Molecular assembly of dithiaparacyclophanes mediated by non-covalent X…X, X…Y and C–H…X (X, Y=Br, S, N) interactions

Regioselectivity for the 5,8,15,18-substituted isomer over the 5,8,14,17-isomer was observed in a series of mercaptan–bromide coupling reactions leading to the formation of 2,11-dithia[3.3]paracyclophanes. Their molecular assembly was established by X-ray crystallographic studies. In the crystal packing of these paracyclophanes, several types of non-covalent interactions including halogen–halogen interaction, halogen-bonding interaction, weak hydrogen-bonding interaction, etc. are observed in crystals 3a, 3b and 3c. There is evidence to indicate that weak non-covalent Br…Br, Br…S, Br…N, C–H…S, S…S and C–H…N interactions play an important role in governing their molecular assembly assumed in the solid state. The attractive interactions of Br…Br, Br…S and Br…N are also rationalised and supported in terms of the density functional theory calculations.