A
complex in which one component (the
host) forms a cavity or, in the case of a crystal, a crystal lattice containing spaces
in the shape of long tunnels or channels in which molecular entities of a second chemical
species (the
guest) are located. There is no covalent bonding between
guest and host, the attraction being generally due to
van der Waals forces. If the spaces in the host lattice are enclosed on all sides so that the
guest species is '
trapped' as in a
cage, such compounds are known as
clathrates or '
cage compounds'.
Source:
PAC, 1994, 66, 1077
(Glossary of terms used in physical organic chemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1994))
on page 1124
PAC, 1995, 67, 1307
(Glossary of class names of organic compounds and reactivity intermediates based on
structure (IUPAC Recommendations 1995))
on page 1344