Crystal supramolecularity: sixfold phenyl embraces between PPh3 ligands, forming extended nets in one-, two-, and three-dimensions

The sixfold phenyl embrace (6PE) is manifest in the crystal structures of a pproximately 30% of the 5089 molecules with PPh3 ligands (in the Cambridge Structural Database). This paper describes the characteristics and occurren ce of the 6PE as a crystal supramolecular motif between metal complexes and clusters with PPh3 ligands. The number of PPh3 ligands per molecule, the c oordination stereochemistry, and possible crowding of the PPh3 ligands are included in the analysis. Molecules with multiple PPh3 ligands can and do f orm one-, two-, and three-dimensional supramolecular networks constructed w ith these multiple phenyl embraces. We portray a representative selection o f the resulting tectonic lattices based on 6PEs. Variants on the 6PE includ e a pseudo-embrace in which gold takes the place of a phenyl ring.