Potassium–Alkane Interactions within a Rigid Hydrophobic Pocket

A NON-issue: Potassium complexes of an extremely rigid and sterically encumbered NON-donor ligand have been prepared, and the solid-state structures (see figure) feature remarkably short potassium–alkane distances. DFT calculations highlight the presence of an electrostatic cation-induced dipole potassium–alkane interaction supported by interactions between the alkane and the surrounding ligand framework.