Abstract
The reaction energies of one cis-fused and four new trans-fused benzene dimers have been studied with state-specific multi-reference Møller-Plesset perturbation theory of the second order (MRMP2) based on reference CASSCF(12,12) wavefunctions. The cis-fused dimer 1, the product of symmetry-allowed [4 + 2] cycloaddition process, has been previously characterized experimentally and theoretically and, in this study, was used as reference. Dimer 1 lies 45 kcal/mol above two isolated benzene molecules, and its retro-dimerization activation energy is ~ 8 kcal/mol. In contrast, the [4 + 2] formation of trans-fused dimer 2 is symmetry-forbidden with an energetic driving force (Erel) of 57.6 kcal/mol. An activation barrier for corresponding retro-dimerization calculated to be 31.0 kcal/mol. The thermal [2 + 2] formation of dimers 3 and 4 are also symmetry-forbidden. They have been calculated to be 79.0 kcal/mol and 105.1 kcal/mol higher in energy than two isolated benzene molecules, respectively. However, the activation energies of 23.2 and 20.5 kcal/mol could allow for kinetic persistence of these compounds. Dimer 5 is the only symmetry-allowed [2 + 2] cycloaddition product. With Erel of 67.5 kcal/mol and Ea for retro-dimerization reaction of 19.2 kcal/mol, it shows high similarity with the symmetry-forbidden dimers. The wave function for each of the dimers at their local minimum geometry contains greater than 80% of the configuration \(\sigma^{4} \pi^{8} \sigma^{*0} \pi^{*0}\). The transition state for the retro-dimerization of 1 (1TS) also contains more than 80% of the closed-shell configuration \(\sigma^{4} \pi^{8} \sigma^{*0} \pi^{*0}\). For 2TS–5TS systems, the wavefunctions exhibit significant biradical character (20%, 20%, 14% and 26%, respectively).
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Notes
Theoretical work on hexaprismane and p,p'-dibenzene.
Theoretical work on o,o':p,p'-dibenzene also discussed in Ref. 3(c) and 3(d).
Experimental observation of o,o':p,p'-dibenzene.
Experimental observations of o,o':o,p'-dibenzene.
Possible derivatives of o,p':p,o'-dibenzene.
Theoretical works on anti-o,o'-dibenzene and syn-o,o'-dibenzene. See also references 3(b) and 3(c)
Experimental works on anti-o,o'-dibenzene and syn-o,o'-dibenzene.
Theoretical works on dimer 1. See also references 3(c), 3(d) and 13.
Experimental works on dimer 1.
Throughout this work, we have used the “heavy dot” notation for H-atoms above the ring plane. As explained in [13], this notation has great utility for describing a large array of benzene dimers differing in stereochemistry just by the placement of the protons. We are aware that this notation is “strongly deprecated” by IUPAC.
The notations [2+2] and [4+2] correspond to the well-known pericyclic nomenclature. Throughout this work, the use of 's' and 'a' subscripts are also derived from the pericyclic reaction nomenclature.
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Financial support from Illinois Institute of Technology (start-up funds, A.Yu.R) and partial support from the Wanger Institute for Sustainable Energy Research (WISER) Seed Grant (A.Yu.R) are gratefully acknowledged.
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McNeely, J., Rogachev, A.Y. New benzene dimers: an MRMP2 study. Theor Chem Acc 139, 87 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00214-020-02598-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00214-020-02598-9