We have designed and synthesized a modified Tröger’s base TB in which the sterically-rigidified aryl rings that protrude into its groove were envisaged to preclude self-inclusion. From a limited preliminary experimentation, TB has been found to exhibit guest inclusion. The X-ray determined structures of the crystals of guest-free TB and its inclusion compounds with acetonitrile and 𝑜-dichlorobenzene reveal remarkable adaptability of the TB core to undergo subtle structural changes in response to the guest that is included. The structural analyses demonstrate the fact that TB behaves like a molecular tweezer.
