Tetrafluoroterephthalonitrile as an anion‐π donor: theoretical evaluation and application to anion recognition

International audienceThe ability of perfluorinated terephthalonitrile to act as an anion‐π donor fragment in anion receptors is evaluated. New receptors combining an urea and a perfluorinated terephthalonitrile motif into a single architecture have been designed and synthesized. Their molecular recognition properties towards Cl$^−$ , Br$^−$ and I$^−$ , have been studied in solution by means of 1 H and 19 F NMR as well as photophysical experiments. A complementary electrospray ionization‐tandem mass spectrometry study confirmed the ranking of recognition properties between the receptors. A further theoretical evaluation of binding properties confirmed the association constant trend and suggests a main contribution of the urea motif weakly complemented by a η$^2$‐type anion‐π interaction