An organic channel structure formed by the supramolecular assembly of trithiocyanuric acid and 4,4 '-bipyridyl

Trithiocyanuric acid (TCA) and 4,4'-bipyridyl (BP) form hydrogen-bonded co- crystals with aromatic compounds such as benzene, toluene, p-xylene and ant hracene. The TCA-BP co-crystal is composed of cavities formed by the N-H .. . N hydrogen bonds between the two molecules, and the three-dimensional str ucture contains channels of approximately 10 Angstrom where aromatic molecu les are accommodated. The molar ratios of TCA, BP and the aromatic compound in the co-crystals are 2 : 1 : 1 or 2 : 1 : 0.5. Benzene, toluene and p-xy lene are removed from the channels around 190, 183 and 170 degrees C respec tively, and these aromatic guests can be reintroduced into the empty channe ls of the apo-hosts. The apo-hosts with empty channels have reasonable ther mal stability and exhibit shape selectivity in that the empty channels acco mmodate p-xylene but not m- or o-xylene or mesitylene.