Structural, QTAIM, thermodynamic properties, bonding, aromaticity and NMR analyses of cation–π interactions of mono and divalent metal cations (Li+, Na+, K+, Be2+, Mg2+, and Ca2+) with substituted pyrazine derivatives

Abstract

Theoretical investigation of 42 cation-π complexes formed by the alkali metal ( Li +, Na +, K +), alkaline-earth cations ( Be 2+, Mg 2+, Ca 2+) and π-system of the pyrazine and its derivatives have been performed at density functional theory (DFT) (B3LYP functional) and MP2 methods with 6-311++G** basis set in the gas phase and the polarized continuum model (PCM)-water solvation. The following substituents have been taken into consideration: Br , Cl , CH 3, OH , OCH 3 and SH . The interactions present in these complexes have been investigated by means of the natural bond orbital (NBO) and the Bader's quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIMs) approaches. The effects of the interactions on NMR data have been probed using the GIAO-based method to extend investigation of the studied compounds. The calculated highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energies show that charge transfer occurs within each complex. Vibrational frequencies and physical properties such as dipole moment, chemical potential, chemical hardness and chemical electrophilicity of these compounds have been systematically explored. The aromaticity of aromatic rings has been measured using several well-established indices of aromaticity such as nucleus-independent chemical shift, harmonic oscillator models of the aromaticity, para-delocalization index, average two-center indices, aromatic fluctuation index and π-fluctuation aromatic index.