Intermolecular interactions in the solid state structures of neutral and N-protonated 5-alkoxymethyl-8-hydroxyquinolines

Abstract

A series of five different alkoxymethyl substituted derivatives of 8-hydroxyquinoline was synthesised both in protonated (1a-1e) and neutral (2a-2e) form. The alkoxymethyl groups are MeO (1a, 2a), EtO (1b, 2b), n-PrO (1c, 2c), iso-PrO (1d, 2d), n-BuO (1e, 2e). The compounds were characterised by single crystal X-ray diffraction and spectroscopic methods. Hirshfeld surface analysis was performed to analyse the crystal packing quantitatively. Topological analysis of the electron density distribution delivers information about the strength of the hydrogen bonds. The overall results reveal a main difference between the charged (1a-1d) and uncharged (2a-2e) compounds in the orientation of the hydroxyl group resulting in a different cyclic dimer formation. In both cases the structures are dominated by hydrogen bonding (1a-1d: OH⋯Cl, NH⋯Cl and 2a-2e: OH⋯N). Furthermore, all crystal structures show π involved interactions though taking only a minor part in the packing of the molecules.