A density functional study on the formation of charge transfer complexes between alkaloids and iodine monochloride

The formation of charge-transfer (CT) complexes between N-methyl-6,7-methylenedioxy-tetrahydro-4-isoquinolone (MMDTIQ, the model molecule of alkaloids) and iodine monochloride has been studied with the density functional B3LYP method. The competition for ICl between n-donor(s) and π-donor in the same molecule has been compared for the first time. The results indicate that the electron-donating ability of various donor sites decreases in the following order: amino nitrogen>carbonyl oxygen>etheric oxygen≈aromatic ring. Complexes with a stoichiometry of 1:1 to 1:5 (MMDTIQ–ICl) might form. Among complexes with a given stoichiometry, the one in which the phenyl ring is involved in the binding is always the least stable. According to these results, in order to ensure an alkaloid iodinated, the amount of ICl should be far beyond that of alkaloids and a low polar solvent should be used, which is quite in agreement with our recent experimental results.