Inclusion Complex

Name:
Inclusion Complex
Detailed information:
(adduct). An unbonded association of two molecules in which a molecule of one component is either wholly or partly locked within the crystal lattice of the other. There are several types of such complexes, the most familiar being the so-called clathrates (from Latin, “crossbars of a grating”). The clathrate compound 3C₆H₄(OH)₂•SO₂ may be depicted as
where the interlocked rings denote mutual enclosure of two identical cages. The formula for any clathrate compound is determined by the ratio of available cavities to the amount of cage material. Inclusion compounds can be used to separate molecules of different shapes, e.g., straight-chain hydrocarbons from those containing side chains, as well as structural isomers. They can also be used as templates for directing chemical reactions.
See Clathrate Compound; Gas Hydrate.