Comprehensive Structure–Property Mapping of Tuned Mechanical Flexibility in Organic Cocrystals

Mechanically flexible crystals offer unique opportunities for adaptive materials, yet predictive control over their responses remains a major challenge. Here, we present a chemically unified series of 4-nitrophenol-based cocrystals, cocrystallized with bipyridyl linkers of varied geometries, to systematically map structure–property relationships. Subtle variations in interplanar angles and intermolecular interactions, such as π–π stacking and hydrogen bonding, enable tuning of mechanical responses ranging from brittle fracture to different extents of elastic bending and plastic bending or twistability. This design differs from previous strategies that relied primarily on van der Waals interactions or halogen bonding to impart mechanical compliance to organic crystals. Structural analysis, supported by energy framework calculations, explains the divergent mechanical behaviors. Notably, the studied cocrystal series spans all four canonical structure–property quadrants, manifested through mechanical flexibility, photoluminescence activity, or both. This systematic and comparative study highlights the delicate interplay between molecular packing and supramolecular interactions, providing structure–property correlations that inform emerging design principles for multifunctional crystalline materials for targeted applications.