Host–guest intermolecular hydrogen bonds and stability in aqueous media: the benzaldehyde/β-CD case study

The formation of a host–guest system is driven by several contributions. The solvent plays a fundamental role. Usually, in theoretical investigations concerning cyclodextrin inclusion compounds hydrogen bonds between host and guest are studied. Our calculations for the β-cyclodextrin/benzaldehyde semicarbazone system show that hydrogen bonds between host and guest may not determine the preferable guest orientation. In addition, gas and aqueous phase theoretical trends can be distinct in studies concerning CD-based inclusion compounds.