Hydrogen bonded driven anion binding by dicationic [14]imidazoliophanes

Imidazolium units represent the main structural motifs for the formation of unconventional C–H···Cl– hydrogen bonds which become the noncovalent forces driving the anion interactions exibited by dicationic [14]imidazoliophanes in the solid state, while C–H···O hydrogen bonds with water play a crucial role in governing the conformation of the solid–state aggregates, as well as in solution, wherein NMR studies also reveal the importance of hydrogen bonds in controlling the tendency to anion binding.