Structural studies on trifluoromethyl substituted 2,5-diphenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazoles

Three new compounds have been synthesized based on the molecular motif 2-[2,6-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole, with subsequent CF3-substitution in the ortho-positions of the phenylene ring. The crystal structures of the compounds have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. All compounds have a monoclinic structure. The solid state structure of the compounds is influenced by the electronic properties of the fluorine atoms, leading to the occurrence of C–H⋯F, and C–F⋯π interactions, partly replacing π–π interactions usually observed in the crystal structures of 2,5-diphenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives. Other significant interactions than those involving fluorine appear only in rare cases. The strong impact of the fluorine atoms on the intra- and intermolecular interactions, and the molecular conformation lead to novel inputs for the understanding of molecular recognition, supramolecular assembly, and crystal packing of fluorine containing compounds.