Halogen bonding between entirely negative fluorine atoms? Evidence from the crystal packing of some gold(i) and gold(iii) complexes with extensively fluorinated m-terphenyl ligands and triphenylphosphane

Abstract

Despite lacking positive σ-holes, fluorine atoms of perfluorophenyl rings can engage in solid state fluorine–fluorine interactions, analogous to halogen bonding, in the absence of metal surface constraints or cryogenic temperatures. These interactions compete with other intermolecular interactions involving phenyl and perfluorophenyl rings for the supramolecular assembly of some gold(I) and gold(III) complexes.