Novel channel structure of bile acid-guest inclusion complex formed between ursodeoxycholic acid and phenanthrene

The crystal structure of inclusion complex between ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), and phenanthrene has been determined. UDCA molecules formed hydrogen bond network to provide the channel structure along b axis, and phenanthrene molecules were accommodated in the cavity with a stoichiometry of 1 : 1 molar ratio. The channel structure observed in the UDCA-phenanthrene complex was significantly different from that of inclusion complex previously reported for deoxycholic acid (DCA) and cholic acid (CA). Because of the mesh-like hydrogen bond network, channel framework of UDCA could have less flexibility than that of DCA and CA. The difference of molecular state of phenanthrene was clearly observed in solid-state fluorescence measurement.