The intermolecular interactions in a series of nine similar 4,5-phenyl-oxazoles were studied on the basis of crystal structures determined by X-ray diffraction. The crystal architectures were analyzed for the importance and hierarchies of different, weak intermolecular interactions using three approaches: the geometrical characteristics, topological analysis (for the model based on the transfer of multipolar parameters), and energetics of the molecule-molecule interactions. The geometries of the molecules were quite similar and close to the typical values. The results of the analysis of the interactions suggest that the number of nonspecific interactions is more important than the apparent strength of the specific interactions. The interactions involving covalently bound bromine and divalent sulfur atoms were classified as secondary, they certainly did not define the crystal packing, and they played a minor role in the overall crystal cohesion energies. Incidentally, another method for confirming the degree of isostructurality, according to the topologies of the interactions, is described.
Keywords: intermolecular interactions; oxazoles; topological analysis.