On the importance of unprecedented lone pair-salt bridge interactions in Cu(II)-malonate-2-amino-5-chloropyridine-perchlorate ternary system.

A Cu(II)-malonate complex with formula {(C5H6N2Cl)12[Cu(1)(C3H2O4)2][Cu(2)(C3H2O4)2(H2O)2][Cu(4)(C3H2O4)2][Cu(3)(C3H2O4)2(H2O)2](ClO4)4}n (1) [C5H6N2Cl = protonated 2-amino-5-chloropyridine, C3H4O4 = malonic acid, ClO4(-) = perchlorate] has been synthesized from purely aqueous media simple by mixing the reactants in their stoichiometric ratio, and its crystal structure has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In 1, copper(II) malonate units form infinite 1D polymeric chains, which are interlinked by hydrogen bonds to generate 2D sheets. These 2D sheets are joined side by side primarily by various hydrogen bonds to form a 3D structure. A multitude of salt bridges are formed in this structure, connecting the protonated 2-amino-5-chloropyridines and the malonate ligands of the polymeric polyanion. Examining this characteristic of the solid-state architecture, we noticed several salt-bridge (sb)···π interactions and an unexplored interaction between the lone pair (lp) of one malonate oxygen atom and a planar salt bridge. The combination of this interaction with various other weak intermolecular forces results in a remarkably extended supramolecular network combining a wide variety of interactions involving π-systems (Cl···π, π···π) and salt bridges (sb···π and lp···sb). We describe the energetic and geometric features of this lone pair-salt-bridge interaction and explore its impact on the resultant supramolecular organization using theoretical DFT-D3 calculations.

Anion induced formation of supramolecular associations involving lone pair-π and anion-π interactions in Co(II) malonate complexes: experimental observations, Hirshfeld surface analyses and DFT studies.

Three Co(II)-malonate complexes, namely, (C(5)H(7)N(2))(4)[Co(C(3)H(2)O(4))(2)(H(2)O)(2)](NO(3))(2) (1), (C(5)H(7)N(2))(4)[Co(C(3)H(2)O(4))(2)(H(2)O)(2)](ClO(4))(2) (2), and (C(5)H(7)N(2))(4)[Co(C(3)H(2)O(4))(2)(H(2)O)(2)](PF(6))(2) (3) [C(5)H(7)N(2) = protonated 2-aminopyridine, C(3)H(4)O(4) = malonic acid, NO(3)(-) = nitrate, ClO(4)(-) = perchlorate, PF(6)(-) = hexafluorophosphate], have been synthesized from purely aqueous media, and their crystal structures have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. A thorough analysis of Hirshfeld surfaces and fingerprint plots facilitates a comparison of intermolecular interactions in 1-3, which are crucial in building supramolecular architectures. When these complexes are structurally compared with their previously reported analogous Ni(II) or Mg(II) compounds, a very interesting feature regarding the role of counteranions has emerged. This phenomenon can be best described as anion-induced formation of extended supramolecular networks of the type lone pair-π/π-π/π-anion-π/π-lone pair and lone pair-π/π-π/π-anion involving various weak forces like lone pair-π, π-π, and anion-π interactions. The strength of these π contacts has been estimated using DFT calculations (M06/6-31+G*), and the formation energy of the supramolecular networks has been also evaluated. The influence of the anion (NO(3)(-), ClO(4)(-), and PF(6)(-)) on the total interaction energy of the assembly is also studied.

3-Picoline mediated self-assembly of M(II)-malonate complexes (M = Ni/Co/Mn/Mg/Zn/Cu) assisted by various weak forces involving lone pair-π, π-π, and anion···π-hole interactions.

Five M(II)-malonate complexes having a common formula (C(6)H(9)N(2))(4)[M(II)(C(3)H(2)O(4))(2)(H(2)O)(2)](PF(6))(2).(H(2)O)(2) (1-5) [where C(6)H(9)N(2) = protonated 3-picoline, M(II) = Ni/Co/Mn/Mg/Zn, C(3)H(4)O(4) = malonic acid, and PF(6)(-) = hexafluorophospahte], have been synthesized and their crystal structures have been determined. Complexes 1-5 were found to be isostructural and protonated 3-picoline has primarily mediated the self-assembly process. Role of a discrete water dimer in complexes 1-5 was also studied. Weaker π-interactions have also played crucial role in stabilizing 1D chain constructed by discrete [M(II)(C(3)H(2)O(4))(2)(H(2)O)(2)] units. An additional copper complex namely, (C(6)H(9)N(2))(4)[Cu(C(3)H(2)O(4))(2)](PF(6))(2) (6) has been synthesized from the same reagents and was found to have a completely different structure from the others. Structures of all the complexes are fully described and compared here. Moreover, the lone pair-π and π-π noncovalent interactions have been analyzed by means of DFT calculations, mainly focusing our attention to the influence of the coordinating metal on the strength of the interactions and the interplay between hydrogen bonding and π-interactions. We also present here Hirshfeld surface analysis to investigate the close intermolecular contacts.