Comparison of hydrogen bonds and diverse weak interactions of the nitro group in 2-methyl-4-nitroanilinium nitrate, bisulfate and two hexafluoridosilicates: elementary graph-set approach

Abstract

Crystal structures of (H2m4na)NO3(1), (H2m4na)HSO4(2), (H2m4na)2SiF6(3) and (H2m4na)2SiF6·2H2O (4), where 2m4na = 2-methyl-4-nitroaniline, are presented. Two layers of interactions occur in the structures, N—H...O/F hydrogen bonds and interactions with the nitro group. Although diverse, hydrogen-bonding patterns are compared with each other by means of interrelations among elementary graph-set descriptors and descriptors of hydrogen-bonding patterns. Using mathematical relations, the gradual expansion of the ring patterns was shown in the crystal structures. Parallel and perpendicular arranged nitro groups form weak π(N)NO2...π(O)NO2and π(N)NO2...ONO2interactions, respectively. The πNO2...πringinteraction has an impact to the stabilization of parallel oriented nitro groups. Generally, weak interactions constructed by the nitro group occur in the studied crystals as follows: π(N)NO2...π(O)NO2, πring...πring, C—H...O (1); π(N)NO2...π(O)NO2, π(N)NO2...ONO2(2); π(N)NO2...π(O)NO2, π(N)NO2...ONO2(3); C—H...O (4).