Investigation of intermolecular interactions in fluoro/trifluoromethyl derivatives of benzoylferrocene

The role of intermolecular interactions, in particular those involving organic fluorine, in molecular crystals are of importance. In the current study, six derivatives of benzoyl ferrocene containing fluoro/trifluoromethyl functional groups are synthesized. Their structures have been determined using single crystal X-ray diffraction. The hydrogen bonds in the crystal lattice involving fluorine and oxygen atoms as acceptors are of significance. A quantitative assessment of the contribution of various intermolecular interactions via Hirshfeld surface analysis has been performed and the nature of the contributing interactions, as a cooperative interplay of electrostatics and dispersion interactions has been established via inputs from energy frameworks. It is observed that there exists a relationship between the acidity of the participating hydrogens and the nature and associated energetics of the intermolecular interactions of the type C-H center dot center dot center dot O and C-H center dot center dot center dot F which contribute towards the overall packing of molecules in the solid state. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.