Supramolecular assembling of tectonic [TlI(RC6H4NNNC6H4R)]2 [R = p-NO2] through metal–η2-arene π-interactions and metal⋯O secondary bonding: Synthesis and X-ray characterization of a bis diaryl symmetric-substituted triazenide complex of thallium(I)

Deprotonated 1,3-bis(4-nitrophenyl)triazene reacts with an aqueous solution of TlNO3 to give dark-red crystals of {[TlI(RC6H4NNNC6H4R)]2}n [R = p-NO2], a symmetric-substituted triazenide complex “polymer” of TlI. The centrosymmetric tectons [TlI(RC6H4NNNC6H4R)]2 are related by translation and attain unidimensional chains along the c-axis through Tl⋯O bonding. The supramolecular bidimensional (2D) assembling of the dimeric tectons is achieved through weak secondary π-interactions of the type Tl-η2-arene between the unidimensional chains.