Supramolecular Ribbons. Crystal Structure and Spectroscopic Properties of 2,2′-Bipyrroyl

Summary.

 A crystal structure determination of 2,2′-bipyrroyl (1; 2,2′-dipyrryl-diketone, bis (2-pyrrolyl)ethanedione) and its spectroscopic properties in solution are reported. In the crystal, 1 self-assembles via hydrogen bonding into supramolecular ribbons that extend indefinitely through the crystal lattice. The observed molecular conformation is one where each pyrrole ring and adjacent carbonyl group are co-planar (torsion angle ∼ 0.9°), with the N-H pointing in the same direction as the C=O. The two carbonyls have a transoid but not co-planar geometry with a torsion angle of ∼128°. Adjacent molecules in the crystal are linked by pairs of intermolecular hydrogen bonds, pyrrole NH to carbonyl oxygen, to form a matrix of polymeric chains that lie like neatly stacked, parallel streams of ribbons. Molecular mechanics calculations on the monomer indicate an intra-molecularly hydrogen bonded planar conformation (sp, ap, sp) at the global energy minimum. In CHCl₃, 1 is monomeric according to vapor pressure osmometry (MW _obs=179±10 vsċMW _calc=188). In THF, the measured molecular weight is 340±15, which corresponds best to one molecule of 1 solvated by two THF molecules (MW=322 for C₁₀H₈N₂O₄ċ2 C₄H₈O) rather than to a dimer.