Stacking of molecules possessing a fullerene apex and a cup-shaped cavity connected by a silicon connection.

Hexagonal or tetragonal packing of columnar stacks in crystals and liquid crystals has been observed for a series of molecules possessing a fullerene apex and an aromatic cone that are connected with a Si-C connection. The columnar stacking of the new shuttlecock molecules is constitutionally stable but conformationally flexible due to the large cavity created on the top of the fullerene molecule.