Molecular complexes of octafluoronaphthalene with catenated chalcogen-nitrogen compounds C6H5-X-NSN-SiMe3 (X = S, Se)

Mismatched molecular 1:1 complexes of C₁₀F₈ with catenated chalcogen-nitrogen compounds C₆H₅-X-NSN-SiMe₃ (X = S, Se) were prepared and characterized by X-ray crystallography. The complexes provide examples of structurally non-rigid polyheteroatom molecules involved in non-covalent arene-polyfluoroarene π-stacking interactions. In going from homocrystals to the co-crystals, the molecular Z, E configuration of the catenated compounds changes from noticeably non-planar to perfectly planar, i.e. C₁₀F₈ acts as “molecular iron”. On the other hand, C₁₀H₈ does not produce complexes with C₆F₅-X-NSN-SiMe₃ (X = S, Se).