Intermolecular interactions of extended aromatic ligands: the synchrotron molecular structure of [Ru(bpy)2(N-HSB)].2PF6 and [Ru(bpy)2(N-1/2HSB)].2PF6

Abstract

The processes by which molecular systems undergo aggregation have received much attention because they are key to the delivery of pre-determined supramolecular structures at the molecular design stage. The intermolecular forces known to have an over-riding effect on molecular aggregation include hydrogen-bonding, solvent, charge?charge and -stacking interactions.Molecular families where the latter are significant include the large planar aromatics such as the hexabenzocoronenes. Remarkable differences in the aggregation of these systems due to changes in peripheral organic substituents have been observed, but the influence and inclusion of metal connectors is far rarer. In two emergent molecular families, the eilatins and the nitrogen-heterosuperbenzenes (N-HSBs), extended fused aromatic rings and proven ligand function allow particular attention to be given to the resulting transition metal coordination complexes.