Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

The p-carboxylatocalix[4]arenes have been shown to be versatile supramolecular building blocks capable of forming a range of bi-layers, capsules and nanoscale tubules in the solid state. Here we report the synthesis of a new 'rigidified' analogue, as well as investigations into its self-assembly and related coordination chemistry. These behaviours are reminiscent of other p-carboxylatocalix[4]arenes despite the presence of rigidifying groups at the lower-rim, suggesting that this building block may be further exploited in the assembly of a range of new metal-organic cages and coordination polymers.