Extending the halogen-bonded supramolecular synthon concept to 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives

A series of five crystal structures of 1:1 halogen-bonded complexes were obtained from 4-[5-(4-alkoxyphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-yl]pyridine and 1,3,5-trifluorotriiodobenzene. Electronic structure calculations show that the N(oxadiazole)⋯I interaction in the new synthon is as strong as the classic N(pyridine)⋯I interaction. Oxygen to sulfur atom subsitution on the oxadiazole ring results in a different supramolecular packing where the N(pyridine)⋯I interaction is favored, which could be rationalized by the changes in the molecular electrostatic potential predicted from the theoretical calculations.