Solute–hexafluorobenzene interactions: a nuclear magnetic resonance spectral, dipole moment, and Kerr effect study

Abstract

¹ H N.m.r. are reported for a variety of solutes in hexafluorobenzene and an attempt is made to correlate the solvent-induced shifts with the magnitude of the solute dipole moment. It is confirmed that hexafluorobenzene causes negative shielding of protons near an electrophilic centre in the solute and positive shielding of protons close to a nucleophilic site. Molar Kerr constants of solutes, measured for the first time in hexafluorobenzene, are found to be sensitively affected by hexafluorobenzene solvation. A time-averaged solvent cage model is invoked within which some degree of order is induced through stereospecific solute–solvent interactions.