ABSTRACT:Twelve related monocation chalconium salts [{Nap(EPh)(E`Ph)Me} + {CF 3 SO 3 } -] 2-4, [{Acenap(Br)(EPh)Me}{CF 3 SO 3 } -] 5-7 and [{Acenap(EPh)(E`Ph)Me} + {CF 3 SO 3 } -] 8-13, have been prepared and structurally characterized. For their synthesis naphthalene compounds [Nap(EPh)(E`Ph)] (Nap = naphthalene-1,8-diyl; E/E` = S, Se, Te) N2-N4 and associated acenaphthene derivatives [Acenap(EPh)(E`Ph)] (Acenap = acenaphthene-5,6-diyl; E/E` = S, Se, Te) A5-A13 were independently treated with a single molar equivalent of methyl trifluoromethanesulfonate [MeOTf]. In addition, reaction of bistellurium compound A10 with two equivalents of MeOTf afforded the doubly methylated dication salt [{Acenap(TePhMe) 2 } 2+ {(CF 3 SO 3 ) 2 } 2-}] 14. Distortion of the rigid naphthalene and acenaphthene backbone away from the ideal was investigated in each case and correlated in general with the steric bulk of the interacting atoms located at the proximal peripositions. Naturally, introduction of the ethane linker in acenaphthene compounds increased the splay of the bay region compared with equivalent naphthalene derivatives resulting in greater peri-distances. The conformation of the aromatic rings and subsequent location of p-type lone-pairs has a significant impact on the geometry of the peri-region, with anomalies in periseparations correlated to the ability of the frontier orbitals to take part in attractive or repulsive interactions. In all but one of the monocations a quasi-linear three-body C Me -E···Z (E = Te, Se, S; Z = Br/E) fragment provides an attractive component for the E···Z interaction. Density-functional studies have confirmed these interactions and suggested the onset of formation of threecenter, four-electron bonding under appropriate geometric conditions, becoming more prevalent as heavier congeners are introduced along the series. The increasingly large J values for Se-Se, Te-Se and Te-Te coupling observed in the 77 Se and 125 Te NMR spectra for 1, 3, 4, 9, 10 and 13 give further evidence for the existence of a weakly-attractive through-space interaction.
INTRODUCTIONUnderstanding the nature of atomic interactions and the strength of chemical bonds is an integral feature underpinning all aspects of chemistry, biology and materials science and as such has always attracted great attention. Pioneering work on the electronic theory of the covalent bond led to a greater understanding of strong bonding (covalent/ionic), 1 but ambiguity over the role of weak inter-and intra-molecular non-covalent interactions continues to intrigue chemists. 2-4 Designing structural architectures which invoke novel and unusual bonding interactions is indispensable for developing the theory of nonbonded forces and the chemical bond and is therefore an intriguing field of study. 5,6 Non-covalent interactions can be attractive or repulsive in nature and are continually being highlighted within a diverse