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3- and 4-Methylcyclohexanone have been isolated exclusively as their energetically disfavoured axial conformers in the host-guest complexes formed upon recrystallization of the novel optically pure host compound, (+)-(2R,3R)-1,1,4,4-tetraphenylbutane-1,2,3,4-tetraol (TETROL), from these cycloalkanones.

(+)-(2R,3R)-1,1,4,4-Tetraphenylbutane-1,2,3,4-tetraol (TETROL) functions as a highly efficient host for the inclusion of cyclohexanone and 2-, 3-, and 4-methylcyclohexanone, all with 1:1 host/guest ratios. Most extraordinarily, the 3- and 4-methyl isomers are uniquely included in their higher energy axial methyl conformations rather than as their more energetically favorable equatorial analogues. In contrast, 2-methylcyclohexanone is included more conventionally in the equatorial methyl conformation. During recrystallization of TETROL from racemic 2- and 3-methylcyclohexanone, some preference is shown by the host for the (R)-enantiomer. In the latter case, this is attributed to a much stronger H-bond between a hydroxyl group of TETROL and the carbonyl group of the (R)-enantiomer (O···O 2.621(2) Å) compared with a significantly weaker H-bond to the (S)-enantiomer (3.125(8) Å). In the former instance, hydrogen-bond strengths to both enantiomers are similar, but the (R)-enantiomer engages in three (guest)CH···π(host) and three (guest)H···Car(host) contacts, whereas fewer interactions of these types are observed for the (S)-enantiomer. Calculations of geometries of the guest cyclohexanones were determined at the MP2/6-311++G(2df,2p) level and compared with those obtained at the G3(MP2) level. Finally, an interesting correlation between crystal packing indices for the three methylcyclohexanone clathrates and their respective desolvation onset temperatures was identified.