X⋅⋅⋅X Halogen Bond‐Induced Supramolecular Helices
Yunying Xu, Aiyou Hao, Pengyao Xing
Abstract
Abstract The halogen bond is the attractive interaction between the electrophilic region of a halogen atom and the nucleophilic region of another molecular entity, emerging as a favorable manner to manipulate supramolecular chirality in self‐assemblies. Engineering halogen bonded helical structures remains a challenge due to its sensitivity to solvent polarity and competitive forces like hydrogen bonds. Herein, we report a X⋅⋅⋅X (X=Cl, Br, I) type weak halogen bond that induces the formation and evolution of supramolecular helical structures both in solid and solution state. The π‐conjugated phenylalanine derivatives with F, Cl, Br and I substitution self‐assembled into 2 1 helical packing driven by hydrogen bond and halogen bond, respectively. The specific molecular geometries of π‐conjugated amino acids gave rise to multiple noncovalent forces to stabilize the X⋅⋅⋅X halogen bond with small bond energies ranging from −0.69 to −1.49 kcal mol −1 . Halogen bond induced an opposite helicity compared to the fluorinated species, accompanied by the inversed circularly polarized luminescence.