Does Hydrogen Bonding Matter in Crystal Engineering? Crystal Structures of Salts of Isomeric Ions

The preparation and structure determinations of the crystalline salts [3,3'-H(2)bipy][PtCl(4)] (2), [2,2'-H(2)bipy][PtCl(4)] (3) and [1,4'-Hbipy][PtCl(4)] (4) and [3,3'-H(2)bipy][SbCl(5)] (6) and [1,4'-Hbipy][SbCl(5)] (8) are reported. In addition a redetermination of the structure of the metastable salt [4,4'-H(2)bipy][SbCl(5)] (5 b) in the corrected space group Pbcm is described. These structures are compared to those of the known salt [4,4'-H(2)bipy][PtCl(4)] (1), the stable triclinic form of [4,4'-H(2)bipy][SbCl(5)] (5 a) and [2,2'-H(2)bipy][SbCl(5)] (7). In the case of the salts of the rigid [PtCl(4)](2-) ion, structures 2, 3 and 4 are essentially isostructural despite the differing hydrogen-bonding capability of the cations. Similarly, among the salts of [SbCl(5)](2-) ions, structures 7 and 8 are essentially isostructural. Structure 6 differs from these in having a differing pattern of aggregation of the [SbCl(5)](2-) ions to form polymeric rather than tetrameric units. It is evident that local hydrogen-bonding interactions, although significant, are not the only or even the decisive influence on the crystal structures formed by these salts. These observations are not in good accord with the heuristic "sticky tecton" or supramolecular synthon models for synthetic crystallography or crystal engineering.     

The nature of intermolecular CuI...CuI interactions: a combined theoretical and structural database analysis

The nature of intermolecular interactions between dicoordinate Cu(I) ions is analyzed by means of combined theoretical and structural database studies. Energetically stable Cu(I).Cu(I) interactions are only found when the two monomers involved in the interaction are neutral or carry opposite charges, thus allowing us to speak of bonding between the components of the bimolecular aggregate. A perturbative evaluation of the components of the intermolecular interaction energies, by means the IMPT scheme of Stone, indicates that both the Coulombic and dispersion forces are important in determining the Cu(I).Cu(I) bonding interactions, because only a small part of that energy is attributable to Cu.Cu interactions, while a large component results from Cu.ligand interactions. The electrostatic component is the dominant one by far in the interaction between charged monomers, while in the interaction between neutral complexes, the electrostatic component is found to be of the same order of magnitude as the dispersion term. Bimolecular aggregates that have like charges are repulsive by themselves, and their presence in the solid state results from anion.cation interactions with ions external to this aggregate. In these cases, the short-contact Cu.Cu interactions here should be more properly called counterion-mediated Cu.Cu bonds.     

Identification of an Overlooked Halogen-Bond Synthon and Its Application in Designing Fluorescent Materials

Research on new supramolecular synthons facilitates the progress of materials design. Herein, the ability of sp² carbonyl oxygen atoms to act as halogen-bond acceptors was established through cocrystallization. Four sets of carbonyl compounds, including aldehydes, ketones, esters, and amides, were selected as halogen-bond acceptors. In the absence of strong hydrogen bonds, 14 out of 16 combinations of halogen-bond donors and acceptors could form cocrystals, whereby the supramolecular synthon C=O ⋅⋅⋅ X acts as the main interaction. Further, the geometric parameters of the C=O ⋅⋅⋅ X interaction were statistically revealed on the basis of the crystallographic database. The bifurcated interaction mode that has been observed in other halogen-bond synthons rarely occurs in the case of C=O ⋅⋅⋅ X. The robustness of C=O ⋅⋅⋅ X makes its application in crystal engineering possible and opens up new opportunities in designing multicomponent fluorescent materials, as indicated by multicolor emission of cocrystals D through C=O ⋅⋅⋅ X interactions.     

Supramolecular chemistry of halogens: complementary features of inorganic (M-X) and organic (C-X') halogens applied to M-X...X'-C halogen bond formation

Electronic differences between inorganic (M-X) and organic (C-X) halogens in conjunction with the anisotropic charge distribution associated with terminal halogens have been exploited in supramolecular synthesis based upon intermolecular M-X...X'-C halogen bonds. The synthesis and crystal structures of a family of compounds trans-[MCl(2)(NC(5)H(4)X-3)(2)] (M = Pd(II), Pt(II); X = F, Cl, Br, I; NC(5)H(4)X-3 = 3-halopyridine) are reported. With the exception of the fluoropyridine compounds, network structures propagated by M-Cl...X-C halogen bonds are adopted and involve all M-Cl and all C-X groups. M-Cl...X-C interactions show Cl...X separations shorter than van der Waals values, shorter distances being observed for heavier halogens (X). Geometries with near linear Cl...X-C angles (155-172 degrees ) and markedly bent M-Cl...X angles (92-137 degrees ) are consistently observed. DFT calculations on the model dimers {trans-[MCl(2)(NH(3))(NC(5)H(4)X-3)]}(2) show association through M-Cl...X-C (X not equal F) interactions with geometries similar to experimental values. DFT calculations of the electrostatic potential distributions for the compounds trans-[PdCl(2)(NC(5)H(4)X-3)(2)] (X = F, Cl, Br, I) demonstrate the effectiveness of the strategy to activate C-X groups toward halogen bond formation by enhancing their electrophilicity, and explain the absence of M-Cl...F-C interactions. The M-Cl...X-C halogen bonds described here can be viewed unambiguously as nucleophile-electrophile interactions that involve an attractive electrostatic contribution. This contrasts with some types of halogen-halogen interactions previously described and suggests that M-Cl...X-C halogen bonds could provide a valuable new synthon for supramolecular chemists.     

Triple-layer (au@perylene)@polyaniline nanocomposite: unconventional growth of faceted organic nanocrystals on polycrystalline au

Unconventional crystal growth: Core/shell nanocrystals were obtained by growth of a dominant single-crystalline phase of perylene over polycrystalline Au nanoparticle seeds and isolated by coating with polyaniline (PANI) shells. Perylene is released in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelles. The TEM images show (Au@perylene)@PANI nanocomposites before and after complete release of perylene leaving Au@PANI (inset).     

Isostructurality, polymorphism and mechanical properties of some hexahalogenated benzenes: the nature of halogen...halogen interactions

The nature of intermolecular interactions between halogen atoms, X...X (X = Cl, Br, I), continues to be of topical interest because these interactions may be used as design elements in crystal engineering. Hexahalogenated benzenes (C6Cl(6-n)Br(n), C6Cl(6-n)I(n), C6Br(6-n)I(n)) crystallise in two main packing modes, which take the monoclinic space group P2(1)/n and the triclinic space group P1. The former, which is isostructural to C6Cl6, is more common. For molecules that lack inversion symmetry, adoption of this monoclinic structure would necessarily lead to crystallographic disorder. In C6Cl6, the planar molecules form Cl...Cl contacts and also pi...pi stacking interactions. When crystals of C6Cl6 are compressed mechanically along their needle length, that is, [010], a bending deformation takes place, because of the stronger interactions in the stacking direction. Further compression propagates consecutively in a snakelike motion through the crystal, similar to what has been suggested for the motion of dislocations. The bending of C6Cl6 crystals is related to the weakness of the Cl...Cl interactions compared with the stronger pi...pi stacking interactions. The triclinic packing is less common and is restricted to molecules that have a symmetrical (1,3,5- and 2,4,6-) halogen substitution pattern. This packing type is characterised by specific, polarisation-induced X...X interactions that result in threefold-symmetrical X3 synthons, especially when X = I; this leads to a layered pseudohexagonal structure in which successive planar layers are inversion related and stacked so that bumps in one layer fit into the hollows of the next in a space-filling manner. The triclinic crystals shear on application of a mechanical stress only along the plane of deformation. This shearing arises from the sliding of layers against one another. Nonspecificity of the weak interlayer interactions here is demonstrated by the structure of twinned crystals of these compounds. One of the compounds studied (1,3,5-tribromo-2,4,6-triiodobenzene) is dimorphic, adopting both the monoclinic and triclinic structures, and the reasons for polymorphism are suggested. To summarise, both chemical and geometrical models need to be considered for X...X interactions in hexahalogenated benzenes. The X...X interactions in the monoclinic group are nonspecific, whereas in the triclinic group some X...X interactions are anisotropic, chemically specific and crystal-structure directing.     

Molecular assemblies from imidazolyl-containing haloalkenes and haloalkynes: competition between halogen and hydrogen bonding

The structural characterization of molecular assemblies constructed from imidazolyl-containing haloalkenes and haloalkynes is reported. 1-(3-Iodopropargyl)imidazole (2) and 1-(2,3,3-triiodoallyl)imidazole (5) were synthesized from 1-propargylimidazole (1). In the solid state, these wholly organic modules self-assemble through N...I halogen-bonding interactions, thus giving rise to polymeric chains. The N...I interaction observed in 2 (d(N...I)=2.717 A, angle-spherical C(sp)-I...N=175.8 degrees) is quite strong relative to previously reported data. The N...I interaction in 5 (d(N...I)=2.901 A, angle-spherical C(sp2)-I...N=173.6 degrees) is weaker, in accordance with the order C(sp)-X<--base>C(sp2)-X<--base. Compound 5 was found to give a 1:1 cocrystal 4 with morpholinium iodide (6). In the X-ray crystal studies of 4, N...I halogen-bonding interactions similar to those observed in 5 were shown not to be present, as the arrangement of the molecules is governed by two interwoven hydrogen-bonding networks. The first network involves N-H...O interactions between nearby morpholinium cations, and the second network is based on N-H...N hydrogen bonding between morpholinium cations and imidazolyl groups. Both hydrogen-bonding schemes are charge-assisted. Halogen bonding is not completely wiped out, however, as the triiodoalkene fragment forms a halogen bond with an iodide anion in its vicinity (d(I...I)=3.470 A, angle-spherical C(sp2)-I...I=170.7 degrees). X-ray crystal studies of 6 show a completely different arrangement from that observed in 4, namely, N-H...O interactions are not present. In crystalline 6, morpholinium cations are interconnected through C-H...O bridges (d(H...O)=2.521 and 2.676 A), and the NH2+ groups interact with nearby iodide anions (d(H...I)=2.633 and 2.698 A).     

The nature of halogen...halogen synthons: crystallographic and theoretical studies

A study of the halogen...halogen contacts in organic compounds using ab initio calculations and the results of previously reported crystallographic studies show that these interactions are controlled by electrostatics. These contacts can be represented by the geometric parameters of the C--X1...X2--C moieties (where theta1=C--X1...X2 and theta2=X1...X2--C; ri=X1...X2 distance). The distributions of the contacts within the sum of van der Waals radii (rvdW) versus thetai (theta1=theta2) show a maximum at theta approximately 150 degrees for X=Cl, Br, and I. This maximum is not seen in the distribution of F...F contacts. These results are in good agreement with our ab initio calculations. The theoretical results show that the position of the maximum depends on three factors: 1) The type of halogen atom, 2) the hybridization of the ipso carbon atom, and 3) the nature of the other atoms that are bonded to the ipso carbon atom apart from the halogen atom. Calculations show that the strength of these contacts decreases in the following order: I...I>Br...Br>Cl...Cl. Their relative strengths decrease as a function of the hybridization of the ipso carbon atom in the following order: sp2>sp>sp3. Attaching an electronegative atom to the carbon atom strengthens the halogen...halogen contacts. An electrostatic model is proposed based on two assumptions: 1) The presence of a positive electrostatic end cap on the halogen atom (except for fluorine) and 2) the electronic charge is anisotropically distributed around the halogen atom.     

The many flavours of halogen bonds – message from experimental electron density and Raman spectroscopy

Experimental electron‐density studies based on high‐resolution diffraction experiments allow halogen bonds between heavy halogens to be classified. The topological properties of the electron density in Cl…Cl contacts vary smoothly as a function of the interaction distance. The situation is less straightforward for halogen bonds between iodine and small electronegative nucleophiles, such as nitrogen or oxygen, where the electron density in the bond critical point does not simply increase for shorter distances. The number of successful charge–density studies involving iodine is small, but at least individual examples for three cases have been observed. (a) Very short halogen bonds between electron‐rich nucleophiles and heavy halogen atoms resemble three‐centre–four‐electron bonds, with a rather symmetric heavy halogen and without an appreciable σ hole. (b) For a narrow intermediate range of halogen bonds, the asymmetric electronic situation for the heavy halogen with a pronounced σ hole leads to rather low electron density in the (3,?1) critical point of the halogen bond; the properties of this bond critical point cannot fully describe the nature of the associated interaction. (c) For longer and presumably weaker contacts, the electron density in the halogen bond critical point is only to a minor extent reduced by the presence of the σ hole and hence may be higher than in the aforementioned case. In addition to the electron density and its derived properties, the halogen–carbon bond distance opposite to the σ hole and the Raman frequency for the associated vibration emerge as alternative criteria to gauge the halogen‐bond strength. We find exceptionally long C—I distances for tetrafluorodiiodobenzene molecules in cocrystals with short halogen bonds and a significant red shift for their Raman vibrations.     

Construction of open metal-organic frameworks based on predesigned carboxylate isomers: from achiral to chiral nets

The four-connected carboxylate ligand N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)-1,4-phenylenediamine (TCPPDA) exists as three stereoisomers: a pair of enantiomers (deltaD2- and lambdaD2-TCPPDA) and a diastereomer (C2h-TCPPDA). TCPPDA was predesigned for the construction of isomeric coordination networks. Reactions of M(NO3)2 (M=Cu, Zn, Co) or Nd(NO)3 with TCPPDA under solvothermal conditions gave rise to five novel porous metal-organic frameworks: [Cu2(D2-tcppda)(H2O)2].2 DMSO.6H2O (1), [Cu2(C2h-tcppda)(H2O)2].2DMSO.6H2O (2), [Co3(D2-Htcppda)2].4DEF.5H2O (3), [Nd2(D2-tcppda)(C2h-tcppda)0.5(DMSO)3]3 DMSO5 H2O (4), and [Zn4O(D2-tcppda)1.5].DMF.H2O (5) (DMSO=dimethyl sulfoxide, DEF=diethylformamide, DMF=dimethylformamide). Complexes 1 and 2 are supramolecular isomers, in which all the ligands adopt pseudotetrahedral (both deltaD2- and lambdaD2-TCPPDA) and rectangular (C2h-TCPPDA) geometries, respectively. Both compounds connect paddlewheel secondary building units (SBUs) to form three-dimensional porous networks possessing PtS and NbO nets, respectively. In 3, all ligands possess pseudotetrahedral (both deltaD2- and lambdaD2-TCPPDA) geometry and link hourglass SBUs to form a three-dimensional porous framework. Compound 4 contains all three stereoisomers (C2-, deltaD2-, and lambdaD2-TCPPDA), thus, has both pseudotetrahedral and rectangular geometries. D2-TCPPDA connects the binuclear neodymium units to generate a two-dimensional layer, further linked by C2h-TCPPDA to create a three-dimensional open framework. In 5, all the ligands possess pseudotetrahedral geometry (D2-TCPPDA), as found in 1 and 3. However, all the TCPPDA ligands in 5 appear as either the deltaD2 or the lambdaD2 form, thus, the whole structure is homochiral. Complex 5 crystallizes in the I4(1)32 space group and the octahedral SBU in 5 is connected by the enantiopure TCPPDA to generate a three-dimensional porous network possessing the corundum Al2O3 net. Complexes 1, 2, and 5 possess permanent porosity, and 4 and 5 exhibit strong luminescence at lambdamax=423 and 424 nm, respectively, upon excitation at 268.5 nm.     

Theoretical study of the interaction of fluorinated dimethyl ethers and the ClF and HF molecules. Comparison between halogen and hydrogen bonds

A theoretical study of the halogen‐bonded complexes formed between fluorinated dimethyl ethers (n_F = 0–4) and ClF is carried out using the wB97XD method combined with the 6‐311++G(d,p) basis set. The properties of the complexes are compared with the corresponding properties of the hydrogen‐bonded complexes formed between the same electron donors and HF. The optimized geometries, the interaction energies, relevant natural bonding orbital characteristics along with some vibrational data are calculated. The analyzed properties also include the symmetry adapted perturbation theory decomposition of the energies along with the atoms‐in molecule analysis. For both the halogen and hydrogen bonds, the interaction energies are ruled by the intermolecular hyperconjugation energies. In contrast, the correlations between the binding energies and the basic properties of the ethers or the charge transfer are different for the halogen and hydrogen bonds. The applicability of the Bent's rule to these systems is discussed. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

An investigation of the self-assembly of neutral, interlaced, triple-stranded molecular braids

The synthesis and structures of six compounds prepared in two different systems have been explored with the purpose of isolating coordination polymers with interlaced triple-stranded molecular braid architectures. The dinuclear paddle-wheel units of [Cu(2)(maa)(4)2 H(2)O] can be rationally tuned to form three classes of isomorphous compounds, namely [Cu(2)(maa)(4)(bpp)] (1) (bpp=1,3-bis(4-pyridyl)propane, Hmaa=2-methylacrylic acid), [Cu(3)(maa)(6)(bpp)(2)] (2), and[Cu(4)(maa)(8)(bpp)(4)(H(2)O)(2)]2 H(2)O (3), with a bridging bpp ligand, at controlled ligand-to-metal molar ratios, and lead to three coordination polymers having similar one-dimensional characteristics but different mono- and dinuclear nodes. Compound 1, with a bpp:[Cu(2)(maa)(4)2 H(2)O] stoichiometry of 1:1, contains a zigzag chain containing dinuclear nodes, whereas polymer 2, with a bpp:[Cu(2)(maa)(4)2 H(2)O] stoichiometry of 1.5:1, also adopts the topology of a zigzag chain but with both mono- and dinuclear nodes. Compound 3, with a bpp:[Cu(2)(maa)(4)2 H(2)O] stoichiometry of 2:1, contains a neutral, interlaced, triple-stranded molecular braid, which is interwoven by three single-stranded meso-helical chains that contain only a mononuclear node. With the three aromatic chelating terminal ligands 2,2':6',2'-terpyridine (tpy), 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), and di(2-pyridyl)amine (dpa) we have also prepared three neutral complexes containing the linear, rigid bridging ligand biphenyl-4,4'-dicarboxylate (bpdc), namely [Cd(bpdc)(tpy)]H(2)O (4), [Cu(bpdc)(phen)(2)]4.25 H(2)O (5), and [Cu(bpdc)(dpa)] (6). An infinite meso-helix is formed initially in 4, and then three of these chains assemble into a triple-stranded braid similar to that of 3. Complexes 5 and 6 have a mononuclear and a looped dinuclear structure, respectively. Compounds 3 and 4 are unusual examples of triple-stranded molecular braid coordination frameworks based on different types of co-ligands.