Weak Intermolecular Anion–π Interactions in Pentafluorobenzyl-Substituted Ammonium Betaines

A series of ammonium–carboxylate and ammonium–sulfonate betaines was synthesized and studied by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis to investigate the weak intermolecular interactions as well as the intramolecular interactions in the solid state. None of the expected intramolecular anion–π interactions could be observed, probably because of the steric demands and the reduced nucleophilicity of the anionic part of the betaines. Nevertheless, a weak intermolecular anion–π interaction between the anionic part of the betaine and the pentafluorophenyl unit is present in the structure of 5a.