Organic nanocrystals of the resorcinarene hexamer via sonochemistry: evidence of reversed crystal growth involving hollow morphologies.

Nano- and micrometer-scale crystals of a self-assembled hexamer have been synthesized via sonochemistry. The application of ultrasonic irradiation afforded hollow rhombic-dodecahedral crystals of the C-methylcalix[4]resorcinarene hexamer. The formation of the hollow crystals is attributed to a reversed crystal growth mechanism heretofore described only in the synthesis of inorganic-based materials.