Dynamic Stacking Pathway of Perylene Dimers in Aromatic and Nonaromatic Solvents

Using molecular dynamics simulations, we elucidate in detail the dynamics of the π-π stacking process of a perylene bisimide (PBI) dimer solvated in toluene. Our calculations show that the transition from the open (unstacked) to the stacked configuration is hindered by a small free energy barrier of approximately 1kBT in toluene but not in the nonaromatic solvent hexane. A similar effect is observed tor two non-covalently linked monomers. The origin of this barrier is traced back to π-π interactions between perylene and the aromatic solvent which are very similar in nature to those between two PBI monomers. The stacking process proceeds in three phases via two well-defined transition states: (i) in the first phase, the two PBI molecules share part of their respective solvation shells forming the first transition state. Further approach needs to squeeze out the shared solvent layer, thus creating the energy barrier. (ii) After removal of the separating solvent, the two PBIs form a second transition state with one monomer located at a random position in the other's solvation shell. (iii) Finally, the two PBIs slide on top of each other into their final stacked position.