Molecular tectonics: design, synthesis and structural analysis of thiacalixarene-based tectons

The synthesis of five new coordinating tectons based on tetrathiacalix[4]arene backbone was achieved and their structure analysed and confirmed by X-ray diffraction on single crystal. All tectons were based on tetrafunctionalisation of either tetrathiacalix[4]arene or tetramercaptotetrathiacalix[4]arene derivatives by four pyridine units. The junction between the pyridine units and the calix backbone was ensured by ester or thioester groups. On the pyridine ring, either position 3 or 4, defining the location of the coordination sites, were used to connect the monodentate site to the calix framework.