Molecular duplexes featuring NH···N, CH···O and CH···π interactions in solid-state self-assembly of triazine-based compounds

• Published in: Royal Society open science 2022-11, Vol.9 (11), p.220603-220603
• Main Authors: Asghar, Shazia, Hameed, Shahid, Tahir, Muhammad Nawaz, Naseer, Muhammad Moazzam
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chemistry; CH···O interactions; CH···π interactions; molecular duplexes; self-assembly; supramolecular synthons; triazine derivatives
• ISSN: 2054-5703; 2054-5703
• DOI: 10.1098/rsos.220603

Synthetic supramolecular structures constructed through the cooperative action of numerous non-covalent forces are highly desirable as models to unravel and understand the complexity of systems created in nature via self-assembly. Taking advantage of the low cost of 2,4,6-trichloro-1,3,5-triazine (cyanuric chloride) and the sequential nucleophilic substitution reactions with almost all types of nucleophiles, a series of six structurally related novel s-triazine derivatives 1–6 were synthesized and structurally characterized based on their physical, spectral and crystallographic data. The solid-state structures of all the six compounds showed intriguing and unique molecular duplexes featuring NH···N, CH···O and CH···π interactions. Careful analysis of different geometric parameters of the involved H-bonds indicates that they are linear, significant and are therefore responsible for guiding the three-dimensional structure of these compounds in the solid state. The prevalence of sextuple hydrogen bond array-driven molecular duplexes and the possibility of structural modifications on the s-triazine ring render these novel triazine derivatives 1–6 attractive as a platform to create heteroduplex constructs and their subsequent utility in the field of supramolecular chemistry and crystal engineering.