Halogen trimer synthons in crystal engineering: Low-temperature X-ray and neutron diffraction study of the 1:1 complex of 2,4,6-tris(4-chlorophenoxy)-1,3,5-triazine with tribromobenzene

Abstract

The title complex has been studied using low-temperature X-ray (150 K) and neutron (100 K) diffraction. Molecules of the triazine host form a two-dimensional hexagonal network mediated by trigonally symmetric Cl3 synthons having Cl⋯Cl interactions of 3.441 (3) Å, a C - Cl⋯Cl angle of 165° and a Cl⋯Cl - C angle of 105°, close to the ideal values of 180 and 90°, respectively. The guest molecules are of an appropriate size to fit the hexagonal networks and interact with the host via C - H⋯π (phenyl) and C - Br⋯π (phenyl) interactions which stabilize the overall structure. Both C-donor bond vectors are directed more closely towards the mid-point (X) of an individual aromatic bond, rather than the ring centroid, with H⋯X 2.817 (9) Å and C - H⋯X 174.0 (9)°, and Br⋯X 3.353 (4) Å and C - Br⋯X 158.1 (2)°.