Supramolecular structures formed by calix[8]arene derivatives.

Octamethoxy calix[8]arenes substituted in the para position by amide, urea, and imide functions were synthesized from the octamethyl ether of tert-butylcalix[8]arene by ipso nitration, reduction, and acylation. Scanning force microscopy of spin coated samples on graphite suggests that these derivatives self-organize into tubular nanorods via hydrogen bonds between p-amide functions. A single-crystal X-ray structure reveals a centrosymmetric conformation for the octanitro derivative. [structure: see text]