The use of C3-symmetric tripodal ligands in crystal engineering

The use of chiral tripodal ligands in the assembly of non-centrosymmetric crystal lattice is illustrated with the triamide ligand tris [N-(S)-(-)-(alpha)-methylbenzylcarbamoylmethyl]amine (H(3)1(S-mbz)). In the crystal phase, this tripodal ligand assembles into C-3-symmetric chiral columns that are stabilized by hydrogen bonds and aryl-aryl interactions. Intercolumnar assembly is driven by the clustering of edge-to-face aryl and methyl-to-aryl interactions. Thrice deprotonation of H(3)1(S-mbz) and binding of an Ni(II)-F moiety also produces a non-centrosymmetric lattice which is noteworthy for its six-fold symmetric open framework structure and the alignment of all the molecular Ni-F bonds in the lattice along the crystallographic c-axis. Crystal data: H(3)1(S-mbz) crystallizes in the rhombohedral system, space group R3 with cell dimensions a = b = 22.352(5) Angstrom, c = 4.882(1) Angstrom, alpha = beta = 90 degrees, gamma = 120 degrees, and Z = 3; [NEt4](2)[Ni1(S-mbz)(F] crystallizes in the hexagonal system, space group P6(3) with cell dimensions a = b = 12.0780(1) Angstrom, c = 18.1231 (1) Angstrom, alpha = beta = 90 degrees, gamma = 120 degrees, and Z = 2. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.