A matter of greasy tails: Interdigitation of alkyl chains in free and coordinated 4′-(4-dodecyloxyphenyl)-4,2′:6′,4″-terpyridines

The syntheses and single crystal structures of 4′-(4-dodecyloxyphenyl)-4,2′:6′,4″-terpyridine, 2, and [Zn2(μ-OAc)4(2)2] are reported. Crystal packing is dominated by van der Waals interactions between fully extended alkyl chains producing lamellar structures in both compounds, and appears to be the reason for the formation of crystalline [Zn2(μ-OAc)4(2)2] rather than a one-dimensional coordination polymer as observed for related compounds.