A self-sorting scheme based on tetra-urea calix[4]arenes.

Size and shape do matter: When dimerized in nonpolar solvents, an equimolar mixture of eleven tetra-urea calix[4]arenes with different wide-rim substituents self-sorts into only six out of 35 different homo- and heterodimers (see picture). Since the calixarene scaffold and the four urea units are the same in all cases, the self-sorting process is driven only by the cooperative action of steric requirements and stoichiometry.