On the strength and nature of intermolecular X···O interactions in CF2ClBr−O3 complexes (X = F, Cl, Br): an ab initio investigation

Abstract

Ab initio calculations were realized to analyze the existence of intermolecular X···O interactions in bromochlorodifluoromethane (CF2ClBr) complexes with ozone, where X = F, Cl, and Br. These calculations have been carried out using MP2 and CCSD(T) methods, through analysis of surface electrostatic potentials V(r), intermolecular interaction energies, and electron density analysis. Coupled cluster (CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ//MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ) calculations indicate that the stabilization energies for the CF2ClBr−O3 complexes lie in the range between –3.9 and –7.7 kJ/mol. The characteristic of X···O interactions has been identified in terms of the electron density analysis within the quantum theory of atoms in molecules. Energy decomposition analysis shows that the attractive nature of the X···O interactions within the title complexes is chiefly due to dispersion effects, but electrostatic contribution also plays an important role.