Solid state structural evidence of chloroform-benzene-chloroform adduct trapped in hexaanthryl octaaminocryptand channels

Structural aspects governing the formation and stabilization of adducts in the organic channels were examined. An unprecedented structural evidence of an inverted sandwich-type benzene/chloroform (1:2) adduct was isolated within the channel formed by close packing of an aromatic substituted aminocryptand 1 host. Interestingly, this adduct was stabilized through several short contacts with the channel wall. Crystallographic study further showed that a channel formed by self-assembly of 1 can also encapsulate chloroform as a guest. Thermal analysis confirms that the chloroform-benzene-chloroform adduct as a guest has better thermal stability than that of the chloroform guest within the channel.