1,2,4,5-Tetrakis(phenylsulfonyl)benzene: a novel quadruped host with D2 symmetry having ordered sulfolane and cycloheptanone guests

Abstract

The title tetrasulfone 1, in common with higher members of the multi-armed aromatic hosts, forms host–guest complexes with polar guest molecules. In the sulfolane and cycloheptanone complexes the host molecule possesses an abab conformation with exact C_2, and approximate D₂ symmetry with deviations owing to crystal packing forces. The conformation of the well-ordered cycloheptanone molecule, which normally undergoes facile pseudorotation, is unambiguously defined in the voids of the crystalline inclusion compound.