Structure and kinetics of novel cyclophane inclusion compounds

Abstract

A novel cyclophane host compound, 3, featuring a macrocyclic structure with two hydroquinone dimethyl ether and two 1,1-diphenylcyclohexane construction elements assembled via benzylic ether linkages has been synthesised and its inclusion compounds with toluene, 4, and cyclohexanone, 5, have been characterised by thermal analysis and X-ray crystallography. The conformation of the cyclophane is markedly different in the two inclusion compounds. The kinetics of desolvation of 5 are deceleratory and yield an activation energy of 182 kJ mol^–1.