Structure of the benzene···ICl complex: a UVPES and ab initio molecular orbital study

Abstract

UVPES studies and ab initio and DFT computations have been done on the benzene···ICl complex; electron spectral data and computed orbital energies show that donor orbitals are stabilized and acceptor orbitals are destabilized due to complexation. Calculations predict an oblique structure for the complex in which the interacting site is a C=C bond center in the donor and iodine atom in the acceptor, in full agreement with earlier experimental reports. BSSE-corrected binding energies closely match the enthalpy of complexation reported, and the NBO analysis clearly reveals the involvement of the π orbital of benzene and the σ^∗ orbital of ICl in the complex.