Competitive solvation of K+ by benzene and water:: Cation-π interactions and π-hydrogen bonds

The competition between ion-molecule and hydrogen bond interactions in K+(benzene)(1-5)(water)(1,2) is examined using infrared spectroscopic and mass spectrometric methods. The cation-pi interaction and pi-hydrogen bond play an important role in the structure of the mixed cluster ions. Important observations include: the preferential binding of benzene vs water to Kf; the "dehydration" of the potassium ion by benzene; and the observation of water acting as a double proton donor with pi-hydrogen bonds to two benzenes. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics.