Crystal-to-crystal guest exchange of large organic molecules within a 3D coordination network.

Single-crystal-to-single-crystal guest exchanges of large guest molecules [triphenylene (3a), anthracene (3b), perylene (3c), and triphenylphosphine oxide (3d)] were successfully performed in a large channel of a 3D coordination network (2) having a planar ligand, (1). Crystallographic analysis revealed efficient stackings between the planar guests (3a-c) and the ligand. The crystals of the inclusion complexes of 3a-c showed drastic color change because of strong donor-acceptor interactions between the electron-deficient ligand (1) and electron-rich guests (3a-c).