The subtle effect of methyl substituent in C2-symmetric template on the formation of halocluster hybrids

Six novel haloclusters, namely {[dmb](2)[Cu4I8]}center dot 2DMF (1), {[ddb][Cu4I6]}(n) (2), {[dmb][Ag2I4]}(n) (3), {[ddb][Ag4I6]}(n) (4), {[dmb](2)[Ag2Br6]} (5) and {[ddb][Ag4Br6]}(n) (6), were encountered in our investigation of the subtle template effect of methyl substituent on the formation of hybrids. The dications we chosen as C-2-symmetric template is alpha,alpha'-di(3-methylimidozole-1-yl)benzene dichloride (abbreviated into dmb) or alpha,alpha'-di(2,3-dimethylimidozole-1-yl)benzene dichloride (abbreviated into ddb). The X-ray crystallography shows the more methyl substituents that exist in template, the more inorganic/organic interactions form in the hybrid net oriented by ddb. It is the H-bonds and electrostatic interactions between the organic counteractions and inorganic moieties that do the contribution to the crystal packing. These compounds have been further characterized by IR spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectra and thermostability properties. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.