Vibrational spectroscopic study on some Hofmann-Td type clathrates: Ni(4-phenylpyridine)2M(CN)4·2G (M = Cd or Hg, G = 1,4-dioxane)

► The synthesis and FT-IR/FT-Raman (vibrational) spectra of Hofmann-Td type clathrates. ► Using a non-aromatic guest molecule as 1,4-dioxane. ► The host-guest interactions are weak. ► The trapped 1,4-dioxane guest molecules have kept their free forms.