Thiourea-Based Tritopic Halogen-Bonding Acceptors.

A series of thiourea-based tritopic receptor molecules were synthesized to be used as building blocks for halogen-bonded assemblies. Here, 16 new receptor molecules were synthesized from two different 2,4,6-trialkyl-1,3,5-tris(bromomethyl)benzene starting materials via tris(isothiocyanatomethyl)benzene intermediates. The alkyl substituents in the benzene ring proved to be important for isothiocyanate group formation instead of competing thiocyanate group.