Host–Guest Chemistry: Oxoanion Recognition Based on Combined Charge‐Assisted C−H or Halogen‐Bonding Interactions and Anion⋅⋅⋅Anion Interactions Mediated by Hydrogen Bonds

Several bis‐triazolium‐based receptors have been synthesized and their anion‐recognition capabilities have been studied. The central chiral 1,1′‐bi‐2‐naphthol (BINOL) core features either two aryl or ferrocenyl end‐capped side arms with central halogen‐ or hydrogen‐bonding triazolium receptors. NMR spectroscopic data indicate the simultaneous occurrence of several charge‐assisted aliphatic and heteroaromatic C?H noncovalent interactions and combinations of C?H hydrogen and halogen bonding. The receptors are able to selectively interact with HP₂O₇^3?, H₂PO₄^?, and SO₄^2? anions, and the value of the association constant follows the sequence: HP₂O₇^3?>SO₄^2?>H₂PO₄^?. The ferrocenyl end‐capped 7²⁺?2 BF₄ ^? receptor allows recognition and differentiation of H₂PO₄^? and HP₂O₇^3? anions by using different channels: H₂PO₄^? is selectively detected through absorption and emission methods and HP₂O₇^3? by using electrochemical techniques. Significant structural results are the observation of an anion???anion interaction in the solid state (2:2 complex, 6²⁺? [ H₂P₂O₇ ] ^2? ), and a short C?I???O contact is observed in the structure of the complex [ 8 ²⁺][SO₄]_0.5[BF₄].     

Self‐Assembled Columnar Triazole Quartets: An Example of Synergistic Hydrogen‐Bonding/Anion–π Interactions

The self‐assembly of triazole amphiphiles was examined in solution, the solid state, and in bilayer membranes. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction experiments show that stacked protonated triazole quartets (T₄) are stabilized by multiple strong interactions with two anions. Hydrogen bonding/ion pairing of the anions are combined with anion–π recognition to produce columnar architectures. In bilayer membranes, low transport activity is observed when the T₄ channels are operated as H⁺/X^? translocators, but higher transport activity is observed for X^? in the presence of the K⁺‐carrier valinomycin. These self‐assembled superstructures, presenting intriguing structural behaviors such as directionality, and strong anion encapsulation by hydrogen bonding supported by vicinal anion–π interactions can serve as artificial supramolecular channels for transporting anions across lipid bilayer membranes.     

(8‐Dimethylamino‐1‐naphthyl)dimethylammonium 3‐carboxy‐1,4,5,‐6,7,7‐hexachlorobicyclo[2.2.1]hept‐5‐ene‐2‐carboxylate hydrate

The structure of the title compound, C₁₄H₁₉N₂⁺·C₉H₃Cl₆O₄^?·H₂O, consists of singly ionized 1,4,5,6,7,7‐hexachlorobicyclo[2.2.1]hept‐5‐ene‐2,3‐dicarboxylic acid anions and protonated 1,8‐bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene cations. In the (8‐dimethylamino‐1‐napthyl)dimethylammonium cat­ion, a strong disordered intramolecular hydrogen bond is formed with N?N = 2.589 (3) Å. The geometry and occupancy obtained in the final restrained refinement suggest that the disordered hydrogen bond may be asymmetric. Water mol­ecules link the anion dimers into infinite chains via hydrogen bonding.     

N,N′‐Dimethylpyrazinediium bis(tetrafluoroborate) and N,N′‐diethylpyrazinediium bis(tetrafluoroborate): new examples of anion–π triads

Crystallization of N,N′‐dimethylpyrazinediium bis(tetrafluoroborate), C₆H₁₀N₂²⁺·2BF₄⁻, (I), and N,N′‐diethylpyrazinediium bis(tetrafluoroborate), C₈H₁₄N₂²⁺·2BF₄⁻, (II), from dried acetonitrile under argon protection has permitted their single‐crystal studies. In both crystal structures, the pyrazinediium dications are located about an inversion center (located at the ring center) and each pyrazinediium aromatic ring is π‐bonded to two centrosymmetrically related BF₄⁻ anions. Strong anion–π interactions, as well as weak C—H...F hydrogen bonds, between BF₄⁻ and pyrazinediium ions are present in both salts.     

[1l‐3,4‐Bis‐O‐(diphenylphosphino)‐1,2,5,6‐tetra‐O‐methyl‐chiro‐inositol‐κ2P,P′][η4‐(Z,Z)‐cycloocta‐1,5‐diene]rhodium(I) tetrafluoridoborate chloroform solvate

The title compound, [Rh(C₈H₁₂)(C₃₄H₃₈O₆P₂)]BF₄·CHCl₃, a novel asymmetric hydrogenation catalyst, crystallizes with two independent almost identical cations and anions. Cell‐packing interactions are provided by nonclassical hydrogen bonding between phenyl and chloroform H atoms and fluoro and chloro donors of the BF₄⁻ anion and the chloroform solvent molecule.     

Size‐Regulable Vesicles Based on Anion–π Interactions

Taking tetraoxacalix[2]arene[2]triazine as a functionalization platform, a series of new amphiphilic molecules were synthesized in 18 to 53 % yields by using a fragment coupling protocol. These amphiphilic molecules self‐assembled into stable vesicles in a mixture of THF and water, with the surface of the vesicles engineered by electron‐deficient cavities. Various anions are able to selectively influence the size of self‐assembled vesicles, following the order of F^?<ClO₄^?<SCN^?<BF₄^?<Br^?<Cl^?<NO₃^?, as revealed by DLS measurements. Such a sequence was independent with the hydration cost and in agreement with the binding strength of anions with tetraoxacalix[2]arene[2]triazine host molecule, indicating that the anion–π interaction most probably competed over other possible weak interactions and accounted for this interesting selectivity. In addition, the chloride permeation process across the membrane of the vesicles was also preliminarily studied by means of fluorescent experiments. This study, in addition to providing the potentiality of heteracalixaromatics as new models to construct functional vesicles, opens a new avenue to study the anion–π interactions in aqueous and also potentially in living systems.     

Orbital Effect‐Induced Anomalous Anion–π Interactions between Electron‐Rich Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Fluoride

Anion–π interactions generally exist between an anion and an electron‐deficient π‐ring because of the electron‐accepting character of the ring. In this paper, we report orbital effect‐induced anomalous binding between electron‐rich π systems and F^? through anion–π interactions calculated at the MP2/6‐31+G(d,p) and ωB97X‐D/6‐31+G(d,p) levels of theory. We find that anion–π interactions between F^? and electron‐rich π rings increase markedly with increasing number of π electrons and size of the π rings. This is contrary to intuition because anion–π interactions would be expected to gradually decrease because of gradually increasing Coulombic repulsion between the negative charge of the anions and gradually increasing number of π electrons of the aromatic surfaces. Energy decomposition analysis showed that the key to this anomalous effect is the more effective delocalization of negative charge to the unoccupied π* orbitals of larger π rings, which is termed an “orbital effect”.     

N,N′,N′′,N′′′‐Tetraethylterephthalamidinium bis(tetrazolate)

The crystal structure of the title 2:1 salt of tetrazole and a substituted terephthal­amidine, C₁₆H₂₈N₄²⁺·2CHN₄^?, contains an infinite network of hydrogen bonds, with short N?N distances of 2.820 (2) and 2.8585 (19) Å between the tetrazolate anion and the amidinium cation. Involvement of the lateral N atoms of the tetrazole in the hydrogen bonding appears to be a typical binding pattern for the tetrazolate anion.     

CH‐Directed Anion–π Interactions in the Crystals of Pentafluorobenzyl‐Substituted Ammonium and Pyridinium Salts

Simple pentafluorobenzyl‐substituted ammonium and pyridinium salts with different anions can be easily obtained by treatment of the parent amine or pyridine with the respective pentafluorobenzyl halide. Hexafluorophosphate is introduced as the anion by salt metathesis. In the case of the ammonium salt 4 , water co‐crystallisation seems to suppress effective anion–π interactions of bromide with the electron‐deficient aromatic system, whereas with salts 5 and 6 such interactions are observed despite the presence of water. However, due to asymmetric hydrogen‐bonding interactions with ammonium side chains, the anion of 5 is located close to the rim of the pentafluorophenyl group (η¹ interaction). In 6 the CH–anion hydrogen bonding is more symmetric and fixes the anion on top of the ring (η⁶). A similar structure‐controlling effect is observed in case of the 1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane derivatives 7 . Here the position of the anion (Cl, Br, I) is shifted according to the length of the weak CH–halide interaction. The hexafluorophosphate 7 d reveals that this “non‐coordinating” anion can be located on top of an aromatic π system. In the methyl‐substituted pyridinium salts 9 and 10 different locations of the bromide anions with respect to the π system are observed. This is due to different conformations of the mono‐ versus disubstituted pyridine, which leads to different directions of the weak, but structurally important, H_Me? Br bonds.     

Preorganized Anion Traps for Exploiting Anion–π Interactions: An Experimental and Computational Study

1,3‐Bis(pentafluorophenyl‐imino)isoindoline (A^F) and 3,6‐di‐tert‐butyl‐1,8‐bis(pentafluorophenyl)‐9H‐carbazole (B^F) have been designed as preorganized anion receptors that exploit anion–π interactions, and their ability to bind chloride and bromide in various solvents has been evaluated. Both receptors A^F and B^F are neutral but provide a central NH hydrogen bond that directs the halide anion into a preorganized clamp of the two electron‐deficient appended arenes. Crystal structures of host–guest complexes of A^F with DMSO, Cl^?, or Br^? (A^F:DMSO, A^F:Cl^?, and ${{\rm A}{{{\rm F}\hfill \atop 2\hfill}}}$ :Br^?) reveal that in all cases the guest is located in the cleft between the perfluorinated flaps, but NMR spectroscopy shows a more complex situation in solution because of E,Z/Z,Z isomerism of the host. In the case of the more rigid receptor B^F, Job plots evidence 1:1 complex formation with Cl^? and Br^?, and association constants up to 960 M ^?1 have been determined depending on the solvent. Crystal structures of B^F and B^F:DMSO visualize the distinct preorganization of the host for anion–π interactions. The reference compounds 1,3‐bis(2‐pyrimidylimino)isoindoline (A^N) and 3,6‐di‐tert‐butyl‐1,8‐diphenyl‐9H‐carbazole (B^H), which lack the perfluorinated flaps, do not show any indication of anion binding under the same conditions. A detailed computational analysis of the receptors A^F and B^F and their host–guest complexes with Cl^? or Br^? was carried out to quantify the interactions in play. Local correlation methods were applied, allowing for a decomposition of the ring–anion interactions. The latter were found to contribute significantly to the stabilization of these complexes (about half of the total energy). Compounds A^F and B^F represent rare examples of neutral receptors that are well preorganized for exploiting anion–π interactions, and rare examples of receptors for which the individual contributions to the binding energy have been quantified.     

Hydrogen bonding in two benzene‐1,2‐diaminium pyridine‐2‐carboxylate salts and a cocrystal of benzene‐1,2‐diamine and benzoic acid

The isostructural salts benzene‐1,2‐diaminium bis(pyridine‐2‐carboxylate), 0.5C₆H₁₀N₂²⁺·C₆H₄NO₂^?, (1), and 4,5‐dimethylbenzene‐1,2‐diaminium bis(pyridine‐2‐carboxylate), 0.5C₈H₁₄N₂²⁺·C₆H₄NO₂^?, (2), and the 1:2 benzene‐1,2‐diamine–benzoic acid cocrystal, 0.5C₆H₈N₂·C₇H₆O₂, (3), are reported. All of the compounds exhibit extensive N—H…O hydrogen bonding that results in interconnected rings. O—H…N hydrogen bonding is observed in (3). Additional π–π and C—H…π interactions are found in each compound. Hirshfeld and fingerprint plot analyses reveal the primary intermolecular interactions and density functional theory was used to calculate their strengths. Salt formation by (1) and (2), and cocrystallization by (3) are rationalized by examining pK_a differences. The R₂²(9) hydrogen‐bonding motif is common to each of these structures.     

2,3,4,5‐Tetrakis­[(2‐hydroxy­ethyl)­thio]­tetra­thia­fulvalene tetra­fluoro­borate

The title complex, C₁₄H₂₀O₄S₈^+.BF₄^?, is a charge‐transfer complex with typical charges for the donor and anion of +1 and ?1, respectively. Two centrosymmetrically related donors form a face‐to‐face π‐dimer with a strong intermolecular S?S interaction. These π‐dimers stack along the a axis to form a donor column. The structure is extensively hydrogen bonded.     

A 16‐connected three‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonding network in tetrakis(4‐aminopyridinium) perylene‐3,4,9,10‐tetracarboxylate octahydrate

The novel title organic salt, 4C₅H₇N₂⁺·C₂₄H₈O₈⁴⁻·8H₂O, was obtained from the reaction of perylene‐3,4,9,10‐tetracarboxylic acid (H₄ptca) with 4‐aminopyridine (4‐ap). The asymmetric unit contains half a perylene‐3,4,9,10‐tetracarboxylate (ptca⁴⁻) anion with twofold symmetry, two 4‐aminopyridinium (4‐Hap⁺) cations and four water molecules. Strong N—H...O hydrogen bonds connect each ptca⁴⁻ anion with four 4‐Hap⁺ cations to form a one‐dimensional linear chain along the [010] direction, decorated by additional 4‐Hap⁺ cations attached by weak N—H...O hydrogen bonds to the ptca⁴⁻ anions. Intermolecular O—H...O interactions of water molecules with ptca⁴⁻ and 4‐Hap⁺ ions complete the three‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonding network. From the viewpoint of topology, each ptca⁴⁻ anion acts as a 16‐connected node by hydrogen bonding to six 4‐Hap⁺ cations and ten water molecules to yield a highly connected hydrogen‐bonding framework. π–π interactions between 4‐Hap⁺ cations, and between 4‐Hap⁺ cations and ptca⁴⁻ anions, further stabilize the three‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonding network.     

Host–guest‐like thi­amine–anion complexation in thia­minium bis­(tetra­fluoro­borate)

In the title compound, 3‐[(4‐amino‐2‐methyl‐5‐pyrimidin‐1‐io)methyl]‐5‐(2‐hydroxy­ethyl)‐4‐methyl­thia­zolium(2+) bis(tetra­fluoro­borate), C₁₂H₁₈N₄OS²⁺·2BF₄^?, the divalent thia­mine cation (in the F conformation) is associated with BF₄^? anions via two characteristic bridging interactions between the thia­zolium and pyrimidinium rings, i.e. C—H?BF₄^??pyrimidinium and N—H?BF₄^??thia­zolium interactions. Thi­amine mol­ecules are linked by N—H?O hydrogen bonds to form a helical chain structure.     

Hydrogen‐bonded 1,2‐bis(4‐pyridyl)ethylene and maleic acid

The title compound (systematic name: 4,4′‐ethyl­ene­dipyridinium dimaleate), C₁₂H₁₂N₂²⁺·2C₄H₃O₄^?, is a 1:2 adduct of 1,2‐bis(4‐pyridyl)­ethyl­ene (BPE) and maleic acid (MA). The interaction between the two components in the molecular complex is due to intermolecular hydrogen bonding via an N⁺—H?O^? hydrogen bond.     

Unexpectedly strong anion–π interactions on the graphene flakes

Interactions of anions with simple aromatic compounds have received growing attention due to their relevancy in various fields. Yet, the anion–π interactions are generally very weak, for example, there is no favorable anion–π interaction for the halide anion F^? on the simplest benzene surface unless the H‐atoms are substituted by the highly negatively charged F. In this article, we report a type of particularly strong anion–π interactions by investigating the adsorptions of three halide anions, that is, F^?, Cl^?, and Br^?, on the hydrogenated‐graphene flake using the density functional theory. The anion–π interactions on the graphene flake are shown to be unexpectedly strong compared to those on simple aromatic compounds, for example, the F^?‐adsorption energy is as large as 17.5 kcal/mol on a graphene flake (C₈₄H₂₄) and 23.5 kcal/mol in the periodic boundary condition model calculations on a graphene flake C₁₁₃ (the supercell containing a F^? ion and 113 carbon atoms). The unexpectedly large adsorption energies of the halide anions on the graphene flake are ascribed to the effective donor–acceptor interactions between the halide anions and the graphene flake. These findings on the presence of very strong anion–π interactions between halide ions and the graphene flake, which are disclosed for the first time, are hoped to strengthen scientific understanding of the chemical and physical characteristics of the graphene in an electrolyte solution. These favorable interactions of anions with electron‐deficient graphene flakes may be applicable to the design of a new family of neutral anion receptors and detectors. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

4‐Carboxypyridinium perchlorate 18‐crown‐6 dihydrate clathrate and 4‐carboxypyridinium tetrafluoroborate 18‐crown‐6 dihydrate clathrate

Mixtures of 4‐carboxypyridinium perchlorate or 4‐carboxypyridinium tetrafluoroborate and 18‐crown‐6 (1,4,7,10,13,16‐hexaoxacyclooctadecane) in ethanol and water solution yielded the title supramolecular salts, C₆H₆NO₂⁺·ClO₄⁻·C₁₂H₂₄O₆·2H₂O and C₆H₆NO₂⁺·BF₄⁻·C₁₂H₂₄O₆·2H₂O. Based on their similar crystal symmetries, unit cells and supramolecular assemblies, the salts are essentially isostructural. The asymmetric unit in each structure includes one protonated isonicotinic acid cation and one crown ether molecule, which together give a [(C₆H₆NO₂)(18‐crown‐6)]⁺ supramolecular cation. N—H...O hydrogen bonds between the protonated N atoms and a single O atom of each crown ether result in the 4‐carboxypyridinium cations `perching' on the 18‐crown‐6 molecules. Further hydrogen‐bonding interactions involving the supramolecular cation and both water molecules form a one‐dimensional zigzag chain that propagates along the crystallographic c direction. O—H...O or O—H...F hydrogen bonds between one of the water molecules and the anions fix the anion positions as pendant upon this chain, without further increasing the dimensionality of the supramolecular network.     

The ternary complex 4‐(2‐pyridyl)pyridinium–3,5‐di­nitro­benzoate–3,5‐di­nitro­benzoic acid (1/1/1)

In the title ternary complex, C₁₀H₉N₂⁺·C₇H₃N₂O₆^?·C₇H₄N₂O₆, the pyridinium cation adopts the role of the donor in an intermolecular N—H?O hydrogen‐bonding interaction with the carboxyl­ate group of the 3,5‐di­nitro­benzoate anion. The mol­ecules of the ternary complex form molecular ribbons perpendicular to the b direction, which are stabilized by one N—H?O, one O—H?O and five C—H?O intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The ribbons are further interconnected by three intermolecular C—H?O hydrogen bonds into a three‐dimensional network.     

Hydrogen‐bonding one‐dimensional chains containing the R42(8) motif in the ammonium salts 1‐naphthylammonium iodide and naphthalene‐1,8‐diyldiammonium diiodide

In 1‐naphthylammonium iodide, C₁₀H₁₀N⁺·I⁻, and naphthalene‐1,8‐diyldiammonium diiodide, C₁₀H₁₂N₂²⁺·2I⁻, the predominant hydrogen‐bonding pattern can be described using the graph‐set notation R₄²(8). This is the first report of a structure of a diprotonated naphthalene‐1,8‐diyldiammonium salt.     

2,4‐Diamino‐5‐(1‐naphthyl)‐3,5‐diaza‐1‐azoniaspiro[5.5]undeca‐1,3‐diene chloride

The title salt, C₁₈H₂₂N₅⁺·Cl^?, is a member of a new series of lipophilic 4,6‐di­amino spiro‐s‐triazines which are potent in­hib­itors of di­hydro­folate reductase. The protonated triazine ring deviates from planarity, whereas the cyclo­hexane ring adopts a chair conformation. A rather unusual hydrogen‐bonding scheme exists in the crystal. There is a centrosymmetric arrangement involving two amino groups and two triazine ring N atoms, with graph‐set R(8) and an N?N distance of 3.098 (3) Å, flanked by two additional R(8) systems, involving two amino groups, a triazine ring N atom and a Cl^? anion, with N?Cl distances in the range 3.179 (2)–3.278 (2) Å. Furthermore, the Cl^? anion, the protonated triazine ring N atom and an amino group form a hydrogen‐bonding system with graph‐set R(6).