Tris(pyridinium)triazine in crystal synthesis of 3-fold symmetric structures

A series of perchlorometalate salts of the [1,3,5-tris(R)-2,4,6-triazine](3+) trications, where R = 4-, 3-, or 2-pyridinium, have been prepared and structurally characterized. The supramolecular motifs in these salts show striking similarities despite differences in the local position of the pyridinium NH group, the metal atom used, and the incorporation of water molecules in the structure. A supramolecular motif in which the near-planar cations are surrounded by an octahedral array of six octahedral trianions is observed in the majority of the new salts. The crystal structures of [1,3,5-tris(4-pyridinium)-2,4,6-triazine] [SbCl6] (4), [1,3,5-tris(4-pyridinium)-2,4,6-triazine] [BiCl6] (5), [1,3,5-tris(3-pyridinium)-2,4,6-triazine] [SbCl6] (8), [1,3,5-tris(3-pyridinium)-2,4,6-triazine] [BiCl6] (9), and [1,3,5-tris(3-pyridinium)-2,4,6-triazine] [FeCl6] (10) are essentially isostructural; [1,3,5-tris(4-pyridinium)-2,4,6-triazine]2[FeCl6][FeCl4](3) (6), [1,3,5-tris(2-pyridinium)-2,4,6-triazine][SbCl6]center dot 3H(2)O (11), and [1,3,5-tris(2-pyridinium)-2,4,6-triazine] [BiCl6]center dot 3H(2)O (12) show related supramolecular structural motifs. The crystal structures of all of 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, and 12 are of R3c or R (3) over barc symmetry and have similar cell dimensions (a = b = 14.6-15.2 angstrom, c = 18.5-19.2 angstrom) reflecting the planarity and Mold symmetry of the cations. The structures appear to be stabilized by complementary Cl center dot center dot center dot HN, Cl center dot center dot center dot HO, Cl center dot center dot center dot HC, and NH center dot center dot center dot O hydrogen bonding, shape, and electrostatic interactions and unanticipated triazine C center dot center dot center dot Cl interactions.