Ladder and hexagonal hydrogen-bond networks from a self-complementary H-shaped tecton

Abstract

Self-assembly of the H-shaped tecton 1,4-di[bis (4′-hydroxyphenyl) methyl]benzene 1 via O-H-⋯O hydrogen bonds leads to a ladder or hexagonal network depending on the included solvent molecule. MeOH and EtOH solvates of 1 have isostructural hexagonal networks whereas inclusion of MeCN or dioxane results in a ladder structure. The ladder rung distance is modularly expanded from 11 to 20 Å in the cocrystal of 1 with 4,4′-bipyridine. The novel H-tecton adds to the library of T- and Y-shaped and tetrahedral organic nodes for network construction.