Supramolecular networks supported by the anion…π linkage of Keggin‐type heteropolyoxotungstates

Anion…π interactions are newly recognized weak supramolecular forces which are relevant to many types of electron‐deficient aromatic substrates. Being less competitive with respect to conventional hydrogen bonding, anion…π interactions are only rarely considered as a crystal‐structure‐defining factor. Their significance dramatically increases for polyoxometalate (POM) species, which offer extended oxide surfaces for maintaining dense aromatic/inorganic stacks. The structures of tetrakis(caffeinium) μ12‐silicato‐tetracosa‐μ2‐oxido‐dodecaoxidododecatungsten trihydrate, (C8H11N4O2)4[SiW12O40]·3H2O, (1), and tris(theobrominium) μ12‐phosphato‐tetracosa‐μ2‐oxido‐dodecaoxidododecatungsten ethanol sesquisolvate, (C7H9N4O2)3[PW12O40]·1.5C2H5OH, (2), support the utility of anion…π interactions as a special kind of supramolecular synthon controlling the structures of ionic lattices. Both caffeinium [(HCaf)+ in (1)] and theobrominium cations [(HTbr)+ in (2)] reveal double stacking patterns at both axial sides of the aromatic frameworks, leading to the generation of anion…π…anion bridges. The latter provide the rare face‐to‐face linkage of the anions. In (1), every square face of the metal–oxide cuboctahedra accepts the interaction and the above bridges yield flat square nets, i.e. {(HCaf+)2[SiW12O40]4−}n. Two additional cations afford single stacks only and they terminate the connectivity. Salt (2) retains a two‐dimensional (2D) motif of square nets, with anion…π…anion bridges involving two of the three (HTbr)+ cations. The remaining cations complete a fivefold anion…π environment of [PW12O40]3−, acting as terminal groups. This single anion…π interaction is influenced by the specific pairing of (HTbr)+ cations by double amide‐to‐amide hydrogen bonding. Nevertheless, invariable 2D patterns in (1) and (2) suggest the dominant role of anion…π interactions as the structure‐governing factor, which is applicable to the construction of noncovalent linkages involving Keggin‐type oxometalates. Multiple anion…π interactions are reliable supramolecular synthons governing the self‐assembly of noncovalent layers of Keggin‐type anions in the structures of caffeinium and theobrominium salts.