Modular Cavity‐Tunable Self‐Assembly of Molecular Bowls and Crowns as Structural Analogues of Calix[3]arenes

Abstract

A [3+3] modular self-assembly gives rise to the formation of a molecular bowl or crown with syn,syn,syn conformation (see picture). These structures are analogues of calix[3]arenes and can function as anion receptors. Interestingly, an NO3− ion is found to distort from a trigonal plane into a trigonal pyramid when binding to the bottom of the molecular bowl.