The role of π–π stacking and hydrogen‐bonding interactions in the assembly of a series of isostructural group IIB coordination compounds

The supramolecular chemistry of coordination compounds has become an important research domain of modern inorganic chemistry. Herein, six isostructural group IIB coordination compounds containing a 2‐{[(2‐methoxyphenyl)imino]methyl}phenol ligand, namely dichloridobis(2‐{(E)‐[(2‐methoxyphenyl)azaniumylidene]methyl}phenolato‐κO)zinc(II), [ZnCl₂(C₂₈H₂₆N₂O₄)], 1 , diiodidobis(2‐{(E)‐[(2‐methoxyphenyl)azaniumylidene]methyl}phenolato‐κO)zinc(II), [ZnI₂(C₂₈H₂₆N₂O₄)], 2 , dibromidobis(2‐{(E)‐[(2‐methoxyphenyl)azaniumylidene]methyl}phenolato‐κO)cadmium(II), [CdBr₂(C₂₈H₂₆N₂O₄)], 3 , diiodidobis(2‐{(E)‐[(2‐methoxyphenyl)azaniumylidene]methyl}phenolato‐κO)cadmium(II), [CdI₂(C₂₈H₂₆N₂O₄)], 4 , dichloridobis(2‐{(E)‐[(2‐methoxyphenyl)azaniumylidene]methyl}phenolato‐κO)mercury(II), [HgCl₂(C₂₈H₂₆N₂O₄)], 5 , and diiodidobis(2‐{(E)‐[(2‐methoxyphenyl)azaniumylidene]methyl}phenolato‐κO)mercury(II), [HgI₂(C₂₈H₂₆N₂O₄)], 6 , were synthesized and characterized by X‐ray crystallography and spectroscopic techniques. All six compounds exhibit an infinite one‐dimensional ladder in the solid state governed by the formation of hydrogen‐bonding and π–π stacking interactions. The crystal structures of these compounds were studied using geometrical and Hirshfeld surface analyses. They have also been studied using M06‐2X/def2‐TZVP calculations and Bader's theory of `atoms in molecules'. The energies associated with the interactions, including the contribution of the different forces, have been evaluated. In general, the π–π stacking interactions are stronger than those reported for conventional π–π complexes, which is attributed to the influence of the metal coordination, which is stronger for Zn than either Cd or Hg. The results reported herein might be useful for understanding the solid‐state architecture of metal‐containing materials that contain M^IIX₂ subunits and aromatic organic ligands.     

The six‐membered‐ring azomethine N‐((E)‐{5‐[(E)‐(pyridin‐3‐ylimino)methyl]thiophen‐2‐yl}methylidene)pyridin‐3‐amine

The title compound, C₁₆H₁₂N₄S, forms a three‐dimensional layered network structure via intermolecular hydrogen bonding and π‐stacking. The azomethine molecule adopts the thermodynamically stable E regioisomer and the pyridine substituents are antiperiplanar. The mean planes of the pyridine rings and the azomethine group to which they are connected are twisted by 27.27 (5) and 33.60 (5)°. The electrochemical energy gap of 2.3 eV based on the HOMO–LUMO energy difference is in agreement with the spectroscopically derived value.     

Three AgI,CuI and CdII coordination polymers based on the new asymmetrical ligand 2‐{4‐[(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)methyl]phenyl}‐5‐(pyridin‐4‐yl)‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole: syntheses,characterization and emission properties

The new asymmetrical organic ligand 2‐{4‐[(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)methyl]phenyl}‐5‐(pyridin‐4‐yl)‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole ( L , C₁₇H₁₃N₅O), containing pyridine and imidazole terminal groups, as well as potential oxdiazole coordination sites, was designed and synthesized. The coordination chemistry of L with soft Ag^I, Cu^I and Cd^II metal ions was investigated and three new coordination polymers (CPs), namely, catena‐poly[[silver(I)‐μ‐2‐{4‐[(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)methyl]phenyl}‐5‐(pyridin‐4‐yl)‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole] hexafluoridophosphate], {[Ag( L )]PF₆}_n, catena‐poly[[copper(I)‐di‐μ‐iodido‐copper(I)‐bis(μ‐2‐{4‐[(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)methyl]phenyl}‐5‐(pyridin‐4‐yl)‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole)] 1,4‐dioxane monosolvate], {[Cu₂I₂( L )₂]·C₄H₈O₂}_n, and catena‐poly[[[dinitratocopper(II)]‐bis(μ‐2‐{4‐[(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)methyl]phenyl}‐5‐(pyridin‐4‐yl)‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole)]–methanol–water (1/1/0.65)], {[Cd( L )₂(NO₃)₂]·2CH₄O·0.65H₂O}_n, were obtained. The experimental results show that ligand L coordinates easily with linear Ag^I, tetrahedral Cu^I and octahedral Cd^II metal atoms to form one‐dimensional polymeric structures. The intermediate oxadiazole ring does not participate in the coordination interactions with the metal ions. In all three CPs, weak π–π interactions between the nearly coplanar pyridine, oxadiazole and benzene rings play an important role in the packing of the polymeric chains.     

π‐stacking and C—X...D (X = H,NO2; D = O, π) interactions in the crystal network of both C—H...N and π‐stacked dimers of 1,2‐bis(4‐bromophenyl)‐1H‐benzimidazole and 2‐(4‐bromophenyl)‐1‐(4‐nitrophenyl)‐1H‐benzimidazole

Molecules of 1,2‐bis(4‐bromophenyl)‐1H‐benzimidazole, C₁₉H₁₂Br₂N₂, (I), and 2‐(4‐bromophenyl)‐1‐(4‐nitrophenyl)‐1H‐benzimidazole, C₁₉H₁₂BrN₃O₂, (II), are arranged in dimeric units through C—H...N and parallel‐displaced π‐stacking interactions favoured by the appropriate disposition of N‐ and C‐bonded phenyl rings with respect to the mean benzimidazole plane. The molecular packing of the dimers of (I) and (II) arises by the concurrence of a diverse set of weak intermolecular C—X...D (X = H, NO₂; D = O, π) interactions.     

A comparative experimental and theoretical investigation of hydrogen‐bond,halogen‐bond and π–π interactions in the solid‐state supramolecular assembly of 2‐ and 4‐formylphenyl arylsulfonates

To explore the operational role of noncovalent interactions in supramolecular architectures with designed topologies, a series of solid‐state structures of 2‐ and 4‐formylphenyl 4‐substituted benzenesulfonates was investigated. The compounds are 2‐formylphenyl 4‐methylbenzenesulfonate, C₁₄H₁₂O₄S, 3a , 2‐formylphenyl 4‐chlorobenzenesulfonate, C₁₃H₉ClO₄S, 3b , 2‐formylphenyl 4‐bromobenzenesulfonate, C₁₃H₉BrO₄S, 3c , 4‐formylphenyl 4‐methylbenzenesulfonate, C₁₄H₁₂O₄S, 4a , 4‐formylphenyl 4‐chlorobenzenesulfonate, 4b , C₁₃H₉ClO₄S, and 4‐formylphenyl 4‐bromobenzenesulfonate, C₁₃H₉BrO₄S, 4c . The title compounds were synthesized under basic conditions from salicylaldehyde/4‐hydroxybenzaldehydes and various aryl sulfonyl chlorides. Remarkably, halogen‐bonding interactions are found to be important to rationalize the solid‐state crystal structures. In particular, the formation of O…X (X = Cl and Br) and type I X…X halogen‐bonding interactions have been analyzed by means of density functional theory (DFT) calculations and characterized using Bader's theory of `atoms in molecules' and molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) surfaces, confirming the relevance and stabilizing nature of these interactions. They have been compared to antiparallel π‐stacking interactions that are formed between the arylsulfonates.     

Multiple N—H...NC,C—H...NC and nitrile...π interactions in 4,4′‐bipyridine‐1,1′‐diium bis(1,1,3,3‐tetracyano‐2‐ethoxypropenide): structure determination and DFT calculations of anion...π cation interaction energies

Polynitrile anions are important in both coordination chemistry and molecular materials chemistry, and are interesting for their extensive electronic delocalization. The title compound crystallizes with two symmetry‐independent half 4,4′‐bipyridine‐1,1′‐diium (bpyH₂²⁺) cations and two symmetry‐independent 1,1,3,3‐tetracyano‐2‐ethoxypropenide (tcnoet⁻) anions in the asymmetric unit. One of the bpyH₂²⁺ ions is located on a crystallographic twofold rotation axis (canted pyridine rings) and the other is located on a crystallographic inversion center (coplanar pyridine rings). The ethyl group of one of the tcnoet⁻ anions is disordered over two sites with equal populations. The extended structure exhibits two separate N—H...NC hydrogen‐bonding motifs, which result in a sheet structure parallel to (010), and weak C—H...NC hydrogen bonds form joined rings. Two types of multicenter CN...π interactions are observed between the bpyH₂²⁺ rings and tcnoet⁻ anions. An additonal CN...π interaction between adjacent tcnoet⁻ anions is observed. Using density functional theory, the calculated attractive energy between cation and anion pairs in the tcnoet⁻...π(bipyridinediium) interactions were found to be 557 and 612 kJ mol⁻¹ for coplanar and canted bpyH₂²⁺ cations, respectively.     

Tris(2,2′‐bipyridine)iron(II) bis(1,1,3,3‐tetracyano‐2‐ethoxypropenide) dihydrate: chiral hydrogen‐bonded frameworks interpenetrate in three dimensions

In the title compound, [Fe(C₁₀H₈N₂)₃](C₉H₅N₄O)₂·2H₂O, the chiral cations lie across twofold rotation axes in the space group C2/c. The anions and the water molecules are linked by two independent O—H...N hydrogen bonds to form C₂²(8) chains, and these chains are linked by the cations via C—H...N and C—H...O hydrogen bonds to form two interpenetrating three‐dimensional frameworks, each of which contains only one enantiomeric form of the chiral cation.     

A novel dinuclear bismuth(III) coordination compound: bis(μ‐pyridine‐2,6‐dicarboxylato)‐κ4O2,N,O6:O6′;κ4O2:O2′,N,O6‐bis[(azido‐κN)(1,10‐phenanthroline‐κ2N,N′)bismuth(III)] tetrahydrate

A novel dinuclear bismuth(III) coordination compound, [Bi₂(C₇H₃NO₄)₂(N₃)₂(C₁₂H₈N₂)₂]·4H₂O, has been synthesized by an ionothermal method and characterized by elemental analysis, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, IR, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The molecular structure consists of one centrosymmetric dinuclear neutral fragment and four water molecules. Within the dinuclear fragment, each Bi^III centre is seven‐coordinated by three O atoms and four N atoms. The coordination geometry of each Bi^III atom is distorted pentagonal–bipyramidal (BiO₃N₄), with one azide N atom and one bridging carboxylate O atom located in axial positions. The carboxylate O atoms and water molecules are assembled via O—H...O hydrogen bonds, resulting in the formation of a three‐dimensional supramolecular structure. Two types of π–π stacking interactions are found, with centroid‐to‐centroid distances of 3.461 (4) and 3.641 (4) Å.     

Three zinc(II) and cadmium(II) complexes containing 4‐amino‐3,5‐bis(pyridin‐2‐yl)‐1,2,4‐triazole and polynitrile ligands: synthesis,molecular and supramolecular structures,and photoluminescence properties

Three photoluminescent complexes containing either Zn^II or Cd^II have been synthesized and their structures determined. Bis[4‐amino‐3,5‐bis(pyridin‐2‐yl)‐1,2,4‐triazole‐κ²N ¹,N ⁵]bis(dicyanamido‐κN ¹)zinc(II), [Zn(C₁₂H₁₀N₆)₂(C₂N₃)₂], (I), bis[4‐amino‐3,5‐bis(pyridin‐2‐yl)‐1,2,4‐triazole‐κ²N ¹,N ⁵]bis(dicyanamido‐κN ¹)cadmium(II), [Cd(C₁₂H₁₀N₆)₂(C₂N₃)₂], (II), and bis[4‐amino‐3,5‐bis(pyridin‐2‐yl)‐1,2,4‐triazole‐κ²N ¹,N ⁵]bis(tricyanomethanido‐κN ¹)cadmium(II), [Cd(C₁₂H₁₀N₆)₂(C₄N₃)₂], (III), all crystallize in the space group P , with the metal centres lying on centres of inversion, but neither analogues (I) and (II) nor Cd^II complexes (II) and (III) are isomorphous. A combination of N—H…N and C—H…N hydrogen bonds and π–π stacking interactions generates three‐dimensional framework structures in (I) and (II), and a sheet structure in (III). The photoluminescence spectra of (I)–(III) indicate that the energies of the π–π* transitions in the coordinated triazole ligand are modified by minor changes of the ligand geometry associated with coordination to the metal centres.     

One‐dimensional copper(II) coordination polymers based on 1,3‐bis(pyridin‐4‐yl)propane and diimine ligands

Two one‐dimensional (1D) coordination polymers (CPs), namely catena‐poly[[[aqua(2,2′‐bipyridine‐κ²N,N′)(nitrato‐κO)copper(II)]‐μ‐1,3‐bis(pyridin‐4‐yl)propane‐κ²N:N′] nitrate], {[Cu(NO₃)(C₁₀H₈N₂)(C₁₃H₁₄N₂)(H₂O)]·NO₃}_n ( 1 ), and catena‐poly[[[aqua(nitrato‐κO)(1,10‐phenanthroline‐κ²N,N′)copper(II)]‐μ‐1,3‐bis(pyridin‐4‐yl)propane‐κ²N:N′] nitrate], {[Cu(NO₃)(C₁₂H₈N₂)(C₁₃H₁₄N₂)(H₂O)]·NO₃}_n ( 2 ), have been synthesized using [Cu(NO₃)(NN)(H₂O)₂]NO₃, where NN = 2,2′‐bipyridine (bpy) or 1,10‐phenanthroline (phen), as a linker in a 1:1 molar ratio. The CPs were characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and single‐crystal X‐ray structure determination. The 1,3‐bis(pyridin‐4‐yl)propane (dpp) ligand acts as a bridging ligand, leading to the formation of a 1D polymer. The octahedral coordination sphere around copper consists of two N atoms from bpy for 1 or phen for 2 , two N atoms from dpp, one O atom from water and one O atom from a coordinated nitrate anion. Each structure contains two crystallographically independent chains in the asymmetric unit and the chains are linked via hydrogen bonds into a three‐dimensional network.     

The peptide NCbz‐Val‐Tyr‐OMe and aromatic π–π interactions

The peptide N‐benzyloxycarbonyl‐L‐valyl‐L‐tyrosine methyl ester or NCbz‐Val‐Tyr‐OMe (where NCbz is N‐benzyloxycarbonyl and OMe indicates the methyl ester), C₂₃H₂₈N₂O₆, has an extended backbone conformation. The aromatic rings of the Tyr residue and the NCbz group are involved in various attractive intra‐ and intermolecular aromatic π–π interactions which stabilize the conformation and packing in the crystal structure, in addition to N—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen bonds. The aromatic π–π interactions include parallel‐displaced, perpendicular T‐shaped, perpendicular L‐shaped and inclined orientations.     

Supramolecular hydrogen‐bonding patterns in the organic–inorganic hybrid compound bis(4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidinium) tetrathiocyanatozinc(II)–4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine–water (1/2/2)

Zinc thiocyanate complexes have been found to be biologically active compounds. Zinc is also an essential element for the normal function of most organisms and is the main constituent in a number of metalloenzyme proteins. Pyrimidine and aminopyrimidine derivatives are biologically very important as they are components of nucleic acids. Thiocyanate ions can bridge metal ions by employing both their N and S atoms for coordination. They can play an important role in assembling different coordination structures and yield an interesting variety of one‐, two‐ and three‐dimensional polymeric metal–thiocyanate supramolecular frameworks. The structure of a new zinc thiocyanate–aminopyrimidine organic–inorganic compound, (C₆H₉ClN₃)₂[Zn(NCS)₄]·2C₆H₈ClN₃·2H₂O, is reported. The asymmetric unit consist of half a tetrathiocyanatozinc(II) dianion, an uncoordinated 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidinium cation, a 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine molecule and a water molecule. The Zn^II atom adopts a distorted tetrahedral coordination geometry and is coordinated by four N atoms from the thiocyanate anions. The Zn^II atom is located on a special position (twofold axis of symmetry). The pyrimidinium cation and the pyrimidine molecule are not coordinated to the Zn^II atom, but are hydrogen bonded to the uncoordinated water molecules and the metal‐coordinated thiocyanate ligands. The pyrimidine molecules and pyrimidinium cations also form base‐pair‐like structures with an R₂²(8) ring motif via N—H…N hydrogen bonds. The crystal structure is further stabilized by intermolecular N—H…O, O—H…S, N—H…S and O—H…N hydrogen bonds, by intramolecular N—H…Cl and C—H…Cl hydrogen bonds, and also by π–π stacking interactions.     

[2,5‐Bis(2,2′‐bipyridyl‐6‐yl)‐3,4‐diazahexa‐2,4‐diene]dichloridomanganese(II): from a mononuclear compound to a three‐dimensional supramolecular framework through C—H...Cl hydrogen bonds and π–π stacking interactions

The title compound, [MnCl₂(C₂₄H₂₀N₆)], has been synthesized and characterized based on the multifunctional ligand 2,5‐bis(2,2′‐bipyridyl‐6‐yl)‐3,4‐diazahexa‐2,4‐diene (L). The Mn^II centre is five‐coordinate with an approximately square‐pyramidal geometry. The L ligand acts as a tridendate chelating ligand. The mononuclear molecules are bridged into a one‐dimensional chain by two C—H...Cl hydrogen bonds. These chains are assembled into a two‐dimensional layer through π–π stacking interactions between adjacent uncoordinated bipyridyl groups. Furthermore, a three‐dimensional supramolecular framework is attained through π–π stacking interactions between adjacent coordinated bipyridyl groups.     

2‐Ethylsulfanyl‐7‐(furan‐2‐yl)‐4‐(thiophen‐2‐yl)pyrazolo[1,5‐a][1,3,5]triazine: π‐stacked chains of hydrogen‐bonded R22(10) dimers

In the title compound, C₁₅H₁₂N₄OS₂, the bond distances in the fused heterocyclic system show evidence for aromatic‐type delocalization in the pyrazole ring with some bond fixation in the triazine ring. The thiophenyl substituent is slightly disordered over two sets of atomic sites having occupancies of 0.934 (4) and 0.066 (4). The non‐H atoms in the entire molecule are nearly coplanar, with the planes of the furanyl substituent and the major orientation of the thiophenyl substituent making dihedral angles of 5.72 (17) and 1.8 (3)°, respectively, with that of the fused ring system. Molecules are linked into centrosymmetric R₂²(10) dimers by C—H...O hydrogen bonds and these dimers are further linked into chains by a single π–π stacking interaction. Comparisons are made with some related 4,7‐diaryl‐2‐(ethylsulfanyl)pyrazolo[1,5‐a][1,3,5]triazines which contain variously substituted aryl groups in place of the furanyl and thiophenyl substituents in the title compound.     

Insight into the π‐hole···π‐electrons tetrel bonds between F2ZO (Z = C,Si, Ge) and unsaturated hydrocarbons

The intermolecular π‐hole···π‐electrons interactions between F₂ZO (Z = C, Si, Ge) molecules and unsaturated hydrocarbons including acetylene, ethylene, 1,3‐butadiene and benzene were constructed to reveal the differences of tetrel bonds forming by carbon and heavier tetrel atoms. The ab initio computation in association with topological analysis of electron density, natural bond orbital, and energy decomposition analysis demonstrate that the strength of Si···π and Ge···π tetrel bonds is much stronger than that of C···π tetrel bonds. The Si···π and Ge···π tetrel bonds exhibit covalent or partially covalent interaction nature, while the weak C···π tetrel bonds display the hallmarks of noncovalent interaction, the electrostatic interaction is the primary influencing factor. The Si···π and Ge···π interactions are determined by both the σ‐ and π‐electron densities, while the C···π interactions are dominated mainly by the π‐electron densities. The π‐hole···π‐electrons tetrel bonds are dominated by electrostatic interaction, and polarization has a comparable contribution in the Si···π and Ge···π tetrel bonds.     

Structure determination of three furan‐substituted benzimidazoles and calculation of π–π and C—H...π interaction energies

The synthesis and structural characterization of 2‐(furan‐2‐yl)‐1‐(furan‐2‐ylmethyl)‐1H‐benzimidazole [C₁₆H₁₂N₂O₂, (I)], 2‐(furan‐2‐yl)‐1‐(furan‐2‐ylmethyl)‐1H‐benzimidazol‐3‐ium chloride monohydrate [C₁₆H₁₃N₂O₂⁺·Cl⁻·H₂O, (II)] and the hydrobromide salt 5,6‐dimethyl‐2‐(furan‐2‐yl)‐1‐(furan‐2‐ylmethyl)‐1H‐benzimidazol‐3‐ium bromide [C₁₈H₁₇N₂O₂⁺·Br⁻, (III)] are described. Benzimidazole (I) displays two sets of aromatic interactions, each of which involves pairs of molecules in a head‐to‐tail arrangement. The first, denoted set (Ia), exhibits both intermolecular C—H...π interactions between the 2‐(furan‐2‐yl) (abbreviated as Fn) and 1‐(furan‐2‐ylmethyl) (abbreviated as MeFn) substituents, and π–π interactions involving the Fn substituents between inversion‐center‐related molecules. The second, denoted set (Ib), involves π–π interactions involving both the benzene ring (Bz) and the imidazole ring (Im) of benzimidazole. Hydrated salt (II) exhibits N—H...OH₂...Cl hydrogen bonding that results in chains of molecules parallel to the a axis. There is also a head‐to‐head aromatic stacking of the protonated benzimidazole cations in which the Bz and Im rings of one molecule interact with the Im and Fn rings of adjacent molecules in the chain. Salt (III) displays N—H...Br hydrogen bonding and π–π interactions involving inversion‐center‐related benzimidazole rings in a head‐to‐tail arrangement. In all of the π–π interactions observed, the interacting moieties are shifted with respect to each other along the major molecular axis. Basis set superposition energy‐corrected (counterpoise method) interaction energies were calculated for each interaction [DFT, M06‐2X/6‐31+G(d)] employing atomic coordinates obtained in the crystallographic analyses for heavy atoms and optimized H‐atom coordinates. The calculated interaction energies are −43.0, −39.8, −48.5, and −55.0 kJ mol⁻¹ for (Ia), (Ib), (II), and (III), respectively. For (Ia), the analysis was used to partition the interaction energies into the C—H...π and π–π components, which are 9.4 and 24.1 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively. Energy‐minimized structures were used to determine the optimal interplanar spacing, the slip distance along the major molecular axis, and the slip distance along the minor molecular axis for 2‐(furan‐2‐yl)‐1H‐benzimidazole.     

Crystallographic report: Bis[tris(2‐pyridyl)amine]cadmium(II)‐di‐µ‐chloro‐dichloro‐cadmium(II), [(C5H4N)3N]2CdCl2CdCl2

In the dinuclear molecule of [(C₅H₄N)₃N]₂CdCl₂CdCl₂, one cadmium is octahedrally coordinated by a Cl₂N₄ donor set and the other cadmium is tetrahedrally coordinated by four chlorine atoms. The dinuclear units are connected by π–π interactions to give a two‐dimensional network. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The tropolone–isobutylamine complex: a hydrogen‐bonded troponoid without dominant π–π interactions

Tropolone long has served as a model system for unraveling the ubiquitous phenomena of proton transfer and hydrogen bonding. This molecule, which juxtaposes ketonic, hydroxylic, and aromatic functionalities in a framework of minimal complexity, also has provided a versatile platform for investigating the synergism among competing intermolecular forces, including those generated by hydrogen bonding and aryl coupling. Small members of the troponoid family typically produce crystals that are stabilized strongly by pervasive π–π, C—H…π, or ion–π interactions. The organic salt (TrOH·iBA) formed by a facile proton‐transfer reaction between tropolone (TrOH) and isobutylamine (iBA), namely isobutylammonium 7‐oxocyclohepta‐1,3,5‐trien‐1‐olate, C₄H₁₂N⁺·C₇H₅O₂⁻, has been investigated by X‐ray crystallography, with complementary quantum‐chemical and statistical‐database analyses serving to elucidate the nature of attendant intermolecular interactions and their synergistic effects upon lattice‐packing phenomena. The crystal structure deduced from low‐temperature diffraction measurements displays extensive hydrogen‐bonding networks, yet shows little evidence of the aryl forces (viz. π–π, C—H…π, and ion–π interactions) that typically dominate this class of compounds. Density functional calculations performed with and without the imposition of periodic boundary conditions (the latter entailing isolated subunits) documented the specificity and directionality of noncovalent interactions occurring between the proton‐donating and proton‐accepting sites of TrOH and iBA, as well as the absence of aromatic coupling mediated by the seven‐membered ring of TrOH. A statistical comparison of the structural parameters extracted for key hydrogen‐bond linkages to those reported for 44 previously known crystals that support similar binding motifs revealed TrOH·iBA to possess the shortest donor–acceptor distances of any troponoid‐based complex, combined with unambiguous signatures of enhanced proton‐delocalization processes that putatively stabilize the corresponding crystalline lattice and facilitate its surprisingly rapid formation under ambient conditions.     

A helical zinc(II) coordination polymer assembled from 1,3‐bis[(pyridin‐3‐yl)methoxy]benzene and benzene‐1,4‐dicarboxylic acid

In catena‐poly[[aqua[1,3‐bis(pyridine‐3‐ylmethoxy)benzene‐κN]zinc(II)]‐μ₂‐benzene‐1,4‐dicarboxylato‐κ²O¹:O⁴], [Zn(C₈H₄O₄)(C₁₈H₁₆N₂O₂)(H₂O)]_n, each Zn^II centre is tetrahedrally coordinated by two O atoms of bridging carboxylate groups from two benzene‐1,4‐dicarboxylate anions (denoted L²⁻), one O atom from a water molecule and one N atom from a 1,3‐bis[(pyridin‐3‐yl)methoxy]benzene ligand (denoted bpmb). (Aqua)O—H...N hydrogen‐bonding interactions induce the formation of one‐dimensional helical [Zn(L)(bpmb)(H₂O)]_n chains which are interlinked through (aqua)O—H...O hydrogen‐bonding interactions, producing two‐dimensional corrugated sheets.     

A Zipper‐like Supramolecular Double‐Chain based on 1 D π‐π Stacking Interactions: Synthesis and Crystal Structure of [Cu(phen)(C4H4O4)(H2O)]2 · C4H6O4 (phen = 1,10‐phenanthroline)

[Cu(C₁₂H₈N₂)(C₄H₄O₄)(H₂O)]₂ · C₄H₆O₄ was prepared by the reaction of succinic acid, CuCl₂ · 2 H₂O, 1,10‐phenanthroline (phen = C₁₂H₈N₂), and Na₂CO₃ in a CH₃OH–H₂O solution. The crystal structure (triclinic, P 1 (no. 2), a = 7.493(1), b = 9.758(1), c = 13.517(1) Å; α = 68.89(1)°, β = 88.89(1)°, γ = 73.32(1)°, Z = 1, R = 0.0308, wR² = 0.0799 for 3530 observed reflections (F ≥ 2σ(F ) out of 3946 unique reflections) consists of hydrogen bonded succinic acid molecules and succinato bridged 1 D zipperlike supramolecular [Cu(phen)(C₄H₄O₄)_2/2(H₂O)]₂ double chains based on 1 D π‐π stacking interactions between the chelating phen systems at distances of 3.71 Å and 3.79 Å. The Cu atoms are fivefold trigonal bipyramidally coordinated by two N atoms of the bidentate chelating phen ligand and three O atoms of one water molecule and two bidentate bridging succinate ligands. The water O atom and one phen N atom are at the apical positions (equatorial: d(Cu–O) = 1.945, 2.254(2) Å, d(Cu–N) = 2.034(2) Å; axial: d(Cu–O) = 1.971(2) Å, d(Cu–N) = 1.995 Å).