Predicting Inclusion Behaviour and Framework Structures in Organic Crystals

Abstract

We have used well‐established computational methods to generate and explore the crystal structure landscapes of four organic molecules of well‐known inclusion behaviour. Using these methods, we are able to generate both close‐packed crystal structures and high‐energy open frameworks containing voids of molecular dimensions. Some of these high‐energy open frameworks correspond to real structures observed experimentally when the appropriate guest molecules are present during crystallisation. We propose a combination of crystal structure prediction methodologies with structure rankings based on relative lattice energy and solvent‐accessible volume as a way of selecting likely inclusion frameworks completely ab initio. This methodology can be used as part of a rational strategy in the design of inclusion compounds, and also for the anticipation of inclusion behaviour in organic molecules.