The role of TT-complexes

As well as the cr-complexes discussed above, aromatic molecules combine with such compounds as quinones, polynitro-aromatics and tetra-cyanoethylene to give more loosely bound structures called charge-transfer complexes. Closely related to these, but usually known as Tt-complexes, are the associations formed by aromatic compounds and halogens, hydrogen halides, silver ions and other electrophiles. 

In TT-complexes formed from aromatic compounds and halogens, the halogen is not bound to any single carbon atom but to the 7r-electron structure of the aromatic, though the precise geometry of the complexes is uncertain. The complexes with silver ions also do not have the silver associated with a particular carbon atom of the aromatic ring, as is shown by the structure of the complex from benzene and silver perchlorate.  

The heats of formation of Tt-complexes are small thus, — A//2soc for complexes of benzene and mesitylene with iodine in carbon tetrachloride are 5-5 and i2-o kj mol , respectively. Although substituent effects which increase the rates of electrophilic substitutions also increase the stabilities of the 7r-complexes, these effects are very much weaker in the latter circumstances than in the former the heats of formation just quoted should be compared with the relative rates of chlorination and bromination of benzene and mesitylene (i 3 o6 x 10 and i a-Sq x 10 , respectively, in acetic acid at 25 °C). 

The solubility of hydrogen chloride in solutions of aromatic hydrocarbons in toluene and in w-heptane at —78-51 °C has been measured, and equilibrium constants for Tr-complex formation evaluated. Substituent effects follow the pattern outlined above (table 6.2). In contrast to (T-complexes, these 7r-complexes are colourless and non-conducting, and do not take part in hydrogen exchange. 

Given that many electrophiles form r-complexes with aromatic hydrocarbons, and that such complexes must be present in solutions in which electrophilic substitutions are occurring, the question arises 

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