Halogen Bonding in Host–Guest Compounds: Structures and Kinetics of Enclathration and Desolvation

The host compounds tetrakis­(4-bromophenyl) ethylene and its iodo-analogue form inclusion compounds with a series of chloro- and iodo-methanes. Their structures have been elucidated, and their nonbonded halogen···halogen contacts have been analyzed and classified. Their kinetics of desolvation have been studied, and the concomitant activation energies have been established. Five of the clathrates are isostructural and display similar activation energies of desolvation, thus correlating structure and function. The velocity of the enclathration for the solid host–methyl iodide vapor reactions and associated rate law have been established.