The host compound ( H), trans-9,10-dihydroxy-9,10-diphenyl-9,10-dihydroanthracene forms inclusion compounds with acetonitrile (compound 1) and 3-hydroxypropionitrile (compound 2) both with host : guest ratio of 1:2. Crystal data: ( 1) C 26H 20O 2·2C 2H 3N, M r = 446.54, a = 8.530(2), b = 16.995(6), c = 9.034(1) Å, β = 109.15(2)°, space group P2 1/c , D m = 1.18 g cm −3, D c = 1.20 g cm −3 for Z = 2, R = 0.096 for 1363 reflections; ( 2) C 26H 20O 2·2C 3H 5NO, M r = 506.60, a = 8.444(1), b = 9.7931(7), c = 16.558(2) Å, β = 104.32(1)°, space group P2 1nD m = 1.28 g cm −3, D c = 1-27 g cm −3 for Z = 2, R = 0.066 for 1567 reflections. The thermal decomposition of (1) shows that the guest release reaction occurs in a single step, but that the activation energy varies with the extent of decomposition, from 83 to 114 kJ mol −1. DSC of ( 2) shows that decomposition is more complex, with possible phase changes of the host structure.