Strength order and nature of the π-hole bond of cyanuric chloride and 1,3,5-triazine with halide.

The (13)C NMR chemical shift moving upfield indicates the main model of π-holeX(-) bond between cyanuric chloride/1,3,5-triazine (3ClN/3N), which possess both the π-hole and σ-hole, and X(-). (13)C NMR and UV absorption titration in acetonitrile confirmed that the bonding abilities of 3ClN/3N with X(-) follow the order I(-) > Br(-) > Cl(-), which is apparently the order of the charge transfer ability of halide to 3ClN/3N. Chemical calculations showed that the bonding abilities in solution were essentially consistent with those obtained by titration experiments. However, the results in the gas phase were the reverse, i.e., π-holeCl(-) > π-holeBr(-) > π-holeI(-) in bonding energy, which obeys the order of electrostatic interaction. In fact, the π-hole bond and σ-hole bond compete with solvation and possible anion-hydrogen bond between a solvent molecule and a halide in solution. An explanation is that the apparent charge transfer order of π-/σ-holeI(-) > π-/σ-holeBr(-) > π-/σ-holeCl(-) occurs for weak π-hole bonds and σ-hole bonds, whereas the order of electrostatic attraction of π-/σ-holeCl(-) > π-/σ-holeBr(-) > π-/σ-holeI(-) is valid for strong bonds. It can be concluded by combining energy decomposition analysis and natural bond orbital analysis that the π-holeX(-) bond and σ-holeX(-) bond are electrostatically attractive in nature regardless of whether the order is I(-) > Br(-) > Cl(-) or the reverse.