Crystalline inclusion compounds of hosts composed of anthracene, ethylene and crowded alcoholic building blocks

A series of new clathrate host molecules 1-3 (a, b) have been synthesized, which contain two bulky alcoholic groups attached via an acetylene connecti on element to different positions (1,5, 1,8 or 9,10) of a basic anthracene construction unit. Their clathrate formation properties with organic guests , including amines, dipolar aprotic and apolar compounds, are reported (78 examples of clathrates); these demonstrate a characteristic level of select ivity. The crystal structures of three selected clathrates, containing acet one or tetrahydrofuran as the guest, have been determined by X-ray diffract ion. H-bonded 1 : 2 host-guest associates are formed in these clathrates, w here each of the host hydroxy groups binds to a guest oxygen, although the host-guest arrangements in the acetone and tetrahydrofuran complexes are di fferent in orientation, being in endo- and exo-mode relative to the anthrac ene unit, respectively.