Hydrogen-bonded self-assembly of pyridinium and anilinium bisphenols mediated by the hydrogen difluoride ion: towards control of C-H...pi (aromatic) interactions.

The role of C-H...pi and C-H...O interactions in HF(2)(-)-assisted self-assembly of nitrogen-containing bisphenols are investigated. Unusual control on the end-face and edge-face geometries of aromatic C-H...pi interactions by a water molecule in the 4-[(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl)methyl]pyridinium difluoride lattice is observed. The bis(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl)(4-ammoniophenyl)methane.HF(2)(-) self-assembles through the formation of hydrogen-bonded cyclic hexamers.