Energy framework approach to the supramolecular reactions: Interplay of the secondary bonding interaction in Ph₂E₂ (E = Se, Te)/p -I-C₆F₄-I co-crystals

In the co-crystals of diphenyl dichalcogenides Ph₂E₂ (E = Se, Te), the E-E and E-π(Ph) chalcogen bonds assemble Ph₂E₂ molecules into the chains, which imitate the typical packing patterns of the parent Ph₂E₂ crystals. These co-crystals consist of quite stable tectonic 1D and 2D Ph₂E₂ chain architectures, which are repeated in the crystals of pure Ph₂E₂ as well as in their co-crystals with the halogen bond donor molecules. These chains can be clearly visualized as separate parallel 1D and 2D structures in the energy framework diagrams in CrystalExplorer. From this point of view, the supramolecular reaction of Ph₂E₂ with the halogen bond donor 1,4-diiodotetrafluorobenzene (p-DITFB) can be considered as the insertion of p-DITFB molecules between the Ph₂E₂ chains in such a way that I-E and I-π(Ph) halogen bonds come in place of E-E and Te-π(Ph) chalcogen bonds, which are responsible for the close packing of these chains in the parent crystal form. Persistent packing patterns found in parent and binary crystals can provide insight into the mechanism of the crystallization process.