Science

A phenanthrene co-guest helps crystalline sponges reveal 3D structures of small, low-polarity molecules

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 05/11/2026, 13:25:24 UTC.

Briefings

A 2026 study using a second-generation crystalline sponge method successfully determined X-ray structures for 24 of 30 small, low-polarity molecules, including the previously unknown liquid hydrocarbon longifolene. The research utilized phenanthrene as a co-guest to achieve this, with the chiral cage method revealing absolute configurations for five compounds.

Key points

• The 2G-CS method determined X-ray structures for 24 of 30 small, low-polarity C15 molecules using phenanthrene as a co-guest.
• The chiral cage method revealed absolute configurations for five compounds, including longifolene.

Context

This breakthrough allows researchers to crystallize previously uncrystallizable small molecules, expanding the chemical space for structural analysis.

Limitations

Only 24 of 30 molecules were successfully crystallized; eleven structures remained uncrystallized. The study is a preprint with no additional background context provided.

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