Supramolecular Sandwiches: Halogen-Bonded Coformers Direct [2+2] Photoreactivity in Two-Component Cocrystals

Quentin, Jay; C. Swenson, Dale; R. MacGillivray, Leonard

doi:10.3390/molecules25040907

Open AccessArticle

Supramolecular Sandwiches: Halogen-Bonded Coformers Direct [2+2] Photoreactivity in Two-Component Cocrystals

by

Jay Quentin

,

Dale C. Swenson

and

Leonard R. MacGillivray

^*

Department of Chemistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Molecules 2020, 25(4), 907; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25040907

Submission received: 18 January 2020 / Revised: 7 February 2020 / Accepted: 11 February 2020 / Published: 18 February 2020

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Halogen Bonds: Combining Experiment and Theory)

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Abstract

The halogen-bond (X-bond) donors 1,3- and 1,4-diiodotetrafluorobenzene (1,3-di-I-tFb and 1,4-di-I-tFb, respectively) form cocrystals with trans-1,2-bis(2-pyridyl)ethylene (2,2′-bpe) assembled by N···I X-bonds. In each cocrystal, 2(1,3-di-I-tFb)·2(2,2′-bpe) and (1,4-di-I-tFb)·(2,2′-bpe), the donor molecules support the C=C bonds of 2,2′-bpe to undergo an intermolecular [2+2] photodimerization. UV irradiation of each cocrystal resulted in stereospecific and quantitative conversion of 2,2′-bpe to rctt-tetrakis(2-pyridyl)cyclobutane (2,2′-tpcb). In each case, the reactivity occurs via face-to-face π-stacked columns wherein nearest-neighbor pairs of 2,2′-bpe molecules lie sandwiched between X-bond donor molecules. Nearest-neighbor C=C bonds are stacked criss-crossed in both cocrystals. The reactivity was ascribed to the olefins undergoing pedal-like motion in the solid state. The stereochemistry of 2,2′-tpcb is confirmed in cocrystals 2(1,3-di-I-tFb)·(2,2′-tpcb) and (1,4-di-I-tFb)·(2,2′-tpcb).

Keywords: cocrystal; crystal engineering; halogen bonding; photodimerization; cyclobutane; pedal motion

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MDPI and ACS Style

Quentin, J.; C. Swenson, D.; R. MacGillivray, L. Supramolecular Sandwiches: Halogen-Bonded Coformers Direct [2+2] Photoreactivity in Two-Component Cocrystals. Molecules 2020, 25, 907. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25040907

AMA Style

Quentin J, C. Swenson D, R. MacGillivray L. Supramolecular Sandwiches: Halogen-Bonded Coformers Direct [2+2] Photoreactivity in Two-Component Cocrystals. Molecules. 2020; 25(4):907. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25040907

Chicago/Turabian Style

Quentin, Jay, Dale C. Swenson, and Leonard R. MacGillivray. 2020. "Supramolecular Sandwiches: Halogen-Bonded Coformers Direct [2+2] Photoreactivity in Two-Component Cocrystals" Molecules 25, no. 4: 907. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25040907

APA Style

Quentin, J., C. Swenson, D., & R. MacGillivray, L. (2020). Supramolecular Sandwiches: Halogen-Bonded Coformers Direct [2+2] Photoreactivity in Two-Component Cocrystals. Molecules, 25(4), 907. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25040907

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Supramolecular Sandwiches: Halogen-Bonded Coformers Direct [2+2] Photoreactivity in Two-Component Cocrystals

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