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Bis-resorcin[4]arene 2 connected by its lower rims was synthesized via click chemistry and found, by diffusion NMR, to self-assemble quantitatively, despite the different alternatives, into hexameric capsules reminiscent of the well-characterized hexameric capsule of resorcin[4]arene 1. The hexameric capsules of the flexible bis-resorcin[4]arene 2 prevail in apolar organic solvents and can, as expected, encapsulate quite well ammonium salts, demonstrating that spontaneous self-assembly into hexameric capsules is a general characteristic of such systems.

Tetraalkylammonium salts were found, contrary to literature reports, to be encapsulated into hexameric capsules of pyrogallol[4]arene in benzene solution. The guest affinity depended on the length of the alkyl chain, the counteranion, the solvent used, the ammonium concentration, and most importantly, the pyrogallol[4]arene to ammonium salt ratio. At high ammonium salt to pyrogallol[4]arene ratios no encapsulation was observed, presumably since the high salt destabilized the formed hexamers.

The facile and efficient one-step synthesis and the full characterization of novel π-electron rich macrocycles, calix-[n]tetrolarenes (n = 4, 5), are described. The tetramer and the much rarer sized pentamer were easily prepared by reaction of the commercially available, partially methylated 1,2,3,5-benzenetetrol with paraformaldehyde under TFA catalysis, with a total isolated yield of 73%. The reaction is solvent sensitive, and the number of methylated oxygens also affects the tetramer/pentamer distribution. The compounds formed may be considered as “chimeric” macrocycles of calixarene and pyrogallol[n]arene that may serve as new building blocks in host–guest and supramolecular chemistry.

[reaction: see text] Bimetallic alkylzinc calixarene inclusion complexes were prepared and used in the ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide. Polymers with high molecular weight and a low degree of polydispersity were obtained. 1H NMR and diffusion NMR experiments suggest that a single-site mechanism is operative.

[reaction: see text] NMR diffusion measurements were used to characterize the self-assembled molecular capsule of pyrogallolarene 2c in CDCl(3) solutions. The results were compared with the characteristics of the hexameric capsule of 1b. Although both 2c and 1b self-assemble into hexameric capsules, the role of water in these capsules is rather different. It was also found that the capsule of 2c is more stable in polar media than that of 1b.

The lipophilic calix[4]pyrrole-resorcinarene hybrid 1b, the extended analogue of resorcin[4]arene 2b, was synthesized for the first time, and its self-assembly in solution was studied using (1)H and diffusion NMR. It was found that 1b self-assembles to hexameric aggregates in CDCl(3) solution. The interaction of trialkylamine guests with the hexameric aggregate of 1b was explored, and it appears that under the conditions used in the present study these guests interact with the external faces of the hexameric aggregate of 1b.

We followed the self-assembly of C-alkyl-resorcin[4]arene (1a,1b) in the presence of tetraethylammonium salts (2). The X-ray structure of C-ethyl-resorcin[4]arene (1c) in the presence of TEABr (2b), showed a dimer encapsulating one guest. However, diffusion measurements reveal that two molecules of tetraethylammonium are encapsulated within the hexameric capsule of 1a,b in chloroform, regardless of the anion. Most importantly, the anion affects the role of water in the self-assembly and the nature of the formed capsules.

[reaction: see text] Pyrogallol[4]arenes form hexameric capsules with a large cavity and can be regarded as nanoreactors. The (1)H NMR signals of the encapsulated chloroform and benzene molecules are very complex, which may indicate that these encapsulated molecules are trapped in slightly different capsules. Co-encapsulation was found to be favored, and the ASIS effect was found to be enhanced, probably due to the close proximity and the higher molecular fraction of the benzene/chloroform complex in the capsule.

[reaction: see text] NMR diffusion measurements were used to probe the differences in the characteristics of the hexameric capsule of [c]-undecane resorcin[4]arene (1b) in a CDCl(3) solution in the absence and presence of tetrahexylammonium bromide (THABr). It was found that the nonencapsulated THABr forms a 1:1 complex with 1b, which is in fast exchange with its constituents. We found that water molecules seem not to participate in the construction of the THABr hexameric capsule of 1b in a CDCl(3) solution, in contrast to the finding in the absence of THABr, where the major species in CDCl(3) seems to be [(1b)(6)(H(2)O)(8)].

[structure: see text] NMR diffusion measurements were used to probe the role of water molecules in a resorcinarene capsule in a CDCl(3) solution. It was found that the water/resorcinarene ratio affects both the chemical shift and the diffusion coefficient of the water molecules. From the NMR diffusion measurements we could conclude that the major species in the chloroform solution is the hexamer having eight water molecules that are in fast exchange, on the NMR time scale, with the bulk water.