Structure and coordination behavior of 2,3-bis(2-furanyl)quinoxaline

The title compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, space group Pna2₁, with a = 15.721 (5) Å, b = 16.945 (5) Å, c = 4.6961 (15) Å, V = 1251.0 (7) ų, and Z = 4. One furanyl ring is rotated with respect to the quinoxaline group by 66.4(2)°, and another furanyl ring almost lies coplanar with the quinoxaline moiety. Although it has potential for chelation involving the furanyl oxygen atom and the nearest nitrogen atom of the quinoxaline group, poor coordination behavior was observed while attempting to synthesize its complexes with a metal center like Ru(II), Cu(II), or Co(III), entirely different from its analogue 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)quinoxaline. This is most likely due to the weak donating ability of the furanyl oxygen atom and the steric hindrance.