PORPHYRIN SPONGES - CONSERVATION OF HOST STRUCTURE IN OVER 200 PORPHYRIN-BASED LATTICE CLATHRATES

Analysis of the molecular packing in over 200 tetraarylporphyrin-based lattice clathrates reveals a strong conservation of host structure. In most cases, formation of porphyrin-based clathrates can be viewed as arising from intercalation of guest molecules into pure host materials. Several modes of intercalation are detected, and characteristic of intercalate structures, staging is observed. Intercalate formation accounts for the relative insensitivity of the host structure to the nature and size of the guest species. The structural conservation observed in this large class of materials facilitates rational modification of the host lattice. Crystallographic data are provided for 75 new porphyrin-based clathrates.