4,4 '-(Fluorene-9,9-diyl)diphenol: a new versatile building block for clathrate type and macrocyclic host-guest inclusion

4,4'-(Fluorene-9,9-diyl)diphenol (1) is demonstrated to be both an effectiv e clathrate host in itself and a useful construction element to form a rigi d macrocyclic host compound 2. The X-ray crystal structures of 1 and of its inclusion compounds with acetonitrile (1:1) and ethanol (1:2) as well as t he inclusion compound of 2 with dimethyl sulfoxide (1:4) and the mixed-gues t inclusion compounds of 2 with 2-picoline, 3-picoline or 4-picoline and ac etone (2:2:1) are reported. Inclusion compounds of 1 with acetonitrile and ethanol are studied by thermal analysis.