DOI

Computations indicate that cationic and noncharged xenon derivatives should exhibit higher catalytic activity than their iodine-based noncovalent organocatalytic congeners. Perfluorophenyl xenonium(II) is expected to demonstrate the best balance between catalytic activity and chemical stability for use in organocatalysis. Comparing its catalytic activity with that of isoelectronic perfluoroiodobenzene indicates that the high catalytic activity of cationic noncovalent organocatalysts is predominantly attributed to the electrostatic interactions with the reaction substrates, which cause the polarization of ligated species during the reaction progress. In contrast, the electron transfer and covalent contributions to the bonding between the catalyst and substrate have negligible effects. The dominant effect of electrostatic interactions results in a strong negative correlation between the calculated Gibbs free energies of activation for the modeled reactions and the highest potentials of the σ-holes on the central atoms of the catalysts. No such correlation is observed for noncharged catalysts.

Translated title of the contributionПроизводные ксенона как катализаторы — доноры аэрогенных связей для органических реакций: теоретическое исследование метафоричного "коня в вакууме" проливает свет на аспекты нековалентного органокатализа
Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Organic Chemistry
DOIs
StateE-pub ahead of print - 9 Jun 2022

    Scopus subject areas

  • Chemistry(all)

ID: 96494415