Synthesis and Comprehensive Characterization of Two Crown Inclusion Compounds with Phase Transitions

Host–guest inclusions have long served as an ideal design platform for phase-change materials. Under external stimulation, guest molecules are prone to local distortion or movement, triggering an ordered–disordered phase transition and inducing dielectric, ferroelectric, and ferroelastic properties. In the study of this paper, two crown ether inclusion materials C₁₇H₃₆ClNO₁₀ (1) and C₁₇H₃₆BF₄NO₆ (2), exhibiting transitions from solid state to solid state, were synthesized. A comprehensive characterization was conducted using thermogravimetric, differential scanning calorimetry, single crystal structure determination, and dielectric test to reveal the mechanism of phase transition. These analyses revealed the occurrence of a reversible structural phase transition at 265 and 250 K, which can be attributed to the local motion of anions under temperature stimulation.