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

- Source: Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories
- Published: 2026-11-05T13:20:01+00:00
- Category: Science
- Original: https://phys.org/news/2026-11-phenanthrene-guest-crystalline-sponges-reveal.html
- Canonical: https://groundlevelnews.com/story/a-phenanthrene-co-guest-helps-crystalline-sponges-reveal-3d-structures-6f2895/

Adding phenanthrene as a co-guest let the second-generation crystalline sponge (2G-CS) method determine X-ray structures for 24 of 30 small, low-polarity C₁₅ molecules, mostly sesquiterpenoids. Under standard conditions, none of the 30 gave guest-containing crystals. Eleven of the 24 structures had not been reported before, including that of the liquid hydrocarbon longifolene. A chiral version of

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