Quantenchemische untersuchungen zum mechanismus der elektrophilen substitution. I. Zur potentialhyperfläche des systems benzol/h+

Results of semiempirical calculations (CNDO/2-FK and MINDO/2 methods) for the σ-π complex problem on protonated benzene are given and compared with previous ones. The semiempirical methods were chosen according to the agreement of their results with new theoretical energy data (E_HF + E_korrel) concerning the classical–nonclassical problem of protonated ethylene. By these methods the corresponding part of the energy surface of the benzene/H⁺ system is simulated. The stationary points of this surface are found by a gradient method with complete optimization of the geometry. On the basis of this method we determined the energy profile of a reaction coordinate between the classical (σ-complex) and nonclassical (π-complex) cation. The so called strong π-complex is a saddle point between two σ-complex minima and can be interpreted as transition state of 1,2-proton shifts. Hypotheses for possible minimum energy paths of electrophilic attacks in the given region of the surface are discussed.