Solid-vapour reactions as a post-synthetic modification tool for molecular crystals: the enclathration of benzene and toluene by Werner complexes.

The enclathration of benzene and toluene by Werner complexes has been described. In the case of toluene, time-lapse PXRD analysis reveals that solid-liquid and solid-vapour reactions proceed according to different pathways. These preliminary results suggest that solid-liquid reactions destroy the host structure, whereas the solid-vapour reactions allow post-synthetic modification.