Interaction of B12F122– with All-cis 1,2,3,4,5,6 Hexafluorocyclohexane in the Gas Phase

Clusters of all-cis 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexafluorocyclohexane and the dodecafluorododecaboron dianion, [C6F6H6]n[B12F12]2– (n = 0–4), are investigated in a combined experimental and computational study. DFT calculations and IRMPD spectra in the region of 800–2000 cm–1 indicate that C6H6F6 binds to open trigonal faces of B12F122– via a three-point interlocking binding motif. Calculated binding interactions reveal substantial contributions from C–H···F hydrogen bonding and binding energies that are among the strongest observed for a neutral-anion system.