Molecular networks in the crystal structures of tetrakis(4-iodophenyl)methane and (4-iodophenyl)triphenylmethane

Abstract

The crystal structure of tetrakis(4-iodophenyl)methane is analysed in terms of molecular networks wherein the tetraphenylmethane moieties and I₄ synthons are considered as molecular and supramolecular nodes. This I₄ cluster plays the same role in generating molecular networks as does the Br₄ cluster in the isomorphous tetrakis(4-bromophenyl)methane derivative. (4-Iodophenyl)triphenylmethane crystallises in a lower symmetry space group but features an unusual I···Ph interaction. In this series of halo-substituted tetraphenylmethanes the molecules exhibit similar columnar packing in the solid state, accounting for their crystallisation in non-centrosymmetric space groups.