Hydrogen bonded driven anion binding by dicationic [14]imidazoliophanes

Imidazolium units represent the main structural moths for the formation of unconventional C-H ... Cl- hydrogen bonds which become the noncovalent forces driving the anion interactions exibited by dicationic [1(4)]imidazoliophanes in the solid state, while C-H ... O hydrogen bonds with water play a crucial role in governing the conformation of the solid-state aggregates, as well as in solution, wherein NMR studies also reveal the importance of hydrogen bonds in controlling the tendency to anion binding.