Tetrel bonding interactions in perchlorinated cyclopenta- and cyclohexatetrelanes: A combined DFT and CSD study

Abstract

In this manuscript, we combined DFT calculations (PBE0-D3/def2-TZVP level of theory) and a Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) survey to evaluate the ability of perchlorinated cyclopenta- and cyclohexatetrelanes in establishing tetrel bonding interactions. For this purpose, we used Tr5Cl10 and Tr6Cl12 (Tr = Si and Ge) and HCN, HF, OH− and Cl− as electron donor entities. Furthermore, we performed an Atoms in Molecules (AIM) analysis to further describe and characterize the interactions studied herein. A survey of crystal structures in the CSD reveals that close contacts between Si and lone-pair-possessing atoms are quite common and oriented along the extension of the covalent bond formed by the silicon with the halogen atom.