Water and hydrogen halides serve the same structural role in a series of 2+2 hydrogen-bonded dimers based on 2,6-bis(2-anilinoethynyl)pyridine sulfonamide receptors

Mix and match: A new series of receptors reveals an unusual propensity to form 2+2 hydrogen-bonded dimers with water or hydrogen halides. Remarkably, water and hydrogen chloride impart nearly identical structural features to the dimers. In fact, in one case (see picture, Cl green, O red, N blue, S yellow), one water molecule and one chloride ion work in concert to form a hydrogen-bonded dimer stitched together with seven hydrogen bonds. (Figure Presented)