Structural properties of charge-transfer complexes of four- and five-layered [3.3]metacyclophanes

In the solid state, the cyclophane (CP) moieties of the charge-transfer (CT) complexes of four- and five-layered [3.3]metacyclophanes (MCPs) 1 and 2 with tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) take different conformations from those in the solid state of the free MCPs. In the four-layered [3.3]MCP 1-TCNE complex, the CP moiety takes an s-shaped syn-anti-syn geometry, whereas the inner three benzene rings take the all-syn geometry and the two outer [3.3]MCP moieties have deformed anti-conformations in the five-layered [3.3]MCP 2-TCNE complex. In the crystal-packing diagrams of each complex, intermolecular CH/π-type interactions are observed between adjacent molecules.