WER.NINCK, BLAIR., MILBURN, ANDO, BLOOR, MOTEVALLI AND HUR.STHOUSE 229 be a minimum, hence defining a least-motion reaction path. The r.m.s, displacement for MSHD is also large so that it does not provide a critical test of the criteria. The crystal structure data for other diacetylenes suggests, however, that the simple criterion of Schmidt is adequate for the assessment of solid-state reactivity of diacetylenes.The larger monomer separation for MSHD relative to TSHD and BSHD [5.774(2) Abstract. Mr-885.32 , orthorhombic, P212121, a= 27.132 (7), b= 13.543 (2), c= 14.228 (2) A, V= 5228 (2) A 3, Z=4, D x=l.12Mgm -3, CuKa, 2= 1.5418/~,, /z=0.6 mm -1, F(000)= 1952, room temperature, R = 0.078 and R w = 0.079 for 3067 independent reflections with I > 1.5 a(/). The crystal packing is very similar to those found in the deoxycholic acid inclusion compounds with norbornadiene and quadricyclane (tetracyclo[2.2.1.02.6.0a,5]heptane), and is characterized by an assembly of antiparallel pleated bilayers of the steroid molecules, which pack together leaving empty spaces occupied by the guest molecules. The cross section of the channels is almost square. The centers of gravity of pinacolone, which assumes in the channels two different orientations related by a pseudo twofold axis, have coordinates approximately equal to those of norbornadiene and quadricyclane. energy (Hautala, Little & Sweet, 1977). Because of the lack of overlap between the electronic absorption spectrum of NBD and the solar radiance spectrum, the direct conversion NBD--,QDC by sunlight is precluded. However, this conversion is still achievable by means of photosensitizers. Since the quantum efficiency of the reaction and the purity of QDC could be improved inside the channels of an inclusion compound, those of the deoxycholic acid (DCA) were chosen for this purpose.The inclusion compounds between DCA and NBD (DCANBD; D'Andrea, Fedeli, Giglio, Mazza & Pavel, 1981) and QDC (DCAQDC; Coiro, Giglio, Mazza & Pavel, 1984) were studied in order to establish whether the DCA host lattices are nearly equal. Since the DCA host lattice does not change, it is possible to foresee that it can easily tolerate the lattice-controlled photoinduced reaction NBD--,QDC, without destroying the crystal structure of the inclusion compound. Furthermore, the structural information gained from the crystal packing of DCANBD and DCAQDC is useful for the choice of