Abstract
The ability of two anions to interact with one another is tested in the context of pairs of TrX4− homodimers, where Tr represents any of the triel atoms B, Al, Ga, In, or Tl, and X refers to a halogen substituent F, Cl, or Br. None of these pairs engage in a stable complex in the gas phase, but the situation reverses in water where the two monomers are held together by Tr⋯X triel bonds, complemented by stabilizing interactions between X atoms. Some of these bonds are quite strong, notably those involving TrF4−, with interaction energies surpassing 30 kcal mol−1. Others are very much weaker, with scarcely exothermic binding energies. The highly repulsive electrostatic interactions are counteracted by large polarization energies.
- This article is part of the themed collection: 2021 PCCP HOT Articles
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