π–π stacking motifs in dialkylbis{5-[(E)-2-aryldiazen-1-yl]-2-hydroxybenzoato}tin(IV) complexes

What is it about?

Diorganotin(IV) complexes of aryl-hydroxybenzoic acid are of interest because of their structural diversity in the crystalline state and their potential biological activity. Molecules of this class of compounds usually exhibit a skew-trapezoidal bipyramidal coordination geometry at the Sn-atom. The two planar extended carboxylate ligands, each with their two phenyl rings, lend themselves to π–π stacking interactions. The diversity of supramolecular structural motifs formed by these interactions has been examined in detail for thirteen closely related complexes, which differ mainly in the substituents on the terminal phenyl ring. While there are some recurring basic motifs amongst the observed stacking arrangements, such as dimers and step-like chains, variations through longitudinal slipping and inversion of the direction of the overlay add significant complexity in some of the structures.

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Why is it important?

Intermolecular interactions are important in crystal engineering and the design of useful materials. This work extends the knowledge of the sorts of structural motifs that might arise when extended planar ligands can stack together through π–π interactions.