Intermolecular recognition between hydrocarbon oxygen-donors and perfluorocarbon iodine-acceptors: the shortest O center dot center dot center dot I non-covalent bond

Heteroaromatic N-oxides are shown to work as effective electron donors towa rds perfluorocarbon iodides. This non-covalent interaction is strong enough to drive the self-assembly of perfluorocarbon and hydrocarbon modules into discrete aggregates or one dimensional infinite networks and to give rise to the shortest O. I intermolecular distance reported to now in the crystal lographic literature. The effectiveness of the (OI)-I-. . .-R-F halogen bon ding with respect to the better studied N... I-R-F interaction is discussed . (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.