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An l-proline/Brønsted acid/base organocatalytic system enables gram-scale synthesis of 2-(acylmethylene)pyrrolidines through enamine activation.

This work presents the synthesis of a new representative of hemicurcuminoids with a nonyloxy substituent (HCur) as a fluorescent amphiphilic structural element of vesicular aggregates based on phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylserine (PS), and 10,12-pentacosadiynoic acid (PCDA). Both X-ray diffraction analysis of the single crystal and 1H NMR spectra of HCur in organic solvents indicate the predominance of the enol-tautomer of HCur. DFT calculations show the predominance of the enol tautomer HCur in supramolecular assemblies with PC, PS, and PCDA molecules. The results of the molecular modeling show that HCur molecules are surrounded by PC and PS with a rather weak exposure to water molecules, while an exposure of HCur molecules to water is enhanced under its supramolecular assembly with PCDA molecules. This is in good agreement with the higher loading of HCur into PC(PS) vesicles compared to PCDA vesicles converted into polydiacetylene (PDA) ones by photopolymerization. HCur molecules incorporated into HCur-PDA vesicles exhibit greater planarity distortion and hydration effect in comparison with HCur-PC(PS) ones. HCur-PDA is presented as a dual fluorescence-chromatic nanosensor responsive to a change in pH within 7.5–9.5, heavy metal ions and polylysine, and the concentration-dependent fluorescent response is more sensitive than the chromatic one. Thus, the fluorescent response of HCur-PDA allows for the distinguishing between Cd2+ and Pb2+ ions in the concentration range 0–0.01 mM, while the chromatic response allows for the selective sensing of Pb2+ over Cd2+ ions at their concentrations above 0.03 mM.

The present work introduces self-assembled polystyrenesulfonate (PSS) molecules as soft nanocapsules for incorporation of Eu

Novel cationic amphiphiles of the 3-alkyl-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1

New calix[4]resorcinols with four anthracene-ended triazolecontaining fragments as rctt- and rccc-diastereoisomers were obtained in two synthetic pathways, namely, by acidcatalyzed condensation of resorcinols with 4-{[1-(anthracen-9-ylmethyl)-1H-[1,2,3]triazol-4-yl]methoxy}benzaldehyde or by the click reaction of 9-(azidomethyl)anthracene with calix[4]resorcinols bearing four terminal acetylene moieties. The compounds obtained demonstrate dual emission in solid state with intensity of low energy band depending on calix[4]resorcinol conformation. The emission in solutions is dominated by anthracene bands, with rccc-isomer showing additional low energy band.

Self-organization of hydroxyethylated gemini surfactants with different spacer fragments 16-s-16(OH) (s = 4, 6, 10, and 12) was studied in single solutions and in binary surfactant-oligonucleotide systems. Despite the fact that aggregation activity and solubilization capacity of aggregates decrease with an increase in spacer length, gemini with the longer spacer demonstrate superior binding capacity toward oligonucleotide as compared to single head surfactant and gemini analogs with shorter spacers. The detailed study testified that gemini with longer spacers are characterized by a looser packing mode, a moist and more polar interior, and tend to show polymorphism. These features in combination with favorable geometry factor providing suitable orientation of components are probably responsible for the beneficial lipoplex formation in the case of longer spacers. The effectiveness of oligonucleotide-surfactant complexation changes in the same order as transfection efficacy mediated by these gemini reported ...

The present work for the first time reports an application of the thiacalix[4]arene scaffold for the preparation of Tb3+ complexes possessing high thermal luminescence sensitivity in the physiological temperature range of 20–50 °C. Non-substituted thiacalix[4]arenes form luminescent complexes with Tb3+ ions, but they do not reveal any meaningful thermal sensitivity. To solve this problem, an upper-rim bromination of thiacalix[4]arenes, as well as distal bromination along with the embedding of two 1,3-diketone substituents are proposed as new simple synthetic approaches to enhance the thermal luminescence sensitivity of the Tb3+ complexes. A combination of mass spectrometry, NMR, UV-Vis and luminescence spectroscopy with quantum chemical calculations reveals a dimeric structure of the complexes formed by thiacalix[4]arenes with Tb3+ ions in DMF solutions. The steady-state luminescence of the Tb3+ complexes has demonstrated more than one order higher thermal sensitivity for the complexes of bromo-substituted ligands in comparison with the non-substituted thiacalix[4]arenes. The reasons for such behavior are discussed. The results highlight new opportunities for the thiacalix[4]arene platform for controlling ligand-to-metal energy transfer in terbium complexes and tuning their thermo-responsive luminescence properties.

The mucus layer acts as a selective diffusion barrier that has an important effect on the efficiency of drug delivery systems in the human body. In this regard, currently the drug nanocarriers of various sizes and compositions are being widely developed to study their mucoadhesive properties i.e., the ability to interact with mucin. However, the effective interaction of drug composition with mucin does not guarantee the success due to the fact that there is a further barrier in the form of epithelial cells retained by calcium ions under the mucus layer. In this work, the interaction of mucin (porcine gastric mucin) with calixarenes is considered for the first time. The study of interaction between calixarenes, mucin and calcium ions by a complex of physicochemical methods showed that effective interaction with mucin requires cationic fragments, and binding with calcium is realized due to anionic fragments in the calixarene structure. Therefore, the combination of different chemical groups in the structure of drug nanocarrier plays an important role in successful mucosal drug delivery. Taking into account the wide possibilities of synthetic modification of the macrocyclic platform, calixarenes can find the application in the drug delivery across mucous barriers.

As a result of bright complexation properties, easy functionalization and the ability to self-organize in an aqueous solution, amphiphilic supramolecular macrocycles are being actively studied for their application in nanomedicine (drug delivery systems, therapeutic and theranostic agents, and others). In this regard, it is important to study their potential toxic effects. Here, the synthesis of amphiphilic calix[4]resorcinarene carboxybetaines and their esters and the study of a number of their microbiological properties are presented: cytotoxic effect on normal and tumor cells and effect on cellular and non-cellular components of blood (hemotoxicity, anti-platelet effect, and anticoagulant activity). Additionally, the interaction of macrocycles with bovine serum albumin as a model plasma protein is estimated by various methods (fluorescence spectroscopy, synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy, circular dichroic spectroscopy, and dynamic light scattering). The results demonstrate the low toxicity of the macrocycles, their anti-platelet effects at the level of acetylsalicylic acid, and weak anticoagulant activity. The study of BSA–macrocycle interactions demonstrates the dependence on macrocycle hydrophilic/hydrophobic group structure; in the case of carboxybetaines, the formation of complexes prevents self-aggregation of BSA molecules in solution. The present study demonstrates new data on potential drug delivery nanosystems based on amphiphilic calix[4]resorcinarenes for their cytotoxicity and effects on blood components.

Herein, we report on the reaction of nitro-substituted azidobenzofuroxans with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds in basic media. The known reactions of benzofuroxans and azidofuroxans with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds in the presence of bases are the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition and the Beirut reaction. In contrast with this, azidonitrobenzofuroxan reacts with 1,3-carbonyl compounds through Regitz diazo transfer, which is the first example of this type of reaction for furoxan derivatives. This difference is seemingly due to the strong electron-withdrawing effect of the superelectrophilic azidonitrobenzofuroxan, which serves as the azido transfer agent rather than 1,3-dipole in this case.

A novel and efficient protocol for the synthesis of diversely substituted 2,2′-bibenzimidazoles from the reaction of 3-cyanoquinoxalin-2(1H)-ones with 1,2-diaminobenzenes has been developed, which ...

The synthesis and study of self-association and encapsulation ability of new low toxic conjugate of tetraphenyleneoxypentylcalix[4]resorcinarene and methoxy-poly(ethylene glycole) (C5OPh-mPEG) were described. The conjugate is characterized by 1H, 13C NMR, FT-IR, MS, SLS methods. In an aqueous solution the conjugate form multimicellar nanoparticles with low polydispersity value (0.1, DLS method). The self-association of the conjugate was studied by DLS, fluorescence, fluorescence anisotropy method, TEM, and SAXS methods. The SAXS data were detailed analyzed, and the conjugate associates structure as ellipsoidal core-shell particles was proposed. The encapsulation efficiency is a result of the affinity of the conjugate low rim substituents to substrates and reaches of 39.8, 26.7, and 28.9% toward naproxen, ibuprofen and doxorubicin drugs, respectively.

A series of novel hybrid compounds containing benzofuroxan and 2-aminothiazole moieties are synthesized via aromatic nucleophilic substitution reaction. Possible reaction pathways have been considered quantum-chemically, which allowed us to suggest the most probable products. The quantum chemical results have been proved by X-ray data on one compound belonging to the synthesized series. It was shown that the introduction of substituents to both the thiazole and amine moieties of the compounds under study strongly influences their UV/Vis spectra. Initial substances and obtained hybrid compounds have been tested in vitro as anticancer agents. Target compounds showed selectivity towards M-HeLa tumor cell lines and were found to be more active than starting benzofuroxan and aminothiazoles. Furthermore, they are considerably less toxic to normal liver cells compared to Tamoxifen. The mechanism of action of the studied compounds can be associated with the induction of apoptosis, which proceeds along the mitochondrial pathway. Thus, new hybrids of benzofuroxan are promising candidates for further development as anticancer agents.

The present work for the first time reports an application of the thiacalix[4]arene scaffold for the preparation of Tb3+ complexes possessing high thermal luminescence sensitivity in the physiological temperature range of 20-50 °C. Non-substituted thiacalix[4]arenes form luminescent complexes with Tb3+ ions, but they do not reveal any meaningful thermal sensitivity. To solve this problem, an upper-rim bromination of thiacalix[4]arenes, as well as distal bromination along with the embedding of two 1,3-diketone substituents are proposed as new simple synthetic approaches to enhance the thermal luminescence sensitivity of the Tb3+ complexes. A combination of mass spectrometry, NMR, UV-Vis and luminescence spectroscopy with quantum chemical calculations reveals a dimeric structure of the complexes formed by thiacalix[4]arenes with Tb3+ ions in DMF solutions. The steady-state luminescence of the Tb3+ complexes has demonstrated more than one order higher thermal sensitivity for the complexes of bromo-substituted ligands in comparison with the non-substituted thiacalix[4]arenes. The reasons for such behavior are discussed. The results highlight new opportunities for the thiacalix[4]arene platform for controlling ligand-to-metal energy transfer in terbium complexes and tuning their thermo-responsive luminescence properties.

A facile approach to a range of substituted 7-(benzimidazol-2-yl)thioxolumazines [7-(benzimidazol-2-yl)-2-thioxo-2,3-dihydropteridin-4(1H)-ones] and 7-(benzimidazol-2-yl)lumazines [7-(benzimidazol-2-yl)pteridine-2,4(1H,3H)-diones] is described. These new biheterocyclic systems are obtained via H2SO4-catalyzed rearrangement of quinoxalin-2-ones in the presence of 5,6-diamino-2-mercapto- and 2,5,6-triaminopyrimidin-4-ols. Thus, benzimidazole and pteridine rings are constructed in one synthetic step. A plausible ANRORC (addition of nucleophile, ring opening and ring closure)-type reaction mechanism is proposed. Applying the rearrangement to the aza-analogue of 3-benzoylquinoxalin-2(1H)-one—i.e., 3-benzoylpyrido[2,3-b]pyrazin-2(1H)-one—with 5,6-diamino-2-mercaptopyrimidin-4-ol makes it possible to synthesize inaccessible 7-(1H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-yl)-6-phenyl-2-thioxo-2,3-dihydropteridin-4(1H)-one. 7-(Benzimidazol-2-yl)-6-(2-fluorophenyl)-2-thioxo-2,3-dihydropteridin-4(1H)-ones undergoes intramolecular nu...

A new and highly efficient method for the synthesis of 4-(benzimidazol-2-yl)quinolin-2(1H)-ones via the rearrangement of spiroquinoxalinones in moderate-to-excellent yields has been developed. The rearrangement represents a facile approach to medicinally important biheterocyclic compounds. Compared to other methods, the present protocol has a number of advantages such as – cost-effectiveness, avoidance of difficult of access quinolin-2-one and benzimidazole derivatives as reaction partners, and easy accessibility of starting materials, making it a highly practical approach to access various 4-(benzimidazol-2-yl)quinolin-2(1H)-ones.

Here we present the consecutive study of colloid systems formed by novel isatin derivative as compound with high pharmacological potential and series of carboxyresorcinarenes. The azo-modified isatin derivative bearing ammonium moiety (I-3) was synthesized and its antimicrobial activity was investigated. To increase its solubility the solubilization experiment using amphiphilic carboxyresorcinarenes, characterized by low hemolytic activity, was carried out. The I-3 – macrocycles systems were studied by NMR, UV–vis, DLS and TEM. The FT PGSE and 2D NOESY NMR methods demonstrated, that solubilization of I-3 is caused by the incorporation of its molecules in the hydrophobic part of the macrocycles associates. Herewith the loading efficiency of I-3 into the macrocycles associates was reached of 20–30% due to the change of the volume of hydrophobic part of associates by varying the length and structure of hydrophobic substituents of macrocyclic amphiphiles.

Here we present the supramolecular surfactant-macrocycle system which properties are independent on system composition in the wide range of components concentrations. The study of the interaction of octacarboxy-tetra(p-phenylene-oxy-pentyl)calixresorcinarene (C5R) and cetylpyridinuim chloride (CPC) in mixed aqueous solutions were performed by dynamic light scattering and electrophoretic methods, 1H and FT-PGSE NMR methods, absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy, and TEM. The variation of CPC/C5R molar ratio from 30/1 to 10/1 leads to the formation of nanoassociates with similar composition, size, surface potential value, and improved (in compare with CPC) solubilizing properties. The preparation of mixed supramolecular systems which properties are independent on system composition in the wide range of components concentrations is an elegant example of the producing of colloidal materials with the required morphology and properties.

Small (dcore ≈ 2–5 nm) well-dispersed gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) stabilized by amphiphilic octacarboxy-calix[4]resorcinarenes with different substituents on the lower rim—methyl (С1–CR), pentyl (С5–CR) and undecyl (С11–CR)—in an aqueous solution were obtained. The nanoparticles were studied by spectrophotometry, transmission electron microscopy, FTIR-spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, small angle X-ray scattering and X-ray powder diffraction. The influence of HAuCl4/macrocycle ratio during the synthesis on the nanoparticles size and aggregation only for weakly associated С1–CR and С5–CR was achieved. The self-association effect of С11–CR on the nanoparticles stabilization is found. The existence of gold in the form of crystallites and their average sizes were defined. The average nanoparticle sizes were determined and the structure of macrocyclic shells on the surface of nanoparticles in an aqueous solution was proposed. The formation of cooperative calix[4]resorcinarene associates on the AuNPs surface due to the multiple supramolecular interactions leads to the creation of functional gold nanoparticles.

This is the first report on the synthesis and characterization of tetra-1,3-diketone derivatives of tetrthia- and calix[4]arenes substituted by acetylacetonyl or dipivaloylmethanyl moieties at the upper rim and bearing hydroxyl groups at the lower rim as ligands for Tb3+ complexes. The spatial structure and tautomeric content for the synthesized ligands have been determined by means of X-ray, IR and NMR spectroscopy. Comparison of the sensitizing properties of tetrathiacalix[4]arenes and their calix[4]arene analogues on the Tb3+-centered luminescence in DMF solutions has been performed. A substantial enhancement of the luminescent properties of Tb3+- complexes with tetra-1,3-diketone ligands promoted by the tetrathiacalix[4]arene scaffold was established.

In order to obtain a non-toxic amphiphilic calixresorcinarene capable to form nanoconjugates for drug encapsulation, tetraundecylcalixresorcinarene functionalized by methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) chains has been synthesized. The macrocycle obtained is characterized by low hemotoxicity. In aqueous solution it forms nanoassociates that are able to encapsulate organic substrates of different hydrophobicity, including drugs (doxorubicin, naproxen, ibuprofen, quercetin). The micelles of the macrocycle slowed down the release of the hydrophilic substrates in vitro. In physiological sodium chloride solution and phosphate-buffered saline, the micelles of the macrocycle acquire thermoresponsive properties and exhibit a temperature-controlled release of doxorubicin in vitro. The combination of the low toxicity and the encapsulation properties of the obtained calixresorcinarene–mPEG conjugate shows promising potential for the use as a supramolecular drug-delivery system.

The association of branched polyethyleneimine (PEI) with a series of octacarboxy-calixresorcinarenes bearing different low-rim substituents leads to the formation of nanosized supramolecular complexes. The PEI-macrocycle complexes have fine-tunable sizes regulated by variations in the self-association capacity of the calixresorcinarenes. In the supramolecular complexes, hydrophobic fragments of the polymer and calixresorcinarenes form cooperative hydrophobic domains which provide synergistic enhancement of guest molecule binding. The formation of the supramolecular complexes was investigated by NMR FT-PGSE, NMR 2D NOESY, DLS and TEM methods. In addition, fluorimetry and UV-vis methods were used with the help of optical probes, namely water-soluble Crystal Violet and water-insoluble Orange OT. The investigation demonstrates the first example of the formation of cooperative hydrophobic domains in supramolecular polyelectrolyte-macrocycle complexes which enhance the binding of both water-soluble and water-insoluble organic compounds. The presented supramolecular systems have potential as sensory and drug delivery systems.

O-Propargylation of free hydroxyl groups in calix[4]resorcinols bearing thiophosphoryloxyphenyl substituents at the lower rim and possessing cone or chair conformations afforded new derivatives containing eight terminal alkyne groups. Their subsequent click reaction with azidomethylarenes led to the corresponding multifunctional triazole calix[4]resorcinols. Nickel complexes with such ligands show catalytic activity in hydrogen evolution reaction providing the decrease in potential of the direct acid reduction on glassy carbon electrode of 0.98 V.

A novel clean, one-pot syntheses of 3-arylquinazolin-4(3H)-ones and quinoxalino[2,1-b]quinazoline-6,12(5H)-diones via PPA-mediated coupling of N-(2-carboxyphenyl)oxalamides with arylamines and 1,2-benzenediamines have been developed. Under mild reaction conditions with use of Na2S2O4 the benzimidazo[2,1-b]quinazolin-12-ones were achieved in good yield from 3-(2-nitrophenyl)quinazolin-4-ones.

An effective one-step method is proposed for the synthesis of 2-(indol-2-yl)benzimidazoles from 3-(2-nitrobenzyl)quinoxalin-2(1Н)-ones without using metal catalysts and reagents. This method is based on the Mamedov rearrangement of 3-(2-aminobenzyl)quinoxalin-2(1Н)-ones, formed in situ by the action of Na2S2O4, giving 2-(indol-2-yl)benzimidazoles as the products.

The present work introduces the synthesis and characterization of upper rim dibromo-substituted bis-1,3-diketone calix[4]arenes with hydroxy and propyloxy groups at the lower rim as ligands for Gd3+ and Tb3+ complexes. The dibromo-substitution does not affect 1:1 complex formation with the lanthanide ions arising from their coordination via two 1,3-diketonate groups incorporated at the upper rim of the calix[4]arene. The analysis of the time-resolved luminescence spectra of the Gd3+ complexes clearly demonstrates the notable enhancement of the decay time of the ligand triplet state, while the energy of the triplet state for the new dibromo-bis-1,3-diketones remains practically unchanged versus its non-substituted analogues. The latter tendency points to the heavy-atom effect on the energy transfer from the excited state to vibration levels of the dibromo-substituted ligand resulting in a decreased radiationless decay contribution. Measurements of Tb3+-centered luminescence indicate a better antenna effect (∼1.7) of dibromo-calix[4]arenes compared with its non-substituted counterpart.

Novel bis- and tetra-1,3-diketo derivatives of calix[4]arene with nonyl substituents at the lower rim have been synthesized. Their conformational and tautomeric composition have been determined; spectral parameters and complex formation properties with Tb3+ have been studied. Substitution of two 1,3-diketo groups with bromine under going from tetra- to bis 1,3-diketone derivatives was resulted in twofold increase luminescence intensity in their terbium complexes. Lifetime of the excited state of the terbium luminescence of the corresponding complexes as well as lifetime of excited triplet level of the 1,3-diketonate ligands have been determined.

A new method is proposed for the synthesis of 2-substituted benzimidazole-5(6)-carboxylic acids. The acid-catalyzed rearrangement of 2(3)-aroyl-3(2)-oxo-3,4(1,2)-dihydroquinoxaline-6-carboxylic acids was shown to proceed with the formation of 2-(3-arylquinoxalin-2-yl)-1H-benzimidazole-5(6)-carboxylic acids. NMR studies of the rearrangement reaction product, 2-(3-phenylquinoxalin-2-yl)-1Hbenzimidazole-6-carboxylic acid, indicated that it existed as a mixture of two tautomeric forms due to benzimidazole tautomerism under the NMR conditions. The carboxyl group of the synthesized benzimidazoles was used for the preparation of new derivatives.

Reactions of dialkyl [(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-oxocyclohexa-2,5-dien-1-ylidene)methyl]phosphonates with butyl, benzyl and propargyl alcohols in the presence of catalytic amounts of trifluoromethanesulfonic acid resulted in the formation of nucleophilic 1,6-addition products. Azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction of dimethyl (3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)(prop-2-ynyloxy)methylphosphonate with benzyl azide and 1,3-bis-(2-azidoethoxy)benzene in the presence of copper sulfate and sodium ascorbate afforded 1,2,3-triazoles with sterically hindered phenol fragments.

An efficient sodium dithionite (Na2S2O4)-mediated method for construction of 3-hydroxyquinolines via in situ Meinwald rearrangement/intramolecular reductive cyclization of o-nitrobenzalacetophenone oxides has been developed. The practical approach is of excellent functional group compatibility with as high as 98% yield under mild reaction conditions. Moreover, further manipulation successfully furnished 4-bromo substituted derivatives which may provide a promising potential application in exploring biologically active analogs of 3-hydroxyquinolines.

The octacarboxylic derivative of tetrapentylcalix[4]resorcinarene ( 1 ) was used as stabilizer for preparation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) hydrosol. The calixresorcinarene-capped nanoparticles Ag@ 1 are stably dispersed in an aqueous colloid solution and have an average diameter of 4–6 nm (TEM). The interaction of the macrocycle 1 , possessed the receptor properties, with the cationic surfactant cetyltrimetylammonium bromide (CTAB) leads to the hydrophobization of AgNPs hydrosol. It was shown, that macrocycle 1 in its individual solution forms the hydrophobic associate with 8 mol of CTAB ( 1 H NMR, 2D NOESY). Various and complicated influence of CTAB/macrocycle molar ratio on the hydrophobization of AgNPs and their transfer into organic phase was demonstrated. The initial Ag@ 1 and modified Ag@ 1 -CTAB were characterized by UV-vis and FTIR spectroscopy, DLS, and TG/DSC methods It was shown that the efficiency of water/organic phase transfer depends on the macrocycle/surfactant molar ratio. The presented supramolecular approach can be useful to form the ordered nanostructures through supramolecular modification and self-organization of hybrid metal nanoparticles.

Herein we report the synthesis of previously unknown 2-arylpyrrolidine-1-carboxamides containing aminophenol moiety via a novel approach developed by us, namely, acid-catalyzed cyclization of (4,4-diethoxybutyl)ureas in the presence of 3-aminophenol. The proposed approach benefits from mild reaction conditions, use of inexpensive and common solvents and catalyst, and allows to obtain target compounds with good to high yields.

Novel water-soluble thermoresponsive oligomers TO1 and TO2 were obtained by reaction of amidoamine tetramethylcalixresorcinarenes (C1) and tetrapentylcalixresorcinarenes (C5) with ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether. The compounds were characterised by 1H and FT-PGSE NMR, FTIR, static light scattering and elemental analysis. The thermoresponsive properties of oligomers were investigated by spectrophotometry, DLS, FT-PGSE NMR and TEM. The cloud points of oligomers (43 °C for TO1 (5 mg/ml) and 41 °C for TO2 (1.2 mg/ml), respectively) were determined. The influence of salts effect on TO2 cloud points was investigated. The binding of anti-inflammatory drug naproxen (Nap) at 20 °C by TO1 and TO2 and its partial release at cloud points of oligomers in aqueous solution are observed using fluorescence and FT-PGSE NMR methods. New example of creating of thermoresponsive macrocyclic systems on the basis of amidoamine calixresorcinarenes with possibility of substrate binding and release under the influence of termo-stimuli in an aqueous solution was shown.

New bis-1,3-diketone derivatives of calix[4]arene (3–5) have been synthesized with good yields by the addition of a sodium salt of acetylacetone, 1-benzoylacetone and dibenzoylmethane to 5,17-bis-(bromomethyl)-25,26,27,28-tetrahydroxycalix[4]arenes. The structural properties of the obtained compounds and their complexes have been established by means of IR, UV-Vis, NMR spectroscopy and quantum-chemical calculations. The complex ability of bis-1,3-diketones towards Al3+, Ni2+, Cu2+ and lanthanide ions (Nd3+, Eu3+, Tb3+) has been investigated by using a liquid–liquid extraction method. The UV-Vis data indicate thermodynamically favorable 1:1 complex formation of the ligands with Tb3+ in alkaline DMF, although the time required for the equilibration reveals the difference between calix[4]arenes bearing acetylaceton-, benzoylaceton- and dibenzoylmethane-substituents. The steric hindrance effect on keto–enol transformation is the reason for the difference. The ligand-centered emissions of Gd3+ complexes with benzoylaceton- and acetylaceton-substituted calix[4]arenes reveal them both as more convenient antennae for red and infra-red than for green lanthanide luminescence. Indeed, the benzoylaceton-substituted counterpart sensitizes Yb3+-centered luminescence to a good extent. Nevertheless, the luminescence of Tb3+ is sensitized by the acetylaceton-substituted counterpart to a better extent than that of Yb3+, while only poor red Eu3+ emission is observed under sensitization by both the ligands.