studies on tmpd:tcnb; a donor-acceptor with room temperature paramagnetism and n-π interactionâ€

A donor-acceptor compound based on N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-p-phenylene-diamine and 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene (TMPD:TCNB) has been synthesized. The crystalstructure of the black 1:1 complex formed between TMPD and TCNB has beendetermined by single crystal X-ray diffraction at room temperature. The compoundcrystallizes in the triclinic space group P-1 with cell dimensions: a = 7.4986(15) å, b =7.6772(11) å, c = 8.0764(15) å, α = 78.822(12)°, β = 83.3779(19)°, γ = 86.289(17)°.TMPD and TCNB molecules are stacked alternately in infinite columns along the a-axis.The structure does not seem to show the usual π-π interaction between the two aromaticrings, but indicates an n-π interaction localized between the nitrogen atoms of the donorand the cyano groups of the acceptor.