Solvent triggering between conformational states in amphiphilic shape-persistent macrocycles.

The amphiphilic shape-persistent macrocycle 1 containing four phenol-OH groups as polar side groups and four hexyloxy groups as nonpolar side groups in an adaptable arrangement was recrystallized from solvents of different polarity. X-ray crystallography reveals that the conformation of the macrocycle is solvent dependent such that in the pyridine solvate only two of the nonpolar side groups point outward while in the THF solvate all four of them point outward. Moreover, in the latter case the three-dimensional packing leads to the formation of a supramolecular channel structure with a large pore size.