Zinc–meso-tetra-p-tolylporphyrin and its chlorotoluene channel-type clathrate with π–π and C—H⋯π interaction modes stabilizing the porphyrin host lattice

The title compound, (meso-5,10,15,20-tetra-p-tolyl-porphyrinato-N,N',N",N'" ) zinc (II), [Zn (C48H36N4) ], displays a high tendency to form complexes and clathrates with other components from various environments, and is a useful building block for the construction of heteromolecular solids. Modes of its intermolecular assembly in the pure compound and in its clathrate with m-chlorotoluene, [Zn(Ca48H36Na4)].C7H7Cl, have been characterized by X-ray crystal-structure analysis. The clathrate appears to be stabilized by 7r-Tr stacking and cooperative C--H...:r interactions between the tolyl substituents and contains large interporphyrin channels extending throughout the crystal