Compounds N,N′-bis(9-cyclohexyl-9-xanthenyl)ethylenediamine and its thio derivative, N,N′-bis(9-cyclohexyl-9-thioxanthenyl)ethylenediamine, as potential hosts in the presence of xylenes and ethylbenzene: Conformational analyses and molecular modelling considerations

Abstract Two novel crystalline compounds, N , N ′-bis(9-cyclohexyl-9-xanthenyl)ethylenediamine (OED) and its thio derivative, N , N ′-bis(9-cyclohexyl-9-thioxanthenyl)ethylenediamine (SED), were designed and synthesized in our laboratories, and assessed for their potential as host compounds for the four C8 aromatic compounds, namely o- , m- and p- xylene ( o -Xy, m -Xy, p -Xy), and ethylbenzene (EB). Despite the only difference between the two compounds being the heteroatoms in their B rings, immense behaviour differences were noted: only OED displayed host behaviour in these conditions, clathrating all but m -Xy, while SED failed to form complexes with any of the four organic solvents. These observations prompted an investigation into the conformations of OED and SED through single crystal diffraction (SCXRD) analyses as well as computational studies with surprising results. SCXRD was also employed to analyse the three complexes that successfully formed with OED, and thermal analyses (TA) assisted in understanding the selectivity behaviour of OED when presented with mixed guests.