Synthesis and crystallographic, spectroscopic, and computational characterization of 3,3 ,4,4 -substituted biphenyls: effects of OR substituents on the intra-ring torsion angle

LEONARDO SLEP; RICARDO BAGGIO*; NAHIR VADRA; VERONICA MANZANO ; CUKIERNIK, FABIO D.*; SEBASTIAN SUAREZ*; EMILIA HALAC

Conferencia; 2nd International Conference on Crystal Engineering: From Molecule to Crystal; 2020

2 nd International Conference on Crystal Engineering: From Molecule to Crystal

In this work we synthesize, characterize and study by single-crystal & powder X-ray diffraction, Raman scattering and quantum mechanics calculations, the structure of a series of biphenyls substituted in positions 3,3´,4,4´- with a variety of R- groups connected to the biphenyl core through oxygen atoms (R: methyl, acetyl, hexyl). The six-member series split into two groups with striking differences in molecular conformation as well as in melting points (viz., in the solid state three members are strictly planar and present significantly lower m.p., while the remaining three are highly twisted, with larger m.p.). Thus, the aim of the work is to understand if any of the intervening molecular fragments exerts any decisive influence on the molecular planarity as well as on the thermal stability of the compounds. The torsion angle between aromatic rings has been extensively studied both in the solid as well as in the liquid state. The results show that the three compounds appearing as rigorously planar in the solid (as assessed by single crystal X-ray Diffraction) present instead a twisted conformation in the melt (as disclosed by Raman experiments and/or quantum mechanics calculations). The solid vs melt issue strongly suggests that the reasons are to be found in the packing restraints, though it is not easy to find a straightforward explanation: in some cases ( shorter substitution chains) the combined non-bonded interactions can be specifically pointed out as responsible for the effects, while in some others (as in the longer ones), they can be more subtle and diffuse, not directly ascribable to specific interactions. Finally, a ?rule of thumb? is suggested for the design of biphenyls with different molecular conformation, based on the selection of the OR used.