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A simple, readily-prepared biphenyl bis-amidinium compound (1∙Cl2) is able to selectively precipitate sulfate from water. The precipitant is effective at concentrations as low as 1 mM and shows complete selectivity against monovalent anions, and high selectivity even against CO32– and HPO42–. It is highly effective (> 90% sulfate removed) in both seawater and highly acidic conditions relevant to mining waste-streams. X-ray crystallography reveals that 1∙SO4 forms a tightly packed, anhydrous, structure where each sulfate anion receives eight hydrogen bonds from amidinium N–H hydrogen bond donors.

As hydrogen bonded frameworks are held together by relatively weak interactions, they often form several different frameworks under slightly different synthesis conditions and respond dynamically to stimuli such as heat and vacuum. However, these dynamic restructuring processes are often poorly understood. In this work, three isoreticular hydrogen bonded organic frameworks assembled through charge-assisted amidinium⋅⋅⋅carboxylate hydrogen bonds (1

We report the synthesis of two [2]rotaxanes containing an interlocked three dimensional binding cavity formed from a pyridinium bis(amide) axle component containing two phenol donors, and an isophthalamide based macrocycle. In the competitive solvent mixture 1:1 CDCl3:CD3OD, one of the receptors exhibits a much higher selectivity preference for chloride than an analogous rotaxane without the hydroxy groups. X-ray crystal structures reveal the chloride anion guest encapsulated within the interlocked binding cavity, though not all of the hydrogen bond donors are utilised. Computational semiempirical simulations indicate that secondary intermolecular interactions occur between the axle hydroxy hydrogen bond donors and the [2]rotaxane macrocycle components, contributing to a more preorganised binding pocket, which may be responsible for the observed enhanced selectivity.

We report the synthesis of two [2]rotaxanes containing an interlocked three dimensional binding cavity formed from a pyridinium bis(amide) axle component containing two phenol donors, and an isophthalamide based macrocycle. In the competitive solvent mixture 1 : 1 CDCl

Construction of supramolecular assemblies using hydrogen and halogen bonding between anions and the 3,5-bis(triazolyl)pyridinium motif was investigated.

The effect of concentration, organic co-solvent, and salt modulators on the crystallisation of a hydrogen bonded framework was studied. The framework contains ∼1.4 nm wide channels and contains a diazobenzene based dicarboxylate anion. Light-induced

Benzamidinium compounds have found widespread use in both medicinal and supramolecular chemistry. In this work, we show that benzamidiniums hydrolyse at room temperature in aqueous base to give the corresponding primary amide. This reaction has a half-life of 300 days for unsubstituted benzamidinium at pH 9, but is relatively rapid at higher pHs (e.g. t1/2 = 6 days at pH 11 and 15 hours at pH 13). Quantum chemistry combined with first principles kinetic modelling can reproduce these trends and explain them in terms of the dominant pathway being initiated by attack of HO– on benzamidine. Incorporation of the amidinium motif into a hydrogen bonded framework offers a substantial protective effect against hydrolysis.

Hydroxypyridinium and hydroxyquinolinium compounds containing acidic O–H groups attached to a cationic aromatic scaffold were synthesized, i.e. N-methyl-3-hydroxypyridinium (1+) and N-methyl-8-hydroxyquinolinium (2+). These very simple compounds are capable of binding to chloride very strongly in CD3CN and with moderate strength in 9:1 CD3CN:D2O. Comparison with known association constants reveal that 1+ and 2+ bind chloride in CD3CN or CD3CN:D2O with comparable affinities to receptors containing significantly more hydrogen bond donors and/or higher positive charges. Crystal structures of both compounds with coordinating anions were obtained, and feature short O–H∙∙∙anion hydrogen bonds. A receptor containing two hydroxyquinolinium groups was also prepared. While the low solubility of this compound caused difficulties, we were able demonstrate chloride binding in a competitive 1:1 CD3CN:CD3OD solvent mixture. Addition of sulfate to this compound results in the formation of a crystallographically-characterised solid state anion coordination polymer.

Despite their apparent similarity, framework materials based on tetraphenylmethane and tetraphenylsilane building blocks often have quite different structures and topologies. Herein, we describe a new silicon tetraamidinium compound and use it to prepare crystalline hydrogen bonded frameworks with carboxylate anions in water. The silicon-containing frameworks are compared with those prepared from the analogous carbon tetraamidinium: when biphenyldicarboxylate or tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)methane anions were used similar channel-containing networks are observed for both the silicon and carbon tetraamidinium. When terephthalate or bicarbonate anions were used, different products form. Insights into possible reasons for the different products are provided by a survey of the Cambridge Structural Database and quantum chemical calculations, both of which indicate that, contrary to expectations, tetraphenylsilane derivatives have less geometrical flexibility than tetraphenylmethane derivatives, that is, they are less able to distort away from ideal tetrahedral bond angles.

Based on Coulomb's Law alone, electrostatic repulsion between two anions is expected to prevent their dimerization. Contrary to that idea, this Tutorial Review will present evidence showing that anion-anion dimers of protic hydroxyanions can form readily, and describe conditions that facilitate their formation. From X-ray crystal structures, we learn that hydroxyanions dimerize and oligomerize by overcoming long-range electrostatic opposition. Common examples are hydroxyanions of phosphate, sulfate, and carbonate, often in partnership with charged and neutral receptors. Short-range hydrogen bonds between anionic donors and acceptors are defined as anti-electrostatic hydrogen bonds (AEHBs) with insight from theoretical studies. While anion dimers are difficult to identify unequivocally in solution, these solution dimers have recently been definitively identified. The development of the supramolecular chemistry of anion-anion dimers has led to applications in hierarchical assemblies, such as supramolecular polymers and hydrogen bonded organic frameworks.