Versatility of p-sulfonatocalix[5]arene in building up multicomponent bilayers

The ability of pyridine N-oxide molecules to form host-guest complexes with p-sulfonatocalix-[5]arene was probed and resulted in the formation of europium complexes incorporating 2- or 4-picoline N-oxide, and 4,4'-dipyridine N,N'-dioxide. Relative to lanthanide complexes of p-sulfonatocalix[5]arene incorporating pyridine N-oxide, the presence of a methyl group on the aromatic ring for the picoline N-oxides, or a larger dipyridine dioxide guest dramatically alters the self-assembly, resulting in the formation of three new supramolecular motifs for the calixarene. © The Royal Society of Chemistry and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique 2008.