Structural Reorganization of the Doubly Protonated [222] Cryptand through Cation–π and Charge–Charge Interactions: Synthesis and Structure of Its [CoCl4]·0.5 C6H5CH3 Salt

From an arene-rich liquid clathrate medium the title compound can be isolated in crystalline form. It is the first example of a compound in which an ionophore is stabilized by NH – π interaction. The crystal contains a linear supramolecular complex comprising five components (see picture) in which the cryptate molecules are elongated along their long axes.