A p-sulfonatothiacalix[4] arene supramolecular capsule containing a dinuclear copper(II) complex

The reaction of tetrasodium p-sulfonatothiacalix[4] arene ( Na(4)H(4)TCAS), copper( II) nitrate and pyridine N- oxide ( PNO) afforded a yellow copper( II)-p-sulfonatothiacalix[ 4] arene complex. X-ray diffraction analysis displays that it is an interesting dimeric supramolecular capsule, [Cu-2( PNO)(2)( H2O)(6)](4+), [( H(6)TCAS)(2)](4+)center dot 22H(2)O, in which two PNO molecules bridge the two Cu II ions in the O,O'- mu(2) mode and the hydrophobic aromatic rings point into the cavities of the thiacalixarenes. Interestingly, the thiacalixarenes pack themselves into the closed pores through pi center dot center dot center dot pi interactions in ab plane, and these pores further link to each other through hydrogen bonding to construct infinite hydrophilic tunnels, which fill with the disordered water molecules as the guests.