Silanol Mediated π-Assembly of Extended N-Heterocycles

Self-assembly of silanetriols with 4,4-bipyridine affords infinite columns of cofacially arranged -stacks as evidenced by X-ray data. Variation of the silanetriol reveals a subtle balance between hydrogen bonding and interactions, which, by proper choice of the substituent, may foster either dominant hydrogen bonding or dominant pi interaction.