Carbocation-π interaction: the 1,1-dimethylallyl cation and benzene

Computational studies of the interaction of 1,1-dimethylallyl cation with benzene reveal that its potential energy surface has a rich complexity. The lowest energy π-complex, which involves binding of both ends of the cation to the benzene ring, is calculated to be 4.5 kcal mol−1 lower in energy than its related σ-complex. The results provide further support for the idea that π complexation of carbocations is stronger over the periphery of aromatic systems, and offer insight into why biological reactions involving this type of carbocation do not lead via σ-complex formation to electrophilic substitution of the aromatic rings in proteins.