Molecular networks in the crystal structures of tetrakis(4-iodophenyl)methane and (4-iodophenyl)triphenylmethane

Abstract

The crystal structure of tetrakis(4-iodophenyl)methane is analysed in terms of molecular networks wherein the tetraphenylmethane moieties and I4 synthons are considered as molecular and supramolecular nodes. This I4 cluster plays the same role in generating molecular networks as does the Br4 cluster in the isomorphous tetrakis(4-bromophenyl)methane derivative. (4-Iodophenyl)triphenylmethane crystallises in a lower symmetry space group but features an unusual I⋯Ph interaction. In this series of halo-substituted tetraphenylmethanes the molecules exhibit similar columnar packing in the solid state, accounting for their crystallisation in non-centrosymmetric space groups.