COMPETITIVE SOLVATION OF K- CATION-PI INTERACTIONS AND PI-HYDROGEN BONDS( BY BENZENE AND WATER )

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-hydr ogen bond play an important role in the structure of the mixed cluster ions. Important observations include: the preferential binding of ben zene vs water to Kf; the ''dehydration'' of the potassium ion by benze ne; and the observation of water acting as a double proton donor with pi-hydrogen bonds to two benzenes. (C) 1998 American Institute of Phys ics.