The first members of the octasubstituted naphthalene spider-host series with type I (abababab) conformation: gateway to new nano-host gas storage materials

Octakis(m-tolyloxymethyl)naphthalene, the first Type I spider host produced, crystallises from tetraglyme forming a novel channel structure with the host molecule attaining exact D2 symmetry. The (flexible) channel structure is retained for guest CS2, the host now only having exact C2 symmetry. The octa-sulfone octakis(m-tolylsulfonylmethyl)naphthalene is also of Type I in its triclinic DMSO clathrate. DNMR establishes a substantial difference in molecular flexibilities in solution.