Lower rim dimerization of a calixarene through the encapsulation of sodium ions

Abstract

Here we report the tail-to-tail dimerization of tetra(carboxymethoxy)calix[4]arene in both solution and solid state phases using ESI-orbitrap UHRMS, ¹H-NMR and single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. Three sodium ions are encapsulated into the dimeric structure which is also stabilized by hydrogen bonds between carboxyl moieties undergoing partial deprotonation.