Novel TCNQ-stacking motifs in (12-crown-4)-complexes of alkali metal TCNQ salts

An investigation of the solid-state behaviour of five 12-crown-4 alkali metal TCNQ complexes, (12-crown-4)(2) LITCNQ (1), (12-crown-4)(2) NaTCNQ (2), (12-crown-4)(2)Li(TCNQ)(2) (3), (12-crown-4)(2) Na(TCNQ)(2) (4), and (12-crown-4)(2)K(TCNQ)(2) (5), reveals an unusual cross-stitch packing motif with the extended face-to-face pi-stacked TCNQ(center dot-) columns present in complexes 1 and 2. The effect of the presence of additional neutral TCNQ(0) has also been explored.

Automated summary

This study investigated the solid-state behavior of five 12-crown-4 alkali metal TCNQ complexes, and revealed an unusual cross-stitch packing motif in complexes 1 and 2 with extended face-to-face pi-stacked TCNQ(center dot-) columns. The effect of additional neutral TCNQ(0) was also explored in these complexes.