What Is a Clathrate?

Inclusion compounds are a type of organic crystals. Its structure contains two structural units, that is, the clathrate is composed of two compounds: one is a compound that can trap other compounds in its structural skeleton cavity, which is called an inclusion agent or a host molecule; Species are compounds that are trapped in cavities or pores in the structure of the inclusion agent, and are called inclusion agents or guest molecules. Common compounds that can form holes or pores are crown ethers, cyclodextrin, calixarene, calixol, calcarazole, cucurbituron, and columnar aromatics.

Clathrate

clathrate compounds; clathrate inclusion compound

A class of organic crystals. Its structure contains two structural units, so the inclusion compound is composed of two compounds: one is a compound that can trap other compounds in its structural skeleton cavity, called an inclusion agent or

Inclusion compounds are a special type of compound. It is formed by molecules enclosed in the cavity of crystal structure or the cavity inherent to macromolecules. The components are combined according to a certain ratio, but not by chemical bonding but by a close fit between the components, so that smaller molecules are not detached. The geometry of the molecule is the determining factor. Divided into three categories:

Clathrate

Crystal clathrates. Compounds are encapsulated in the cavity of molecular crystals, such as pipe-shaped clathrates formed by linear hydrocarbons encapsulated in a urea crystal structure. They can be used to separate hydrocarbons of different sizes;

Clathrate

Molecular clathrates, which are enclosed in larger pores with pores. For example, cyclodextrin, which is a degradation product of starch, exhibits a large ring-shaped molecular arrangement, and can form inclusion complexes with hydrocarbons, iodine, halogenated alkanes, and aromatic hydrocarbons;

Clathrate

Macromolecular inclusion compounds, molecular sieves, protein adsorption compounds, and blue starch-iodine compounds fall into this category. The blue iodine clathrate of polyvinyl alcohol exhibits strong dichroism in the stretched state and is used industrially to manufacture (light) polarizers and goggles. Molecular sieves are widely used in the industry to separate hydrocarbons and petroleum cracking. Macromolecular inclusion complexes may play an important role in the body.

Common inclusion compounds are the adducts of hydroquinone and inert gas elements, the adducts of urea and alkanes, the adducts of thiourea and hydrocarbons, and crown ether complexes.