Cooperative and diminutive effects of pnicogen bonds and cation-π interactions.

The interplay between pnicogen bonds and cation-π interactions has been investigated at the MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ level. Interesting cooperative and diminutive effects are observed when pnicogen bonds and cation-π interactions coexist in the same complex. These effects have been analyzed in terms of the structural, energetic, and charge-transfer properties of the complexes. The variations in electron density at critical points of the intermolecular bond have been used to analyze bond strengthening or weakening. The nature of the interactions and the mechanisms of cooperative and diminutive effects have been studied by means of symmetry-adapted perturbation theory and molecular electrostatic potentials.