A theoretical study of π-stacking interactions in C-substituted tetrazoles

•The π-stacking effects of benzene ring (Ben) with 1H- and 2H-tetrazole derivatives (1H-TZ-X and 2H-TZ-X) substituted at C5 have been evaluated by computational quantum chemistry methods.•The results indicate the 1H-TZ-X||Ben complexes are more stable than 2H-TZ-X||Ben while in unstacked forms, 1H-TZ-X is less stable than 2H-TZ-X.•All substituents enhance the stacking interactions relative to the unsubstituted case, where enhancement is higher for electron-withdrawing substituents.•Two correlation equations were found for prediction of the ∆E values of the 1H-TZ-X||Ben and 2H-TZ-X||Ben complexes.•The π-stacking interaction increase the basicity and the H-bonding capacity of 1H-TZ-X and 2H-TZ-X. This increase is accompanied by increase in the electrostatic interactions.

The π-stacking effects of benzene ring (Ben) with 1H- and 2H-tetrazole derivatives (1H-TZ-X and 2H-TZ-X) substituted at C5 (where X is Cl, COH, NO, NO2, CN, NH2, OH, OCH3, SH and H) has been investigated by the quantum mechanical calculations at the M06-2X/6-311++G** level. The results indicate the 1H-TZ-X||Ben complexes (|| donates π-stacking interaction) are more stable than 2H-TZ-X||Ben while in unstacked forms, 1H-TZ-X is less stable than 2H-TZ-X. All substituents enhance the π-stacking interaction relative to the unsubstituted ones and enhancement is higher for the electron-withdrawing substituents (EWSs). Also, investigation of the local and direct effect of substituents in stacking interaction showed that all substituents regardless of whether are electron donating or electron withdrawing have an additive effect in π-stacking interaction. Excellent correlations were found between the binding energies of the complexes and combination of substituent constant terms. The results showed that the electrostatic interaction alone is not responsible for stacking stabilization but charge penetration is important. Furthermore, analysis of aromaticity, AIM, ESP and NPA were investigated to obtain aromaticity index, non-bonding interactions, chemical reactivity and polarity (dipole moment), respectively.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload high-quality image (131 K)Download as PowerPoint slide