In search of open-framework channels: Reactions of amines with 4,5-difluoro-1,2-dinitrobenzene and 1,3-difluoro-4,6-dinitrobenzene

Three potential hosts with an amine-conjugated nitro group, derived from reacting 4,5-difluoro-1,2-dinitrobenzene or 1,3-difluoro-4,6-dinitrobenzene with different amines, have been crystallised and their structures solved by X-ray single crystal structure determinations. The first of these gives a complex structure in space group P 3 1 with Z ’ = 12 owing to different conformations of the butyl side chains. ‘Doughnut’ like hydrogen-bonded six rings occur in the extended structure with F . . . F separations across the rings of about 13 Å, but there is no overall porosity because the doughnuts are staggered with respect to the c -direction of the trigonal unit cell. The other two potential hosts did not form porous networks.