Modular supramolecular approach for co-crystallization of donors and acceptors into ordered networks
Organic charge-transfer (CT) co-crystals in a mixed stack system are disclosed, wherein a donor molecule (D) and an acceptor molecule (A) occupy alternating positions (DADADA) along the CT axis. A platform is provided which amplifies the molecular recognition of donors and acceptors and produces co-crystals at ambient conditions, wherein the platform comprises (i) a molecular design of the first constituent (α-complement), (ii) a molecular design of the second compound (β-complement), and (iii) a solvent system that promotes co-crystallization.
1. An organic charge-transfer (CT) co-crystal consisting essentially of an electron acceptor molecule (A) and an electron donor molecule (D), such that one of (A) and (D) is incorporated into the other of (A) and (D) through molecular linkages in a solvent system to form a co-crystalline supramolecular network, the co-crystal characterized by having a crystal superstructure comprising a mixed stack lattice (DADADA) and a topological hydrogen-bonded network, said organic CT co-crystal wherein A is selected from the group consisting of
and D is selected from the group consisting of
2. The organic CT co-crystal according to claim 1 , wherein A is a diimide.
3. The organic CT co-crystal according to claim 1 , wherein the solvent system is one or more organic solvents.
4. The organic CT co-crystal according to claim 3 , wherein the solvent system is selected from the group consisting of dichloroethane/diethyl ether and N-methylpyrrolidone.
5. The organic CT co-crystal according to claim 1 , wherein one of the (A) and (D) has a substituent that is a diethylene glycol moiety.
6. The organic CT co-crystal according to claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen-bonded network comprises interstack and intrastack hydrogen bonds.
7. The organic CT co-crystal according to claim 1 , wherein the co-crystal is devoid or substantially devoid of solvent.
8. The organic CT co-crystal according to claim 1 , wherein one of the (A) and the (D) has a substituent that has one or more hydrogen-bonding recognition sites.
9. The organic CT co-crystal according to claim 8 , wherein the one or more hydrogen-bonding recognition sites is independently selected from the group consisting of amino, carbonyl, ether and hydroxyl moieties.
10. The organic CT co-crystal according to claim 1 , wherein the (A) has at least four substituents.
11. The organic CT co-crystal according to claim 10 , wherein the (D) has at least one substituent.
12. The organic CT co-crystal according to claim 1 , wherein the co-crystal is grown in the dark, under ambient conditions.
13. The organic CT co-crystal according to claim 12 , wherein the co-crystal is grown using liquid diffusion.
14. The organic CT co-crystal according to claim 1 selected from the group consisting of
15. The organic CT co-crystal according to claim 1 , wherein the co-crystal has a packing motif that is a crossed stack.