Theoretical Study on the Interaction of o-Tetrafluorophenylene Mercury with Ethylene and Acetylene†

The results of a theoretical study on the interaction of o-tetrafluorophenylene mercury with ethylene and acetylene are reported. The AM1 molecular orbital semiempirical method is applied through a complete optimization procedure without any restrictions to find the optimal equilibrium geometries. The comparative capabilities of ethylene and acetylene molecules to form stable complexes with o-tetrafluorophenylene mercury are analyzed and their corresponding bonding features are discussed. Ethylene seems to be capable of forming a molecular complex while acetylene is predicted to be incapable of doing so.