Tellurium⋯π-aryl interactions: a new bonding motif for supramolecular self-assembly and crystal engineering

Abstract

A search of the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) was performed to identify Te⋯π-aryl interactions not reported before in the literature. The examination of the distance between tellurium atoms and aryl group centroids and the analysis of crystal packing, using deposited crystal structure data, produced a list of organotellurium compounds which showed a variety of Te⋯π bonding interactions. These include inter-ionic Te⋯π interactions in anion–cation ion pairs, intramolecular Te⋯π-aryl interactions in mono- and di-nuclear covalent molecular compounds, as well as in dimeric and tetrameric supermolecules or in supramolecular polymeric arrays formed through secondary bonds. Most interesting was the finding that intermolecular Te⋯π aryl interactions can connect molecular tectons, leading to supramolecular self-assembly with formation of dimeric and polymeric superstructures. Finally, Te⋯π aryl interactions may interconnect polymeric chains formed through Te⋯X secondary bonds into 2D and perhaps 3D networks. Thus, the Te⋯aryl interactions appear as a new bonding motif for supramolecular self-assembly, which could be exploited for crystal engineering in organotellurium chemistry, i.e. for the design of new materials with attractive useful properties.