Macrocycle Embrace: Encapsulation of Fluoroarenes by m-Phenylene Ethynylene Host

We report structural characterization of a new member of m-phenylene ethynylene ring family. This shape-persistent macrocycle also co-crystallizes with hexafluoro-, 1,2,4,5-tetrafluoro-, 1,3,5-trifluoro, and 1,4-difluorobenzene. The four complexes are almost isostructural, and all show the fluoroarene included into the central cavity of the macrocycle. Characterized by multiple short C-H center dot center dot center dot F-C contacts, these inclusion complexes further dimerize in the solid state into a 2+2 assembly, in which the two macrocycles embrace each other by their large hydrophobic groups that are rotated by 608 relative to one another.