Enantioselective self-assembly of chiral calix[4]arene acid with amines.

A chiral calix[4]arene bearing l-2,3-dibenzoyltartaric acid groups at the lower rim was synthesized and could enantioselectively self-assemble to result in a gel or suspension only with one enantiomer of chiral amines; as revealed by electron microscopy, the resultant gel was of nanofibers with a high aspect ratio but the suspension was composed of nanospheres.