Host–guest complexes of 3,5-dinitrobenzonitrile: channels and sandwich supramolecular architectures

Host–guest type complexes of 3,5-dinitrobenzonitrile, , with some hydrocarbons like benzene, naphthalene, p-xylene, o-xylene, and aza donor molecules (acridine, phenazine and phenothiazine) have been reported. In all the complexes, forms a host network, yielding channels (in three-dimensional arrangement), which are filled by guest molecules, except in the complex of with p-xylene. In this complex, although a host–guest type network is observed, the molecules of and p-xylene are arranged in such a manner that the hydrocarbon is embedded between the layers of , like in inorganic clay structures. All the complexes have been characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction methods.