Unraveling strong supramolecular assembly of a novel pyrene based Hg(II)‐complex: Insights from Hirshfeld surface, FMO and molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) analyses

Abstract

A rare pyrene‐based coordination compound of Hg(II) [Hg(L) 2 ] ( 1 ) (where, HL = 2‐((Pyren‐1‐ylmethylene)amino)benzenethiol) was synthesized and characterized by single crystal X‐ Ray diffraction (SC‐XRD) analysis. Crystallographic analysis revealed that complex 1 has seesaw geometry with HL coordinated as a bidentate ligand to a metal ion. The role of weak forces like π∙∙∙π and CH∙∙∙π interactions in influencing the self‐assembly process appears to be of importance. The electronic structure of the complex was predicted using DFT calculations with mixed basis set. DFT calculated structural parameters are in good agreement with the experimentally obtained parameters from XRD. Molecular reactivity and stability of the complex has been assessed through frontier molecular orbital analysis. Evaluation of molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) displaying the electrophilic and nucleophilic reactivity sites. The Hirshfeld surface analysis clearly indicates CH∙∙∙π interaction and π∙∙∙π stacking interactions are responsible to extend the supramolecular network of the complex. Analysis of the finger print plots suggest that H∙∙∙H and H∙∙∙C contacts are major interaction for stabilizing the molecular crystal.