Robust S 4 ⋅⋅⋅O Supramolecular Synthons: Structures of Radical-Radical Cocrystals [p-XC 6 F 4 CNSSN] 2 [TEMPO] (X=F, Cl, Br, I, CN).

Cocrystallization of the dithiadiazolyl (DTDA) radicals p-XC 6 F 4 CNSSN (X=F, Cl, Br, I, CN) with TEMPO afforded the 2 : 1 cocrystals [p-XC 6 F 4 CNSSN] 2 [TEMPO] (1-5) whose structures all reflect a common S 4 ⋅⋅⋅O supramolecular motif. The nature of this interaction was probed by DFT calculations (M06/aug-cc-pVDZ) on 1 which revealed that the enthalpy of formation of the [C 6 F 5 CNSSN] 2 [TEMPO] supramolecular motif from [C 6 F 5 CNSSN] 2 and TEMPO is substantial (-54.0 kJ mol -1 ). Electronic structure calculations revealed a TEMPO-based doublet S= 1 / 2 configuration as the ground state with limited spin density on the DTDA rings (2.4 %). The corresponding spin quartet state is +78.9 kJ mol -1 higher in energy. An atoms-in-molecules analysis reveals four bond critical points (BCPs) between the TEMPO O and the DTDA S atoms as well as additional BCPs between selected DTDA S atoms and methyl H atoms of the TEMPO molecule. Herein, the structures of 2-5 are considered within the context of a hierarchical view of competing and complementary intermolecular interactions; in particular, the established supramolecular CN⋅⋅⋅S-S synthon is sacrificed in order to form the new S 4 ⋅⋅⋅O interaction.