Aryl-platform-based tetrapodal 2-iodo-imidazolium as an excellent halogen bond receptor in aqueous medium

An acyclic tetrapodal receptor (L⁴⁺-I)(4PF₆)⁴⁻ comprised of four 2-iodo-imidazolium motifs showed moderate to strong binding of halides through halogen bonding interactions in organic and aqueous media, with these binding levels established by performing isothermal titration calorimetry studies. Importantly, single crystals suitable for X-ray diffraction studies were obtained from both water and an acetonitrile–water binary solvent mixture, and exhibited halogen bonding interactions in the solid state.