Efficient light-induced phase transitions in halogen-bonded liquid crystals
Here, we present a new family of light-responsive, fluorinated supramolecular liquid crystals (LCs) showing efficient and reversible light-induced LC-to-isotropic phase transitions. Our materials design is based on fluorinated azobenzenes, where the fluorination serves to strengthen the noncovalent interaction with bond-accepting stilbazole molecules, and increase the lifetime of the cis-form of the azobenzene units. The halogen-bonded LCs were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, hot-stage polarized optical microscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. Simultaneous analysis of light-induced changes in birefringence, absorption, and optical scattering allowed us to estimate tha…
Definition of the chalcogen bond (IUPAC Recommendations 2019)
Abstract This recommendation proposes a definition for the term “chalcogen bond”; it is recommended the term is used to designate the specific subset of inter- and intramolecular interactions formed by chalcogen atoms wherein the Group 16 element is the electrophilic site.
Halogen bonding stabilizes a cis-azobenzene derivative in the solid state : A crystallographic study
Crystals oftrans- andcis-isomers of a fluorinated azobenzene derivative have been prepared and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The presence of F atoms on the aromatic core of the azobenzene increases the lifetime of the metastablecis-isomer, allowing single crystals of thecis-azobenzene to be grown. Structural analysis on thecis-azobenzene, complemented with density functional theory calculations, highlights the active role of the halogen-bond contact (N...I synthon) in promoting the stabilization of thecis-isomer. The presence of a long aliphatic chain on the azobenzene unit induces a phase segregation that stabilizes the molecular arrangement for both thetrans- andcis-i…
In the Pursuit of Efficient Anion-Binding Organic Ligands Based on Halogen Bonding
The syntheses and the crystal structures of new multitopic anion-binding organic ligands based on a benzenoid scaffold and bearing two or three 2-iodo-imidazolium arms are reported. The quite short...
Dissecting the packing forces in mixed perfluorocarbon/aromatic co-crystals
We carried out a systematic evaluation of the packing forces in co-crystals featuring monoiodo- and diiodo-perfluoroalkanes and 1,2,4-oxadiazoles through single crystal X-ray diffraction and theoretical analysis. The molecules assemble via a combination of halogen bonding and specific dispersive interactions involving the perfluorinated units. We quantitatively elucidated the nature and strength of such interactions through solid-state calculations and Hirshfeld surface analysis. One of the co-crystals, formed by two monoiodoperfluorodecane molecules, the longest perfluorinated chain ever solved at the atomic level, allowed us to fully highlight the role of fluorous interactions.
Halogen-bonded photoresponsive materials
The aim of the present review is to illustrate to the reader the state of the art on the construction of supramolecular azobenzene-containing materials formed by halogen bonding. These materials include several examples of polymeric, liquid crystalline or crystalline species whose performances are either superior to the corresponding performances of their hydrogen-bonded analogues or simply distinctive of the halogen-bonded species. submittedVersion Peer reviewed
Binding motif of ebselen in solution: Chalcogen and hydrogen bonds team up
Ebselen (2-phenyl-1,2-benzoselenazol-3(2H)one), a glutathione peroxidase mimic, is active against several RNA viruses, among others the retrovirus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. In this paper 77Se and 1H NMR studies of ebselen are reported and they identify the chalcogen bond (ChB) and hydrogen bond (HB) that are central in the landscape of interactions formed by the compound in solution. The selenium atom and the hydrogen atom at the C7 carbon act as ChB and HB donors and the O and N atoms of neutral molecules function as acceptors. The ChB and HB give rise to a bifurcated supramolecular synthon, which fastens the interaction acceptor opposite to the N–Se covalent bond of the selen…
Halogen bond directionality translates tecton geometry into self-assembled architecture geometry
The structures of halogen-bonded infinite chains involving two diiodoperfluoroalkanes and a bent bis(pyrid-4′-yl)oxadiazole show that the geometry of the pyridyl pendant rings is translated into the angle between the formed halogen bonds.
Superfluorinated ionic liquid crystals based on supramolecular, halogen-bonded anions
Unconventional ionic liquid crystals in which the liquid crystallinity is enabled by halogen-bonded supramolecular anions [CnF2 n+1-I⋯I⋯I-CnF2 n+1]- are reported. The material system is unique in many ways, demonstrating for the first time 1) ionic, halogen-bonded liquid crystals, and 2) imidazolium-based ionic liquid crystals in which the occurrence of liquid crystallinity is not driven by the alkyl chains of the cation. Out of the ordinary: The high directionality of halogen bonds and the fluorophobic effect were exploited in the design and synthesis of a new family of unconventional superfluorinated ionic liquid crystals. The liquid crystallinity of the system is driven by halogen-bonded…
Coordination networks incorporating halogen-bond donor sites and azobenzene groups
Two Zn coordination networks, {[Zn(1)(Py)2]2(2-propanol)}n (3) and {[Zn(1)2(Bipy)2](DMF)2}n (4), incorporating halogen-bond (XB) donor sites and azobenzene groups have been synthesized and fully characterized. Obtaining 3 and 4 confirms that it is possible to use a ligand wherein its coordination bond acceptor sites and XB donor sites are on the same molecular scaffold (i.e., an aromatic ring) without interfering with each other. We demonstrate that XBs play a fundamental role in the architectures and properties of the obtained coordination networks. In 3, XBs promote the formation of 2D supramolecular layers, which, by overlapping each other, allow the incorporation of 2-propanol as a gues…
Cyclophosphazenes as versatile substrates in polymer chemistry
In this article we present the synthesis of new cyclophosphazenes and their use as chain extenders, polymers compatibilizers, and monomers.
Supramolecular hierarchy among halogen and hydrogen bond donors in light-induced surface patterning
Halogen bonding, a noncovalent interaction possessing several unique features compared to the more familiar hydrogen bonding, is emerging as a powerful tool in functional materials design. Herein, we unambiguously show that one of these characteristic features, namely high directionality, renders halogen bonding the interaction of choice when developing azobenzene-containing supramolecular polymers for light-induced surface patterning. The study is conducted by using an extensive library of azobenzene molecules that differ only in terms of the bond-donor unit. We introduce a new tetrafluorophenol-containing azobenzene photoswitch capable of forming strong hydrogen bonds, and show that an io…
Nonporous Organic Solids Capable of Dynamically Resolving Mixtures of Diiodoperfluoroalkanes
Halogen bonding has increasingly facilitated the assembly of diverse host-guest solids. Here, we show that a well-known class of organic salts, bis(trimethylammonium) alkane diiodides, can reversibly encapsulate α,ω-diiodoperfluoroalkanes (DIPFAs) through intermolecular interactions between the host's I – anions and the guest's terminal iodine substituents. The process is highly selective for the fluorocarbon that forms an I – ···I(CF 2 ) m I···I – superanion that is matched in length to the chosen dication. DIPFAs that are 2 to 12 carbons in length (common industrial intermediates) can thereby be isolated from mixtures by means of crystallization from solution upon addition of the dissolv…
Photoalignment and Surface-Relief-Grating Formation are Efficiently Combined in Low-Molecular-Weight Halogen-Bonded Complexes
It is demonstrated that halogen bonding can be used to construct low-molecular-weight supramolecular complexes with unique light-responsive properties. In particular, halogen bonding drives the formation of a photoresponsive liquid-crystalline complex between a non-mesogenic halogen bond-donor molecule incorporating an azo group, and a non-mesogenic alkoxystilbazole moiety, acting as a halogen bond-acceptor. Upon irradiation with polarized light, the complex exhibits a high degree of photoinduced anisotropy (order parameter of molecular alignment > 0.5). Moreover, efficient photoinduced surface-relief-grating (SRG) formation occurs upon irradiation with a light interference pattern, with…
Dimensional encapsulation of I− I 2 I− in an organic salt crystal matrix
Bis(trimethylammonium)hexane diiodide encapsulates iodine from solution and through a gas/solid reaction yielding in a predictable and controllable manner the selective formation of the rare polyiodide species I(-)...I-I...I(-), which matches in length to the chosen dication.
Definition of the halogen bond (IUPAC Recommendations 2013)
This recommendation proposes a definition for the term “halogen bond”, which designates a specific subset of the inter- and intramolecular interactions involving a halogen atom in a molecular entity.
Halogen bonding enhances nonlinear optical response in poled supramolecular polymers
We demonstrate that halogen bonding strongly enhances the nonlinear optical response of poled supramolecular polymer systems. We compare three nonlinear optical chromophores with similar electronic structures but different bond-donating units, and show that both the type and the strength of the noncovalent interaction between the chromophores and the polymer matrix play their own distinctive roles in the optical nonlinearity of the systems. acceptedVersion Peer reviewed
Solution stoichiometry determines crystal stoichiometry in halogen-bonded supramolecular complexes
The behavior of the methylisonicotinate (MINC) building block as halogen bonding-acceptor module has been investigated in the solid state. Both the N and the O atoms of MINC interact with the iodine atoms of 1,4-diiodotetrafluorobenzene (DITFB) giving rise to N⋯I and O⋯I interactions. Hierarchy between these interactions allows the control of the composition and thus the structure of the supramolecular complex, according to the composition of the reaction mixture. A structure based on an infinite chain and a trimeric supermolecule have been obtained starting from a 1 ∶ 1 MINC/DITFB stoichiometry or by using a large excess of MINC, respectively. While the former structure shows simultaneous …
Azobenzene-based difunctional halogen-bond donor: Towards the engineering of photoresponsive co-crystals
Halogen bonding is emerging as a powerful non-covalent interaction in the context of supramolecular photoresponsive materials design, particularly due to its high directionality. In order to obtain further insight into the solid-state features of halogen-bonded photoactive molecules, three halogen-bonded co-crystals containing an azobenzene-based difunctional halogen-bond donor molecule, (E)-bis(4-iodo-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyl)diazene, C12F8I2N2, have been synthesized and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The crystal structure of the non-iodinated homologue (E)-bis(2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyl)diazene, C12H2F8N2, is also reported. It is demonstrated that the stud…
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