A ‘sugar-coated’ carbene precursor: a single crystal X-ray diffraction and NMR study

For the first time, the inclusion complex of any diazirine with a cyclodextrin was studied by single crystal X-ray diffraction. This and 2D NMR spectroscopy were employed to elucidate the structure in both the solid state and solution. An opposite orientation of the guest inside the host molecule was revealed. Moreover, crystallization of the neat guest enabled the first X-ray diffraction of a dialkyl-substituted diazirine.