Role of edge-to-face interaction between aromatic rings in clathrate formation of 1-benzoyl-2-hydroxyindoline derivatives with benzene. X-ray crystal and PM6 analyses of the interaction

(4-Nitrophenyl- and 4-chlorophenyl)(2-hydroxy-3,3-dimethylindolin-1-yl)methanone (4a,b) serve as clathrate hosts for benzene guests. X-ray crystal analyses of the inclusion compounds of 4a and 4b with benzene indicate that the ‘edge-to-face interaction’ plays an important role in the formation of the inclusion complexes with benzene as well as in the host–host interactions. PM6 molecular orbital calculations were found to reproduce the characteristic structural features of both intra- and intermolecular edge-to-face interactions.