Dimeric capsules by the self-assembly of triureidocalix

A number of calix[6]arenes bearing ureas at the upper rim positions of alternate rings 1, 3 and 5 were prepared and studied in detail by NMR spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography. N-Unsubstituted ureas were shown to dimerize through a cyclic array of hydrogen bonds to give cylindrical cavities capable of encapsulating small molecules such as dichloromethane, benzene and fluorobenzene. Slow equilibria between dimer and monomer were observed in [D6]DMSO-CDCl3 mixtures. By contrast, N-substituted ureas are monomeric. All urea monomers with bulky O-substituents display a solvent-dependent, slow equilibrium between C3v and Cs cone conformations.