π-Stacking Isomerism in Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: The 2-Naphthalenethiol Dimer

J Phys Chem Lett. 2023 Jan 12;14(1):207-213. doi: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.2c03299. Epub 2022 Dec 30.

Abstract

π-Stacking is a common descriptor for face-to-face attractive forces between aromatic hydrocarbons. However, the physical origin of this interaction remains debatable. Here we examined π-stacking in a model homodimer formed by two thiol-substituted naphthalene rings. Two isomers of the 2-naphthalenethiol dimer were discovered using rotational spectroscopy, sharing a parallel-displaced crossed orientation and absence of thiol-thiol hydrogen bonds. One of the isomers presents C2 symmetry, structurally analogous to the global minimum of the naphthalene dimer. The experimental data were rationalized with molecular orbital calculations, revealing a shallow potential energy surface. Noncovalent interactions are dominated by dispersion forces according to SAPT energy decomposition. In addition, the reduced electronic density shows a diffuse and extended region of inter-ring interactions, compatible with the description of π-stacking as a competition between dispersion and Pauli repulsion forces.